notes from song writer Dave Baker on Old Lady Rose (continued)
For over forty years, the Lady Rose has been plying the waters of the Alberni Inlet on Vancouver Island. She leaves Port Alberni several times a week to service the communities of Ucluelet and Bamfield on Canada’s westcoast.
Built in Scotland in1937, the steel-hulled, diesel powered vessel sailed under the Union Steamship flag until the company ceased operation in 1958. Rather than being scrapped, which was the fate of most of the Union steamships, the Lady Rose managed to avoid the cutter’s torch and survive to serve as an operating passenger/cargo vessel. She has now been in her current role since the early 60’s, and remains in service today.
The song tells the story of a Ucluelet fisherman who can no longer follow in his father’s footsteps because of depleted salmon stocks. He must now seek his fortune in the big city. He leaves his homeland aboard the Lady Rose .