Charity remembers Sam Neill’s love of ‘ships, the sea and Scotland’

A charity has remembered actor Sam Neill’s love of “ships, the sea, and Scotland” after he died aged 78.

The Jurassic Park star was Commonwealth patron of the Clyde steamship TS Queen Mary, which is being restored in a multimillion-pound project.

Neill, who was born in Northern Ireland, took on the charity role in 2022 at the encouragement of his friend Robbie Coltrane.

Launched in 1933, the Queen Mary was built in Dumbarton and is currently berthed at the Glasgow Science Centre in Govan.

The charity Friends of TS Queen Mary applauded the enthusiasm which Neill brought to the role.

The actor is understood to have travelled around Scotland during the 1970s.

Iain Sim, chairman of the TS Queen Mary, said: “We are shocked and saddened by the passing of Sam, our Commonwealth Patron.

“His loss is immeasurable and we send our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

“Sam was universally popular within the movie industry and beyond thanks to a stellar career and he lived a full and rewarding life. We will miss him immensely.

“It was typical of Sam that he needed little persuading to take up the role — a lifelong lover of ships, the sea, and of Scotland, he understood instinctively what TS Queen Mary meant, both as a piece of maritime history and as a symbol of what a community can achieve when it refuses to let something remarkable be lost.”

He continued: “Sam was unfailingly supportive and encouraging, following our progress with genuine enthusiasm and never short of kind words for the volunteers and trustees giving their time to bring Queen Mary back to life.

“His patronage brought not just his name but his heart to our cause.”

Described as “Britain’s finest pleasure steamer”, the ship carried 13,000 passengers each week during its heyday.