SHE is the grande dame of Southampton's maritime heritage, and this year SS Shieldhall celebrates her golden jubilee.

It was in 1955 that Shieldhall first put to sea. Although her work was not the most glamorous of roles, she quickly became a firm favourite of whoever sailed on the vessel.

Next month the ship marks her half-century with a service of re-dedication performed by the port of Southampton's three chaplains on board the vessel, berthed alongside the City Cruise Terminal in the Western Docks.

The Southampton Wind Orchestra and the pipers of the Caledonian Band will provide the music for the service, to be held on Saturday, June 11, which will also include a performance by a male voice choir.

After the service, Shieldhall will make a short voyage down Southampton Water, escorted by the steam tug Challenge and the coastal patrol vessel Medusa, together with two other tugs, spraying fountains of water high into the air.

The last operational coastal passengers and cargo steamer, Shieldhall was laid down in October 1954 and entered service in October 1955.

Built by Lobnitz & Co, of Renfrew, Shieldhall is of special interest as she was built on older, classic lines with a traditional wheelhouse of riveted and welded construction, a straight stem and a cruiser stern.

Shieldhall was operated by Glasgow Corporation to transport treated sewage sludge down the river Clyde for dumping at sea.

She continued the tradition, dating back to the First World War, of Glasgow's sludge vessels carrying organised parties of passengers when operating during the summer months. For this reason, Shieldhall was built with accommodation for 80 passengers.

In 1976, after 21 years of faithful service on the Clyde, Shieldhall was laid up and purchased the following year by Southern Water Authority.

After minor modifications, she carried sludge from Southampton to an area south of the Isle of Wight for five years from 1980.

Active preservation began in 1985, when she was suddenly withdrawn from service.

As a result of an initiative by the Southampton City's Museum Services, a preservation society was formed and "Shieldhall" was purchased from Southern Water in 1988 for £20,000.

The Society is registered as an Industrial and Provident Society as The Solent Steam Packet Limited and operates as a charity.