The Windsor Castle, built by Cammel, Laird and Co of Birkenhead was launched on 23 June 1959 and was the largest of the Union-Castle line ships. She sailed on her maiden voyage to South Africa on 18 August 1960. At 783 ft long and with a moulded breadth of 92 ft, her gross tonnage of 37,647 tons allowed passenger accomodation of 191 1st class and 591 tourist passengers with a crew of 475. On 1 September 1977 she sailed on her final voyage from Cape Town and was laid up in Southampton. She was purchased by the Latsis group, renamed Margerita L and converted into a static accomodation ship in Jeddah. She was used in this role for many years and was maintained to a very high standard. Eventually though, she would be returned to Piraeus where she has been ever since. By 2003 it was obvious that interest in one of the last of the British built liners was being kindled with the formation of the "RMS Windsor Castle Preservation Society" who intended raising funds, interest and support to bring the ship back to Britain to be berthed at a UK port. It was intended that she be used as a museum / education centre / restaurants / conference venue / tourist attraction etc and possible locations under consideration for an eventual permanent berth include Southampton, Plymouth, Falmouth, Liverpool or London. While in South Africa a movement was underway to return the mailship to Cape Town for inclusion at the V & A Waterfront. Like so many other ship preservation efforts, a lack of funds, interest and backers hampered the efforts, and the overall state of the vessel made her conversion into a potentially costly excercise. In December 2004 it was finally announced that the Windsor had been sold for breaking up and on 14 April 2005 she set sail on her last voyage to the breakers with the abbreviated name of Rita. She was finally beached on 20 July 2005.

(Courtesy of Aris Bilalis)