The 'Shiel' family (Billy Shiel's father and grandfather) started taking boat trips to the Farne Islands in 1918 - just after the first world war. In those days, after an early morning hauling pots for lobster and crabs, a few keen ornotholgists would ask to be taken over to the Farnes to see the birdlife on the islands.

It was only in the later 1930s the business as we see it today really got going. Billy Shiel joined his father at the age of 14 years and has now been operating out of Seahouses for over 60 years. Today he is joined by his son William. Truly a family tradition. Starting with an open Northumbrian coble, built in the the 1920s at Harrisons boatyard just along the coast in Amble, Billy Shiel M.B.E. now operates a fleet of 7 passenger boats each named 'Glad Tidings and numbered from 1-to-7. (See GLAD TIDINGS FLEET for pictures of our boat fleet.)

Over the years we have carried thousands of people over to the Farne Islands from all over the world. Many remark that their trip boat trip with 'Billy Shiel' has been the highlight of their holiday. Passengers come from all walks of life some are national and international celebrities. Indeed the Farne Islands and 'Billy Shiel's' boats have featured in many television programmesand newspaper articles.

Undoubtedly the Shiel family's proudest moment came in 1958 when one of our boats was asked to rendevous with the 'Royal Yacht Britannia' and take our then recently-crowned 'Queen Elizabeth II' to the Farne Islands where she spent about an hour on 'The Brownsman' before Billy and his father returned her safely back to the royal yacht. Yet another proud moment was in 1962 when the Queen Mother, when staying as a guest of the Duke of Northumberland, came down to the picturesque Seahouses harbour on Sunday afternoon after Church, and boarded the 'Glad Tidings'for a trip around the Farne Islands.

In 1997 'Billy Shiel' was awarded the M.B.E. (Member of the British Empire) for his services to tourism in Northumberland.

Today, although the main business is in boat trips to the Farne Islands, the Shiel family still haul lobster and crab pots in the early morning before taking passengers to the Islands as they did in 1918.

FAMILY PORTRAITS The name 'Shiel' has long associations with the Sea on this rugged Northumberland coastline. Pictured on the left is Billy Shiel MBE whose grandfather founded Farne Island Boat Trips in 1918 shortly after the 1st World War. On the right is his son, William, also a very experienced helmsman, who continues on the family's traditional seafaring business.