Ray Demelweek was relieved he had removed the brass fittings before the sailing. He noted in his accounts book the price he had paid for Totnes Castle, the money handed over to the tug company, the cash he had received from the American, and the likely payout from the insurance company.

"Not quite the dead loss I thought it was going to be"

In fact he had done rather well. He recalled how sentimentality had got the better of him when Compton Castle had come onto the market. He knew he could have made money there but kept away. He'd been on those paddlers many times and didn't like to think of them being broken up. Somehow though that strange superstructure on Totnes had taken away her character and made him less soft-hearted, and after all he had a business to run. But he was happy now. He had made some money and Totnes Castle remained in one piece where no one could harm her.

11th November, 1967.

Alice Baume was feeling much better. She had just come in having done the Saturday shopping and was now enjoying a cup of tea with Sam

"Oh Al," said Sam, "look at this.” He pointed to a page in the Western Morning News and handed over the paper.

The veteran paddle steamer TOTNES CASTLE being towed from Dartmouth to Plymouth on her last voyage to the breakers, sank in bad weather in Bigbury Bay on Thursday (9th November 1967). The TOTNES CASTLE was being towed by the Plymouth tug ANTONY. No one was aboard her when she foundered in heavy seas in about 20 fathoms. The seven man crew of the ANTONY had time to cast off and retrieve their towing hawser before the paddle steamer went down. A spokesman for ANTONY's owners, W.J.Reynolds of Torpoint, said last night that the two steamers set off in good weather on the five hour voyage, but ran into heavy seas which sprang up quickly off Burgh Island.'

"Well I never,"said Alice. "Another cup of tea Sam?"