The Tales of Para Handy

5.0

1994•50m

The Tales of Para Handy is a Scottish television series set in the western isles of Scotland in the 1930s, based on the Para Handy books by Neil Munro. It starred Gregor Fisher as Captain Peter "Para Handy" MacFarlane, Sean Scanlan as first mate Dougie Cameron, Rikki Fulton as engineer Dan Macphail and Andrew Fairlie as Sunny Jim. These four made up the crew of the puffer 'Vital Spark' which was employed by the Campbell Shipping Company, headquartered in Glasgow and run by Andrew Campbell

Seasons

6 Episodes • Premiered 1994

1. Para Handy, Master Mariner

The crew of the Vital Spark are entrusted with transporting some queer cargo including a double bed and a prize Highland Bull - and trouble is never too far away.

2. Para Handy, Poacher

A spot of poaching lands Para Handy and his unfortunate crew in jail but also reunites Para with his childhood friend, Lady Catherine Ramsey.

3. Salvage!

In the aftermath of a storm Para Handy and his hapless crew rescue a drifting boat intending to claim salvage. But the abandoned vessel contains a very nasty surprise.

4. A Night Alarm

A spot of engine trouble sees the luckless crew marooned in a small island village, where Para tangles with the drunken town bully and indulges in a spot of matchmaking.

5. The End Of The World

After reading his tea leaves, Dougie predicts doom and disaster for those on board the Vital Spark. Para dismisses his predictions until one by one the omens start coming true.

6. Treasure Trove

Threatened by the march of modern technology it takes all of Para’s cunning, plus the help of a large beached whale, to keep him and his disaster prone crew in steady employment.