CONISTON's famous steam yacht Gondola has welcomed a new member of staff - with a very special story to tell.

Suzi Bunting's new role with the National Trust will bring the story of the Lakes’ oldest passenger steamer to life.

But for Suzi, this is an extra special assignment as the Gondola holds a place in her heart.

Back in the 1970s, Suzi has great memories of physically bailing out the sunken Victorian pleasure craft alongside her father David Williams and Gondola was just a dejected hulk at the far southern end of Coniston Water.

Her father was then the manager at the Tower Bank Arms, Near Sawrey, and was instrumental in persuading the National Trust to buy Gondola to be restored to her former glory.

"My dad sadly passed away in 1982 so I am thrilled to be following his footsteps and play my part in telling the story of this beautiful iconic steam yacht," she said. "One of my dad’s achievements was sourcing some of Gondola’s original memorabilia and I’m relishing the opportunity to continue where he left off all those years ago."

She compared her childhood to one long ‘Swallows and Amazons’ adventure in and around Coniston, where her parents were enthusiastic members of the Coniston Sailing Club.

And this week she met presenter and broadcaster John Sargeant, who was filming a series called Secret Life of Books, doing a piece about ‘Swallows and Amazons’.

One of Suzi’s first challenges is to launch a fundraising effort to renovate Sydney the Sea Serpent, Gondola’s iconic figurehead.