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Royal Iris - Liverpool Ferry

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InspectorGreenPen

InspectorGreenPen Report 6 Jul 2013 22:20

We were recently sorting through some things my FIL left and came across a publication from the 1980's "Ferries Forever" looking at history of the Mersey ferries.

There is a picture of the launch of the Royal Iris in 1950 which Scousers will fondly remember as a floating cruise / disco / restaurant. It is possible even that the Beatles performed on her, and on 21 June 1977, the Royal Iris carried Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh on their Silver Jubilee Mersey Review.

I though I might have a Google to see what happened to her and imagine my horror to find she is sitting derelict on the mud in the Thames near Woolwich.

http://tiny.cc/qljtzw

has some pictures but they are not a pretty sight for those who remember her on the Mersey.

Tecwyn

Tecwyn Report 6 Jul 2013 22:35

What a sad end to a grand old lady of the Mersey.

Tec.

InspectorGreenPen

InspectorGreenPen Report 6 Jul 2013 22:48

Isn't it just. Very sad to see her like that.

My last trip on her was back in about 1979 / 80 with the Barclays Bank Liverpool District autumn disco. The previous year ended up with someone being thrown over the side, so this time we had to be on our best behaviour.

Tecwyn

Tecwyn Report 6 Jul 2013 23:27

I wonder why she was taken down to Woolwich? Maybe originally as a restoration project. Then in the current economic climate it became no longer viable.

Frankly, I would rather see a vessel scuttled than left to rot like that.

ChrisofWessex

ChrisofWessex Report 7 Jul 2013 00:06

Having fond memories of crossing the Mersey from a child - I cannot look but think it is so sad.

Mersey

Mersey Report 7 Jul 2013 10:05

It is very sad ....there was a petition at the time for it to stay here on the Mersey, I think it was actually started by the Local paper "Liverpool Echo"......

Such history and memories for alot of people and its so shameful these type of things are taken away from where it was all started.....

History and tradition is not like it used to be which is so very sad....

Mersey X

Researching:
#Be Kind

DIZZI

DIZZI Report 7 Jul 2013 10:14

I REMEMBER READING TUPPENCE TO CROSS THE MERSEY
IT WAS A TRUE STORY

MADE ME CRY

Researching:
FINCH+LOCK+WEAVER+HALES+BROOKINGS+MANSFIELD+HOOK+TITCHENER and STEVEN & ISRAEL WEAVER c1735