[Santos]

Here is a picture of the last Royal Iris before she was sold into private hands.
She is now rusting away in Woolwich on the Thames , I would love to see her saved and returned to the Mersey

Santos.

This is a picrure copied from news letter today.Not in a very good state
Ron

[Santos]

Its a great shame Ron. Why these people buy these ships and then leave them to rot I just dont know.

It would have been a more dignified ending if she had been scrapped.

Santos.

[Bob S]

I've seen her many times at Woolwich, just below the barrier. Never got round to getting a photo but will have to before she rots away completly!

[Santos]

Here is an ex Wallasey Ferry whose second life is much happier. It is the M.V. Egremont, built in 1952 for Wallasey Ferries. She served until 1975 when she was laid up. In 1976 she was sold to the Island Cruising Club of Salcombe in Devon and became their floating Clubhouse.

As you can see she looks very nice and shipshape and very well looked after. She has had her after prom deck covered over , however it does not detract too much from her lovely lines. Long may she live on.

( Picture courtesy of Island Cruising Club's web site )

Santos.

[Bob S]

My mistake, I do have a photo.

Laid up at Woolwich on the 16th March 2004.

[Gerrysea]

I'm an ex-pat Scouser, who left Liverpool in 1962 when I went into the forces and now living in Bexleyheath Kent. In my teens I spent many happy hours aboard MV Royal Iris. To begin with as a youngster on days out with my parents and Family, in later years with the lads, and all that goes with that or days out with girlfriends, over to New Brighton or Saturday Night Rock cruises and Sunday nights Merseysippi Jazz cruises. Lots of good memories.

When hunting on the web for more nostalgic memories from my days in Liverpool, I was quite pleasantly surprised to hear that she had been moved down here and wondered what she might have become of her or what she might be being used for. When seeking out more info I was dismayed to find to find that the first picture that I found of her was the one of her tied up at Woolwich looking such a shadow of her former self. The blue and white hulk a near wreck by comparison with my memories of her.

The memories, oh lord my best mate Les met his wife Jackie on there when we where returning home from one of our weekend jaunts to New Brighton and one of our first dates (I went out with Jackie's mate for a while) was a Saturday or Sunday night River Cruise on her.

I understand the current owner is contemlating a restotation. Oh I hope he does! It's bordering on criminal to see her in that state.

Nice to meet y'all.

Gerrysea.

[rstimaru]

As i youngster we used to call her the fish and chip boat for the obvious reason she sold the fish and chips on her crossings to New Brighton. I certainly remember the great dances on her, It is a shame to see her like this.Thanks lads for showing her sorry plight now Bob

[Santos]

A plea from me, if anyone knows the owner of her, please ask him to do something with her as soon as possible before she sinks at her moorings, I hate to see her dying there.

It would be great to see her refitted, but I know her engines are just about finished if they are the same ones she had on the Mersey. That is why the Ferries sold her as she was having trouble managing the force of the Mersey on full ebb or flood. It apparantly was too costly to re engine her, so she had to go.

Chris.

[Gerrysea]

Originally Posted by Santos

A plea from me, if anyone knows the owner of her, please ask him to do something with her as soon as possible before she sinks at her moorings, I hate to see her dying there.

It would be great to see her refitted, but I know her engines are just about finished if they are the same ones she had on the Mersey. That is why the Ferries sold her as she was having trouble managing the force of the Mersey on full ebb or flood. It apparantly was too costly to re engine her, so she had to go.

Chris.

Hi Chris.
Extract from GREATER LONDON INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY web site.
Notes and news - June 2001. MV Royal Iris. "The vessel's present owner, James Jegede, would like to hear from anyone interested in her restoration. MV Royal Iris, Barrier Gardens Pier, Unity Way, London SE18 5NL. Tel: 078 1865 620. Email: jegs@vodafone.net"

Don't know if he's still the owner but I've already sent him an e-mail hoping to find out more. no answer as yet.

Thanks for the additional info, I was wondering why she was retired from Mersey Ferries. Does any one know how she finished up in EVERTON colours!!?

Didn't eat to many fish & chips on board but sank a few pints of Guinness at her bar.

Y'all keep safe & be lucky.

Gerry

[Santos]

Hi Gerry,


Thanks for the info.

I am afraid it was my fault that she became blue and white. She was originally yellow and green with Wallasey Ferries, however in 1970, the Wallasey & Birkenhead Ferries merged under I think, Mersey Passenger Transport and the Funnel Colours were changed to Blue & White or Cream.

I at that time was working for British Torpedo Marine Paints as a Technical Rep ( I was a sailor so knew about ships, hence the technical ) We were responsible for painting the Ferries and were asked our opinion for the colour design of the Royal Iris. The Manager gave myself and the two other reps a clear plan each of the Royal Iris and asked us to submit a design, which would be put in front of the owners.

I did mine of blue and white with a blue dividing line around the superstructure. The owners liked my plan and it was adopted. I was then detailed by my boss to supervise the shotblasting and subsequent painting which I did. So I am afraid it was my fault.

Chris.

[Gerrysea]

Wow Chris, I certainly didn't expect to get such a rapid and definative answer to my question! The proverbial smoking gun no less?
I guess these new colours would have been ok with the Toffee's fans up home but Red would have suited me better. Mind you, in the old days she certainly stood out on the river in her original yellow & green livery. Come to think of it though, she probably stood out every bit as much, sporting her brand new blue & white paint job as well.
Thinks: Blue & white = Chelsea colours, perhaps we can talk them into adopting her as a mascot. The "main man" over there seems to have loads of cash to throw about, so perhaps he could be pursuaded to sponsor the refit that we all want so much for her to have??

Can't believe that I'm not able to find a decent picture of her any-where on the web, in her best bib and tucker (not even the blue and white). By the way Chris, that was new news to me, I was totaly unaware of the changes you referd to. Thanks again for info.

Y'all keep safe & be lucky.

Gerry

[Santos]

Hi Gerry,

Yes, it was me what did it. The corporate colours of the then Owners was Blue & White / Cream, the Buses were that colour too for a while, so really I had to use a combination of those colours. However when the Ferries became Mersey Ferries, they reverted back to the Red & Black Funnel colours of the old Birkenhead Ferries.

They kept the Birkenhead Ferry Boats and sold the Wallasey ones including the Royal Iris.

The Wallasey Ferries Funnel colours and boat colours were always Black & White, except for the Royal Iris of course which was I suppose Buff ( rather than yellow ) and Green.

At some time in the 70s the during all the changes the Funnel colours were Green & Black as well.

I have a picture of the Royal Iris from my collection which was taken just after her makeover in my design in 1970 which is attached.

Chris.

[Gerrysea]

Thanks for yet more info & the pix. Yes, she looks fine there in all her glory and despite the change in livery looks every bit as good as I remember her. But I'm not sure that that is the blue & white I refer to, I'm suure you will have seen this: -
http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/royaliris/index.html

I've still had no reply to the e-mail I sent to James Jegede (last known owner?), however, it's not bounced back to me so I can only assume someones got it. I do believe that there was a telephone number for the guy, perhaps I'll try that!

You mention the Bus connection with regard to livery colours but how about the Royal Iris Bus? Must admit that I don't remember ever seeing it myself but it was apparently used as a promotional tool.

Y'all keep safe & be lucky.

Gerry.

[Gerrysea]

Some pix from the launching of MV Royal Iris.

Y'all keep safe & be lucky.

Gerry.

[Gerrysea]

June 1957?
"That month Sytner also launched another happy Merseyside tradition that was to continue for more than four decades—the Cavern’s legendary "riverboat shuffles," a series of four-hour dance cruises up and down the River Mersey aboard the M.V. Royal Iris, a beautiful, Art Deco-style ship that had been plying the river since 1951 and was popularly known as "the fish and chip boat" for the food served onboard during the dance cruises." (Lots of fond memories here!!) "The 'riverboat shuffles' continued until 1990, when the 40-year-old Royal Iris was retired from service, sold off and relocated to its present berth on the Welsh coast, where it now serves as a floating casino."
Can anyone shed any light on her time as a casino?
Any Pix or publicity?
Could this be where she got her Chelsea colours?

Y'all keep safe and be lucky.

Gerry

[Gerrysea]

No joy from the e-mail, it was eventually bounced back. The telephone No. was NU as well. But did find a more recent update on her condition?

"GLIAS Newsletter June 2005: The former Mersey ferry Royal Iris (GLIAS Newsletter August 2001) is still at her usual berth but now looks much smarter. Her superstructure (much of the ship) has been repainted silver and black. Bob Carr."

Could it be that the present owner has positive plans? I wait with baited breath!!

[Bruce Carson]

It's a coincidence, but there's another ferry of streamlined design going through about the same hard times as the 'Royal Iris'.
The 'Kalakala' was as well known in the Northwestern United States as the 'Royal Iris' was on the Mersey.
These ships would eat up a fraction of the cost of restoring a liner. Many more people were acquainted with them than with any large passenger ship and it seems a shame that there is no strong urgency to do something before it's too late.

http://www.kalakala.org/
(Click on "History" for lots of pictures.

Bruce C.

[ron baker]

Hi all just joined the group today, i could not have picked a better one, i used to sing with my group on the good old Royal iris on a saturday night, oh the memories of sailing up the Mersey and when it was choppy we used have to watch the Vox amps in case they fell over, many happy memories of the great days in the sixties Fort Perch Rock light house literally rocking all weekend lets hope she gets a rerprieve and brought back to life again regards Ron Baker

[neil maclachlan]

Hi Folks,
Just a quick question was there also a Royal Daffodil? Can remember those ferries when I was standing by our ship at Cammell Lairds.
Neil Mac.

[ron baker]

Hi Chris
join the club yes i literally joined on thursday, i worked on Royal Iris in the sixtes with my group, and did many trips on her and the other ferries to New Brighton or over to the one eyed city to the market in the fifties, did the Manchester ship canal trip in 63 on Egremont my last year at school, fond memories of the Caledonia and Accra at the stage together as we sailed, it would be great if they could make space for her and the Manxman back at the pool perhaps were the naval relics are in Birkenhead will post some images of her soon regards Ron

[ron baker]

Hi Neil yes there was and still is regards Ron

[Santos]

Hi Ron,

Which group were you with, I know that the Jazz groups used to play on her Merseysippe being one, ( hope thats the right spelling ) and a number of rock groups too( I think the 4 Dees were one group ). I had some great nights on her, I probably watched and danced to your group.

I really hope she is being done up, and will be used as a place to entertain people again, she deserves better than to rot away.

Kind regards

Chris.

[ron baker]

Hi Chris it was Cherished Memories plus Memphis Soul band we used to play at all the major clubs and all weekend at Fort Perch Rock, one night we left The Harlequin night club above Burtons in Church street and went through the old tunnel to the perch as we called it, it was just on high water when we arrived all we had to guide us towards the Fort was the two lights one each side of the door the water was over the causeway i still dont know how we made it, i think our driver had had a few pints of Guiness ha ha almost joined the ships leaving on the tide, the Royal Iris was a real classic for her time a marine architects dream if you compare her to the other vessels in the fleet her curves were quite modern at the time i can still smell the ozone as we made our way up the mersey as kids on the ferries escaping the city on a bank holiday for the excitement of New Brighton fair and beach i hope she can be saved along with some of the fleet still on the river
best regards Ron
ps i hope i did not go of subject to much

[Gerrysea]

Hi Bruce, thanks for this info,

[quote=Bruce Carson]The 'Kalakala' was as well known in the Northwestern United States as the 'Royal Iris' was on the Mersey.
These ships would eat up a fraction of the cost of restoring a liner. Many more people were acquainted with them than with any large passenger ship and it seems a shame that there is no strong urgency to do something before it's too late.

http://www.kalakala.org/QUOTE]

That sure is one interesting site they've put together there. By coincidence, similar stories in a number of ways, not just another ferry of streamlined design going through the same hard times but also both worked rivers in the north west of respective nations and now both apparently suffering a similar fate. Altough, at the moment, we appear to be somewhat less well informed as to what is happning to our MV Royal Iris.

It certainly would be nice to russtle up a similar information & history package for the Royal Iris. Perhaps it would bring about a greater awareness of her plight and her quite unique design and place in history and maybe bring about a more general interest in seeing her preserved/restored.

I know that Ron has sat at the high table there, sharing his fame with The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers and Acker Bilk to name but a few who have also made music on MV Royal Iris, to entertain those of us who frequented the cruises.

"According to Mark Lewisohn, The Beatles played on the Royal Iris four times
and, on the first two dates, shared the bill with Acker Bilk's Jazz Band. 25 August 1961; 6 July 1962;10 August 1962; 28 September 1962."

See attached pix said to be from 6/7/62 "The Beatles have another appearance aboard the Royal Iris, on the River Mersey, for a "Riverboat Shuffle" all-night show. On that night, the Star is jazzman Acker Bilk. In between his sets, the Fabs play their repertoire." 1: The Beatles play Love Me Do on board the Royal Iris. 2: In the dressing room on board the Royal Iris.

Niel, it appears that there has been an "Iris" and a "Daffodil" on the Mersy since 1906, they both saw service in WW1 and were given their 'Royal' handles when when they returned to pasenger sevice after being refitted in 1919.
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/ archive/pdf/Ships-Mersey%20Ferries%20no27.pdf

Current Ferries appear to be "Royal Daffodil", as Ron confirmed and "Royal Iris of The Mersey"

Best regards.