River Mersey 1983 - Mv Royal Iris(1951), Mv Overchurch, Manx Maid

[@annbilston9975]

This brought back memories for me as I used to spend my school holidays with my Nan in Liverpool. I remember going across on the Royal Iris to New Brighton......loved it! Thank you for sharing. 😊

[@meeluanistyn1644]

I suppose it’s inevitable that things change over time, progress they call it. My happiest memories are in the past and this video helps bring them to mind, so thank you.

[@philiphewitt3985]

Happy memories going over to New Brighton during the School holidays and jam butties near the boating lake.

[@paulmcdonough1093]

I was 11 in 83 in toxteth had a great view of the mersey from king gardens from the living room

[@y077er]

Thanks for the memories, tragic to see the poor old girl left to rot down London way.

[@robertsetz]

Well captured! It was a common sight since the early 50's but there is surprisingly little footage of the iconic, "Royal Iris". Thanks for posting it.

[@peterspencer667]

Sad end, my brother and I have just been to see her, August 2020. Rotting away on a mud bank. Remember her when I lived in Liverpool, in the 80s.

[@scousertom0388]

Lovely video!

[@Brian31252]

@grianaig1 Yes, Born on the Clyde, lived on the Mersey and died on the Thames, derelict and rusting away. A real shame.

[@tenfootvoyager]

That takes me back a bit. Seem to remember the Royal Iris having a dire colour scheme of mustardy yellow and green when visiting my grand parents in Higher Tranmere Birkenhead. Also sailed on the Manx Maid in 1966 aged 17.

[@paulmason4616]

With my family I was on the SS Manx Maid in 1972 and 1977. On our '72 holiday dense fog descended on the approach to Douglas. The Manx Maid blew her whistle every two minutes, a deafening blast on ocean liner standard triple Bell steam whistle. The 1977 return from the IOM was in the teeth of a force 7, man it was ROUGH Thankfully the captain didn't sound the whistle on that Occasion!

[@Northernspotter101]

Great nostalgic video well done.

[@paulmason4616]

Alan Kirby The Royal Daffodil II was built for Wallasey Corporation in 1958. The Roman II was added because from 1939 to 1967 a Royal Daffodil ran as a Thames es.tuary cruise ship, serving a similar function to the Royal Iris. The Thames RD was also built by Denny's of Dumbarton.

[@Brian31252]

@jademuttley Thanks for the feedback. To convert this I first played the tape out on a Sony Betamax SL C9UB video recorder connected to my computer via a Roxio USB capture device. It was captured to the hard drive as a DV AVI file. In Sony Vegas HD Platinum 10 I applied some colour correction, white balance adjustment and editing. It was rendered as an Mp4 file at 6Mbps at 1920x1080-25P. I thought it better to upscale it at this stage for playback later on an HD monitor/TV. Regards Brian

[@grianaig1]

The Royal Iris built of course by Denny,s of Dumbarton at a cost of £256,000 and served on the Mersey for 40 years. Good value for money I would say. I am currently working my way through looking at your videos. Very enjoyable.

[@paulmason4616]

The passengers disembarking the Overchurch did so at 1023 hrs, and were about to get a fright! The SS Manx Maid would give one mighty blast at 1025 hrs, followed by three more for departure at 1030 hrs. The triple bell whistles on the IOM steamers were of ocean liner standard, I.E. DEAFENING! , The following summer 1984 was the last season for the IOMSPCo. turbine steamers.

[@berthollandanthony2947]

Why are they not saving Royal iris?

[@liverpoolpictorial]

What a fantastic vid. Thanks for sharing.

[@Northernspotter101]

excellent

[@clairebunt5887]

😢😢

[@alankirkby465]

I recall there was another Mersey ferry named: Royal Daffodil, older looking than Royal Iris ( happy memories ) I'm Manc.

[@spiffenage1]

The Royal Daffodil II was seven years newer than the Royal Iris of 1951 and was built to a unique specification.

[@stevekirby2509]

before commercialisation . . . the peoples ferry at 11p a trip :)

[@FM60260]

Does anyone know what engines Overchurch, Mountwood and Woodchurch had before refurbishment?

[@paulmason4616]

Crossley diesels.

[@FM60260]

@@paulmason4616 The same as the one being restored for D5705?

[@paulmason4616]

@@FM60260 Sorry I am unsure.

[@grianaig1]

Apparently a campaign was started to try and get her back to Liverpool and refurbished. Wouldnt hold my breath though as she is in a pretty sad state and if the PS Waverley which is in good condition and still cruising is struggling financially then what chance for the Royal Iris.

[@paulmason4616]

Not a barnacle in a boilers chance methinks.

[@Train115]

this year that ship is abandoned and scary