Ferry Cross the Mersey (to Woolwich)

The sad story of the MV Royal Iris, the floating concert venue, ferryboat, cruise vessel and now decaying wreck.
ko-fi.com/jago...
/ jagohazzard

[@madmackets]

In about 1977 I used to go the disco on the Royal Iris. I danced with a girl and she said she'd meet me there next week. I told all my mates that I had a bird! When I saw her there she was kissing some fella! I was soooo embarrassed! Big life lesson! Lol

[@CoxallK]

I was hoping for a happy ending when I read the preview of this message.

[@vaclav_fejt]

"I saw you hand in hand with another man in my place.. no reply no reply..."

[@ArmyJames]

What a slapper.

[@MarceloRomero360]

@@vaclav_fejt Well done, my friend!

[@dryflyman7121]

Story of my life 😢

[@dickyknees4123]

I did the Ferry across the Mersey in 1958 on this vessel. I will never forget the trip , it was special to a 10 year old boy then and still is today.

[@philmcevoy7129]

There is no such thing as the Liverpool Ferry let alone it being a Liverpool institution. The Royal Iris was a Wallasey ferry boat. The ferries across the Mersey were Wallasey and Birkenhead Ferries, Liverpool was not and has never had any ferry boats or ever been involved. The ferries were taken over by Mersey Travel. The Royal Iris has a royal tag because of a boat of same name (Iris) served at, I think, Zeebrugge in the first world war.

[@2H80vids]

@@philmcevoy7129 "𝑳𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒂𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒅." So what's Pier Head all about then? Just a big bus-stop beside the river? What about the ferries to the Isle of Man and Ireland? I seem to remember a few wee boats leaving Liverpool for the U.S. and some even arrived there from the Carribean Islands. I've no idea what petty, Mersyside rivalry has clouded your judgement but, if you were to look at the stern, you would notice the legend as follows: Royal Iris Liverpool.

[@dastrio8435]

Ok boomer

[@2H80vids]

@@dastrio8435 🥱 Best you could think of? Well done you. smfh.

[@ianrkav]

@@philmcevoy7129 Well it did go to the Pier Head Liverpool did it not? Perhaps that's why it was called the Liverpool ferry:-)

[@SvenTviking]

You’ll be glad to know that HMS Duke of York suffered absolutely no damage what so ever in the collision.

[@atsekoutsoube]

No matter the type or the size of a ship, it is always very sad to see her in this condition.

[@thetiredscot7821]

So she’s a Scottish Liverpudlian who started life in luxury and ended up broke spending the rest of her days on the Banks of the London Docklands.

[@jordandurham8951]

Sounds just like my ex - Wife...

[@cameronbelfield1363]

@@jordandurham8951 hahahaha

[@paulmcdonough1093]

@@jordandurham8951 yawn

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

Hah, funni. Kinda similar to Queen Mary 1 i guess. Scottish queen living in Luxury, now broke spending her days in 'MURICA.

[@nudibanches]

kiss of death for any boat when a "consortium buys" it.

[@denniseldridge2936]

Indeed, how many times have I heard that old saw about turning an old tub into a nightclub. On every level it stinks of a bad idea: The cost of maintaining a boat of that size is enormous, far more than any normal premises; the revenue from any nightclub activities would not cover the costs of running any operation, due to the limitations on number of customers; it's virtually guaranteed that many customers will fall over the side in a drunken stupor, or jump off for fun.

[@JagoHazzard]

The Tattersall Castle in London is notorious for destroying managers.

[@greenpedal370]

@@JagoHazzard I love that line "notorious for destroying managers"

[@peteacher52]

Yep! Like the original 'Elizabeth'.

[@paulmason4616]

@@denniseldridge2936 EXACTLY!

[@johnnyhollis9977]

Yes another sad ending to a little but much loved ferry...

[@ohwell2790]

You need to get a real girl if you have to be in love with such a ugly old rotting boat.

[@jimtaylor294]

^ Only a landlubber could state that :-P .

[@johnnyhollis9977]

@@jimtaylor294 Well said sir! :-)

[@kevinmanns7170]

@@jimtaylor294 Or an insensitive idiot !!

[@jimtaylor294]

@@kevinmanns7170 Aye; that too.

[@glenfordburrell9228]

No comment to make but here's one for the algorithm.

[@AldanFerrox]

Pull her onto dry land, turn her into a building, like the Japanese did with the old battleship Mikasa.

[@taztoon3387]

Turn it into a prison and put all the politicians in it 😊

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

@@taztoon3387 No. :) It's better to have it as a LITERAL (landlocked) house then a prison for Politicians.

[@redmondial]

So sad my Uncle used to be the captain of her ...his name was H. jones

[@macknights1911]

What a man! You must be very proud

[@redmondial]

I have a post card with him in his captains uniform , sadly I only remember his as a very old man who used to throw me old penny’s from his window so I could get some sweets on my way home from school. His brother my grandad’s claim to fame was he treated Rudolph Hess when he parachuted into Scotland during WW2 💪

[@redmondial]

Captain Hugh Jones

[@Gary0557]

redmondial He must have been gutted to see her end up like that.

[@redmondial]

He had passed away by the time she ended up in this sorry state. Funny how we all feel about ships isn’t it? I think it must come from are sea faring ancestors. I’m as sick as a dog at sea but love ships 🥴🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Bolivar2012able]

I AND OTHERS WOULD BE THE LAST PEOPLE TO PARTY ON THE ROYAL IRIS IN 1989 (as the Berlin wall came down). The Various NUS Unions in Liverpool booked her for several nights of Fish & Chips, dancing and Making Merry! Happy Memories! :)

[@JagoHazzard]

Awesome!

[@paulmason4616]

Chris Jones 1989 was also the year the Marchioness collided with dredger on the River Thames with the loss of 50 lives, an event which forced Mersey Ferries to retire the Royal Iris. There was dancing and merriment on the Marchioness too, and sadly the drinking and celebrating led to more deaths than would have been the case.

[@ianhelps3749]

It's easy to say "let's do her up for the tourists" , but from here she just looks too far gone. A shame.

[@JamesTheBell1]

The saddest part of all is that someone could quite easily walk past that boat and have no idea of its rich history.

[@volksquadman]

Rite of passage if you were a kid from either side of the Mersey to go on the Royal Iris or the Daffodil and hear the crackly 'Ferry cross the Mersey...' and see the Liver birds coming closer. Shame for a Royal to go eh?

[@redlioness6627]

Absolutely, not forgetting the old Mountwood, Woodchurch and Overchurch ferries.

[@thelexico5972]

I’ve stood next to this boat for over 7 years as I watched the Thames and never thought much of it. I’m so glad i stubbles across this video, as now I can truly appreciate the wreck for what it once was.

[@raymacadam661]

My Nan used to take me across the River Mersey on the ferry's to visit New Brighton and Egremont beaches in the 1960's on the Royal Daffodil and the Royal Iris. It was so sad to see how the Royal Iris has ended up. Very interesting video with lots of facts. I was surprised to see that the Beatles and Jerry Marsden appeared on it. It was the "Ferry Cross the Mersey".

[@heath2510ok]

So sad to see her like this I remember her from when I was little

[@fireaza]

"We've already tried 'turn it into a nightclub' and now we're all out of ideas!" -The businessmen of London

[@Murph9000]

With decades of no heavy maintenance, and a long period of the hull being flooded and awash in tidal salt water, the hull is quite likely to be thoroughly rotten by now (and probably quite a lot of structure also rotten or badly sagging). While steel ships can almost always be repaired, I suspect that repairing the hull to basic seaworthiness would be well into the millions (not the hundreds of thousands suggested). I could be wrong, but time and corrosion are very much against her unless the hull plating was remarkably heavy or the paint lasted remarkably well. It could be a significant challenge just to patch and refloat her to get her to a nearby dry dock.

[@gilgameshofuruk4060]

The "hundreds of thousands" in the video was the poster's at how much it would cost just to move the boat before any restoration could even begin. I can't imagine anyone rescuing the Royal Iris now. Very sad.

[@jimtaylor294]

Makes one wonder how the SS Great Britain was saved, considering she was at the Falklands (an infamous graveyard for ships), had been an abandoned hulk for decades, required complex salvage equipment and months to move, a permenant berth back in Bristol & years of restoration work... plus the UK economy was in the toilet at the time that she was returned home. I think that puts the fate of vessels like this into proper context, as well as how little society as a whole seems to value our maritime history these days... whilst mired in a can't do attitude. (not meant as an insult to anyone here, just a thought upon an unfortunate trend)

[@gilgameshofuruk4060]

@@jimtaylor294 The Great Britain had massive historical significance though, and could be relied upon to be a big tourist attraction. So it qualified for all sorts of grants and suchlike. Perhaps if the ferry was seaworthy she could have become part of The Beatles trail in Liverpool. She's still mentioned in the ferry commentary as "The Fish and Chip Boat" and the band's who played on her, but it doesn't mention her fate.

[@jimtaylor294]

@@gilgameshofuruk4060 I do agree overall, in that the Royal Iris would be a readier case for saving if she was still watertight... but Brunel's great ship was worth mentioning, as - like HMS Warrior - her condition was much worse... though ironically not quite as bad by proportion as the USS Texas deteriorated into due to inept mantainance, as Drachinifel illustrated some time ago.

[@gilgameshofuruk4060]

@@jimtaylor294 There's another Royal Iris abandoned up a canal/dock type thing near Birkenhead. I saw her from the bus last time I was staying in the area. I think she must be the one that replaced the one in this video. There are so many ships with significance that end up rotting somewhere. The last of the Porthmadoc schooners (beautifully elegant ships used in the slate export trade) was left to rot on a sandbank after being used as a barrage balloon mooring in the second world war. Those ships were acknowledged to be the best of their kind. It's only the big star names that get rescued.

[@trimmerman1]

The Queen and Prince Philip were passengers and it makes no difference. Rust kills ships. It takes 2 or 20 million bucks to pull a ship back from the abyss. It must be worth it. It must. Ships live and they die. A single ship can have millions of people with fond memories, but it doesn't pay the bills. It must have a job that makes a profit, or or it dies at it's berth.

[@CrusaderSports250]

If it was someone's pile of bricks the lottery fund would help, but a historic ship? no chance,, problem is when its gone, its gone for good, a pile of bricks is still a " site off" so tourists can visit the gift shop!.

[@Kiinell]

Paul Mccartney could afford to do it.

[@None-zc5vg]

...but he needs all those millions.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Jake Haynes what hair colour got to do with it ? Oh let me guess, you like making personal comments about people because of the way they look. How childish.

[@jimtaylor294]

He could do it... but like Prince Charles when the Mine Hunter he'd once served on - HMS Bronington - needed a saviour... I see nothing happening. (Bronington's fate is all too similar to the Royal Iris, though her former armament & some of her internal fittings were preserved some years ago, by the initiative of her crew vet's association)

[@paulmason4616]

@@jimtaylor294 Kinnel - There are hundreds of ideas for Mr McCartney to spend his money. His money has gone towards the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. Neither he nor Ringo are going to bail out the Royal Iris its a non-starter.

[@jimtaylor294]

^ Your opinion is noted, but rejected.

[@johnmccaig9727]

This boat was painted green and yellow and was known as “Cabbage and Custard” in the Liverpool I lived in the 1960’s. It was known for its cruises beyond the the “bar” into waters where the UK licensing laws didn’t apply. I recall that the ferries across the Mersey had bars aboard that opened when the mooring ropes were released and closed when the boat tied up. This enabled people to avoid the licensing laws during the day by staying on the ferry !

[@iansouthward4003]

Oh thats sad, I went on her so many times as a kid to New Brighton......

[@paulmann1440]

Spent many happy years as a kid riding on her across and then latterly up and down the Mersey with my Grandad. Happy days they were too and SO sad to see her abandoned like this :-(

[@lamportnholt9509]

Our group "The Hiltons" used to play on her regular...along with the "Golden Guinea Club" New Brighton over the water and the "River Rooms" on the Pier Head...All gone now....The Guinea is a Wetherspoons like everywhere else..........

[@JagoHazzard]

philip stien Man, turning into a Wetherspoons isn’t much better than sinking.

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

Love that, was this in the early 60s?

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

@@JagoHazzard I don't think he meant the boat

[@caturlifelive]

Wow😲

[@paulmcdonough1093]

I remember going on it in the 80s on the mersey having a disco on board and the isle of man ferry was sailing out at the same time it created a huge wake in the river the iris nearly capsized drinking glasses smashed everywhere.

[@cecilwilson5442]

Sad ending for a gracious old girl who had a great lifestyle with tens off thousands of fond memories,, from people who were passengers in the sea fairing days,, good video enjoyed it,, from Northern Ireland greatly appreciated thank you, 😁😁☘️☘️☘️☘️

[@lordmuntague]

Travelled on this in the 80s, college booze cruise with disco, great fun when you're 18. Much as I'd love to see her restored and brought home, Liverpool City Region (who now control Merseytravel) have been starved of investment money as it is. BTW, that yellow livery is Wallasey Corporation "sea green", as the ferries with flower names were originally part of Wallasey Corporation, and those with place names like Woodchurch and Overchurch were Birkenhead Corporation. The story goes that a rep from the paint company visited Seaview Road bus depot looking for the manager, at that time a Mr Green. Finding the depot empty save for a fitter clanging away beneath a bus, the rep asked " What name do you want to call this paint colour?" The disinterested fitter replied "I dunno, see Green!"...

[@lynnemorris7516]

I can remember going on the Royal Iris on a school trip, I don't think I had ever been on a big boat before. I can remember being so excited, as far as I was concerned I was going out on the ocean. So sad to see her rotting away as she is thank you for posting it.

[@glynnwright1699]

Me too, early sixties, my primary school hired a complete train from Stockport for a day out in New Brighton.

[@robnunya572]

Thank you so much for referring to Royal Iris as 'she'. It sounds so wrong when people call vessels 'it'.

[@ohwell2790]

That is one ugly girl and it is after all an old dirty sinking bitch.

[@retrorevival1]

I find it particularly strange and archaic that we continue to refer to inanimate objects with feminine pronouns. it is an "it".

[@adamlea6339]

I find it strange that humans genderise objects and get incredibly emotionally attached to things that have obviously had their day. Sometimes vehicles and buildings become surplus to requirement and should be scrapped/knocked down. I can't see the logic in leaving things to rot away. It is like the Brighton West pier, all the talk of restoring it when only a fraction of the frame was left, it was so far gone restoring it would mean it wouldn't be the same pier, it would be a new one. Save the emotional connections for fellow humans and animals.

[@Fix-N-Ride]

Because it is wet down below?

[@jimtaylor294]

Only landlubbers could be so dispassionate about vessels. Boats and Ships are female in British tradition, as in many other seafaring nations. A funny detail about the Bismarck was that her captain referred to the ship as "he", but the crew disapproved, referring to their home as "she" instead. Heck: in Russia their word for Boat is feminine in tense. (though conversely their word for Ship is male... for some reason)

[@MARKETMAN6789]

Our works in trafford park Manchester organised an outing on this boat .it was alright for mixed couples but no single girls on it . just got drunk

[@clivedavies3]

Pity I've travelled on her but looking at the state of her now it's time to put her out of her misery RIP old girl.

[@phil3380]

Tragic, I remember her so well and as a scouser made many many trips on her.. we lost Manxman eventually due to consortiums not working out.. if I win the lottery I would bring her home and return her to the people of Merseyside

[@paulmason4616]

You won't have much of your lottery fortune left if it went on towing a part submerged wreck 1000 miles to Liverpool.

[@HonestMan112]

Moral of the story: floating nightclubs aren't a good idea 😂

[@annother3350]

I love boat parties though - nobody can go home early!!

[@stashyjon]

In Bristol we have The Thekla, an old Dutch coaster, Nightclub, concert venue and bar in the day. VERY successful. She used to be owned by Viv Stanshall from The Bonzo The Dog Band. There used to be another, The MV Locheil, which was also a popular venue, but that was victim of an ownership dispute which lead to her being towed away and scraped by one owner to spite the other.

[@royfearn4345]

Actually, the really bad idea is to let a consortium turn her into a tax evasion venture.

[@irongoatrocky2343]

In Seattle WA USA we hones had a similar ferry, The MV Kalakla, the following is an excerpt from her Wikipedia page: Motor Vessel Kalakala (pronounced /kəˈlɑːkəˌlɑː/) was a ferry that operated on Puget Sound from 1935 until her retirement in 1967. MV Kalakala was notable for her unique streamlined superstructure, art deco styling, and luxurious amenities. The vessel was a popular attraction for locals and tourists, and was voted second only to the Space Needle in popularity among visitors to Seattle during the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. The ship is known as the world's first streamlined vessel for her unique art deco styling. After retiring from passenger service in 1967, the ship was beached in Kodiak, Alaska, and converted to a shrimp cannery. In 1998, the ship was refloated and towed to Puget Sound with the owner hoping to restore the ship. During this time, the ship continued to deteriorate, with the Coast Guard declaring the ship a hazard to navigation in 2011. Unable to raise the funds required for restoration, the ship was scrapped in 2015.

[@lmrandlette]

All vessels have a limited useful life, as endearing as their designs and stories may be. In Washington State Kalakala is just one of thousands of old derelict vessels that ultimately were removed at great public expense. They pose hazards to navigation and sources of water pollution, not a worthy legacy.

[@khamsinshamal7988]

Sad to see when previously proud and unique boats/ ships fall victim to neglect and decay.

[@markstuckey6639]

Yes and she's uniquely beautiful.

[@neilbain8736]

People have no idea of the sheer costs involved in resurrecting a ship, even in static use. The Queen Mary may be of interest here, although her story is at a definite tangent, but she did spend many years on the Thames near Waterloo Bridge. She is really the first Queen Mary, of 1933, the big liner currently in Long Beach is actually from 1936. The story about Cunard's diplomatic gaff with George V's missus may have some credence. This is where they sought permission to call their new ship after Britain's greatest queen or some such vague phrase but meaning Queen Victoria, to which the king pointedly said that his wife would be most pleased. However the already named ship was a highly respected and fast pleasure steamer, sailing from the centre of Glasgow past John Brown's shipyard where the liner was incomplete on the stocks. And most of the Glaswegians aboard were shipyard workers who would know a thing or two about which ship they were on- certainly on the outward leg of their journey ( before the beer set in )- and who probably worked on the liner. So no one can say they didn’t know there already was a Queen Mary. My grandad was a foreman welder at John Brown's, worked on the liner, and lived opposite the yard. The pleasure steamer's owners (Williamson-Buchanan Turbine Steam Syndicate Ltd?), in the end and did come to a settlement where they would call their ship Queen Mary II, and the liner would thus save face, but the original Queen Mary would also get a nice oil painting of HRH Queen Mary to hang in the saloon. In the 1977 jubilee Year Queen Mary II was allowed to be called Queen Mary and sailed as that till the end of the season when she was withdrawn as uneconomic. She was sold to the Thames to replace the Caledonia as a venue at Waterloo Bridge which had been all but destroyed in a fire. However, before the Queen Mary could be removed, there was an odd rite performed. On her funnel were lions rampant ( steel lion emblems on the funnel- the logo of Caledonian McBrayne her then owners ) and for some reason there was a heraldic ruling that they had to be removed before she could leave Scotland. Actually the only way to get her under Waterloo Bridge was to remove the funnel anyway and it was replaced with two that were used a kiosk and ventilator shaft. She spent many years there and returned to the Clyde about three years ago where she is in active preservation for static use. paddlesteamers.info/Turbine%20Steamers/QueenMary.htm

[@greebo7857]

You'd think that Paul and Ringo might be interested. After all, it'd be petty cash to them.

[@AnthonyHandcock]

It's probably a better songwriter and drummer respectively. Too much competition.

[@paulmason4616]

In your dreams, Sunbeam!

[@curtislowe4577]

I watched this because of the title. Yes, I'm that old.

[@frankhornby6873]

Curtis Lowe ....yeah like me.....old but blessed....👍🏻💙

[@WeaselKing1000]

Just saying...the title of the song is intended to be read as 'Ferry, Cross the Mersey'. It's asking the ferry to cross the Mersey. The 'cross' is not - as so many people seem to think - short for 'across'; it's not just describing a 'ferry across the Mersey'.

[@sapphireseptember]

Oh, this makes me feel sad. Such a shame to see such a lovely boat rusting away like this. 😥 Things can be saved though! The Falcon Inn (Oliver Cromwell's favourite pub) was in a terrible state until someone bought it and restored it, and now it's a lovely place (although haven't been there for a while because of obvious reasons.)

[@nilsholgerson4958]

Nothings lasts forever.

[@iankemp1131]

The difference is, unfortunately, the Falcon Inn can't sink.

[@likklej8]

Sad to see an old lady of British Marine Engineering going to waste.

[@paulmason4616]

Greater ships have gone for scrap.

[@likklej8]

Paul Mason True there is preservation of railway locomotives, but little of our marine heritage,ok ships. get sold on to other nations and restoring is expensive.

[@paulmason4616]

@@likklej8 When a ship is in its normal usage dry docking and overhauling is essential. Preservation is a different matter , the funds are not there and corrosion damages metal. Even the Queen Mary and SS United States will sink eventually

[@likklej8]

Paul Mason you are right but many products of British engineering go to scrap. I realise the funds aren’t as forthcoming as railways. Respect to you and thank you kindly for the information and reply.

[@kevinmanns7170]

@@paulmason4616 The Queen Mary can't sink as she's already sitting on the river/harbour bed. Her fuel and water tanks are filled with mud for ballast. She's going nowhere !!

[@davidhargreaves3586]

What a shame no Liverpudlian millionaire/billionaire can’t rescue a bit of Liverpool’s history.

[@iainsmith7775]

why oh why can't we get a lottery grant to bring her back home and do the same what was done to Danial Adams i am sure there would be a host of people that give up some of there time to bring her back to her former glory

[@TheGalwayFarmer]

Check out the current series of Salvage Hunters Restorers. One of her benches from the top deck gets a makeover. Apparently they would float and act as temporary buoyancy aids if the ship sank.

[@redmondial]

The did as do the one on the Current ferry from what I remember ...You will NEVER believe the capacity of the ferry boats ... it’s like circa 800 ... google it 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@jerryrigsit5400]

India is calling her home...to be reincarnated as rebar or some such.

[@steveh4290]

This ferry looks like that abandoned McDonalds that was used for the Expo in Vancouver, Canada, which stood drifting aimlessly for years.

[@steveh4290]

Mate, you've no idea how much I love your channel. It's full of so much quirky info. I'm a HUGE fan of anything underground, so your tube tales vids are some of my fav. I've just got done watching you walk throu the tunnel under the Thames.

[@JagoHazzard]

Thanks! Really glad you’re enjoying it! It still kind of amazes me that people watch my videos.

[@JagoHazzard]

Thanks! Really glad you’re enjoying it! It still kind of amazes me that people watch my videos.

[@kanedaku]

I love the McDonalds barge. Shame what happened to it. I was shocked when I watched Blade Trinity for the first time and it was their hideout.

[@steveh4290]

Simon Tedeschi - I love the Blade films, although the 3rd is not too good, I didn't even realise the barge was used till I read it on wiki.

[@seanmcdonald5859]

"What we want is a ferry, something robust and functional for 300 passengers at a time" "No problems . . .we have a few designs in mind . . . "With a ballroom" "Im sorry . . .what??" Shipwri

[@beeble2003]

Wikipedia says she was licensed to carry 2300 passengers in ferry service, which is insane.

[@jimkreiling9166]

It really is a sad story. Such an inglorious ending.

[@lancechinnian4043]

How tragic. But what a lovely tribute ...

[@Lutonmick]

What a sad tale,Interesting video as usual Mr Hazzard👍

[@dinmorejunctionmodelrailway]

A little bit of history slipping away from us I fear. 🚂🚃🚃🚃

[@paulhorn2665]

Sad that the ship is rotten. A nice vessel.

[@Asomodai]

The boat was also used by Red 1 Airsoft for Airsoft games in 2016. However it only happened for 3-4 months before closing. The amount of work needed to the boat to make it safe for Airsofting was just not economical.

[@haraldlorentzen40]

How do you even collide with something the size of a battleship? Would like to know how that happened in the first place...

[@JagoHazzard]

Me too!

[@jimtaylor294]

Better question: How does an unarmoured Ferry collide with a Battleship... and surrvive?. In that the Royal Iris is clearly a mighty vessel... worthy of a change in fortune. (weirder things have happened)

[@blethigg9320]

Probably the only hope for this boat is for a billionaire to have it restored as a hobby.

[@MrJoeyWheeler]

I feel like there's potential for her to be a Beatles museum.

[@RonWylie-gk5lc]

She is far more famous for Gerry and the Pacemakers, the song will go on forever

[@garymills6702]

@@pgtmr2713 Haha very witty! Though she looks like a semi-submersible already!

[@martinmargerrison2300]

Did the lifebelts resemble hubcaps ? Just asking. 🤔🍻👍

[@johnburns4017]

The Royal Iris continued the name of the previous ferry also name Royal Iris. The Mersey ferry boats are very strong and powerful to navigate the powerful currents in the deep water River Mersey. They are so strong they have been known to run alongside large ships then push them sidewards to safety. Two of the Mersey ferries, the Iris and the Daffodil, were chosen for the Zebrugge raid in WW1. After WW1 the ships were awarded and allowed to have the title _Royal_ before their names.

[@paulmason4616]

Merseytravel, who run the ferries are considering two new vessels which could carry passengers and hold functions. These would be the Royal Iris 2 and Royal Daffodil 2. However COVID 19 has stalled the plans.

[@dodgydruid]

I met Acker Bilk when my daughter was at junior school and he sat watching the school as a guest of the headmistress do a play of Joseph and the technicolour coat and he was saying my girl had such a clean, clear singing voice that should be trained and heard, he was a often seen celeb here in the sleepy town of Gillingham in Dorset and I remember my daughter saying to me "who was that old man you and the headmistress was talking to" and I said just about one of the most famous people in Britain then she went all self conscious when I told her about his praise. He used to have a nightclub in Chislehurst caves once upon a time and we had a good ol' chinwag about that place, the acoustics, the ability for naughty boys and girls to sneak off for a bit o' slap and tickle and more often than not many would find a place to fall asleep and have to be let out in the morning hehe

[@paulmason4616]

Whats this got to do with the Royal Iris?

[@misstakenot9582]

@@paulmason4616 Acker Bilk played the Royal Iris.

[@paulmason4616]

@@misstakenot9582 In Mr Watsons post there is no mention of the Royal Iris. I think it was his intention to post it under an Acker Bilk KZbin clip.

[@misstakenot9582]

@@paulmason4616 Look at the poster at 1:35

[@paulmason4616]

@@misstakenot9582 I see the poster but Acker Bilk is not the subject of the clip, and neither are the Beatles or Gerry and the Pacemakers.

[@ljhm6816]

Paper boat's they always were, candyfloss idea's soon melt away.

[@jacobsaid6263]

Who else played airsoft on this boat 🤣🤣👍

[@marstondavis]

Listen to 'Ferry 'cross the Mersey' again. It's a great song. It brings back some pleasant memories to me. See what you think.

[@frankhornby6873]

Marston Davis .....Liverpool...the place I love.......and here I'll stay.....💙

[@johncodling9805]

I remember working on her as a welder, doing some repair work one of the other trades set the engine room on fire, not too much damage as we all helped to contained it.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Thats a shock to see. Used to go on that, a private party hired it once or twice a year, we had a disco and booze, lots of birds to chat up as it sailed for hours. Brilliant fun, happy memories. Genuinely didnt know about its fate. Sad to see this.

[@EdOeuna]

She hasn’t been holed under the water line. That’s all the stolen wheels shifting below decks.

[@whaleybridgebrewery5409]

I was fortunate to be a member of the audience on the Mersey Pirate as a 14yr old, one Saturday morning, our Wythenshawe Youth Cub took us by coach to Birkenhead. Hosted by Dougie Brown the guests included Don Estelle & Windsor Davies, Bev Bevan ELO and punk band The Ruts. Sad to see her in this state, thanks for bringing back lovely memories.

[@JagoHazzard]

Great to hear from people who knew the ship in her glory days!

[@paulmason4616]

The Mersey Pirate was broadcast on ITV Saturday mornings in the summer of 1979. I remember hearing IOM Steam Packet whistles blowing in the background Unfortunately ITV staff went on strike ending the show prematurely.

[@1974UTuber]

Such an interesting shape to the front end. Almost looks like one of thise rubber shoes they call Crocks

[@redlioness6627]

This was THE original Boaty McBoatface before Boaty McBoatface was ever thought of lol.

[@natehill8069]

How do you not notice a battleship? Really effective camouflage paint?

[@jimtaylor294]

To be fair... HMS Warspite and Revenge are famous for actions where they got the drop on unsuspecting foes... in Warspite's case repeatedly. (whilst having a career where she rammed & was rammed a lot, including once by a passenger ship)

[@pouchyplanner8290]

I worked on Cardiff docks and in the mid 90s she was berthed on Bells wharf. She was there for ages and I was fascinate with this vessel. Wondering what was her history.(no internet then) this takes me back.

[@kathrynspringett7994]

Royal Iris came back in Business

[@johnmulligan7609]

I’ve been on this lots of times over the years, so sad to see her like this.

[@kentrobison588]

I'm getting emotional.

[@1963TOMB]

One of my favorite drinking places in London is the SS Tattershall Castle which is moored up near Embankment station. It was one of the ferries that used to cross the River Humber prior to the bridge being built in the 1970s which has allowed even more commoners to enter the glorious county of Lincolnshire.

[@JagoHazzard]

A friend of mine in the pub trade was offered the post of manager on the Tattershall Castoe, but declined. Apparently in the industry it’s known as “the manager killer.”

[@philroberts7238]

@@JagoHazzard No, that's Watford FC!

[@JagoHazzard]

Heyoooooo!

[@MIK33EY]

I must’ve seen that ship a thousand times over whilst walking along the river to Woolwich and have always wondered about it, so thanks for the history lesson. I have also always thought that it deserves better than to be flooded every time the tide rises or left sitting in the mud at low tide. I can confirm the stern sinks below the waterline in very high tides, so indeed must be holed as you said. 🙂✌🏼

[@Fiddling_while_Rome_burns]

Seen her many time when cycling along the river front, always wondered what she was doing there.... One corrections she's on a mud bank in South East London, not East London as stated in the vid.

[@Fiddling_while_Rome_burns]

@Charley Fig East, Saaf and Saaf East, three different worlds.

[@yakacm]

One of the gay clubs in Liverpool hired her at least once and put on an event called Fairies on the Ferry, lol. Some decent bands played there in the later 70's early 80's punk/new wave era, I had some good nights on the boat in the 80's, 1 night in particular stands out because it was roasting, and watching the sun go down with a wee drinkies could have been the South of France or something instead of Birkenhead and Bootle we were cruising past, lol.

[@soulman1419]

So sad remember going on this boat as a kid. Sadly times change.

[@thethinker8805]

I remember seeing this ship and taking a trip across the mersey in it. So sad to see the way its ended up. But I have many happy memories

[@fp30e]

I have been on her 100's of times. A very nice Ferry. Someone has done a video at low tide, where they walk around the ferry, it looks like the side plates of the vessel may have given way and I think that's how the water was getting in, there was no evidence of a hole in her hull, just cracks in her plates.

[@mozdickson]

Brilliantly done I say. Humans, use and discard stuff. Interesting fact - I crossed the Thames near Woolich in 2018, and saw the Mersey the following week. Saw no Beatles or Hermits.

[@mrgrizzlyrides]

Sad video of a proud and beautiful ship. Still, I’ve got my fingers crossed a miracle happens and she can be saved.

[@mikeh5168]

Call sir Paul McCartney....call Georges wife,call all of them.....richard Branson likes a challenge...there are ways...ask prince to do a public service announcement......

[@Nansen1981]

I travelled on this beautiful ship many times during my summer holidays as a kid thanks to my mum. My dad was working all hours for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company on their floating plant. Sometimes the Skipper of the ship he was on, would let him take me to work with him, great memories, so sad to see this.

[@yusufturner1971]

Very sad considering her place in modern Post war history! 😟 I can only hope that someone with the cash and the interest also views your excellent KZbin channel! 👏🏼👍🏼

[@Lighting_Desk]

Kinda reminds me of the boat that used to be a nightclub on the river Tyne.

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

Yes that was left to rot too, exactly the same story

[@paulmcdonough1093]

Liverpool is a great port though it as real history newcastle doesnt

[@kevinmanns7170]

The Newcastle boat was called the Tuxedo junction. I went on it in the mid eighties when it was a nightclub. Being from Liverpool myself, I've also been on the Royal Iris. I remember going on it in the early eighties with my then girlfriend on a cruise around Liverpool bay. It's a total tragedy to see her end up like this. It wouldn't have happened if she was still on the Mersey....where she belongs !!

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

@@kevinmanns7170 tuxedo express, yes, couldn't remember it's name

[@ThStg]

Such a VERY SAD SHAME!!! 😢😪😢😪 what is left of her. I don't remember ever travelling on her I do remember travelling on the other famous ferries DAFFODIL, MOUTWOOD, OVERCHURCH I think there was another but, sadly I can't remember the name of her. But, it is so VERY, VERY SAD!!! to see in the state of neglect. 😢😪😢😪😢. If I was a multimillionaire I would have her fully restored & overhauled. & back on the Mersey doing what she did best. But, sadly I am not a multimillionaire not even close to one.( I know, why say something that very unlikly to happen nice to think it dream I suppose) So, I am very disheartened by the way she is & what's happened to her. Just simply left to rust away. .

[@thisperson5294]

So sad. Ferries to New Brighton as a kid... So many Liverpool things lost. But at least they saved the Albert Dock. ❤

[@alternativeradioUK]

We used to gig on the Royal Iris in 1980s. Great ship. Sad to see it like that.

[@crossleydd42]

Although not a Mersey Ferry, MV Royal Daffodil was another ship which used the Thames area for pleasure purposes, for some years. I recall in the mid 1950s taking a couple of voyages to Calais on booze trips. Of course, I never touched a drop! She was eventually scrapped in Holland, I think.

[@madmackets]

Its a shame as they'e been sailing since 1906. They defended our nation! The ferries Iris and Daffodil, built in 1906, took part in the top secret attack on Zeebrugge, Belgium, on April 23, 1918, which aimed to prevent German U-boats from attacking Allied shipping in the English Channel and the south west approaches to the UK. The raid involved over 75 ships and submarines - and the ferries were used because they could carry large numbers of Marines and sailors in shallow waters. Both Iris and Daffodil sustained significant damage in the raid but both managed to return home - although Iris had been hit by numerous shells and just about limped back.

[@northMOFN]

The story reminds me of both the MV Queen of Sidney, a similarly derelict passenger & car ferry moored on the Fraser River east of Vancouver BC Canada, and the McBarge, a floating McDonalds restaurant built for the 1986 World's Fair that has been passing from owner to owner for a number of abortive commercial re-uses ever since.

[@JoeStudd96]

She was also arguably the birthplace of Blue Peter, as well. Truly a historic vessel but sadly, as you say, I don't think she's long for this world.

[@PortCharmers]

According to Douglas Adams' The Deeper Meaning of Liff - a dictionary of things there aren't any words for yet: "Zeerust (n): The particular kind of datedness that afflicts things that were originally designed to look futuristic". Reminds me of the fate of Kalakala and Manxman.

[@nevillemason6791]

The poster for a 1961 concert on board with the Beatles as the support act had tickets costing 8 shillings and 6 pence. In decimal coinage that's 42.5p. Allowing for inflation, in today's terms that's about £9.

[@pooleywooley]

Such a shame to see this as I have very fond memories of the Royal Iris when I was growing up in Liverpool during the 60's and 70's! When I was around 10 or 11 years old one of my older sisters was dating the captain of the Royal Iris and he he let me come onto the bridge and actually take hold of the large, steering wheel for a minute, I was well chuffed! I can also remember going to a 'Blacklers' (used to be a large department store in Lpool City Centre) annual staff party aboard the Royal Iris, this was back in 1977 when I was 17 years old and I went along with my first girlfriend, a couple of good friends and their girlfriends, we weren't even adults but we thought we were so grown up attending a private party on the Royal Iris! LOL Happy memories. :-)

[@rich12015]

So great to hear the history of this boat. Every time I'm in the area I check it out wishing I could fix it up. Had no idea it had such a long history. Thanks for the video :)

[@dancedecker]

What a potentially terrible end for such an historic, iconic and much loved vessel. Maybe a "crowd funded" appeal might get her future afloat again? Not sure how you go about that, but maybe someone who does....!! Just a suggestion.

[@zivkovicable]

Is Liverpool really bad at keeping it's rock heritage? Knocking down the original Cavern seems like an act of jaw dropping stupidity. Then again London lost the Marquee.

[@redlioness6627]

So sad, I have many memories of the Royal Iris, my Nan had her retirement party from the MPTE there in 1975 after they found out her real age (75), yup, they thought she was younger than 60 as they would have retired her at 60 so I am guessing she had told them that she was still in her 50's as I know she would have carried on working had they not forced her in to retirement. A whole generation of Merseysiders have grown up without her in their lives and so probably don't realise her significance to us and therefore probably don't and won't ever care, but for many of us old f****rs still kicking, she is like a part of our very lives, she is like on of the family. Thanks for this video, it makes a change from your usual London based videos were I learn about something I never knew until now, in this case I learn what happened to a local icon from where I am originally from although I now live in Manchester.