MV Royal Iris

[@fhilsteele681]

This ferry has the look of a solid old, beautiful workhorse. Built to do a job by people who knew what they where doing. I feel that her shape and history are iconic and that the City of Liverpool should have her in a museum a.s.a.p.

[@Cartoonman154]

I believe that the guitarist from Frankie Goes to Holywood tried to buy it but the owner wouldn't allow it go back to Liverpool.

[@paulmason4616]

While I agree with the first two sentences NO ONE is prepared to stump up the cost of a 1000mile coastwise tug tow and insurance cost. Liverpool Council has other calls on public funds. Even multi millionaires baulk at the cost of saving this or any other vessel.qq

[@trueblue2124]

How sad- had many trips as a kid on this lovely ferry- and as a teenager went on a few dance nights on it - happy memories - - - - thank you for sharing -

[@robertsetz]

A sad state of affairs for a well known and well loved vessel (at least, well known where I'm from). For my first few summers of the early 50's, I played on the beach between New Brighton and Egremont shore, and was to see every ship that entered, left, or cruised the River Mersey in daylight hours. I loved the look and "mystique" of ships of all designs - mystique in the wonder of where they'd been or more so for a young boy, where they were going! On some days, you could smell the exotic aroma of the fruit boats (no pun intended toward my old shipmates!). I would spend hours then, "digging my heel in" - making huge pictures of tankers, dredgers, ferries and cargo boats in the sand with my heel - complete with rigging and flags! Whilst you could smell some ships on the wind, one boat you could smell and HEAR was the Royal Iris! She'd often have a drifting wake or pre-aroma of another intoxicating blend (for some) of diesel, pipe - tobacco smoke, ladies perfumes, beer and ozone! She would cruise from Liverpool Pier Head and I would see her regularly loaded to the gunnels with people having a daytrip to New Brighton or to the local Wirral Peninsular. At night as I lay in my bed, I could HEAR the feint thrum of a crowd growing in volume before fading away at the same constant rate. That'd be the "Fish 'n Chip Boat" (the same Royal Iris) leaving New Brighton Pier or the Pier Head holding a floating dance and with the band in full swing. I was born and lived within 200 yards of the Mersey's edge so the Royal Iris was "loudest" at night and in line with the bottom of my road. The only other similar sound (but much louder) was that of the occasional night game at Everton - their ground also being on the opposite riverbank from the bottom of my road. Now, as I look at the sad state of what I have come to see as an iconic piece of art as well as a well loved, well used ferryboat that was part of the local seascape, I can't help but be flooded with memories of snapshot times and sunny days of my early boyhood. She is 65 years old this coming Christmastime - I am 62 in May. She did well! Thousands, if not millions will remember her and associate her with bright, exciting times. Days of hope! It may be that she's too tired to continue - ships don't often reach 60 and stay ahead of the scrapyard! From my own experience (the fascination took me to ships and the sea for a good few years!] the cost of refurbishment may well approach rebuild costs and at the very least, maintenance costs (fighting rust) would be ongoing and horrendous. As I see her now, in my own full adulthood, I think that a brand new replica - NOT a version - called Royal Iris II and in her original yellow/buff and blue and green livery would be a great venture for a wealthy person or group. Looking again at this beautiful vessel, particularly in photographs of her disarray, you can see the bare unpainted beauty of all of her curves and fashionplates. Even so close to death as she may be, her innate beauty, given to her by the designers and architects and the working men of Dumbarton in Scotland, stands out more than in most other ships and boats I have known. I see the same iconography I saw at New Brighton Lido or in Bauhaus design. I see the late 20's/early 30's Art Deco period but yet futuristic. I never noticed this beauty as a boy, she looked a liitle "odd" to me then with her whaleback forrard and French curves aft! Now that I look hard and know that we may lose her, I see that beauty clearly shining in every (though surprisingly few) picture of her - distressed or brand new. The Royal Iris is a thing of classical beauty and like swathes of others, I'm pleased to have been around and aboard her. If she must die, she'll join a huge cast of bygone players whose figuring in our lives, however remote, will never be forgotten. Ever.

[@MaRkL1n]

I went on a Rock n' Roll Sea cruise on the Royal Iris in 1976 Adrian Henry was the MC and the band was 'Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets' - It was a great night, I was picked up by a lovely Scouse girl several years older than I was.

[@steviedee1st]

Wish Sir Paul could see this Haunting Video and help us to bring her back to her Liverpool Home.

[@Train115]

It's quite sad, because The Beetles played on the ship, yet it's not a museum ship. I personally think it should be saved, like if you agree.

[@barbaraannecortina7899]

you've spelt the Beatles wrong, you bell-end! Not just that, but, when referring to the ship, you should be saying 'she' and 'her'

[@paulmason4616]

@@barbaraannecortina7899 There is a tribute band called the Beetles.

[@NeilGriffin]

I actually spent an afternoon on the Royal Iris in 1957 sailing from New Brighton out to the bar. Check out my video Thames Walk 2012 - it breaks my heart to see her in this state - surely McCartney can sort something out - his band the Beatles played on her 3 times - he owes it to Liverpool.

[@kap0928]

Shame to see this , surely there is some one who can bring her back home to the Mersey , great video by the way ...

[@VaultPete]

THIS BOAT WAS PART OF MY CHILDHOOD, HAVING BEEN ON IT SEVERAL TIMES.CRYING SHAME TO SEE IT,IN THIS SORRY STATE,SO EASY FOR PEOPLE TO TURN A BLIND EYE ON THINGS THESE DAYS.SAD,VERY SAD.

[@andrewpeters3461]

i have childhood memories of sailing on it on the mersey many years ago.it shouldn't of been allowed to be left to rack and ruin.would be great if it was rescued

[@joergn83]

Nice looking boat, sad.

[@liverpoolbellend]

I saw the Farm and Ted Chippington with the great John Peel in the mid 80s on a river cruise on the Royal Iris,great days.

[@georgebamber6871]

I read that the queen, Prince Philip were on it and the beatles and gerry and the pacemakers performed on this boat its a real shame how it is now

[@FM60260]

If this goes back to liverpool, would Royal Iris (of the mersey) be renamed back to Mountwood?

[@davidchung5643]

Should never left her home town...LIVERPOOL and the Mersey 😢

[@paulspalace]

Childhood memories of sailing on her, she was always my favourite and its heartbreaking to see left in this state. Maybe McCartney should get his hands in his pocket and donate after all the Beatles played on her back in the 60's.

[@peterjones2650]

So where is the Royal Iris layed up and any news about rescuing her ?

[@barbaraannecortina7899]

Firstly, 'laid' is spelt L.A.I.D and secondly the ship is, as far as I know, laid up on the Thames and if so much money wasn't WASTED on the oversized puppets that toured Liverpool a few years ago, there might have been a chance of saving her. But then, you know what Liverpool City Council are like - wasting the council tax on so-called road improvements.

[@jesusoflubeck9278]

barbara cortina Those "oversized puppets" you refer to brought millions to the city and do you expect roads to go to rack and ruin? There are plenty of Mersey ferries lying idle in birkenhead why waste millions adding another the iris has never been laid up or down it's merely berthed...

[@sambamford9609]

Shes still there

[@FreedomLovingLoyalist]

she's still there.

[@Cartoonman154]

I believe that the guitarist from Frankie Goes to Holywood tried to buy it but the owner wouldn't allow it go back to Liverpool.

[@roaklin]

luckly for her she in a shallow harbor that she is out of the water when the tide goes out, but that a mixed blessing. She needs help fast or she will start having other problems.

[@benkirkbride649]

I wish someone would have a heart and look at that ship and think I'm going to restore that beauty and have her running on the Mersey with the rest of them. I wish I could do that but I'm only 16

[@colintuffs568]

Well said young man . May your interest in your heritage never wane 😅

[@Richie979]

They Shoot hoses don't they?

[@birkonian]

I hear there are plans for refurbishment by the current owner which would include spending some time on the Mersey every year. Let's hope it all works out. The Royal Iris should never have been sold off in the first place. There was a bus shaped like the Royal Iris in the 1960's. Does anyone remember it?

[@malcolmcurran6156]

If I won a few Bob on the lotto I would bring her home and restore her

[@geysir17]

5/5 great job but sad fate just forgoten ship

[@Richie979]

So Sad

[@scottradley9721]

you can't have her running again she ran a farewell cruise (that means that was the last time she ever saled.

[@Andres-qw1xp]

:)