Port of Preston Documentary, Lancashire, UK - 1968

[@chrismutch5990]

I remember as a little girl in the 50’s and 60’s watching these big ships coming down the river into Preston Docks. The sailors would wave at us on the bank, having a picnic and paddling with our mum in charge. We had to be careful of the “wash” that came up on the bank at “Little Blackpool” 😃They were lovely innocent times , egg butties and a bottle of pop ! A real treat in those days 🥰 Happy memories ☺️

[@brianesmithobefilmmaker]

Great memories, thank you very much for sharing.

[@Flooky659]

I remember the "ship of shame " the manxman ferry which was moored at Preston dock as a nightclub in the 1980s, went into one of the bars one night and saw Kenny Baker of r2d2 fame sitting on the bar ! . Good memories.

[@posei3960]

We sailed to Ireland on the Bardic ferry around 1964 for a family holiday. My dad was friends with the Captain, think he was called Johnson or Johnston

[@grahamhenshaw5782]

Happy memories. I worked for Northern Ireland Trailers in 1968. Remember the Bardic Ferry and Dorvic Ferry. My office overlooked the docks so I had a good view. Geest unloaded on the other side of the dock where they had a large warehouse which has now been converted to flats. A huge amount of timber and wood pulp also came into the port.

[@brianesmithobefilmmaker]

Thanks for sharing this info.

[@paulheald3099]

Hello you wouldnt happen to remember my father Mr Francis {Frank} Heald he worked for the same company he drove a green vauxhall viva originally from Crumpsall Manchester but living in Layton Blackpool . I am his son and remenber clearly going out on day runs with him . He used to park his car in the corner of the yard on a raised bit of ground .

[@douglasvick9703]

Super film. Thanks. My whole working life is Lorries on and off ferries. First. Lifted on Tilbury to Antwerp!!!! . Yesterday Dieppe to Newhaven. Still get a Buzzz.!!!!

[@brianesmithobefilmmaker]

Great to hear from you Douglas and glad you liked the film, especially with your longstanding lorry/ferry connection. Kind regards Bernie

[@francisforshaw1659]

My dad was a tipper wagon driver, round this time and in school holidays we would be in the cab with him. I vividly remember the paper pulp bales. I seem to recall also seeing ship breaking taking place there as well. Thanks for the memories.

[@brianyoung5532]

Many thanks for a fantastic video, I remember the Port of Preston in the 60’s and a little later when Sealand had a container feeder service with cargo originating in USA, when the Bardic and Cedric Ferries plus other ships of the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company went to Liverpool for their annual overhaul ,the company which I worked for looked after each vessel,when they were dry docked

[@kenbroster9721]

I spent 4.5 years working on Preston Docks for Seawheel until the long strike which really finished the place off. Great experience and set me up for life.

[@christinesullivan9352]

Fascinating piece of footage, I remember the ships heading to and from Preston across what appeared to be the fields in Freckleton. There are tales we told our children about the big ships travelling to Preston in front of St annes pier and the beach, I know they really didn't believe us. Thank you for this film.

[@brianesmithobefilmmaker]

Thank you for sharing your memories.

[@TheGranma47]

Ships looked as if they were sailing in the fields to Preston. St Thomas' C of E School, St Annes often had an outing to the docks. The time I went we were in the banana sheds when a large banana spider was spotted.

[@brianesmithobefilmmaker]

Thanks for sharing your recollections Jennifer.

[@bobclough8003]

Fascinating. How times change. Sad to see the dock quiet. The decline was inevitable though.

[@davidrichardson3894]

a great bit of history

[@margaretgilman448]

Sorry not to hear the Pilot boats mentioned.My father was a Trinity House pilot for many years for the Port of Preston. I would have loved to see him on his Pilot boat here

[@brianesmithobefilmmaker]

Knowing my dad, he will have genuinely done the best he could with the limited resources and contacts available to him. He used to get up early on Saturday mornings, the only day he had free, in order to make this film and represent the port as best as he was able within the constraints of his hobby. I sometimes went with him and, if I remember correctly, I was only seven at the time, I filmed some of the banana footage myself. I am sorry the Pilot boats weren't covered in the way that you would have liked. I am sure however he would be very pleased that his little film has now been seen by a wider audience than just his immediate friends and family.

[@flyingtonyw]

Brilliant. And people could actually reverse cars in them days.

[@K-a-n-d-i-s]

Lol

[@normanboyes4983]

What an excellent job your father did in filming and documenting this important piece of local and national history. Well done for handling the couple of rather churlish and entitled comments so eloquently.

[@brianesmithobefilmmaker]

Thank you Norman for your kind words. Much appreciated. I am very glad that Brian's work and the content he captured can now be appreciated by others through such channels. Lovely to hear his voice too. Thanks again.

[@gramule]

fascinating ! thank you for posting

[@matthewmiller8048]

I must admit i find it quite sad all this has gone now, can imagine it was great working there. Busy and full of life, bet the ship inn was full most days. I believe the oil trains have now ceased running.

[@grandpaandlucas7054]

my grandfather used to buy creosote from preston docks. he alway come back with a bunch of bananas and tins of corned beef.

[@leowatkins3718]

My grandfather was night watchman at the tar works.

[@NHS768]

All gone by 1978 😢😊

[@brianesmithobefilmmaker]

What a shame. 😢😢😢

[@debydoo1]

Watching this makes me proud of what preston used to be, unfortunately no longer.

[@darrenholden7447]

Why not now?

[@Fredric_Cedrich]

0:26 No way that’s one of the buoys that now sits on the dock walkway.

[@888ssss]

I sailed to Fleetwood on a small trip to collect fuel from the tanker Patheon Expressor. On the return leg the unlashed barrels fell off the deck. We lost around 400 tons of fuel, but because it was during the night we said nothing.

[@brianesmithobefilmmaker]

Oh dear, thanks for sharing. Brian, my dad who made the film, was the founder of the early environmental group Save Our Shoreline, I hope the oil didn't do too much damage to his beloved beach, ha ha!! Kind regards, Bernie.

[@888ssss]

@@brianesmithobefilmmaker dont mention a thing.....

[@brianesmithobefilmmaker]

@@888ssss Ha ha!!!!!!

[@hiltonfitzsimmons4097]

My Grandad John Fitzsimmons (at 12 mins)

[@brianesmithobefilmmaker]

Brilliant! Thank you so much for sharing. Bernie

[@brianbell3961]

I used to drive a lorry for a Irish fir who used to have a yard just up from the tar yard of today in the 60 stood memories 0:00

[@leowatkins3718]

Did anyone else notice the gap between the parking lines.

[@brianesmithobefilmmaker]

Definitely plenty of room to park a car for the ferry if that is what you were referring to. Maybe the spaces were designed for commercial vehicles too??

[@johnnewby8720]

You Said All Ships Had Steel Lids The Ones With China Clay Had Timber And Tarp

[@brianesmithobefilmmaker]

I think in the section you refer to my dad was just trying to emphasise new innovations in a generalistic and fun way. There are plenty of shots of ships not using steel hatches in the film. Kind regards.

[@johnnewby8720]

@@brianesmithobefilmmaker Thanks For The Info Great Vid By The Way