Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Royal Iris and Royal Daffodil

Having been on a few vessels in my time, I wish that Royal Iris 11 could just be scrapped as in my opinion it looked an absolute abortion. Than God the bus is no more!

As a former tarry arsed son of Neptune myself there is no sorrier sight then seeing a hulk rusting away, especially one with a bit of history. I wish they would just break these things up and be done with it. You have that thing lying there and the metal thieves are nicking manhole covers, it doesn't make sense.

Aharr Jim lad!

Just found another web-site with tons of stuff on the Royal Iris, particularly good contributions from people who worked on her over the years.

It's also a great link for all salty old sea dogs into maritime nostalgia. Checkout the gallery pages.

http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/showthread.php?t=1578

I'm surprised that more fuss hasn't been made of the fact that the Beatles played on board a number of times.

Joined the site Geekus, good call, cheers.
Probably spend more time on there than here.

With regard to the Iris, I chartered her myself once and had the Merseyssippi Jazz Band as the entertainment, a great night. Got denegrated by some for chartering the "Fish & Chip Boat" but they were the ones with the complimentary tickets, cheeky gits. If I remember correctly I got a cheaper rate because I was working on the buses at the time. I hired for the Birkenhead RAOB as a fund raiser.

Hi,
an update on the Royal Iris. I popped over to Woolwich yesterday and was shocked to see how much further she has deteriorated. She's lying very low in the water again and there was evidence that water had actually got on board.

I took these (link below) pics about an hour before a 7 metre high tide and you can see how low down she is at the stern. She isn't moving with the current nor with the waves caused by a large ship passing by. A high 11 metre tide could engulf her in my opinion.

I had a long conversation with the owner who still insists she'll be refurbished and putting the blame on the likes of me for putting potential investors off by negative reporting on her. I politely him told that was bollocks and anyone with a pair of eyes could see what shape she's in. I told him that in my view (who hasn't a clue about marine engineering), this is the worst shape I have seen her in since she berthed at Woolwich in 2002.

Later on, I had a conversation with a person who runs a business on the industrial estate next to where it's berthed. He knows a thing or two about ships and according to him, he can't see it lasting another winter. Mind you, I said that 3 yrs ago.

The images are rather large which is why I added a link rather than upload them:
http://liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/march2012.htm

Most of you have signed the petition, but just in case:
http://www.royaliris.co.uk

Cheers,
Dave

didn't she sink once?

Not quite. Got stuck on the sandbank, water rose and flooded her. Going to happen again

next time you're down there if you go on the thames rib trip they'll take you pretty close to her.

That is a goner, best thing done for that ferry is to scrap what's left and let's just remember how she used to be the Royal Iris, the fish and chip barge.

Is this the dave wood who used to flail behind british rail class 40 diesel engines in the 1980s ?

Deffo not me

I'm going to carry on with the petition, but from what I saw of her yesterday and the generator pumping out the water, she's a lost cause. I was always the optimist until this last visit.

A few shots at low tide last week
http://www.flickr.com/photos/liverpoolpictorial/7084984037/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/liverpoolpictorial/7084984225/

There must be something wrong with this James Jegedes? Is he all there?