Great to be at the launch today of Merseyside’s new ferry, The Royal Daffodil. Over 50 years since my first ferry ’cross the Mersey from Liverpool to Wallasey. Great speeches included those from the shipbuilders at Birkenhead’s Cammell Lairds (Balaena) – which I visited while the ship was being built – Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham
@MetroMayorSteve whose team have excelled themselves, and a beautiful traditional blessing from Dr.Philip Anderson, the Rector of Liverpool Parish and seafarers church, Our Lady’s and St. Nick’s
@P_G_Anderson Good to be with my
@UKHouseofLords colleagues, Michael Heseltine, Patrick McLoughlin and Simon Stevens – Chair of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Full Report from
@marcgaier BBC
@merseyside41958https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c38xk2prp9pdo The Royal Daffodil launch comes after the Royal Iris, which featured in the 1965 Ferry Cross the Mersey film, was decommissioned earlier this year after 66 years. Maritime Minister and Hull MP
@KeirMathermp said today : “Gerry and the Pacemakers made the Mersey Ferry famous around the world, generations of dockyard workers made it part of Liverpool’s story, and today the Liverpool City Region is writing the next chapter.” The ferries are an indelible part of the city’s story with Benedictine monks operating the first regular ferry from Birkenhead to Liverpool, rowing across the river on market days. Listen again to the iconic song from Gerry Marsden and the Pacemakers https://youtu.be/08083BNaYcA sung again today by local children as fireworks were launched to herald a joyful new chapter in a great city’s story.
