Friends of the Ferries across the Mersey
CHAIR’S AGM REPORT 2025
Tuesday 3rd June 2025 at the YMCA 7.30pm

At last year’s AGM, I was able to report our optimism that we could now really look forward to the arrival of a new ferry vessel on the Mersey, following the signing of a contract in December 2023 to build one at Cammell Laird. Since then, we have been represented at a keel-laying ceremony on10th January this year, and our May Newsletter and Chair’s letter describe the significant progress being made to bring the vessel into service by late summer 2026. She is to be named Royal Daffodil.

Similarly, I can also report that the construction of the new Woodside landing stage is well underway at Huskisson Dock, and that the piles in the river bed at Woodside to moor the stage were installed in late January this year. Again, details of these works have been despatched with illustrations to all our members.

The ferry Snowdrop (formally Woodchurch, which Friends of the Ferries successfully lobbied for her to be brought back into service many years ago after being laid-up) is currently being upgraded in two phases which will upgrade all the electrical systems.
Further works are intended to enhance her “heritage” appearance. This will give her a new lease of life for a period of five years or more, in substitution for what had been planned to be a second new vessel, abandoned by rising costs.

These schemes are clearly major capital investments, and we are delighted that after many years of debate that they are about to come to fruition.

Nevertheless, the roller-coaster sequence of events at Mersey Ferries still brings ongoing concerns. One fundamental issue that has arisen is the possible delay hinted at by Mersey Ferries of delaying the opening of the new Woodside stage, when completed this summer, because of nearby regeneration works. We consider that Birkenhead should be reconnected with Liverpool’s tourist boom as soon as possible, and the town can offer the Priory, Hamilton Square, and also Birkenhead Park by a frequent bus service. The situation is complicated by the possible transfer of regeneration funding to Wirral schemes elsewhere, leaving Woodside either without its makeover, or only a partial one. Failure to open promptly would in our view be a breach of the Woodside Ferry Royal Charter.

The other problem in recent months is the frequency of “maintenance cancellations”.
It is not clear how many such events relate to the aging Royal Iris of the Mersey or to the need to dredge the silting at the Pier Head stage. Either way, it is a worrying major disincentive for commuters, although at least they have free parking and a bus to Hamilton Square station where they can use their tickets on the train.

The past year has also seen the former Royal Daffodil (launched as Overchurch) berthed in Canning Dock, for a new static life as a restaurant. It is pleasing to see her brought back into use, although at great cost, She is immediately adjacent to the pedestrian crossing between Liverpool One shopping centre and the Albert Dock.
We now need to consider to future of the likely redundant Royal Iris of the Mersey.
Meanwhile, we learn the old 1951 Royal Iris on the Thames has caught fire. “Coup de grace”, perhaps?

With regard to Friends of the Ferries activities, please buy your tickets and encourage others to book for this year’s Cruise on 6th September. All members have a poster to promote the event. You will recall that last year’s 22nd June Cruise was cancelled at the last minute because there was no vessel available due to one vessel being out of service. Everyone rallied around, and cancellation letters were despatched which fortunately resulted in only a handful of ticket holders turning up on the day to be met with the bad news from members of the Committee in attendance at the Pier Head and Seacombe.

Our 2024 Christmas Draw was again successful, and remains ever-popular. We also benefit from donations as well as ticket sales, and of course we advertise our organisation to ticket purchasers who are not members. Thanks to Gordon Ditchfield for organising the Draw.

The past year has sadly seen the passing of Joan Roberts, our Publicity and Marketing Officer who developed this post for over 40 years. We have acknowledged her contribution to our organisation in my Chair’s letters as well as in the Newsletter. We have also lost the always affable Andy Ball of Radio Merseyside. He, jointly with Stuart Wood, entertained his listeners with updates on shipping in the Mersey for some years, and of course helped commentate on our annual Cruises.

The Hon. Secretary’s post remains unfilled, as do those for Newsletter Editor and Publicity and Marketing Officer. So, as you can see, we are a bit short-handed and we need volunteers to join the Committee. In the first instance we can co-opt people to see whether they wish to take the job on permanently. The financial situation remains satisfactory and stable under the stewardship of Malcolm McRonald, who will, after this report, explain in detail the accounts for the year to 31st March 2025. My thanks also to Committee Members Terry Edgar and Andrew Blizard.

In conclusion, I can now say that the impending installation of the Woodside stage (providing a third modern berthing facility on the Mersey), the refurbishment of the Snowdrop, and the introduction of the new Royal Daffodil next year will secure a ferry service. However, we still will need to campaign for a second new ferry vessel to ensure a reliable service into the future, and to keep Mersey Ferries on their toes!

Andrew Hodgson, Chair, Friends of the Ferries across the Mersey
3rd June 2025.

Friends of the Ferries across the Mersey
CHAIR’S AGM REPORT 2024
Tuesday 28th May 2024 at the YMCA 7.30pm

At last we have been given some firm good news about the building of a vessel for Mersey Ferries, as I reported in my recent April Chairman’s letter. You will recall that the proposal for two new ferry vessels was scrapped due to the tenders received being much higher than expected, and that the City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram then announced in November 2022 an amended plan for one new vessel and the refurbishment of one of the existing ferryboats. On 13th December last he issued a Press Release stating that the City Region had signed a contract with Cammell Laird for the construction of a new ferry vessel. Your Committee met Mersey Ferries on 17th April this year, when we were informed that plans for the structural steel elements of the vessel had now been submitted to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Lloyds Register for approval. In addition, a model is being tank-tested and will be similarly submitted. I gave further specification details in my letter, and also mentioned that we were shown a video showing the proposed interior design.
Clearly, these are very positive steps forward, and we await with some optimism the keel-laying ceremony, which should mean that the vessel could be operational in about 2.5 years time from now.

Additional good news is that the proposal to renew the Woodside stage appears to be coming to fruition, funded by Government “levelling-up” funding aimed at the regeneration of the Woodside area. A contactor has been appointed to carry out the work and test drilling of the river bed has taken place to assess the requirements for stable piling on which to mount the stage. This is the same principle as adopted for the facility at the Pier Head, but not as employed at the new Seacombe stage where anchoring chains have been specified. Hopefully, the final estimated costs will be acceptable enabling the project tp proceed to completion in 2025. However, Mersey ferries are concerned about other developments being planned at Woodside which might make the terminal an unattractive venue due to construction activities. We disagree with any delays in its opening - Birkenhead needs to have a share of Liverpool’s tourist trade as soon as possible – and in fact we wrote to the City Region’s Chief Executve in August 2023 complaining about what appears to have been the premature closure of the existing terminal presumably for reasons of economy.

Nevertheless, there continues to be a clear political will to ensure the future survival of Mersey Ferries and that every effort is being made to overcome any problems as they arise. Our relationship with Merseytravel and Mersey Ferries remains extremely cordial, and we are grateful for the time which senior staff make for us even though we sometimes learn things earlier using the bush telegraph provided by ship enthusiasts! We have met Merseytravel Officers twice on 5th December and 17th April since the last AGM, with some additional correspondence.

During the year the Friends have undertaken their usual activities, Our Cruise on 2nd September took place in fine weather with 200 tickets sold - rather lower than expected – but we more or less broke even. Please buy your tickets and encourage others for our Cruise on 22nd June this year! Our 2023 Christmas Draw remains ever-popular, and we benefit from donations as well as ticket sales. Thanks to Gordon Ditchfield for organising both events. Geoff Holmes has decided to retire as Newsletter Editor after 12 years, due to some health problems. We thank him for his 24 editions! Joan Roberts is also indisposed. We send them both our best wishes. The Hon. Secretary’s post remains unfilled. So, as you can see we are a bit short-handed and we need volunteers to join the Committee. In the first instance we can co-opt people to see whether they wish to take the job on permanently. The financial situation remains satisfactory and stable under the careful supervision of Malcolm McRonald who will explain in detail after this report the accounts for the year to 31st March 2024. My thanks also to Committee Members Terry Edgar and Andrew Blizard. Following the closure of all “Society” accounts by the Nationwide, we have been able to open a similar account with the Skipton Building Society.

In conclusion, the future situation for Mersey Ferries now appears brighter than it has been for a little while as a consequence of recent funding decisions. The political will is there to support the burgeoning tourist economy of the City Region. Environmental considerations can strengthen the public transport case.

Andrew Hodgson, Chairman, Friends of the Ferries across the Mersey
28th May 2024.

Friends of the Ferries across the Mersey

CHAIR’S AGM REPORT 2023

26^th June 2023 at the YMCA 7.30pm

Good evening. Although it is four years since we last met because of Covid, I anticipate that through our twice-yearly Newsletters and Chair’s letters you feel the Committee has kept you updated on the Mersey Ferries’ situation during this period.

What a roller-coaster ride we have had! At our 2019 AGM, I reported that we had been invited by Mersey Ferries in August 2018 to examine their concept plan for a new vessel - perhaps even two – with a first delivery maybe in 2021. On the advice of London consultants, initial funding by Merseytravel was agreed, and we optimistically thought the prospects of safeguarding the future service were much brighter. However, cost estimates fell significantly short of those submitted by the tenderers. Design changes and negotiations, however, failed to match the funding available and the outlook remained bleak. More recently, in November 2022, the City Region Combined Authority issued a press statement by the Mayor Steve Rotheram

re-iterating robust support for a future ferry service, indicating that discussions with ship-builders were in progress for one vessel, but that the Snowdrop would be refurbished. We understand that phased refurbishment work has already commenced.

We will continue to lobby for a new vessel design which can adequately cope with the rigours of the River Mersey.

Meanwhile, in terms of fixed infrastructure, the Seacombe stage and terminal has been very substantially upgraded, and plans for a new Woodside stage (or major refurbishment) are being drawn up, the scheme to be basically funded by committed Government Town Centre redevelopment grants. These are very significant investments and will surely make a closure of the ferry service less likely. However, we have’nt yet seen any plans for the Woodside Stage, and are dismayed to find that in the interim it has been closed. We are told this is because it is too shabby, and anyway a Wirral service to the new Seacombe terminal is being offered! A new stage is envisaged by late 2024 – ie meaning two years of closure. Many members will recall that the proposed rescinding by Parliament in 1977 of the Royal Charter requiring the provision of a service to Woodside was the spark that led to the formation of Friends of the Ferries. We may wish to discuss this matter later this evening.

A more minor, but recent, matter of concern relates to the withdrawal of free parking at Seacombe for those who do not hold commuter tickets for multiple journeys. This arises from the opening of the new “Eureka!” exhibition centre which now operates the car parks there instead of Merseytravel. It now wishes to make a charge as well as ensuring spaces are available for their customers. That’s all very well, but it erodes Merseytravel’s principles in providing free parking at public transport nodes. No restrictions apply to train passengers who park at Wirral railway station car parks!

On a positive note, Mersey Ferries are introducing additional evening dance and music cruises in response to current demands – shades of the 1951 Royal Iris!

Administratively, our membership is holding up around the 450 mark, and our Christmas Draw remains popular. We have now made the arrangements to resume our annual Dock and River Cruise (on 2^nd September this year), and will update our website accordingly – I look forward to seeing you aboard on the trip. Financially, our position remains satisfactory. Since the last AGM, the annual accounts have been included with Geoff Holmes’ Newsletters, and our Hon. Treasurer Malcolm McRonald will shortly discuss the accounts for the year ending 31^st March 2023 which you have just received in the recent mailing. We have good communication with Mersey Ferries through Gary Evans, who is Assistant Director for Customer Delivery, Merseytravel, and is very contactable. He has a range of responsibilities which include specific involvement with Mersey Ferries. However, he has of course to follow the party line and can only inform us of “official” policy!

We are fortunate to have an experienced, long-standing Committee to rely on. However, at present, Joan Roberts is convalescing in a care home where her health is improving following hospitalisation after falling. David Hocker has now moved to the Stranraer area to be nearer relatives. We would be happy to discuss with members their co-option to the Committee. Special thanks meanwhile must be given to Gordon Ditchfield whom we keep fully occupied all year around as Membership Secretary and organiser of both the Draw and the Cruise!

So, although many uncertainties remain concerning major investments and other engineering work, particularly in the light of inflation and public purse constraints, the political will to support the Mersey Ferries and its economic benefits to the locality and the City Region remain strong. We’ll see what the next 12 months brings!

Andrew Hodgson, Chairman, Friends of the Ferries across the Mersey

26^th June 2023.