It was a life defining decision, a road not taken, a moment of choice as in the film Sliding Doors to go one way or another. A charming Fred Olsen Cruise Lines representative at the entrance to Liverpool Cruise Terminal asked me: “Are you getting off at Southampton? Or going around the world?” For a …
WHEN US Iraqi war hero General ‘Stormin” Norman Schwarzkopf toured the Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia and saw her engine room’s white painted bilges, he was astonished. “OK – I’ve seen the display, where’s the real engine room?” he growled. Such a disbelieving reaction was music to the ears of Capt Hugh Daglish, seen left, the …
THE Royal Albert Dock complex is a fine sight these days, and a major tourist hub with its museums, galleries, shops and accommodation. What it lacks is the essence of its original purpose: ships, boats, vessels, barges, as among life’s more depressing views are those of empty docks and basins. The shipless situation is about …
IT’S a well established truism that you should never buy anything viewed through the bottom of a beer glass – especially not a boat, or in this case a rare and historic 100-year-old prototype lifeboat in need of seriously expensive restoration. However, that’s just what Dan Wardle, below right, New Brighton Lifeboat helmsman, and two …
COME and get aboard a Fizz & Ships illustrated wine and champagne tasting evening with a shipload of anecdotal fun and viticulture on Saturday 23 March, 2024, at 7pm, at St Anne’s Church, Aigburth, Liverpool. At the helm will be renowned sommelier Jane Clare with Peter Elson manning the puns and life jokes as you …
TOP Beatles biographer Mark Lewisohn has given his support to Shipping Lines’ campaign to save the world famous Salvor ship’s mast which featured in the Fab Four’s momentous first photo-shoot featuring Ringo Starr, seen second left aboard the ship, with from left, Paul, George and John. “I wish you well with your campaign and I …
FASCINATING documents from a long-forgotten transatlantic voyage to Liverpool undertaken exactly 70 years ago were discovered by a friend while clearing out her late aunt’s flat. Providing a portal into the final throes of ocean travel’s golden age, it comprises memorabilia found by Claire Rider, a Liverpool city tour guide, from a sailing taken by …
Lady Dodd, who is MAST President, and widow of the celebrated Liverpool comedian Sir Ken Dodd, opened MAST’s first office at The Sheds, Office A1, 1 Pacific Road, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 1L J in April. This was also the official launch of the Sir Ken and Lady Dodd Tall Ship Sailing Experience for summer 2023 …
LADY Dodd, widow of the celebrated Liverpool comedian Sir Ken Dodd, hosted the launch onboard Pelican of London, one of the UK’s most renowned Class A tall ships, before the vessel inaugurated the first of the three Sir Ken and Lady Dodd Tall Ship Sailing Experience voyages around the Irish Sea and English Channel this …
Dismembered Salvor Mast in City Council Yard. Picture: Jonathan Brown, Share the City HELP! Save Our Beatles Salvor Mast The first Shipping Lines campaign In spite of reassurances to the contrary, Liverpool City Council is on the brink of scrapping the former Mersey salvage ship Salvor’s mast and derricks which were the backdrop of the …
