Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Saw something on the news about 3 Cunard ships in the Mersey.
Makes me proud to be British? Don't think so.
Where were the ships built? Not in the UK.
Where are they registered? Not in the UK.
How many British seafarers are employed? Just a few. Crew and officers mostly foreign (Cheap).

With regard to numbers employed no different than here then mostly foreign employees as they are cheaper.

I thought that Cunard was an American company anyway... is it not?

Keith, the Liver buildings on Pier Head was once the home of Cunard, it was very impressive when arriving home on a ship, which I did in the early 60s as a cabin boy in the merchant navy, but alas these three boats are not English, are not registered in the UK and only have a small number of English sailors on board.
I think this may be a advertisement for Cunard but lets hope one day the Merchant Marine will return to the UK.
I did my training at the Vindictrixs Sharpness, having to break the ice in the static water tank in the morning and being made to get in by the instructors, a lot worst than Borstal, which may have been my next home if I had stayed in Bolton. Those were the days. for all those who were in the Merchant Navy my number was R79666 on my discharge book which had double VG on all the ships I sailed on. I ended up Second Cook & Baker before joining the Army Catering Corps.

They told me I was a lazy bugger but I said " no I am not, I work for Cunard".

Repent at Leisure wrote:They told me I was a lazy bugger but I said " no I am not, I work for Cunard".

That's the second time I've heard that joke in 3 days...

...and it's still precisely as funny as it was the first time

Seems that everything is all about you only, please post everything you have heard, seen or thought of so that we can avoid upsetting you.

Repent at Leisure wrote:Seems that everything is all about you only, please post everything you have heard, seen or thought of so that we can avoid upsetting you.

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.......actually you would need to try a lot harder than that to upset me - not that I'm suggesting that you 'have a go'!

Oooohh, your talking about SHIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Karmels,is the Liver Buildıng the big one on the Pier Head,wıth statue of Liver bird on top?? Does the bird whistle everytime a virgin passes?

Yes it is and you want to see the size of the eggs.
Born and bred Scoucer and I remember when it was a large port full if visiting passenger liners, which was a regular occurrence and went unnoticed. There were 4/5 ferries across the Mersey, now I believe there is 1.

In the 1960's Britain had the biggest merchant navy in the world. By the end of the century it was one of the smallest. I am almost certain that the ferry you are talking about will be one of the the only vessels still flying the Red Duster and British crewed on the Mersey.

Owl lady, was it Marks and sparks who had a statue over the door, which nobody stood under when it rained.

Karmels,I am havıng a 'scouse'nıght !!!Owl lady should be able to tell us more,Along Lıme St,M&S on corner,fav place to meet your date.....'See you under the ??????'

Karmels it was "Dicky Lewis" for reason's I won't go into! under Lewis's building.
Mikelapta,what a GOOD idea, as there are almost as many Scoucers here as locals, how about a reunion. Only a thought ?!!I am also an Evertonian, but do support Liverpool in anything, but a derby game, however I am not biased and don't care who beat Manchester United(tin hat at the ready)

Owl Lady wrote:Yes it is and you want to see the size of the eggs.
Born and bred Scoucer and I remember when it was a large port full if visiting passenger liners, which was a regular occurrence and went unnoticed. There were 4/5 ferries across the Mersey, now I believe there is 1.

My Dad met my Mum when serving in the RAF. Trained at West Kirby then worked in Liverpool, crossing from Seacombe every day on the Mersey Ferry. I was born in Wallasey and have been back a few times over the last 5 years. Great area and lovely people. Only one Mersey Ferry now doing a short cruise and tourist run up and down the river.

Is that the Daffodil ? One of the Mersey ferries was estimated to be too old to cross the Mersey and was sold. Next time it was heard off, was when a local shipping company here bought it, to transport cargo to the UK and it sank!!

The current boats are detailed here, with more details of the Royal Iris here and the Royal Daffodil here....
I remember (just) going on (I think) the Daffodil to New Brighton over sixty years ago......

What about the Royal Iris on a Saturday night.

Known locally as the fish and chips boat! Interesting article, thanks.

Owl Lady you surprise me being a born and bred Scoucer ..
When I lived in Hindley Green all my mates were "SCOUSERS" ...

Hope you're feeling better, just read your other post ..

Karmels, the Cunard building, the home of Cunard stands beside the Liver Building along with the Port of Liverpool building on the Pierhead.
The Liver building was never the home of Cunard.
Great to see the three Queens on the river, made this scouser proud.
Took my southern husband up to the Wirral a few years ago and planned to hop over the river on the ferry which we used to use like buses. Sadly as mentioned they now run hourly and go down to Wallasy and Seacombe before crossing over to Liverpool. All accompanied by a tour spiel that begins "Welcome to the most famous ferry in the world" then bursts into Ferry cross the Mersey. Ah well I guess the tourists love it!
Ah yes the statue over Lewis's doorway, cue sniggers

Panchocat wrote:Karmels, the Cunard building, the home of Cunard stands beside the Liver Building along with the Port of Liverpool building on the Pierhead.
The Liver building was never the home of Cunard.
Great to see the three Queens on the river, made this scouser proud.
Took my southern husband up to the Wirral a few years ago and planned to hop over the river on the ferry which we used to use like buses. Sadly as mentioned they now run hourly and go down to Wallasy and Seacombe before crossing over to Liverpool. All accompanied by a tour spiel that begins "Welcome to the most famous ferry in the world" then bursts into Ferry cross the Mersey. Ah well I guess the tourists love it!
Ah yes the statue over Lewis's doorway, cue sniggers

In what way "proud"? These ships were not built in the UK, are not registered in the UK and are not manned by UK seafarers.
These are foreign built and foreign owned ships manned largely by foreigners.
What's to be "proud" of?

TRNCVaughan.
Well said. I just posted a reply but it vanished. I was a young sailor (16) sailing out of Liverpool. Coming home after 6 + months away we all looked forward to seeing the Liverbuildings which in those days I thought was the Cunard building. The only real building I remember at Pier Head was the Pool Office, this was the building were all UK sailors who shipped out of Liverpool got a ship, it was a type of labour exchang.

I was proud to see the port in full glory again. It was great to see the river and the banks so alive and bustling again too.
Being from Birkenhead I know all about shipyard closures and having watched many launchings at Cammell Lairds in the past, I know the effects on the local population when closures, such as CL occur.
Am I not allowed to be proud of the history that seeing those ships in the spiritual home of Cunard invoked?
Wherever they were built it was great to see and hear the enthusiasm of the crowds for a symbolic historical homecoming.
By the way I was there, got back here on Wednesday night.
A perhaps interesting analogy might be how many UK football teams are "manned" by players who are not UK born. Does that in any way stop the pride of supporters in their teams?

Anyone remember the TV comedy The Liver Birds? I loved it and I'm not a Scouser!!

Panchocat.
I have sailed out of Victoria docks in Birkenhead, but mostly from the docks are now the TV studios, Iv'e forgot the name.
I for one don't give a monkeys fiddle about football but I do agree with you on the number of players from other countries.
I would make them play after church on a Sunday and give the a couple of quid beer money.

sophie wrote:Anyone remember the TV comedy The Liver Birds? I loved it and I'm not a Scouser!!

Yes, I enjoyed it too.

There were 3 girls altogether, Polly James, Nerys Hughes and Elizabeth Estensen (currently in Emmerdale), who replaced one of the others.

I used to enjoy Brookside too, until they seemed to run out of plots.

Not a Scouser myself, but I used to work there occasionally.

The city of Liverpool has some wonderful buildings, the architecture is fantastic and the docks are a sight to see, I would love to have been there to see those three ships sailing in.By the way I am not a Scouser but love to visit the city whenever I can.

Karmels: I remember some dock names. Princes, Canning, Gladstone. Albert. I believe now most,especially Albert Dock have been converted into very expensive luxury apartments. I last went back to Liverpool on 2008 for the Capital of Culture, is it finished yet! it wasn't then??