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Mersey Shipping - The Twilight Years ISBN: 0 7524 1732 0 pp 128 Author: Ian Collard Published by: Tempus Publishing Ltd, The Mill, Brimscombe Port, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL3 2QG e-mail: [email protected] - Price £9.99 To most ship lovers the appearance of a book depicting a vessel of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company on the cover will probably be enough to ensure that it is at least examined when spotted on the bookshop shelves. The cover of "Mersey Shipping - The Twilight Years" shows some ferry passengers standing on George's Landing Stage, Liverpool watching the departure of the MANXMAN for Douglas. However, the ships of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company represent only a few of the vessels depicted in this excellent little book. The book is divided into five chapters:
Another feature which makes this book stand out once one starts to examine it is the fact that the author admits to only recently having most of the films processed even though the films were exposed in the 1960s. Recent years have seen a number of illustrated books on Merseyside shipping and ports which have included a number of photographs that have appeared in previous publications. This can be somewhat disappointing. However, "Mersey Shipping - The Twilight Years" offers a completely new collection presented for the first time. The photographs within the book include both conventional and unconventional views, in other words don't expect all photographs to comprise the standard three quarter view bow shot. There are also stern, on board and dry dock shots to add to the variety. A number of the photographs also depict port infra structure, such as the landing stage and Pier Head. There is also a notable photograph showing a double decker bus being craned onto the foredeck of KING ORRY at Liverpool Landing Stage in the 1960s, with the then shiny new Pier Head bus station in the foreground. Some publicity material adds to the interest. - In 1971 the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company were offering Summer Season contract tickets for sailings between Liverpool and Llandudno and for coastal cruises from Llandudno for just £25! The same price now charged by Waverley Excursions for a single strip on one of the Balmoral's occasional appearances. Here are just a few of the ships depicted: Empress of England - Canadian Pacific, Kungsholm - Swedish America Line, Mauretania - Cunard, Clan Matheson - Clan Line, Governor - Harrison Line, Orcoma - PSNC, Ionic - Shaw Savill & Albion, Manchester Miller - Manchester Liners, Meath - B&I Line, Ulster Prince, Belfast SS Co., Scottish Coast - Burns & Laird/Coastlines, Leinster - B&I Line, Ben-My-Chree - IoMSPCo, Stella Marina - Norwest Hovercraft Co, Queen of the Isles - Isles of Scilly Steamship Co, St. Trillo - L&NWSS/P&A Campbell, Egremont - Wallasey Ferries, Edith Lamey - Lamey Towing, Rossmor - Furness Withy Group, Fenella - IoMSPCo, and Vigilent - Mersey Docks & Harbour Co. For those old enough to recall the 1960s this book will certainly rekindle fond memories of the last years of traditional Mersey Shipping, covering the period which saw the birth of the ro/ro age, the decline of the conventional passenger ships and cargo liners, and before containerisation revolutionised freight handling and removed so many traditional cargo vessels from our ports. The short, but non the less informative, captions of the book give details of vessels depicted and in most cases their subsequent careers and fates. If there is one minor criticism, that lies in the fact that few captions actually show the date on which the photograph they was taken.
As a youngster in the 1960s I was often taken down to the river, and though I had a camera by the age of 6 use was confined to occasional holiday shots - My parents paid the processing bill! I regret having never photographed what was common then, however, it has been a pleasure to awaken old memories from a period just within my own lifetime. I would sincerely recommend "Mersey Shipping - The Twilight Years" not just to fellow shipping enthusiasts but also anyone who would like a reminder of the Mersey and its ships between 30 and 40 years ago. John Luxton June 4, 2024
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