Royal Daffodil

[Johnny Kieran]

Just been thinking about the Royal Daffodil, I remember going over to France on one by that name. It used to go from Tilbury and you could get on without a passport to get to France if you wanted to. I can remember playing guitar with a very famous singer, although he wasn't famous at that time, took a year or two to get famous.
We all got absolutely ratarsed (well, I did anyway) and back to Tilbury again that evening for a few more.
It was only a small boat, more like a ferry don't know if it was the same boat as mentioned here.

[James Curry]

Was it perhaps the Royal Iris? I know she ended up down that way. Sadly she is lying on the Thames somewhere just a sunken hulk and rotting away.
When she was on the Mersey she was known as the party boat, love boat and the Fish and Chip boat and did river cruises and held dances and live music.the-mv-royal-iris-a-twin-screw-diesel-electric-former-mersey-ferry-JHW3M1.jpg

RoyalIris.jpg

MV_Royal_Iris_taking_in_water,_east_of_Thames_Barrier.jpg

[Doc Vernon]

That reminds me of the time me and my late Bro, caught the Night Ferry from Dover to Calais. Those days it was an overnight trip. The Ferries were always so packed, and it was very hard to get a sleeping Bunk, so many of the Passengers just slept where they could. Mind you a lot of us kept awake through the Night with plenty of Beers! LOL

But all the same they were great trips with lots of Fun and laughter. Also recall that we went on without any passports , although we had our Seamans ID Cards that stood in good stead if needed. But never did have to use them. Those were the days that things were a lot easier to do many things ! Cheers

[Gerald Farr]

The original Royal Daffodil was a paddle steamer going from Southend-on-Sea pier across the Thames estuary and round the coast to Margate and Ramsgate before and after the Second World War. I once went with my Mum and Dad to Margate on her in the very late 40's or very early 50's. I also believe she was given recognition and an award for her contribution to the rescue of the Troops from Dunkirk. I wouldn't have any idea what happened to her after the mid 50's.

[Des Jenkins]

With the latest news from Thailand of that ferry sinking one would think that some of the old ferries in Britain that where left to rust should have been sold over there when they where retired rather than just let them rust away.
Des

[Allen James Jones]

This was my favourite. On at the Pier Head and cruise to the bar and return. The banjo players and singers. And the fish and chips. Camaraderie. Good days.

- - - Updated - - -

This may have been the one used in the evacuation of Dunkirk. I recall one of the Mersey ferries being commandered for this role. She may not have been returned so spent her last days down South.

[James Curry]

I was actually on the Mersey ferry yesterday as we had friends down from Scotland. The ferry was the Snowdrop

snowdrop.jpg

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I believe it was King George V gave the mersey ferries permission to use the prefix Royal in recognition for the WW1.

Wallasey ferries that travelled to Belgium and took part in the Zeebrugge raid.
I was reading the citation that is posted onboard the Snowdrop. Memory retention is useless now but I belive there were several of the crew were killed, brave men and volunteers.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p01yncpt

[Gerald Farr]

Just a correction to my previous post re the Royal Daffodil from Southend on Sea which I unsuccessfully tried to do by an edit to the original. I would have sworn she was a paddle steamer but apparently she was a single screw steamer launched in 1939 (the same year as me) but the rest of the information was correct to the best of my knowledge, she certainly helped at the Dunkirk evacuation.

[Johnny Kieran]

I think that one is called "Waverly". I've often seen it advertised over the years, for trips up and down the Thames in the Summer.
Then again, I could be getting mixed up with something else.