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Author Topic: sad old lady  (Read 3656 times)

cos918

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sad old lady
« on: March 02, 2008, 10:32:12 pm »

I was in north Wales and saw this old ferry. She is well beached and in a sad state.

john
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Stavros

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Re: sad old lady
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2008, 10:39:19 pm »

Right then how dare you be in North Wales without comming to see us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let me fill you in on a few facts about this sad old girl.She was used as a Nightclub/bar for quite a number of years,last used i think around 10+yrs ago.No one seems to know who owns it EXCEPT one word of SERIOUS ADVISE don't go near it.This is because some of the local Travellers have lain claim to it and woe betide anyone sniffing around.I am very surprised you weren't asked what the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx you were up to EVEN taking pictures of it.

BE WARNED STAY WELL CLEAR HEARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH AND BELIEVE YOU ME I AM SERIOUS




Stavros
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cos918

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Re: sad old lady
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2008, 10:42:22 pm »

well there was not a soul in sight when i walked up to her.
I was on a job 2 miles down the road. cheers for the tip.
john
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Stavros

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Re: sad old lady
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2008, 10:56:31 pm »

Boy were you lucky to get that near,tried it not so long ago and was chased off big toime (Irish Accent) and yes he was Irish O0


Stavros
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cos918

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Re: sad old lady
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2008, 11:06:13 pm »

so whats going to happen to her just sit there and rot or sold for scrap.
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funtimefrankie

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Re: sad old lady
« Reply #5 on: March 03, 2008, 08:55:07 am »

so whats going to happen to her just sit there and rot or sold for scrap.
see this ...

Ex-captain's nephew launches bid to save 'funship'
a.. Published Date: 27 February 2008
a.. Source: Evening Leader Flintshire
a.. Location: Wrexham

http://www.eveningleader.co.uk/


By paul mannion
A CAMPAIGN to restore a cruise liner to its former glory is set to sail full
steam ahead, after being revived by the nephew of the ship's original
captain.
The Duke of Lancaster, which is moored in the Dee near Mostyn, has lain
derelict for a number of years after being taken out of service in 1979.

Known locally as the "funship", it has been used in the intervening years
for various purposes, including as a leisure centre and a clothing
warehouse.

John Veal is spearheading a fresh drive to restore the passenger liner,
which once featured silver service restaurants, state rooms and luxurious
cabins.

"We've started up a website dedicated to the Duke of Lancaster and we are
hoping to get something done with it," said the 51-year-old, who lives in
Hull and runs his own business in Humberside. "Ideally we would like to see
it saved and brought up to the right condition.

"We really need to speak to the owners and find out how willing they are to
do something."

Last year a campaign by local man Luke Howard saw 224 people sign a petition
to "save" the liner, following rumours it was to be sold for scrap or sunk
off the coast of Liverpool and used to train divers.

The 52-year-old vessel, along with sister ships the Duke of Rothesay and the
Duke of Argyll, was among the last passenger-only steamers built for British
Railways, at that time also a ferry operator.

It was built at Harland and Wolff, in Belfast, and was designed to operate
as both a passenger ferry, primarily on the Heysham-Belfast route, and as a
cruise ship, travelling as far afield as Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands,
Norway and Spain.

Mr Veal's maternal uncle, John Irwin, served as the vessel's first captain
for approximately nine years from her maiden voyage in 1956. "He was in the
Royal Navy, was captain of an anti-aircraft ship during the war and then
came to work for British Railways," said Mr Veal.

"He's a celebrity in the family and that's what sparked the interest in the
Duke of Lancaster really."

In 1979 the ship was beached at its present location near Mostyn, and was
turned into an amusement arcade. More recently, it has been used as storage
space by Solitaire, a clothing company from Liverpool.

Mr Veal has now set up the Save the Lancaster Foundation to gather support
and is aiming to hold a meeting of the group next month to discuss the best
way forward with plans.

So far, though, he has not been able to get hold of the ship's owners.

He said: "We have written to them but they have refused to answer any of our
letters and without their approval there is not a lot we can do. It's very
early days but we are trying to arrange a meeting with people who want to
see something done with the ship.

"We want to come together and discuss our various ideas and then put
pressure to bear on them."

Solitaire Liverpool did not comment when contacted by the Evening Leader.

Anyone who wants to get involved with the Save the Lancaster Foundation, or
who has any information or memorabilia relating to the ship, can phone John
Veal on 07971660573.

The website, www.dukeoflancaster.net, is online now.

What do you think the 'funship' should be used for?

Have your say by leaving a comment below


The full article contains 587 words and appears in Evening Leader Flintshire
newspaper.
Last Updated: 27 February 2008 2:03 PM



 
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cos918

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Re: sad old lady
« Reply #6 on: March 03, 2008, 06:53:50 pm »

thank you funtime frankie . I have often seen that ship sat there and wondered what her past was and how she came to be there. You have seam to answer most questions. I find it odd that the group cant find the owner.  Oh well hope she is saved .

john
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tigertiger

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Re: sad old lady
« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2008, 01:24:26 am »

If the previous owner was a trader (manufacturer) it is possible that they have gone under. In which case it will be hard to find.
An asset like a ship needs insuring and this costs. If there are unpaid bills the ownership could be in question.

It is easy to thnk of this as an ocean going vessel, but it isn't. It was decommissioned (so to speak) nearly 30 years ago, and is just like an old shed, only without any valuable land underneath it.

Sorry to sound brutal.

Although she is a lovely looking ship, I doubt weather the 200 odd interested parties could rasie the millions required to make good years of neglect and undoubted stripping that has occured.

Sad though it may be.
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The only stupid question is the one I didn't ask

Colin Bishop

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Re: sad old lady
« Reply #8 on: March 04, 2008, 08:35:15 am »

TT is correct. Ships need constant maintenance the cost of which is met from their revenue earning capacity. When they are decommissioned, unless you have an immediate alternative revenue stream the lack of maintenance results in rapid deterioration which becomes increasingly difficult to recover from, particularly as the asset is being progressively devalued and less and less capable of generating any income. Donations are never enough to put things right, they can only delay the inevitable. The QE2 has a better chance as the intention is to switch her from a well maintained ocean liner to a hotel function with no interruption - she will still need a lot of work though but the business plan of the new owners has allowed for that and they are confident that she will be a going concern - I hope they are right!

The Duke of Lancaster group haven't got a snowball's chance in hell of restoring the ship, it will just be money down the drain.

As TT says, sad but true.
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nhp651

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Re: sad old lady
« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2008, 07:48:48 pm »

 {-)It amuses me slightly that this venerable old ferry that last operated on the Heysham to Belfast run has been classed as rather a grand old "Cruise Liner"?
just my cynical view on the press and the bunkum that they print from time to time, especially on maritime matters. :D
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Mr Andy

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Re: sad old lady
« Reply #10 on: March 21, 2008, 04:30:13 pm »

The last I heard about the Duke is she has been bought by North Wales Fire for training purposes, take it with a pinch of salt mind.

Andy. :)
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