A famous "fish and chip boat" that was once synonymous with Liverpool was a fixture on the River Mersey for more than 40 years.
The Royal Iris was built for £256,000 at Dumbarton on the Clyde in 1950, before coming to Merseyside the following year. The once-grand ferry was diesel-powered, making it the first non-steam ferry to cross the Mersey. It also inspired Gerry Marsden's iconic anthem Ferry Cross the Mersey, as well as hosting The Beatles the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in its time.
In December 1950, the ECHO reported how the 1,448-ton vessel boasted a pillarless dance hall, a smoke room, a fish and chips saloon, bars and buffets, and air conditioning throughout. But many will still have fond memories of the boat that was affectionately nicknamed "the love boat" - and "the fish and chip boat."
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The Royal Iris attracted nationwide attention when news of her fish and chips saloon spread. As a result, the ferry undertaking was flooded with applications for the post of fish frier.
For many, a trip on the boast wasn't complete without a portion of fish and chips. Fascinating photographs from our archives, Mirrorpix, capture life on the Royal Iris in years gone by.
A Liverpool ECHO feature on the Royal Iris from 1960 followed current staff at the time on a working day on the vessel. On May 4, catering superintendent Vic Carlile said: "For these special functions we can provide practically anything the customer asks for, from a 6d packet of chips to a five-course luncheon."
The catering onboard at the time came directly under the supervision of Mr. Innes, who was a steward in Canadian Pacific vessels from the end of the war until he joined the Ferries 10 years prior. He said: "We don't have many catering problems, but one of our biggest headaches on the public cruises is finding lost children for anxious mothers. They always turn up eventually, and thoroughly enjoy their few minutes on the bridge until mother arrives to collect them."
Did you ever have fish and chips on the Royal Iris? Let us know in the comments section below.
Many will remember ferrying across the Mersey with a portion of fish and chips warming your cold hand and satisfying your stomach. The Royal Iris boasted many other qualities, but for many children of the time, the lost food saloon is the most prominent.
After years serving fish and chips to the people of Merseyside and tourists alike, in 1971 the Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority agreed to spend £68,292 on modernising the Royal Iris, including provision of a steak bar in place of the fish and chip saloon and facilities for luncheons and dinner parties on board. By March 1972, the new steak bar restaurant opened.
But after over 40 years on the River Mersey, the Royal Iris was taken out of service in January 1991 because of rising repair costs. When the Royal Iris made her emotional farewell cruise, she carried with her the happy memories of millions of Merseysiders - including those featured in a Liverpool ECHO spread in May 1992.
In the feature, Joan Wilson, from West Derby said: "I met my husband 31 years ago on the Royal Iris, he lived in Liverpool and I lived in Wallasey. It seemed very apt that we met in the middle of the river.
"At that time the Beatles were only the Silver Beatles and we were jazz fanatics, and went to see Acker Bilk and the Beatles were only second feature. The funny part was that we thought they were too noisy and we went up on the deck to get away from them.
"My mother also worked on the Royal Iris for a number of years in the fish and chip shop and she is 80 years old on June 8. It's sad to think that the Royal Iris, after all those years has finally finished her role as a cruise boat."
Mr Christopher, from Aigburth, said: "A nostalgic memory of the Royal Iris is my wife's home town of Dumbarton, the town on the Clyde where William Denny's shipyard was based. They were the builders of the Royal Iris. My wife's uncle was a shipwright/carpenter working on the construction of the boat and during the holiday we spent in Dumbarton in 1949 the boat was still on the stocks and almost completed.
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"Her uncle took us to have a look around the "fish and chip" boat. All the workers in the ship- yard christened her with that name, because it was unique at that time to build a boat with a fish and chip bar.
"On its trials in the Mersey her uncle was also aboard her. He lodged for a few days in New Brighton during the trial period. My wife and I took the first opportunity to sail in her and to this very day we still call the Royal Iris the "fish and chip" boat."
A Mr Walsh, from Litherland, said: "I had an argument with my wife one day and took my young lad on the ferries. When I got down there I was charged about £1.75 and I thought they haven't half gone up since I was last on them.
"In the end I found I had gone on a two-hour cruise on the Royal Iris and the bar was open all afternoon. By the time the journey ended I was rotten-eyed. "
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And Michael McGoldrick, from Aigburth, said: "I run a disco business and agency and I went on the Royal Iris as a young lad. When finally got to work on board as a DJ it was a great pleasure. The atmosphere was unbelievable you could not get it in any club in Liverpool.
The Royal Iris was later sold to a consortium who wanted to turn her into a nightclub in Cardiff. When the nightclub plans did not come to fruition, she was sold on again and towed to her current resting place in Woolwich, just east of the Thames Barrier.
There have been various plans to bring the Royal Iris back to Merseyside, but the huge costs involved means they are unlikely to ever happen and over the years, a number of people have campaigned for her return.
Through the years, the ECHO has shared images of sad decline of the historic Mersey ferry, which been slowly deteriorating on the River Thames in London. It is now covered in rust and mould, and at high tide is half submerged under the water, but Scousers still hold fond memories of the glory days of the famous "fish and chip boat."
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