Daniel Admson PS Historic Fundraising cruise to the port of Garston Sat 6th May.

Dear All,
Following the Historic, Sold Out DAPS fundraising cruise to Garston Docks yesterday (originally built for the later LNWR), there is an extensive update now on our website at: DAPS - Mersey Ferries Cruise To Garston Docks - May 05, 2012
The cruise was a sell out as was the raffle and we made over £5,000 on the day for DAPS.
Several of the passengers were members of the London & North Western Railway Society and one of their number, Mike Fell, gave a commentary on the Port of Garston as SNOWDROP sailed through the port's three enclosed docks. He said that while the cruise was a historical 'first' for the passengers on board a Mersey ferry, it also replicated a similar voyage made by the White Star tender MAGNETIC on 24 February 1909 when Lord Stalbridge and his guests travelled up river to open the then new Stalbridge Dock. Mike contrasted the port's past history of exporting millions of tons of coal and importing bananas with what happens at Garston today, pointing out that the former banana berth is now in use for exporting scrap metal! The interest of the LNWR Society is twofold; firstly, the the Port of Garston used to be owned by the London & North Western Railway Company and secondly the DANIEL ADAMSON, when launched in 1903, was originally named RALPH BROCKLEBANK after a LNWR Director. Following discussions which took place on board SNOWDROP there will now be an ongoing dialogue between the LNWR Society and DAPS.

A big thanks to all who supported the cruise.
Regards,
Dan

 

Congratulations on your successful fund raising cruise-long may the cash keep coming in! I take it that Ralph Brocklebank was also connected with the shipping dynasty of the same name?

 

Thanks, yes the Brocklebanks got about a bit!

 

DANIEL ADAMSON PRESERVATION SOCIETY
MEDIA RELEASE MAY 14th 2012. Immediate
“Mersey cruise with a difference raises funds for UK’s oldest Tug-Tender”
THE campaign to save Britain’s oldest steam tug tender was boosted by a sell-out, fund-raising cruise to a rare destination. The Daniel Adamson Preservation Society (DAPS) is £5,500 better off after scheduling the first passenger ship to visit the Port of Garston, south Liverpool, in more than a century, on Saturday, May 5, 2012. Coincidentally, that previous visit was by the famous White Star Line tug tender “SS Magnetic” on February 24, 1909, to open Garston’s Stalbridge Dock.
SS Daniel Adamson is the sole survivor of the renowned Mersey tug tender fleet, which included the now scrapped SS Magnetic.
Another coincidence was that Stalbridge Dock was named after Lord Stalbridge, a director of the London & North Western Railway (which built Port of Garston’s three docks), who was on-board Magnetic for the opening. His Lordship also bestowed his name on one of SS Daniel Adamson’s two long-lost sister ships.
Mersey Ferries’ m/v Snowdrop, picked up nearly 400 passengers from Liverpool Pier Head, Birkenhead Woodside and Seacombe for the Garston cruise. Voyage commentary was given by Stuart Wood, DAPS vice chairman and ex-chief Liverpool Pilot, Andy Ball, of BBC Radio Merseyside, and Mike Fell, OBE, of the LNWR Society. The Lazy River Jazz Band provided live music
Snowdrop sailed up the Garston channel alongside Otterspool Promenade and into all three Garston docks, expertly manoeuvred by Capt Peter Murray and his crew. Mike Fell contrasted the port's past history of exporting millions of tons of coal and importing bananas with what happens today; the former banana berth is now used for exporting scrap metal! Running back with the tide to the river mouth, Snowdrop turned for home off Crosby to end the four-hour cruise.
Stuart Wood said: “This was a highly successful and enjoyable second annual fund-raising cruise aboard a Mersey ferry. “Last year we toured Liverpool’s main dock system and we were the last passenger ship to use Wellington Dock before it was filled in. This year we also created another off-beat event for our supporters by being the first passenger ship to sail through the Port of Garston in 103 years.”
“However, we only achieved the £5,500 profit for DAPS with the generosity of so many people and organisations. These include Snowdrop’s crew, Mersey Ferries and its charter manager Andrea Ward, our Liverpool Pilot Chris Booker (who gave up a day’s leave), and ABP Garston Docks and its staff”.
“Even Capt Stuart Honour, of Svitzer tug “Ashgarth”, the stand-by tug at Tranmere Oil Terminal, sprayed his fire monitors as we went past! We’ve had great feed-back from many passengers and our only concern is where we go next year – but we already have some ideas.”
Mike Fell said: “The LNWR Society interest is twofold: firstly, the Port of Garston was owned by the London & North Western Railway Company, and secondly SS Daniel Adamson, when launched in 1903, was originally named Ralph Brocklebank, after a LNWR Director. Following discussions which took place on board Snowdrop there will now be a regular contact between the LNWR Society and DAPS.”
Dan Cross, DAPS chairman, said: “This is another pleasing example of a cross-over between the interest in a small but significant steam ship and our railways.”
DAPS would also like to thank United Utilities and Peel Ports Mersey for their on-going support for the project to restore SS Daniel Adamson, which is based in Sandon Dock, Liverpool.
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