BTS 2006

[Inger Sheil]

On with the show.

Sunday I was a bit the worse for wear.

Understatement. I'd kicked on well after stalwarts such as Senan and Mark Ling had called it a night. Remember daylight as I got into bed, and thinking...oh dear!

Made it down to breakfast, but told all that there was going to be no 'Ferry Across the Mersey' for me that day.

By afternoon, I'd come good. We were due to meet Geoff Whitfield for a looksee at Liverpool WSL sites, but had enough time to duck down to have a look at the White Star Line pub, as recommended by Gavin Murphy (who we met there, apparently having gone native and become very chummy with the locals).

The Pub has some lovely memorabilia, and some very nice features for those of us shippily inclined:

Bannister

It was a pity to cut this one down - you can't make out the letter on the pub sign. One of my favourite shots - and if Hattie and I are giggling, it's because Senan is lying on the street to get the photo.

We're very glad we weren't wearing short skirts.

 

[Inger Sheil]

Then Geoff's Guided Tours of Liverpool showed up...

Again, Geoff demonstrated his incomparable local knowledge of things Titanic. Not to mention his high level of tolerance towards boisterous overseas guests.

I've tried to get a managable sized photo of Lord's grave to post where the text is legible but you can still see the grave - will have to fiddle about with that later when I have access to proper imaging tools.

Smith's House

And just down the road Ismay's house, which Geoff informs us is now broken up for flats.

Plaque on Ismay home

Lovely ironwork details with Thomas Ismay's monogram

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>Yes, this is the youthful faced author of some of the maritime community's most respected tomes!<<

With more to come. I'm looking forward to his work on the Majestic whenever it get's published. As always, it's nice to put faces to a lot of the names of people I've "known" for years.

BTW, how is Christine doing? I miss here presence here on ET.

 

[Senan Molony]

Grave of Captain Lord

Captain E. J. Smith's house at 17 Marine Crescent looks out over the River Mersey. From here he could watch the large White Star liners like Celtic, Adriatic, etc glide past practically his front window.

Smith had practically a personal ferry that would pick him up on the seafront here and deliver him to his floating "office," whatever one it might be.

 

[Inger Sheil]

Christine is doing great, Mike. She had a bad fish and chip shop encounter, but other than that was in excellent form. Catching up with her - given she lives in Germany - was a real bonus for me on the trip, and I have to thank Jemma for organising it.

Cheers for posting that image, Sen - I couldn't get it sorted. Re Smith's house - did any of us get a close up of the Heritage plaque? I did for the Ismay residence, but not for EJ's.

After Geoff dropped us back at the hotel (all hail Geoff! Top bloke!), we raced to get to the Cathedral before it closed to the public. Made it just as the doors were technically shutting, but the wonderfully accomodating staff, after directing us to the sculpture of the 'Titanic' (a small detail on a shield - difficult to locate, but she used a torch to highlight it for us) they left us to it and allowed us to look around at our leisure after it was closed for the night.

Ismay window dedication

EJ Smith window dedication

I did try to photograph the Titanic sculpture, but it has failed to come up very well - I'll see if someone with a decent graphics program can salvage anything.

 

[Inger Sheil]

Then it was time for last pints...

Shane took us out for Take Two - on the understanding that there were to be no lime wedges in bottle necks. He rose admirably to the occasion, and we made a beeline for the Cavern Club where - dreading a lot of touro drivel - we found instead a great live music session.

L to R - Inger, Senan and Wendi

Then, after a brief interlude in the White Star Pub (in which Wendi was nearly persuaded to drink a half pint, but was saved by the bell), the last three troopers staggered on to a final pub. While S & S bonded over a pints and argued about whose liver was in greater need of restoration, I twirled around to the live music with some of the gorgeous girls of Liverpool. Hats off to them - these people know how to live well!

Shane & Senan

Then back home to the Adelphi, where we continued our Liverpool Wake in the resident's bar with a few others who had gone the distance, such as Stephen Brook.

Early morning there was hardly time for farewells as Hattie, Steve and I raced for an early(ish) London train. So sorry to everyone to whom I never said goodbye, assuming I'd have a last catch up before racing for the door...but then, I'm no fan of 'goodbye' anyway.

Next stop for me was Dublin, where I arrived on the 90th Anniversary of the Easter Rising...but that's a whole other yarn.

Farewell to Prince's Landing Stage
River Mersey, fare thee well
I am bound for California
A place I know right well

Chorus:
So fare thee well, my own true love
When I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that's grieving me
But my darling when I think of thee

I'm bound off for California
By the way of stormy Cape Horn
And I'm bound to write you a letter, love
When I am homeward bound
Chorus:

I have signed on a Yankee Clipper ship
Davy Crockett is her name
And Burgess is the Captain of her
And they say she's a floating Hell
Chorus:

I have shipped with Burgess once before
And I think I know him well
If a man's a seaman, he can get along
If not, then he's sure in Hell
Chorus:

Farewell to lower Frederick Street
Ensign Terrace and Park Lane
For I think it will be a long, long time
Before I see you again
Chorus:

Oh the sun is on the harbour, love
And I wish I could remain
For I know it will be a long, long time
Till I see you again
Chorus:

(Hey...at least it's not 'Ferry Across the Mersey'!)

 

[Senan Molony]

Ismay crest has family motto - "Be Mindful."

St Cuthbert is famed in part for saving five ships imperilled in a tempest at the mouth of the river Tyne.

He also spent nights in prayer, up to his neck in the sea.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>Christine is doing great, Mike. She had a bad fish and chip shop encounter, but other than that was in excellent form.<<

Good to hear she's doing well. Sorry about the fish and chips but that seems to be one of those things where you can run into trouble. I just hope the trouble was of the "Poor Preparation" as opposed to the "Food Poisoning" variety. The latter is far from pleasant, but a distinct possibility with tainted fish.

 

[John Clifford]

Thanks, again, for the pictures, Inger.
I know you will take plenty of pictures, next year, when BTS visits Halifax.

Unfortunately, it looks like I will miss that event, as I will be saving up for a Union-sponsored trip to New York, in July 2007 (deals with internal Union issues, so IRS does not authorize Administrative time to attend), followed by a planned August/September 2007 trip with at least three friends, this time sailing to Southampton on the Queen Mary 2.
After that I hope to visit London and Torquay (the late "Dame Agatha's" hometown), as well as revisit the Southampton sites.

 

[Senan Molony]

Da Vinci Code type discovery!

Carving of the Titanic, about 60ft up in the Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool.

Illuminated by curator's torch.

We had to murder her later, of course.

 

[Harriet Peel]

apologies for the thread necromancy...

Has anything been sighted of Wendy yet?

 

[Inger Sheil]

Not yet, Hatts - I was just thinking last night I haven't seen her on Yahoo for a while. I'll drop her an email, as she should be well and truly back in Canada by now.

 

[Harriet Peel]

>She hasn't logged onto here since april 6th... I do find it a tad worrying!