Woolwich Ferry
 

The Woolwich ferry was suspended on the 5th October for a couple of months whilst work is carried out for the arrival of two new ferries.
The three old ferries have been sold for scrap in France, the first of these, JOHN BURNS, left the Thames on the 7th under tow of french tug TSM KERMOR bound for Le Havre. Rear tug was the CHRISTINE, an old naval tug, which left them off Southend.

I remember when these were brand new. I had crossed on the old paddlers when Dad took us all on holiday to Dymchurch in the very early 1960's. These were state of the art and bang up to date when they arrived. One humorous memory is from 1965, when I was enjoying a trip to Margate on the Royal Sovereign. We were passing the Woolwich ferry as it was loading. A little lad called out in his very best cockney accent, "Cor Mum, look at all the cars on that big boat!"

"Oh yes," said his Mum, "They must be going for export I suppose."


Happy days indeed!!

Thanks for posting a somewhat sad image that raises happy memories.

Two down, one to go.
JAMES NEWMAN en-route for scrapping in Le Havre

The Woolwich ferries that I remember.

Wow! that's going back a bit .. unfortunately I can also recall these old ones back in the early '60's

My Dad worked for Tate & Lyle Sugar Refinery so I would regularly either ride the ferries, or walk through the tunnel.

The two new ferries arrived today