| I
was usually hopping school with a friend when we used to 'use' the service.
The crossing, plus the tunnel and the immediate area around North Woolwich
had a unique atmosphere, and still does in some ways - an aura of impregnability!
Steve Thoroughgood |
I
crossed back and forth countless times on the old paddle steamers in
the 30s and when at times we were chased off we used to walk through the tunnel. Colin Bailey |
| During
the early 60's myself and my uncle and aunt did weddings. Photos catering
cars the whole bit. One wedding we did was in Silvertown? The reception
was this side. On the ferry back we talked the captain into having his
photo taken with the bride and groom on the bridge supposedly marrying
them. Great pictures. I got greedy and sold a photo to the local paper.
The LCC came down on the Captain for letting us onto the bridge. Next thing
all went on strike. Until the LCC saw the funny side and gave the captain
his job back.
Paul
Mason. The Greasy Spoon Cafe, The Great British Nostalgia Site
|
| My great-aunt
and uncle would take me on the ferry as a small child and I remember the
fascination of seeing the piston rods moving slowly and reversing and all
in that glorious smell of hot steam.
Malcolm Bodley |
.....The one
memory I have of the day was sitting on the top deck and looking down into
the back of a lorry in front of us. It was loaded with open oil drums full
of slaughterhouse offal that slopped about with the motion and vibration
of the boat.
Pete Oxfordshire |
| At present I am living near the Woolwich
ferry, Sydney, Aus.I was born and bred in Wolwich SE 18 and in the late
40's early 50's my older brother and I would attend Saturday morning pictures
at the Granada. After the show we would go to a nearb bakers and buy eccles
cakes and proceed to the ferry. In winter we would sit above the boilers
and heat our cakes on the metal surface. We would go back and forth hiding
at each dock to avoid being told to get off. Sometimes we would get off
at North Woolwich and go into the docks and sit and watch the ships being
unloaded. We saw sailors from all over the world, every race colour etc.It
was an education in itself. They are fond memories. My old Mum was born
in Woolwich and died last May aged 93 having lived there all her life.
We scattered her ashes in the Thames , a fitting tribute to her . Thanks
for the wonderful pictures of Woolwich . As a boy my mother would take
me to the Salvation Army Tabanacle and the band use to play on the high
pavement outside The Salutaion Arms in Beresford Square. This public house
was a famous hount for the prostitutes.
Geoff Chatterton |
| I was born on one of the
ferry's in 1947, we lived in Winifred Street North Woolwich and as my Dear
Mother went in to labour with me the ambulance that was taking her to hospital
couldn't go anywhere as the bridge was up as a ship was entering the docks,
so they decided to take her south of the river on the ferry, but my Mum
couldn't wait that long and started to give birth to me as we got onto
the ferry, as far as I can find out it was the Will Crooks.
Tom Ford |
