Woolwich Free Ferry final day, 2018

On The PS Waverley again, heading up to The Pool of London from Southend; commentary is by Roger and tells you all you need to know. I knew to listen out for this as it had happened last year, this captain of The Waverley seems to be more than happy to sound the whistle, others, you’ll never hear a peep out of them.

Only a few weeks ago I heard the story I’ve often read, someone saying how as a boy, which must have been the end of the ’50’s, beginning of the ’60’s, he’d ride his bike from home in Silvertown and spend all day on the ferry going to and fro. The Port of London would be nearing its peak, record tonnage of cargo handled and all enclosed docks and upriver wharves operational, and I presume if you were down by Woolwich Reach you’d hear your fair share of ships’ horns tooting, whistles blowing, signalling intentions and movements before the days of universal VHF radio.