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A special supplement featuring a tribute to the River Mersey by members of the ECHO’s Flickr group
Might of the Mersey
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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The River Mersey: lifeblood of a city THE River Mersey is surely one of the most evocative waterways in the world. It truly is the lifeblood of Liverpool, a great city grown from humble roots by the banks of a tidal pool, next to the Mersey. King John founded the Port of Liverpool in 1207 and the rest, as they say, is history. And what a history. The Mersey has inspired poets, musicians and artists, sped fortune-seekers on their way and brought loved ones back to their families again. Poet John Masefield, who wrote Sea Fever – ‘I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by’ – began his lifelong love affair with sailing on the Mersey, boarding his first ship in Liverpool aged 13. Some of the greatest ships ever to cross the oceans have made their stately
by ECHO EDITOR Alastair Machray way along the River Mersey; their names alone are enough to make the hairs on your neck prickle – Lusitania, Mauretania, Ark Royal, the White Empresses – even the tragic Titanic, which never visited the port, is inextricably linked with Liverpool. The Age of Sail may be long gone, but the River Mersey still affords us a glimpse of the past, in the form of the stately Tall Ships which make Liverpool a port of call on their voyages – most
recently forming one of the highlights of Culture Year. Of course, beauty comes in many forms on the river, as the photographs collected here demonstrate – from misty shots of tankers making their way up-river to the pomp of the QE2 and the steely strength of naval battleships. ‘Might of the Mersey’ is dedicated to the river, the sights and scenes which make living and working alongside it such a joy. All these photos have been taken by members of the ECHO’s online photography group, which you can find – and join if you wish – at www.flickr. com/groups/liverpoolecho Letting those photos tell the story of the Mersey seems a fitting tribute to both the river and the talent of the photographers. I hope you enjoy looking through it as much as we enjoyed making it.
TOP LEFT: Jmi001 captured the QE2 moored at Liverpool, dwarfing the Mersey ferry beside her ABOVE: Dock Reflection, by Steve Wallace (Mr Grimesdale) FAR RIGHT: Martin Waters (thenorthshore) went to New Brighton on a stormy day RIGHT: A fireworks display wows the crowds as the QE2 gets ready to leave for Dubai, by Jessypiratedoodle LEFT: Elevated view of the canal link and new museum. "I had to half hang out of a window on the seventh floor of my office to shoot this," said photographer Jim McLeod (Baz_Baziah) FRONT PAGE PICTURE: Sun on the Mersey, by Glenn Humphreys
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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TOP LEFT: A Maritime Mersey, by martin waters (thenorthshore) ABOVE: Storm Soaking, by Tim Edwards RIGHT: Canal link, by jimi001 BOTTOM RIGHT: A moody, foggy day at Albert Dock, by Ben Lavell (Fanatical Apathist) BELOW: Reflections in the Echo Arena Liverpool, by Martin Waters (thenorthshore) LEFT: Taken by Graham (Dune_UK) who recalls: "Part of the Transition ceremony for the Capital of Culture 2008 as 40,000 people crowded on to the Pier Head in Liverpool to watch the closing ceremony – 40,000 people who for one brief portion of time were 'One'. The 'One' sang along to 'All Together Now' – what a great night."
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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ABOVE: Sefton Docks seen through the fog, with the windfarm looming over the water, by Tim Edwards RIGHT: Bonfire Night lights up the sky behind an illuminated Runcorn Bridge, by John Kennan BELOW: Storm at Perch Rock, by Mr Grimesdale (Steve Wallace) LEFT: Baz_Baziah’s reflective picture of the iconic Liver Building, in the new Leeds-Liverpool Canal link-up
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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ABOVE: This photo of Tall Ships in Liverpool, at the start of the 2008 race, is by John Kennan TOP CENTRE: The Snowdrop, captured in vivid colours by Martin Waters (thenorthshore) TOP RIGHT: Photographer John Kennan said: "Only got down there at 9.15 last night and we had to fight with security to get in. By the time this was completed, the sunset had just finished." RIGHT: Mobile Virgin’s shot of Ark Royal was taken in freezing conditions in January BELOW: The view of the Tall Ships, from Egremont Promenade, on Wirral, by Chester walls
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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TOP LEFT: HMS Illustrious, photographed by Anthony Vaughan (tony.v) ABOVE: The Graces in all their glory. Breaking the habit of a lifetime, I uploaded this to Flickr in large, said Martin Waters (thenorthshore) FAR RIGHT: Taken by Jim McLeod (baz_baziah) who captioned it with a famous quote from Hitchcock's film, The Birds: "Admittedly, a few birds did act strange, but that's no reason to . . ." RIGHT: A blazing sunset over the Mersey and shipping traffic. Graham Maddrell (MaddieDigital) said after a spell of gloomy weather, he was delighted to be able to get such a vibrant shot LEFT: Martin Waters (thenorthshore) said: There are loads of versions of this shot doing the rounds at the moment, but what I liked about this one was the shadow of the railings on the Canal MIDDLE LEFT: ACL Atlantic Conveyor approaching Liverpool, by Peerzee
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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ABOVE: Canning Dock lit up, by Mr Grimesdale (Stephen Wallace) BELOW: The River Mersey cat – except it's actually a rock. It was spotted by Glen Humphries, who says he couldn't resist its quirky shape LEFT: Runcorn Bridge, also by Mr Grimesdale