It was a joy, even on a dull day, to watch the brightest Snowdrop in England take passengers along Liverpool’s Mersey river, providing a living art and history lesson as she sailed.
One of two ships painted as contemporary dazzle ships, Snowdrop is the only one in operation. The design was originally conceived in monochrome, but the artist added bright colours to make the design cheerful.
The project was a hat tip to wartime artists who covered British ships in black and white patterns, known as dazzle camouflage, to confuse any U-boats surfacing briefly to try to sink them. Torpedos needed to be fired just ahead of the boats which would continue on into them. Wild patterns were the sailors’ best hope of making it harder to work out which way their ship was travelling.
Sir Peter Blake was quoted in The Guardian as saying he feared what the reaction to the ‘dazzled’ ship might be in some quarters. He explained, ‘I was very respectful of it: I checked things like whether I was okay to change the funnel.’ That made me smile. For more about the project, check out the Liverpool Picturebook.
I’m sharing this dazzle ship as a token of respect and gratitude to Prince Philip who served on a ship during wartime and loved being at sea. Our Queen fell for him at first sight and this is a sorry day for those who loved him, including many British people unrelated to him other than by affection.
If I had rights to share the picture of Prince Philip standing in the pouring rain while inspecting troops, aged 97, doffing his bowler hat in respect, I would, for that image is how I will remember him.
There are prevarications around this but, for me, one of many consequences of sexism in British society is that while a man born to be king can have his wife sit beside him as queen, a woman born to be queen cannot have the equivalent, as king is held to have higher status than queen. I had hoped that might be addressed in Prince Philip’s lifetime but now it cannot be.
Susan Rushton 
The Duke was a remarkable man indeed. A lovely tribute to his seafaring career, Susan.
We were lucky to have him.
Rest in peace Prince Phillip. He was respected regardless of his title. Thanks for sharing
it was nice to hear tributes from some of the lives he touched.
as you say thought provoking indeed – a lovely tribute though to everyone who served in the navy as well as Prince Philip
An excellent point.
My respect for Prince Philip and thanks for sharing the story of these boats.
It was fitting that his funeral had many maritime references.
I think Prince Philip would value your tribute deeply, not just your words but your image and its history, not to mention its updated version. I did not know that about the spouse of king or queen, and I cringe to read it. Also I had never known of dazzle ships. Thank you for the history lessons.
I’ve never heard it mentioned, let alone debated, and constitutional experts would find some excuse for it, but the facts are simple. King Henry VIII, an extreme example, had a succession of six Queens of England. They were Queen Consorts (ie married to the King). We have never had a King Consort. Queen Elizabeth I was unmarried, Queen Victoria had Prince Albert, Queen Elizabeth II had Prince Philip.
He was an interesting man in his own right. I’m sorry for his loss, but what a magnificent life he had!
That’s another good point.
A fine tribute – I hadn’t known about the dazzle ships
There is another one, Edmund Gardner, in the dry dock at the Albert Docks.
Lovely tribute! Believe it or not, I learned about dazzle camouflage on The Great Pottery Throw Down, when one of the contestants used it as decoration for a pot. Until then, I had never heard of it. Funny how that happens.
That’s a coincidence.
Loved the story about the dazzle ships, I’d never heard of these before.
I liked the story of how the American ones were once compared to a flock of Easter eggs.
They were such a loving couple! The sights they’ve seen and storms they weathered. A lovely tribute, Susan. I’m watching the service now, along with so many others, out of respect. 💕💕
The piper pretty much finished me off. The bit I liked best was that red tupperware pot with his hat and gloves in the carriage – he kept sugar lumps in it to treat the horses.
Yes, the piper got me too! He was a good guy, wasn’t he? Nice to see the grandkids being civil. You do wonder how much is just the press stirring it. A lonely life for HRM now 😦
I liked him, and yes, it was. The press is unrelenting and cruel. It is ridiculous to give praise only after someone has died.
It’s sad to see someone lose a person with whom they’ve spent most of their life with. I’m sad for their family. With that being said, in relation to your post- I didn’t know that the song “Ferry Cross the Mersey” was about an actual place. Very cool. In my defense, I’m in the U.S.
Me too. I’m glad you found out that the River Mersey is real. I’ve have similar experiences in America, or at least been amazed to find myself at places I’ve heard celebrated in song.
The first thing that came to mind when I read your title was a song that became popular just after I graduated from high school: “Ferry Cross the Mersey” by Gerry and the Pacemakers. Now that my age cohort is filled with people who have pacemakers, the group’s name has an added layer of humor. Still, I found myself hoping that today’s Mersey ferries — dazzled and otherwise — might include the song on their crossings from time to time.
I’m sure they do. I don’t think you could spend more than a few days in the city without hearing it.