Відео

Sounded great to me!

Thank you! She is having a 'Fun Day' on the dock in celebration :)

Or mooning the fookn Pope on TV, mate!! FACT

Hello. Lovely to hear from you again! On the contrary, things have taken a turn for the better. The dock finally opened to the public last year for a food festival and then a Xmas market. Both were a success. It was quite an emotional experience for me, as you may imagine? There are lots of plans for future events, like a small music festival etc; but it all looks very promising. The ship has recently featured in a film written and starring Sir Lenny Henry. It's called Three Little Birds and is about the Windrush era. The ship had a makeover for filming and is looking amazing. Although it's mostly superficial it just shows what can be done and that all is certainly not lost. xx

@@asherbasher100 Respect Ashley x

Like the title suggests ... it was a 'mess about, experimenting'. Sorry if you didn't like it. I'm also a massive Iron Maiden fan! The original video featuring this track, which suited perfectly, is still among my favourites. Granted, it doesn't really work too well with the radio interview included! Without that .. see what you think? ua-cam.com/video/szak878XMAs/v-deo.html

@@asherbasher100 Oh. I Like iron maiden, that’s not it. 🥴

Glad you enjoyed the book. For the past 11 years or so, I worked closely with the owner researching the history and learning all about the corruption and dirty dealings they endured at the hands of the local Council. To say they attacked the venture from the outset is an under statement. Those attacks are still happening to this day. We managed to prove the main constraint regarding access to the ship for emergency vehicles to be a lie. A lie that is responsible for the ship sitting closed for the past 40+ years. So much so, a massive amount of work to rejuvenate the dock has been carried out, with a view to opening to the public for events and even the top deck of the ship. It's a huge leap forward, at last. Unfortunately, no one counted on the pandemic, which has stalled plans for the time being, but hopefully that won't last for much longer? If anyone is interested I have hard copies of the book for sale for £7.99 including p+p. They are available to order from the following link. Please remember to include address details when ordering :) www.paypal.com/paypalme/ashleydukey

The Council seem to hate the ship and scupper any plans that may give her a future. Why? I have my own thoughts on that and believe she was a victim of circumstance. In the right place at the wrong time. During the early 1980's there was a lot going on with the local authority. Much of that was recently brought to light, making headline news and detailing something quite shocking. I think the ship just 'got in the way'. That's all I can say.

Very good point Erik. When the ship was open during the eighties, she was fitted with a 'state of the art' sprinkler system. One of the WW11 concrete barges that was scuttled at the side of her to keep her in place during high tide was also used as a holding tank as you suggested. It was a clever system that worked. Unfortunately, if opening to the public, it is a requirement that there is adequate access for fire engines, which there was during the eighties. Although initial planning was refused in 1979 due to the weight restriction of 10 tonne on the Glan-Y-Don bridge, alternative access was found further down the Coast Road. That access has now gone leaving the only access via the weight restricted bridge. That's why the ship has sat closed for 30+ years. If you're aware of the story you will know we proved the weight restriction to be a lie, conjured up by the Council to refuse planning to stop the ship from opening. The bridge was proven to be able to carry weight in excess of 40 tonne. Took a while for North Wales Fire & Rescue to acknowledge that, but eventually have. So there is no problem with access now. Recently the ship was due to open for a 'zombie' event . The fire brigade called a meeting with the event organisers expressing their concern over the pot holes on the Cob Road. They weren't prepared to use the road until they were fixed. (although they did 6 months prior when the farmer's combine harvester went on fire) The event was cancelled. Doesn't take much working out when you discover the Chief Clerk to the North Wales Fire & Rescue is also the Chief Executive of the Council, Colin Everett. :)

The owner cares for it very much. It costs close on £75k per year just to keep the ship as she is. When you consider she has sat closed for over 40+ years, that's a massive financial burden with no return. However, there may be light at the end of the tunnel, which has led to a huge clean up of the dock, with a view to opening to the public. It's looking great now and has electricity/water supply. There are yachts to hire for the night or longer and there is also the harbourmaster's cabin, which I can personally recommend! The area is available for events of all sorts. Private parties, meetings, car boots, corporate or even as a wedding reception (there are marquee posts situated all over the dock) The ship would make a fantastic backdrop for any event and certainly an unusual one. There will be the possibility of people being able to access the top deck. With a camera suspended on a wire would make a great photo opportunity standing at the bow of the ship .. like in the film 'Titanic'. For obvious reasons everything has had to take a back seat for now, which is a shame to say the least. One thing nobody counted on was a pandemic!

That's great then Ashly , I didnt realise that it costs so much just to keep her as she is and that theres a plan to improve things, I only happened upon a video on UA-cam and I think its great with some lovely filming.

I'm sad to say the Tuxedo Royale has now been scrapped. :(

Thank you! x

The bridge on the footpath from the Coast Road is crazy low. Wasn't always as low. If you look to the left of the underpass you'll see another one (Abakhan side) and on the far right, across the stream in the farmer's field. Those underpasses are huge in height and width. Originally the one to the ship was the same but for some reason it was built up by British Rail in the 1960's. There is, however, access a bit further down the Coast Road via the Glan-Y-Don bridge. If you're familiar with the history you will know the local Council put a weight restriction of 10 tonnes on it and planning was refused on that basis in 1979 because a fire engine would be too heavy. Luckily, alternative access was found further again down the Coast Road via 'Evans's concrete yard, and planning was granted. That access has now gone. To make a very long story short, after much research and discussions with varies bodies, we discovered the Glan-Y-Don bridge is not weak with the 10 tonne restriction, in fact, it can safely carry weights of 40+ tonne. So for 34+ years the ship has sat closed on the basis of a lie claimed by the local authority. Regards moving her, it would cost an absolute fortune to do so and that's if it would be possible, which I seriously doubt. Besides which, where would she go? She sits in her own dock and no one can touch her. Many other vessels have not been so lucky. Because the local Council cannot use the excuse of a weak bridge anymore, the 'zombie event' was planned. It never happened because the fire brigade met with the event organisers and claimed the road was not suitable because of the pot holes. (even though they had no difficulty with them when the farmer's combine harvester went on fire the previous Summer) Why would the fire brigade be so difficult? The answer is clear when you discover the Chief Clerk to NWFR is also none other than the CEO of Flintshire County Council.

Ashley Gardner Wow that’s an amazing insight into what sounds like a very corrupt set of circumstances. Who actually owns the ship, is it a company or an individual. I presume the owner/s has upset someone at the council and is now black balled. Such a shame to see a huge ship just sat rotting when it could be put to good use. I used to do a lot of Urbex exploration and I’ve been in huge huge places that are just sat rotting because some council won’t give planning permission for new apartments or a hotel etc, it’s crazy and the reasons they give are normally bonkers. I think it’s a very corrupt and money driven world we live in unfortunately

@@BrickBasherUK it certainly is that. I find it quite shocking the way the owners of the ship have been treated and find it all the more shocking when folk accept it as the norm because it comes from an 'authority'. The ship is owned by a Liverpool based Company named Empirewise. The Company was dissolved a few years ago. It consisted of 3 people who were market traders back in the 1970's. John, Pat and Ian. In those days Sunday trading was illegal and it was somewhat frustrating because it could be potentially perfect for making money, due to folk not working at the weekend thus having time to visit the markets etc; John researched into this and discovered that the Sunday trading laws didn't apply to maritime vessels. They could openly trade quite legally and on a Sunday! And so he bought himself a ship. It's actually a fascinating story about how the ship was found and the process they had to go through before bringing her to Llannerch-Y-Mor. The journey they had was eventful to say the least. It wasn't a snap decision I hasten to add. They had discussions with the local Council for close on 12 months before taking the plunge and going for it ... and with 100% blessing from the Council. Something went seriously wrong because the night the ship arrived the attitude from the Council was completely different. They attacked the venture from then on in, refusing planning, opposing licenses, enforcement notices, interlocutory injunctions forcing closure ... you name it. So fed up with it all, they decided to close the 'Funship' but always vowed to return to try again. Maybe feelings would be different? They did but nothing had changed and is still the same to this day. I was in discussion with the Council for close on 3 years, and I can honestly say, the animosity is startlingly obvious, even now. Why? Who knows. I have my own theory as to why they hate the ship so much. A victim of circumstance maybe? If you cast your thoughts back to those days and revelations brought to light more recently of incidents taking place that are beyond shocking, then that is a massive clue and I will leave it there. But, there is hope! All being well the ship and the dock will shortly be open to the public. Mainly the dock at first with yachts for hire, houseboats, glamping pods etc; even talk of a 'boot camp'. The 'zombie experience' could be back on the table too. I quite fancy having a small(ish) festival with live bands. If you can imagine the ship would be an amazing backdrop for that! She's been there 40 years. She's in no hurry to leave :)

Promises? I'm afraid the history came back to bite, unfortunately, as expected. The same old. The fire brigade held a meeting with the event organisers for the first zombie event planned. They said they wouldn't travel down the Cob Road because of the pot holes. They would and they did for a farmers combine harvester on fire, but not for a ship full of people. Like it says, 'the show is certainly not over', not by a long chalk.

@@asherbasher100 I really admire your fight, and pray that someday it will bear fruit so to speak. The Duke deserves to be turned into something special.

@@angel_on_the_edge8084 She does. Thank you for your kind words.

Same old reason really. The ship was due to open in December for the zombie attraction but the fire brigade insisted the Cob Road must be fixed (potholes) They said they wouldn't go down it, although they did just that when the farmer's combine harvester went on fire last Summer. The Chief Clerk is also the main man at the Council. so that explains it somewhat??

I will say that the dock does look fantastic since i last paid a visit

@@leeallen7491 Thank you. I think so too. There has been a lot of hard work carried out, which is on-going. Despite not being able to open yet again, the work continues. I admire the determination and hope more than anything, they succeed in the end. I think they will!

@@asherbasher100 well i have to admit i'm eating my words as i thought nothing would ever be done and end up being scrapped