I've only just come across this video. I was one of the Radio Officers on PoD from 1990 to 1994, when the rank was "phased out". From 1989 to 1994 I served on the Sandwich,Walmer, freight ships, Calais then Dover. The Dover was very well built, which is why she lasted so long. Got to meet a few notable people along the way, including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, the girls from "Emmerdale" and the owner of Paul Mitchell hair products on a charity car rally to Monte Carlo. As with all ships, the days (and nights) could be a bit of a slog sometimes, but generally enjoyable. It was terribly sad seeing the video of her being run up the beach at the breakers, she deserved a better fate than that. Best wishes to all ex PoD Officers and Crew, especially the Radio Officers.
I loved the pride of Dover and The pride of Calais I use to know some of the ferry captains I use to get invited to the Bridge to meet the captains and officers I have many fond memories 💘
Took me right back to the 80's and being a kid. Full english followed by the vibrating yet satisfying ferry poo. Run around, milkshake, older brothers threaten throwing me over. All ace memories x
It's sad to think that this ferry was only about 25 years old when it was taken out of service and scrapped. The St.Columba Sealink ferry that used to run between Dun Laoghaire and Holyhead for nearly 2 decades is still running to this day in the Middle East I think, and it's now about 45 years old.
Very very good, It's very sad to see the girls leaving P&O service. I still remember travelling on the Pride of Dover and Pride of Calais for the first time in 1988. And now it's all nearly over. The last links to the Spirit Class trio of the 80's. But on a positive the Spirit of Britain looks stunning and a well worthy replacement of the wonderful Pride of Dover. Excellent tribute.
I only went on her a couple of times, but she was such a mighty and steady ship. The music is rather befitting as it's the theme from Star Trek : Enterprise, indicating that this ship was one of the pioneers of the new breed of cross channel ferry.
As silly as it sounds this was a sad day for the whole crew of this great ship I've sailed the channel meny time as a truck driver and to see the last days of the Pride of Dover is a sad time I have so meny memories of the sailing's I've been on the calm crossing and the should not be sailing crossings because it so damn rough but every crossing has a great story behind it, thank you for this film on the times of the Pride of Dover. P/S I was on the maiden voyage of the Pride of Kent out of Dover 40 odd years ago now that was a fantastic crossing to Calais.
I love the pride of Canterbury and the spirit of Britain , p&o ferries are a very good company , I went on DFDS had the worst experience of my life , great video :D
Well done Mic! It may have taken a while to produce and to get your footage but it was well worth the wait. In the old RUclips days 5 stars and Fav. All the best Ray
Sounds very much like the UK equivalent of our DEV 'Arahura' that worked between the north and south islands of New Zealand. Built in Denmark and entering service in 1983, she had an outstanding service record well above all others, could handle the often extreme seas in Cook Strait better than more modern ferries, was the most reliable and simply handled better all around. Sadly her last run came end of July last year, by which time she'd become something of an icon of the region, of holidays, not to mention the important role of not only carrying road vehicles and passenger, she also carried trains. (I was on the final pax sailing). She'd carried 5 million people and done 13 million kms. and made more than 52, 000 crossings. With indecent haste she was sailed under her own power to Alang scrapyard, beached there 3 November. 3 months after that she was only a memory. With much older ferries about, I'd have thought either of these two reputable proven workhorses could have found second hand service somewhere else...
I sailed on her for a couple of years B Watch she was a beauty , would never let you down and we have been in rough rough seas force 9 and 10down on the Goodwin banks because it was too rough to get in port . Its such a shame to see her go thanks for doing this , SHE DESERVED IT.
I crossed the channel from dover Calais and Calais to Dover many times. I used to down cans of lagers as fast as I could during the stormy crossings to find my balance. Happy days :)
I visited her when she was fitting out in the dockyard in 1987 and led the team that designed her first P&O livery. This culminated with me holding a tiny colour swatch up to her in Dover and phoning Lord Stirling to confirm the shade was right. I don't think the Marine dept. people thought that was very professional.:)
I love this film, the music at the end is great. The Pride of Calais will finish service soon, they are my favorite two P & O ferries, are you going to make a video on the Pride of Calais when she finishes with P & O? That would be good if you did make a video on the Pride of Calais. :)
A great tribute to the Pride of Dover. Crossing the channel yesterday on the Spirit of Britain, made me think "it's nice - but it's not the Pride of Dover". What was it that singled this ship out as (arguably) the best?
I love this film, the music at the end is great. The Pride of Calais will finish service soon, they are my favorite two P & O ferries, are you going to make a video on the Pride of Calais when she finishes with P & O? That would be good if you did make a video on the Pride of Calais.m :)
@TroyTrevains Hi Troy, thanks for the kind comments. I know it would be suitable but I don't have enough footage to make such a film. Even worse is that P&O aren't really fond on people visiting the bridge so I can't film there anymore. So despite my willingness to make such a film, I don't think that it will materialise.
I think someone told me that it was docked up in tillbury in case there is a problem with the spirit of britain. That said as soon as the spirit of france arrives,the spirit of britain will leave for the shipyard to have remedial engenering work aka new prop shaft,shaft bearings
i sailed on this a few times before, i thought it was a nice ship, but if im honest i think her sister ship the pride of calais was a bit better it didnt seem to rattle and vibrate quite so much, and the fit out inside looked newer,. i gues they done their time built for townsend torresen, 1987.
why did these 2 ships dover and calais come out of service SO fast? there were only launced in 87 and were broken up in 2012.... pride of bruges was launched at the same year and thats still going 9 years later.... Stena Europe is about the same size as these, and that was launched in 1981... it's 40... and they've JUST given it another 10 year extended life refit, laike MASSIVE refit, go watch the stena Europe extended life refit video. ANyway, wat was wrong wit these 2 ships??? surely someone would buy thjem??
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
A great watch. Recalling my buddies Captains Clive Wood and Jack Pearson as I did so.
I've only just come across this video. I was one of the Radio Officers on PoD from 1990 to 1994, when the rank was "phased out". From 1989 to 1994 I served on the Sandwich,Walmer, freight ships, Calais then Dover. The Dover was very well built, which is why she lasted so long. Got to meet a few notable people along the way, including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, the girls from "Emmerdale" and the owner of Paul Mitchell hair products on a charity car rally to Monte Carlo.
As with all ships, the days (and nights) could be a bit of a slog sometimes, but generally enjoyable. It was terribly sad seeing the video of her being run up the beach at the breakers, she deserved a better fate than that. Best wishes to all ex PoD Officers and Crew, especially the Radio Officers.
I loved the pride of Dover and The pride of Calais
I use to know some of the ferry captains
I use to get invited to the Bridge to meet the captains and officers
I have many fond memories 💘
Love this. I was B watch on the Dover in 1997 .
Took me right back to the 80's and being a kid. Full english followed by the vibrating yet satisfying ferry poo. Run around, milkshake, older brothers threaten throwing me over. All ace memories x
Fantastic tribute to a great ferry x
It's sad to think that this ferry was only about 25 years old when it was taken out of service and scrapped. The St.Columba Sealink ferry that used to run between Dun Laoghaire and Holyhead for nearly 2 decades is still running to this day in the Middle East I think, and it's now about 45 years old.
My first ship when I joined P&O in 1988.
Very very good, It's very sad to see the girls leaving P&O service. I still remember travelling on the Pride of Dover and Pride of Calais for the first time in 1988. And now it's all nearly over. The last links to the Spirit Class trio of the 80's. But on a positive the Spirit of Britain looks stunning and a well worthy replacement of the wonderful Pride of Dover.
Excellent tribute.
Pride of Calais and the pride of dover are in heaven
I've been on this no end of times absolutely enjoyed this brilliant thank you
I only went on her a couple of times, but she was such a mighty and steady ship. The music is rather befitting as it's the theme from Star Trek : Enterprise, indicating that this ship was one of the pioneers of the new breed of cross channel ferry.
Happy memories, regular traveller back in the early seventies, always a great british breakfast with some nice creasy sausages
That was a great video and tribute to the Pride of Dover!
Kyle
One of the first ferries I took as a young traveler
As silly as it sounds this was a sad day for the whole crew of this great ship I've sailed the channel meny time as a truck driver and to see the last days of the Pride of Dover is a sad time I have so meny memories of the sailing's I've been on the calm crossing and the should not be sailing crossings because it so damn rough but every crossing has a great story behind it, thank you for this film on the times of the Pride of Dover. P/S I was on the maiden voyage of the Pride of Kent out of Dover 40 odd years ago now that was a fantastic crossing to Calais.
I love the pride of Canterbury and the spirit of Britain , p&o ferries are a very good company , I went on DFDS had the worst experience of my life , great video :D
Well done Mic!
It may have taken a while to produce and to get your footage but it was well worth the wait. In the old RUclips days 5 stars and Fav.
All the best
Ray
Very well done!! Great tribute!! Loved watching all the footage you have of this beautiful ship. I will really miss her! :(
Sounds very much like the UK equivalent of our DEV 'Arahura' that worked between the north and south islands of New Zealand. Built in Denmark and entering service in 1983, she had an outstanding service record well above all others, could handle the often extreme seas in Cook Strait better than more modern ferries, was the most reliable and simply handled better all around. Sadly her last run came end of July last year, by which time she'd become something of an icon of the region, of holidays, not to mention the important role of not only carrying road vehicles and passenger, she also carried trains. (I was on the final pax sailing). She'd carried 5 million people and done 13 million kms. and made more than 52, 000 crossings. With indecent haste she was sailed under her own power to Alang scrapyard, beached there 3 November. 3 months after that she was only a memory.
With much older ferries about, I'd have thought either of these two reputable proven workhorses could have found second hand service somewhere else...
I sailed on her for a couple of years B Watch she was a beauty , would never let you down and we have been in rough rough seas force 9 and 10down on the Goodwin banks because it was too rough to get in port . Its such a shame to see her go thanks for doing this , SHE DESERVED IT.
I crossed the channel from dover Calais and Calais to Dover many times. I used to down cans of lagers as fast as I could during the stormy crossings to find my balance. Happy days :)
@raydover Thanks Ray. Glad to hear that you like it. Thanks again for the pictures and the horn sound!
I visited her when she was fitting out in the dockyard in 1987 and led the team that designed her first P&O livery. This culminated with me holding a tiny colour swatch up to her in Dover and phoning Lord Stirling to confirm the shade was right. I don't think the Marine dept. people thought that was very professional.:)
A channel Legend
Super film, I love it!!
I love this film, the music at the end is great. The Pride of Calais will finish service soon, they are my favorite two P & O ferries, are you going to make a video on the Pride of Calais when she finishes with P & O?
That would be good if you did make a video on the Pride of Calais. :)
A great tribute to the Pride of Dover. Crossing the channel yesterday on the Spirit of Britain, made me think "it's nice - but it's not the Pride of Dover". What was it that singled this ship out as (arguably) the best?
I love this film, the music at the end is great. The Pride of Calais will finish service soon, they are my favorite two P & O ferries, are you going to make a video on the Pride of Calais when she finishes with P & O?
That would be good if you did make a video on the Pride of Calais.m :)
@kevinsd9672 Thanks :-). She was indeed a fine ship in rough seas.
i used to do 14 hour shifts on this thing, it was hard work but also a pretty good laugh
If anyone’s interested here’s a small tribute to the pride of Calais
Have you any footage of the engine room/machinery spaces please ? I would love to see the areas that the public don't normally have access to>
really good, well done :D
@TroyTrevains Hi Troy, thanks for the kind comments. I know it would be suitable but I don't have enough footage to make such a film. Even worse is that P&O aren't really fond on people visiting the bridge so I can't film there anymore. So despite my willingness to make such a film, I don't think that it will materialise.
I think someone told me that it was docked up in tillbury in case there is a problem with the spirit of britain.
That said as soon as the spirit of france arrives,the spirit of britain will leave for the shipyard to have remedial engenering work aka new prop shaft,shaft bearings
The beast
i sailed on this a few times before, i thought it was a nice ship, but if im honest i think her sister ship the pride of calais was a bit better it didnt seem to rattle and vibrate quite so much, and the fit out inside looked newer,. i gues they done their time built for townsend torresen, 1987.
Would like to if I ever get there :D
Was this ferry the same type as the Herald of Free Enterprise?
No
@luci66 I haven't got a clue, currently she's in lay up. Who knows what her future will be.
Ich habe die Pride of Dover im Jahr 1986 mit gebaut 😎
i have sailed on a lot of the irish sea routes [with stena as well] maby youcould review larne- cairyan/troon
@frediswyde I'm sorry to say that I don't. They didn't allow it because it was too dirty and dangerous (health and safety :p).
Greetings
Michael
2:01 THING FLYING EVRYWHERE
@MRBFMV1993 She was becoming too old and the new Spirit of Britain took her place.
why did these 2 ships dover and calais come out of service SO fast? there were only launced in 87 and were broken up in 2012.... pride of bruges was launched at the same year and thats still going 9 years later.... Stena Europe is about the same size as these, and that was launched in 1981... it's 40... and they've JUST given it another 10 year extended life refit, laike MASSIVE refit, go watch the stena Europe extended life refit video. ANyway, wat was wrong wit these 2 ships??? surely someone would buy thjem??
Three screws. Rather rare...
Pride of Rotterdam is more beautyfull.
To name a ugly ship Pride of... is really funny..