Our week in Liverpool was nearly up but we had a stroll round the Pier Head area. It was in this area and Mann Island that I took my Efficient Deck Hand certificate and Lifeboatman's 'Ticket, rowing around the dock in far from ideal weather, a young apprentice among the old lags. I was more worried about failing those than sitting for my Master's 'Ticket years later.
On the Pier Head are several memorials to seamen, including the engineers lost, to a man, of the Titanic. This is dedicated to the Merchant Marina in the wars. A body that a much higher percentage of people than any other branch of the armed services, but got little credit for their sacrifice. In fact they had to produce a lapel badge for them as they were being branded as cowards as they weren't in uniform.
This carving is on the opposite face of the plinth. It is also interesting to note that this monument was not dedicated until 1998!
Plying her trade on the river is the 'Snowdrop' that has been painted in a form of dazzle painting that was to commemorate the camouflage scheme that was used on warships in WWI to try and break up the profile and make them harder to spot. Obviously they weren't these bright colours then, just greys, black and white.
This memorial is for the 1400 crew members who were lost whilst belonging to the Royal Naval Auvillary Services, Merchant Navy men who were under the auspices of the RN. It is interesting to note that this memorial was raised in 1952! I have never really understood why our nation holds the Merchant Navy in so little regard, especially when 97% of everything comes by sea!
Our last Liverpool pub visit was to the Lady of Mann. It is named after a former Isle of Mann ferry that sailed for the Steam Packet Co. In fact there were two of this name, the first from 1930 to 1971 and the second from 1976 to 2005. The pub is down through an archway by the side of another pub, the Thomas Rigby, who was a wine and spirits merchant, into the courtyard. I believe the building housing the 'Lady of Mann' was some of the warehousing for the wine and spirits. The pub lacks a bit of character after a refurbishment but is pleasant enough. The courtyard is shared with the other pub and is always busy on warm evenings.
Although the pub is an Okells owned establishment I tried a beer form the Tapped Brewery. They are from Sheffield and actually brew the beer in the refurbished First Class waiting room on Sheffield Station. There is a great boozer to go with it and if ever you have to change trains there make sure you don't catch the first one, or maybe even the second as they have loads of hand pulls and bottled beers from around the worlds. They started brewing in 2013 and have a 4bbl plant that provides over 1000 pints in one brew. You can watch and smell the beer being made two or three times a week.
I had a pint of Mojo at 3.6% for £3-20. It had a really lovely head on it and was almost yellow in colour, and is called a crystal pale ale. It is full of mosaic and citra hops that give it a crisp fruity taste. It is a little 'thin' for me, but a lovely drop on a warm evening or almost like a palette cleanser. It is called Mojo as it is supposed to get your mojo working!
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