A Bridlington author has published his fourth book which details the history and milestones of an East Yorkshire ferry company.
Entitled North Sea Ferries Remembered, Barry Mitchell has created a pictorial record from 1965 to 2021 of the successful ferry operation connecting Hull with Rotterdam and Zeebrugge in Belgium.
Barry, who lives in Viking Road in Bridlington, explained: “Previously, having written three souvenir books covering the service and through my long-term association with the company, I am now regularly recognised as the North Sea Ferries historian.”
For many people who live in Bridlington and the surrounding area, a trip to Europe on the ferry service from Hull became a regular event, with many people enjoying the facilities and entertainment on the super ferries as much as the visits to Holland and Belgium.
Sadly, due to the pandemic, the Zeebrugge passenger service no longer runs from Hull’s King George Dock. The two ships – the Pride of Bruges and the Pride ofYork were sold to an Italian shipping company. The Rotterdam service remained in service throughout the pandemic with the Pride of Hull and
Pride of Rotterdam running overnight services each way.
Added Barry:“Six months ago I was approached by Ferry Publications Ltd to write, as a co-author, an up-to-date and colourful record of the operation. The 100-page book also includes a double page spread on retired North Sea Ferries captain Norman Woolhouse who is from Bridlington.”
A chapter is also reserved for the role of the North Sea Ferry – Norland – which saw active service in the Falklands War in 1982.The boat was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence and utilised as a troop carrier and sailed the 8,000 miles south with the Task Force. The ship was captained by Don Ellerby and during the service in the South Atlantic survived an attack from the Argentinian Air Force.
Over the decades, Barry has documented the various ships and changes that have shaped the company. Barry reckons in the years he has been undertaking research and writing his four books on the ferries he has taken the voyage over the North Sea on various ferries over 150 times.
The company is now called P&O Ferries after a buy out of North Sea Ferries in 2002.
The book is available from Ferry Publications Website: www.ferrypubs.co.uk.
