SHE may be in need of a load of TLC, but at least she's back! The Severn Princess, much loved and fondly remembered by thousands of local people as one of the Beachley to Aust ferry boats, once more has Severn water beneath her bow.
The Princess did it all for the cameras when she arrived at a berth in the River Wye on Friday evening, having safely negotiated the Irish Sea and a full-blown gale earlier in the week.
"We were a bit worried, but she came through without a hitch," said Tim Ryan, one of the leading lights in the recently established restoration group set up to save the boat put out of business by the Severn Bridge.
"When we found her in Ireland she had 15 holes across her keel and was on a pier half in and half out of the water. We made her as seaworthy as we could and she was towed back by a Cardiff company," said Mr Ryan.
The Princess was one of the three famous ferry boats run by Enoch Williams – the others were the Severn Queen and Severn King. With the opening of the bridge in 1966, The Princess was sold to Irish interests.
Her recovery came about as a group of friends, among them Enoch Williams's grandson, Dr Richard Jones, talked over old times and spoke about the demise of the old boat in Ireland.
The restoration scheme was hatched and words finally exploded into action when Newport businessman Terry Johnsey become involved.
"Terry has been brilliant. He used the ferry as a youngster to fetch spare parts from Bristol and he gave us the financial clout to make the whole project possible," said Mr Ryan.
With the loan of a slip from Fairfield Mabey for two years, work is expected to begin soon to make the ferry once more a local feature. Phase one is expected to be a cosmetic refit and phase two the full works.
The restoration group is planning fund-raising events and may seek a Lottery grant.