Worcester ferry service set to return to the River Severn this Easter
The service has been running on the river for centuries
A Worcester ferry service which has a history dating back to the 12th century is to set sail again.
The Worcester Cathedral ferry has been rowing people across the River Severn from the Water Gate for over 600 years and crossed the river every day until the late 1950s.
In 1983 the service was restarted when current boat 'Doris' was launched by former ferry master Mark Glossop, who retired from his role last year.
Mark was contacted by Nicola Milne, wife of the then Head Master of King’s School, over concerns about the distance students were walking in order to access playing fields on the other side of the river after Saturday school.
He then sourced the boat when on holiday in Dorset that year, finding a strong, sturdy, wide vessel, built circa 1960, and it's the same ferry that still runs today.
After retiring, Mark passed on the oars to Stephen Cope who has now taken over as the ferry master, he says it's great to have 'Doris' ready for another year.
"Doris is in very fine fettle," he said.
"We've spent the last six months restoring her and we've been able to do jobs this year which we couldn't have contemplated of doing at any time in the last three or fours years because we've been able to store her inside and do the work on her.
"Operating the ferry on a sunny day is just the reward for all the work you've put in over the winter, there's no clouds in the sky, you've got birds tweeting, it's just a delight to spend it then on the river."
Originally called Moonraker, the boat was renamed Doris after Doris Kinnersley - a local woman who helped out places in the city.
The service starts again this Easter weekend.
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