MEMORIES of crossing the Severn before a bridge had been built over the river were shared at Chepstow Society’s latest meeting.

Tim Ryan gave a talk on the “Saving of the Severn Princess”, one of the ferries restored after being sold to Ireland.

Tim, whose dad often worked on Severn Princess, along with other members of the Severn Princess Restoration Group, filled the damaged keel with concrete, refloated the vessel and towed her back to Chepstow.

Local engineering firm Fairfield Mabey helped restore the vessel, which went back on show beneath the Brunel’s railway bridge on the bank of the Wye.

Before the Severn Bridge was opened in 1966, the quickest way to cross the river from England to Wales was by ferry. The alternative was a 60-mile detour via Gloucester that took 2½ hours.

Taking the boat with Old Passage Severn Ferry Company Ltd was not without its hazards. As car ownership grew, so did queues at Aust and Beachley for the ferry.

Often drivers would wait for hours only to find the tide had dropped, missing the last ferry and forcing them to take the long routemeaning they had to drive the long way round.

After the talk, members discussed local issues, including the Mabey Bridge development and traffic issues around the Champions League final in Cardiff.

The next meeting on May 17 at the Drill Hall will be this year’s AGM.

A Japanese TV film on Bristol will be shown as it includes a short section on a visit to Chepstow which the society was involved in.

All are welcome.