Thames Excursion Boats - Silver Fleet - Woods River Cruises

The company was formed in 1947 and is still run by the Woods family. An early boat was the Viking III owned by Alan Woods (Snr) and Mrs LD Woods (later operating as Woods Launches) on Tower to Westminster services. She remained in the fleet until 1965. In 1956 the Teddington joined the fleet. She was built by J.Bolson of Poole in 1946 and had previously run for J.Battie. She was kept until 1960. In 1961 Woods Launches acquired a half share of W.T.Metcalf who ran Viking M (ex-Viking I) and Lady Leigh II from Tower Pier to Greenwich and Westminster. In the same year Dolphin was acquired and a partnership was formed with Coakley's Launches who were running Dauntless (1942) and Alouette (1927). St Patrick (1910) was added to the Metcalf fleet in 1963. The impressive new Silver Marlin (the first of the 'Silver' boats) was delivered from the Thames Launch Works in 1966. She was a modern enclosed boat with toilets, galley, bar etc for use on private charters or normal service work. In 1970, the Metcalf part of the business was split between Woods and Coakley. A second new boat, Silver Dolphin, was delivered in 1971. She had enclosed upper and lower decks and Silver Marlin receives an enclosed upper deck at the same time. Silver Dolphin was the remain with the fleet until 2009. In 1972 Minden Rose was acquired from Thompson's. She had been built as a German torpedo recovery vessel in 1942. Woods Launches became Woods (River Services) Ltd in 1975. An order was placed for a much larger and more luxurious charter vessel, the Silver Barracuda, which was delivered in 1977. The company also bought the ex-Gosport ferry Vita to assist on the Westminster-Tower services. After a thorough refit she entered service in 1976.

1977 Woods Fleet:- Minden Rose, Silver Barracuda (1977), Silver Dolphin (1971), Silver Marlin (1966), Vita (1959)

At the end of 1978, Coakley's Launches were acquired jointly with Thames Pleasure Craft, bringing two further ex-Gosport ferries, Ferry Belle and Varos, into the fleet. A new company Pearltarn Ltd was formed, jointly with Thames Pleasure Craft, to operate the Ferry Belle and Varos. In 1984 Woods River services took over the Ferry Princess, another ex-Gosport Ferry. Another joint company, Thames Guided Tours, was formed to run new vessels Sir Thomas More and Sir Richard Grenville delivered 1982 and 1983.

1984 Woods Fleet:- Minden Rose, Silver Barracuda (1977), Silver Dolphin (1971), Silver Marlin (1966), Sir Richard Grenville (1983), Sir Thomas More (1982), Vita (1959)

By 1985 Minden Rose had been replaced by Ferry Princess. Woods were running services from Westminster to Tower Pier, from Tower Pier to Greenwich and (jointly with Catamaran Cruisers) from Charing Cross to Greenwich. Silver Barracuda was used on charter trips and occasional public lunch cruises. The Charing Cross services ceased in 1988. Ferry Princess and Sir Thomas More were sold, the latter to Thames Television who ran her on private functions from Teddington. She later became the William B of Thames Leisure. Silver Marlin was sold for service on Loch Lomond in 1991. Sir Richard Grenville was renamed Silver Bonito in 1993 and the company gave up their share of the Westminster, Tower and Greenwich services. Vita was sold. Silver Bonito was chartered to Evan Evans Tours for circular sightseeing tours. The impressive Silver Sturgeon joined the charter fleet in 1997, the largest vessel of this type on the Thames.

1997 Woods Fleet:- Silver Barracuda (1977), Silver Bonito(1983), Silver Dolphin (1971), Silver Sturgeon (1997)

Silver Bonito later (c.2001) ran circular tours from the London Eye, and was sold to them in 2008. Silver Dolphin was leased to Turk Launches until 2010.