Manchester Liners Old Shipmates Hon Sec's Log

Please note that the hard copy newsletter differs from this one which is edited onto the relevant pages on the site. Also, unless otherwise requested, for reasons of security personal contact details are not shown on the web edition.

ANY CONTRIBUTIONS FOR INCLUSION IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER SHOULD BE SENT TO THE HON. SEC. CAPTAIN STEVE WORTHINGTON BEFORE THE END OF AUGUST 2008 .

I wish to thank everyone who has sent in items for inclusion in this Newsletter.

If any contributions have not yet appeared rest assured they will, in future editions. The reason for limiting the number of pages is to try to keep the weight for postage down to the cost of a second class stamp.

PLEASE KEEP THE CONTRIBUTIONS COMING IN – I REALLY NEED THEM TO KEEP THE NEWSLETTER GOING!

Hope you will find this Newsletter interesting – and hope to see you at St Annes in May or Didsbury in October .

It is amazing how time just flies by especially when one is retired. It seems no time since we held our Didsbury Reunion, and Newsletter No.11 was circulated.

Members will notice, and I hope approve of, our re-modelled newsletter format. The change has been introduced to both improve the image and reduce, or at least stabilize, production costs and time. The logo on the front page will have a different ship each edition – with thanks to Derrick Howarth who designed the cover and John Slavin who over many years took the pictures and has allowed MLOSA to have the use of his collection.

This change will also hopefully reduce the work load on Carol and I and our domestic equipment as the circulation has grown considerably over the years from 45 copies to in excess of 135. Our numbers continue to grow with applications coming from as far afield as Canada, Spain, South Africa, and Australia. This increase continues due to our excellent web site under the stewardship of Derrick our Webmaster.

It is surprising how many people comment on the fact that it is amazing how our numbers have grown when one considers the Company ceased trading in the mid 1980s.

PLEASE NOTE - SUBS ARE DUE BY 31ST MAY. A subs renewal form is included in the newsletter. Please return it to Peter Cullen with your cheque for £7.00. (please ignore if you have already paid)

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ST ANNE’S REUNION WEEKEND 2008
The Reunion is being held over the weekend of Saturday/Sunday May 17th/18th 2008. Members will recall from the last newsletter the reasons for moving the date was to allow us to increase our numbers. So we are relying on you all to support the Association and the Reunion. To date just over 60 members, wives and guests have booked for the weekend.

Enclosed with the newsletter for those who have NOT already booked (or sent apologies) is a booking form. Please complete it and return it as soon as possible to Steve Worthington, Hon Sec, who will make the booking with the hotel and send you a confirmation.

Anyone who HAS already booked should by now have received a form by post or by email to sign and return.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BOOKED TO SIGN AND RETURN THE RESERVATION FORM. THIS IS THE ONLY MEANS WE HAVE TO VERIFY NUMBERS WITH THE HOTEL.

Please do not send any money – you pay the hotel at the end of the weekend.
If you need for any reason to contact Steve about a booking you can reach him at info@manchesterliners.co.uk

DIDSBURY 2008 is being held on THURSDAY 23rd OCTOBER 2008
The venue is the Disbury Golf Club.
Meeting at 1200 hrs to sit down at 13.00 hrs
Reservation forms will be distributed with the Financial Accounts some time after May.
These forms are to be returned to Peter Cullen, Hon Treasurer.
Anyone wishing to book early can contact Peter at info@manchesterliners.co.uk

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Our web site is still being well used by old shipmates around the world finding us and requesting membership. Others are from interested parties seeking information, with their questions being posted on the Lookout page.

"What was the name and date of the last Manchester Liner to sail down the MSC?"

If you know the answer to it and do not have access to a PC there is always the old fashioned telephone or snail mail. Or maybe you could use a PC in the local library to gain access to our site, an assistant in the library would no doubt be pleased to assist you if you are not sure how to do it. Our address is www.manchesterliners.co.uk

We have also received more ship photos which have been added to the Photo Archives Ships pages, an interesting one being in colour of the ex “Manchester Port” (4) in her changed livery when she was sold and became the “Biokovo”.

The web site is continually being updated and to this end a New Items page was created with a waving semaphore flag link from the Chart page with direct links to the updated pages. This was because the site has grown tremendously and so it is an aid to finding updates without having to trawl through the whole site.

Sadly in the last few weeks there have been three entries onto the Crossed the Bar page. These will also be found elsewhere in this newsletter.

Please don’t forget to keep sending in to our Mailbag page mailbag@manchesterliners.co.uk, which is for members only, and for which we welcome all items of interest. After all, it is your input that keeps our site alive.

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I am currently working on a book concerning the worldwide revival of interest in the airship that has waxed and waned these past four decades.

The airship case is somewhat unique given the high profile that individual projects invariably generate in the press with often very large sums of money being spent on research and development, with little in the way of tangible results to date. Hardly any airships have actually been built and flown, despite the enormous efforts of all those involved.

My work will examine the general case of modern airship development, and present design details of the most interesting proposals.

One of the projects that most fascinates me is Cargo Airships Ltd., the offshoot of Manchester Liners in the early 1970's and I should be most grateful for any information or material pertaining to the company that your readers may be able to provide. Would anyone possibly retain any documents or material pertaining to Cargo Airships Ltd. that I may be able to borrow or copy at some stage?

I would be extremely grateful for any information, however slight, given that practically nothing now remains to document the Company's efforts to establish cargo transportation by airship.

I contacted Furness Withy some time ago, and the company Secretary in the North could vividly remember going through a file specifically relating to the airships' programme when the files were in preparation for being sent to company HQ in London. Unfortunately the whole shipment of files appeared to have gone missing.

I have spoken to Max Rynish, co-director and principle spokesman for Cargo Airships, Peter White and Tom Donnelly, all of whom were able to supply me with some material, but again little now remains at so many years distance.

Finally, I would also be most grateful for any thoughts and impressions of Cargo Airships looking back now over the years.

Thank you and best wishes,
Nigel Caley,

If you can help please contact Nigel direct but please also send a copy to Webmaster to add to the website on this subject.

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UK MERCHANT SEAFARERS VETERAN’S BADGE

You will be pleased to learn of recent progress in Veterans affairs and change of qualification criteria for the award of the Merchant Navy Veterans Badge.
On the 16th January Merchant Navy Veterans joined Veterans of the Armed Forces to receive Veterans Badges from the Minister for Veterans Affairs at the Houses of Parliament. This inclusion and recognition for the Merchant Navy in their own right would not have been possible before our successful campaign just three years ago.

On the 29th January, Veterans of the Merchant Navy were invited to the national launch to extend the period of qualification for the Award of Merchant Navy Veterans Badges to those currently serving.

The period for qualification for the Armed Forces Veterans Badge has now been extended to 31st January 2005. This means that the Award of the Merchant Navy Veterans Badge, like that of the Armed Forces will continue to be issued to those fulfilling the criteria.

Success in the arena of Veterans Awards is confirmation that we can achieve much more for our merchant maritime traditions of service and the importance of the Merchant Navy.

Derek Bristow OBE DL
Further details and application forms from:
Merchant Mariners
16 Glebe Road, Brampton, Huntingdon, Cambs PE28 4PH
Veterans Badge Line 01480 412958
Email: info@merchant-mariners.co.uk

Details are also available through John Meadowcroft, and he will explain about the qualification and how to apply for the Badge.

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Have you been down to Ellesmere Port Museum lately?

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INVITATION TO MLOSA FOR -

A DAY TRIP CANAL TRANSIT ON STEAM TUG “KERNE”

Through John Slavin I have been introduced to Bob Stead of North Western Steamship Co Ltd. Liverpool who owns and operates the Steam Tug "Kerne", built 1913 and kept at the Sandon Dock in Liverpool. "Kerne" makes occasional trips for invited persons only. This now, because of John, includes MLOSA.

Dependent on tides she can be brought up the Mersey to Ellesmere Port on a Thursday or Friday making the return to Liverpool on the Monday or Tuesday, and a cruise up to Manchester arranged for the Saturday making the return one on the Sunday to Ellesmere Port. She can also go up the Weaver, usually to Acton Bridge, but occasionally goes as far as the Anderton Lift. Above the Lift there is no longer enough water for her.

I have spoken in length with Bob Steed about the possibility of arranging a MLOSA weekend on her. She is only permitted to carry a maximum of 8 passengers on the Mersey and 12 passengers on the inland waterways.

Although there is no set fare and everything is done by donation, all monies go solely to pay for the canal dues and the coal used. A round trip to Manchester costs them about £1000, and they suggest that a donation of £30 per person be made each way is a fair price to pay. This works out at £720, and as the crew run her for their pleasure also, they are prepared to pick up the extra costs. All parts of the vessel can be visited whilst she is in transit.

My thoughts are that we may have enough members interested to find 12 for up and 12 for down the MSC and organise her for some time this summer. I am hopeful that we may also include the Weaver Navigation with the MSC trip. We would need to book and pay for 24 persons in total for the trip to run. I understand that other members if interested could book for the Mersey section between the Sandon Dock and Ellesmere Port and vice versa. They are asking £30 per person for the Ellesmere Port to Manchester and vice versa.

Would anyone interested in participating in a run-out on the Kerne please contact by email either Hon Sec Steve or Derrick Howarth info@manchesterliners.co.uk

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Manchester CITY 1971 – LOST WEDDING PHOTOS

Des Walsh, an ex Liners Electronics Officer, received the following and passed it on to Bill Harrison as an Old Shipmates member. Marconi Marine is no more but maybe MLOSA members can shed some light on the hunt for the missing photographs.
It would be a wonderful story if the could be located after all these years.

Dear Sir,
I was married on Feb 6th 1971 in Montreal, Canada.
Present at my wedding were all deck officers and engineers off the vessel Manchester City.
The R/O who was an amateur photographer offered to take all the photos at the wedding and in fact he did just that. He worked for Marconi and was employed by Manchester Liners. However, I never heard from him again and never received the photos.
I have tried over the years but never really found the time to try hard enough. Now that I am retired I am trying to put more effort into my search.
The second mate at the time was Roger Llewellyn who is now senior captain with OOCL who has tried in the past to gain information for me but he is at sea most of the time and has not been able to do much more for me.
I am hoping you might be able to help me track this gentleman down.
Anything that you could do for me would be greatly appreciated and I look forward to your reply.

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national coastwatch institution

For my troubles I am the National Membership Secretary of the National Coastwatch Institution. Who? You say.

Well we are an organisation .which was set up in 1997 after some fisherman were drowned off West Cornwall in view of a redundant Coastguard Lookout Station.

We set up an organisation to resume visual lookouts from a lot of these stations and currently have 38 stations in operation around the English Coast, from Hartlepool to Herne Bay and from Folkestone to Barry. 28 of the stations have a Declared Facility Status with HM Coastguard and are part of the Search and Rescue Organisation.

Currently we have about 1300 volunteer members but have no stations in the NW of England currently.

I was wondering if a mention could be made in the next newsletter if anyone has knowledge of suitable sites available in this area These would preferably be sites with old lookout buildings in locations of relatively dangerous waters with fairly high traffic commercial, leisure or beachgoers.

For your information since writing our NCI Chairman has been in talks with people at Fleetwood about opening a Station at Rossall Point. It is still in the early stages but it will be nice to have our first Station in the North West.

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WHO WAS THERE AT DIDSBURY 2007?

The 2007 Didsbury Reunion Luncheon went off very well. The weather was kind to us and the approach road adjacent to the river was passable, so Peter Cullen could breathe easy and stand down the RNLI.

This year saw a record turn out with 102 members, partners and guests sitting down to another excellent meal provided by the Golf Club catering staff. Although of a very high quality it did not help the waistline “Ah Well” you say, “It’s only once a year”.

Many stories were circulated as members reminisced reminding us of the good old days we all enjoyed with M.L.

The raffle was a great success which is down to the excellent prizes donated by the members – for which we thank everyone who contributed. – and also to the cajoling ways of Kath Cullen who wheedled a tremendous £172 out of those present. Thank you to everyone who bought tickets. And a big thank you to Peter and Kath for organising the raffle and for creating much entertainment in the course of the draw.

The Hon Treasurer addressed the meeting thanking everyone for their attendance and for supporting the raffle

The Hon Sec addressed the meeting referring to the next St Anne’s meeting and the need to book early. He also reminded members that as editor of the Newsletter he was totally dependant upon the membership for personal profiles and items of general interest especially as the Company no longer exists to generate any newsworthy items.

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two careers with M L have been jointly selected to be this edition’s Profile entitled LIFE WITH LINERS

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Derek Clulow is not very well, but we all hope he will soon be sorted out and back home again.

Yes, it is true, I retired on the first of September 2007. As I have always wanted to take my wife, Sue, across "the pond" at last I can do it

The trip leaves Southampton and goes to Quebec, followed by Halifax NS, Bar Harbor, Boston, Newport, New York and St John's Newfoundland. The ship we are going on was launched 40 years ago and our daughter served on board for a year, so we have lots of good reasons for splashing out a bit!

It is also nearly 40 years since I last sailed up the St Lawrence so I am sure lots of memories will return.
I am hoping that sometime I will be able to sail further up the St Lawrence with Sue and visit the Lakes. I have found trips that go from Quebec/Montreal/Toronto to Chicago but not into Lake Superior.

There are lots of places we want to visit around the world, New Zealand, Alaska, Cape Horn, the Baltic to mention just a few. There are also lots of places in the UK we want to go and see.

I also hope to continue sailing with the Tall Ships Youth Trust (www.tallships.org) on their brigs as an Assistant Engineer. We both sail with them as Volunteer Crew members and have had some great times with them.

Meanwhile, I am trying to conquer all those jobs that need doing around the house and garden but never had time to tackle before. Trouble is there is so much else going on it is not as easy as it sounds. My excuse at the moment is that I am still trying to learn to be retired and stop thinking about work!!

Hope to catch up with you next year!
Chris

We haven’t had any news from abroad – Contributions from the Colonies - and ex-Colonies, especially about Hobbies in these far away places, would be gratefully received.

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HOBBIES

Did anyone notice the Editor’s incorrect identification of Brian Wiley’s classic bike in the last issue’s “Hobbies”? At least it drew a response from Brian!.......

With apologies to Steve for failing to provide a few words to accompany the picture of my bike before the print deadline of the last newsletter, I would now like to offer a brief history.

The NORTON is a 1971 750cc COMMANDO and was bought from Mr Millings of Lancaster in 1976 by my brother Alan who was then living in Caton, and as Consultant Engineer was involved with the Lune-Wyre Water Transfer Link.

After returning to live in Sussex, and after many years, Alan decided to stop riding and I bought the Norton in April 1998. The only alterations I have made are to fit a larger petrol tank and the seat. Used mainly for Vintage Motor Cycle Club events I find it a pleasure to ride and usually in good company.

It has been to the Isle of Man and during the Manx Grand Prix the VMCC events are always very enjoyable, but are somewhat spoilt by the high ferry charges. I went to the Island in May 2005 on my Velocette Vogue (an L.E. with attitude) with other L.E Velo friends and paid £64 return for bike and rider, but it was £174 for the same trip for the M.G.P. Extortion or what?

Together with other friends we enjoy Scarborough Bike Week organised by the VMCC. We stay at a super hotel in North Bay and after breakfast ride to Olivers Mount, sign in, obtain a route sheet and go. Last year we visited Eden Camp (very interesting) a lunch at the Red Lion on Blakely Ridge and the highest pub in North Yorkshire. They did well to cater for 100 or so. Each day is an adventure.

I have already booked for 2008, and also a return to France which last year on my Honda Deauville took me around the Somme and also Normandy etc. It was my first tour on the ‘other side’ and very enjoyable and covered almost 2000 miles, the worst being the 353 miles from Preston to Dover and mostly on very wet roads.

Your Hon Sec and editor, indeed myself, would you believe besides producing newsletters etc messes about with vintage cars. I must be a frustrated engineer at heart

Carol and I both show old cars. Carol shows a 1982 Mercedes Benz 280SL and I show a 1939 Rover 16 Sports Saloon.

Last year we were all over the country with the Rover as far north as Dunfermline and as far south as the Great Dorset Steam Fair near Blandford Forum, which is the largest show of its kind in Europe. At the Great Dorset the Rover was judged the best car in the show so needless to say I was more than pleased.

During the winter I carry out all the repairs and replacements. Two winters ago it was a complete engine rebuild, the year before a complete rewire and this winter the replacement of four road springs. At least with the ML commitment and messing about with cars it keeps me busy and probably out of the pub.

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There has already been a tremendous amount of interest shown in Voyage 9, in fact, people are booking already, even before the release of the brochure. Judging from the initial response we expect this voyage to book extremely quickly. So, if you would like to join us, and we do hope you will, then my advice is to call us straight away on: 01273 585391 to make sure you can get the cabin of your choice.

We wish you a very Happy New Year and hope it will be one that will allow you to join us on one of these very special voyages.

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