And here is a reminder of the post-containerisation days – spotted by the well-trained eye of Stewart Adamson

From: Stewart Adamson

the one that got away

Dear Steve,

In August I attended a "Vintage vehicle rally" at Sawley near Clitheroe, and whilst enjoying the entrance in to the Showring of some heavy trucks, was surprised but pleased to see a familiar Red Box!.
I had heard many years ago, soon after the Container service started, that so many boxes went missing, the Liner's employed a helicopter to search the countryside for boxes that were AWOL ! I had to wonder when I took the photo, was this one (of the many) that got away?

Regards,
Stewart Adamson

From: Ernie Moore
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 11:28 AM
Subject: Henry – Information supplied

Good morning Steve ,
I returned home last night from a month working out of Great Yarmouth on the 'Gulf Offshore' supply boat "Highland Piper", but I found your e-mail of 13th January before I went to bed. I realise that today is 'press' day, but I will send you this anyway.

Just before I went away, I passed information on to David Ardern about Polish engineer Henry. David had put a request in the last newsletter for information, but then got in touch with me directly, as he heard that I might know something. Possibly David (who I had sailed with many years ago), has already passed the information I gave him on to yourself.

Anyway, Henry (ex cadet to 3rd engineer) has the surname of Stawarczyk, and still lives with his mother in West Timperley, close to the border with Sale, and very near to the fairly well known 'Pelican Hotel'. He got out of sailing, around the time when we were all being made redundant in the early 80's, and had jobs with various engineering companies in the Altrincham area. Somehow, over the years, he got into hairdressing, and is now the part owner of a successful barbers shop in the centre of Sale. People who knew Henry (or Henryk) from the past when he was a big drinker and smoker, will find it difficult to imagine him doing this sort of job, but like a lot of us, he has totally mellowed down over the years, and does not now drink or smoke at all. He is still single, never having got married.

David Ardern asked me for this information, so that he could pass it on to John Mouat in Canada. John was an electrician with 'ML', and I sailed with him as well. John's father was the famous boss of the shore gang, being under the direct control of Captain John Whitby, to whom he is supposed to have passed back any and all information that came to him. My own father was from the same era as Whitby, the two of them having sailed together as 2nd and 3rd mates, and they were very close friends. Our two families used to visit each others houses, usually on Sunday nights, and I referred to Whitby as 'Uncle John'. My father was also in the dock office from 1943 until his death in 1965 (He died at his desk), holding the position of Dock Superintendent from 1956 onwards, having previously been assistant to Sidney Kennils. (I think the name is correct, but I don't know about the spelling). He was known as Captain Bill Moore. Although he was always good at home, I believe people were very wary of him at work, as he was supposed to be a bit of a tyrant, but then I suppose that is what was expected of bosses in those days. I think I have one or two photographs of 'ML' official functions from the 1950's, so I will have to dig these out for your future use.

Take care and best wishes to all, from Merryl and myself,

Ernie Moore.

From: Alan Wilde in Spain

happy new year

Hello All,
Happy New Year. I trust Christmas was enjoyable ( apart from the weather ) and you have recovered from the overeating etc. that is Christmas, and are back in the old routine.
Best wishes Alan and Yvonne

Alan has sent in an article about a somewhat dubious maritime festival event which takes place every year in Spain …….and a photograph, which will certainly make an interesting inclusion in the Newsletter, but it will keep for the next issue!

From Blake Nelson in Canada, who has also sent in a humorous story copied from the Letters page of an old edition of Sea Breezes.

Good afternoon, Steve,

An acquaintance of mine drops off ancient copies of "Sea Breezes" on occasion and perhaps you might consider the attachment from Letters to Editor -- May 1992 -- which I found quite amusing.

James Barron was one of our pilots when the "C" Class called at Greenock. In fact I had supper there once.

I really enjoyed Pete Fryer's article in the last edition, the very tongue-in-cheek and somewhat cryptic descriptions, i.e. the foreman's familiarity with chief stewards and their cabin door on sailing day – quite hilarious.

We all have such yarns to tell and, believe me, they ought to be recorded somewhere as such are sadly no longer a part of seagoing life these days.

Finally, I had a very busy conclusion to 2004, when I was called to expedite a ship loading two dismantled steel plants at Thorold (Welland Canal). Not helping my purpose was the fact that these cargoes, described as fully stackable, turned out to be anything but! A dispute developed between Owners and shippers, and the two were summoned ex their offices to Thorold. Following inspection, these worthies concluded, "We agree that it might not be stackable, but it's definitely overstowable!"

So, I guess some other things never change......

All the best for 2005!
Blake A. Nelson

DOG - WATCH

Recent letters about long passages at sea reminded me of a day in December, 1964, when I boarded a deep-laden Greek tramp at Gourock to pilot her to the sugar berth in James Watt Dock, Greenock. The master was a very elderly gentleman and I asked him what the ship's previous name had been as I assumed from her appearance that she was ex-British.
He replied proudly that she was the Kassos, always had been the Kassos and, that he had brought her out new from Doxfords, Sunderland, in 1939 and had been master of her ever since.
As we proceeded to the Tail of the Bank to anchor until tide time, a large, rough, black dog entered the wheelhouse. The master spoke in Greek to the man at the wheel, who then handed over to the dog which took his place, standing on its hind legs on the grating with its front paws on the wheel. I said I hoped the dog had had some experience as we were entering narrow waters.
"He take you anywhere you want to go, Mr Pilot," the captain assured me. "He steer real good."
This was soon proved when I wished to alter course slightly to port. The master gave two sharp whistles and the dog turned the wheel a couple of spokes to port. When I said "'Steady" he gave one whistle and the dog put the wheel to starboard.
"Grammi, grammi," said the master and the dog let the wheel come amidships.
"Steady as you go, dog," I said, "you're doing fine."
And so we thumped along at "Dead slow” for the middle of the anchorage. Ten minutes later we were anchored and the dog was dismissed from the wheel, given a biscuit and departed highly delighted. I remarked that the dog had indeed steered rather well and that its training must have taken some time and patience.

"Ah, plenty time to learn, Mr Pilot," said the master. "Sixty-four days we come from Queensland with the sugar. Plenty time to learn."
JAMES BARRON

Blake says James Barron was one of the retained pilots when the Company’s new “C” class ships called at Greenock.

From: John Meadocroft

NST SCHOOL/COLLEGE GRAVESEND ASSOCIATION

John Meadowcroft has drawn our attention to the existence of an Old Boys Association for those who attended the National Sea Training School/ College Gravesend.
Anyone who is interested should contact
Mr John Meadowcroft, General Secretary
15 Springbok Cottages
Alfold
Surrey GU6 8EX
Tel: 01403-753525
Webpage "N. S. T. School/College. 'Gravesend' News Page"
http://www.webspawner.com/users/jdmeadowcroft/index.html

John Meadowcroft also wrote in about SACHEL COURT and the Springbok Estate:

MSWMS - This is The Merchant Seaman’s War Memorial Society. The Springbok Estate is run by Trustees but belongs to the British Seamen.
Please spread the information - the more we use it the better for its future.
With reference to the accommodation - there are one bedroom bungalows and flats on the estate independent of the main house. The Main House offers rooms, sort of bed-sit, some en suite but very nice. Meals, and general care if required, is also provided with this accommodation.
To Qualify.? Any British Seaman of any rank, is eligible.

They also offer Holiday Breaks so if you fancy staying in a mansion in the heart of Surrey you are more than welcome. The rates are very reasonable –phone the main office 01403-752555 for further details or check the website www.mswmsociety.org.uk.

John says “Go into my web page (see above under NST School/College Gravesend) and link onto springbok, I am sure you will find it interesting.” Or you may contact him by phone, post or e-mail.

INFORMATION SOUGHT

Derek Porter is trying to find out about W.A. Lowe, sometime Chief Officer of the Asian Renown in 1975. If anyone has any information to offer Derek please send an e-mail to mailbag@manchesterliners.co.uk and we will forward it to him.

From: John Meadocroft

Good wishes

Hi Shipmates.

Sorry Joyce and I cant be with you over the weekend at St Ann's.
We hope that you all enjoy yourselves and have a wonderful time.
As for myself I have been invited to take part in the City of Southampton's commemorative events for the 60th anniversary of VE Day. I will be representing the Merchant Navy by carrying the National Merchant Navy Standard, in the March through Southampton.

Info ref: The Standard.
The standard is not an association standard, but represents all Merchant Seamen & Women both passed and still serving. It was purchased by the M.S.W.M.Society. If you ever require this Standard to represent any of our members. Just let me know and I will do my best to bring it along.

Have a wonderful time all the best
John & Joyce Meadowcroft.

Received: 01/05/05

From: Ted Boden

THE PAST AND THE PRESENT

It is hard to believe there is a gap of only 21 years between these two photographs – 1969 and 1990

MANCHESTER DOCKS JULY 1969 & SALFORD QUAYS - The Redevelopment Scheme MAY 1990

Thanks to Ted Boden for these two photographs

From: Derrick Howarth

THE MARCH OF TIME – OLD PORTS REVISITED

Whilst aboard the cruise ship “Dawn Princess” I met the Southeast Alaska pilot, Captain J. Douglas Johnson. He was at one time Manchester Liners agent in Chicago and asked me to say hello to anyone who remembered him.

It was as an addition to this Alaskan holiday that we had arranged a nostalgic visit for me to Toronto, Québec and Montréal. I had not visited them since 1966 when I left ML. It was with a certain amount of trepidation with 39 years having passed, I didn’t want to destroy the memories that I had, but at the same time it was compensation for my wife Ann who was going to come out to Expo 67 in Montréal and never got there because of my leaving the Company.

We flew into Toronto Lester B Pearson airport from Vancouver, having had perfect visibility as we crossed the Lakes on a course that took us over Thunder Bay, the Sleeping Giant and Lake Superior, the locks at Sault St Marie with the Mackinaw Bridge in the distance, then across Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.

After the familiarity of these places, although not unexpected, it still came as a shock to see Mississauga, part of Greater Toronto, stretching to not far short of Hamilton. When I had last used the airport it was in the small village of Malton, where I had friends, with twenty-two miles of mainly open countryside between it and the city.

The Royal York Hotel was, in the 1960’s, the tallest building in the Commonwealth. Now it is completely dwarfed by skyscrapers. The waterfront, although having gone through a transformation of condominiums and leisure pursuits, had handled the changes well. The slips by the island airport, now Toronto City Airport but still no bigger than it was, are now marinas. The red brick sheds at the eastern end of the harbour, which were our main berth, are still there and are now owned by a film company. The sugar refinery and its berth are also still there, as it does not cause any pollution.

A trip out to Niagara Falls took us down the Q E Highway over the Burlington Skyway with the lift bridge open and a laker passing through. From the Skyway, Hamilton with its steel works looked no different. We also saw St Catherine’s lock and the flight locks at Thorold as we crossed the Welland Canal on the Q E Bridge.

From Toronto we travelled by rail to Québec, passing through Cornwall and by Prescott to Montréal for a train change. Leaving Montréal the train crossed to the south side of the river over St Lambert Lock, and back to the north side again over the Québec Bridge and into Québec.

Québec had also changed. In front of the Château Frontenac it is now a pleasant boardwalk to steps that lead up to the Citadelle. There is a funicular that takes you down to the old town, which is still very picturesque and colourful. The Bassin Louise is now a marina. However, on the end of the old port there is now a large modern, metal building that is a cruise ship terminal, which looks totally out of place. We took a river cruise as far as the Montmorency Falls and on returning to Québec this building spoilt the view of the town from the river. I might add that here in Québec, and as we later found in Montréal, smog was a problem cutting distance visibility considerably.

We returned to Montréal by the same route as we came along the south side of the St Lawrence. It was here that I found that the greatest changes had taken place. It was Sunday and we went down to the old port where we found Place Jacques Cartier to be full of people being entertained by fire-eaters and musicians. There were bars on either side of the Place. The one that was on the corner opposite to Pier 16 was still there, and we went for a drink there for old times sake, for which we were subsequently charged about £10 for two three-quarters full half litre plastic cups! On Quai Jacques Cartier, Pier16, our old berth (I never knew the container berth as it was after my time with Liners) the sheds had gone and been replaced by the “Pavillon Jacques Cartier”, a modernistic structure containing a gift shop and bars. Behind it was ”Le Circque du Soleil”. The opposite side of the slip on Quai King Edward, the sheds were now an open multi-story car park with music blaring out and along the quayside were a line of containers that had been converted into nick-nack shops. The slip itself was a marina. The Marché Bonsecours was now filled with artisan style shops. The main commercial port was around the entrance of the old Lachine Canal.

After returning to Toronto by rail, from our flight home we saw the Lake of a Thousand Islands before heading in a more north-easterly direction towards Ottawa and England.

Derrick Howarth

June 2005

From: Geoff Evans

MORE RED BOXES

I enjoyed Stewart Adamson's short letter (Newsletter, January 2005) and his recent picture of a "Red Box”.
Well spotted, Stewart! ML Red Boxes were an endangered species, and it must have been a rare sighting. It has certainly stirred some memories, and at the same time a wish to contest the story of the helicopter, though no reflection on Stewart if that is a story he heard.
Over the years, one way or another boxes did go missing, but the tale of the helicopter searching the countryside is surely apocryphal. Our movement control and reporting system was perhaps less sophisticated than that of today’s larger container operators, but it was pretty good (having designed it, of course I would say that ... ) and although we would occasionally get imbalances at depots across the country which would have to be 'dead-headed' to reposition, containers just did not get lost in the UK.

Our Furness colleagues in Canada kept similar records, and were equally assiduous. The Med. and the Middle East however was another kettle of fish!
Tracing and reporting from that part of the world did sometimes leave something to be desired, though AWOL equipment in such a politically volatile area was not always the fault of the agent.
The fall of the Shah and the revolution in Iran saw loaded boxes en route and in the Customs Depot in Teheran trapped and seized by the revolutionaries, the cargo (certainly where it was whisky) systematically destroyed or looted by zealots, and the said boxes no doubt "appropriated", never to be seen again.

In the 'hay day' of that service, a certain 20ft container was expected back in Iskenderun, and when it failed to appear we pressed the Turkish agent to find it, which eventually he did......... it was located where it had been dumped, close to the Turkey/Iran border crossing at Bazargan, the notorious 'Hole in the Wall' customs post, within sight of Mt. Ararat, where lorry queues could be over a mile long and take two or three days to clear. Our Red Box had been abandoned by the truck driver, for reasons best known to himself, on it's empty return run from Teheran, and an enterprising local had turned it into a tea room!
But we did get it back......

I became redundant in 1980, so cannot comment on ML's experiences thereafter. However, in 1982 I was in Benghazi on a free-lance job, and several miles out of town in a remarkably flat and otherwise featureless piece of Libyan desert there was a (sort of) container depot, or at least a place where there were hundreds of empty containers scattered randomly about. The logo's of many shipping lines and leasing companies were to be seen in a mixed disarray the likes of which I had never seen before.
Central to the vast and chaotic area was a more organised large square plot within four walls. It was the Customs area, within which containers were emptied, and consignees collected their goods.
The four walls were four long lines of containers, another random collection of shipowners' property randomly requisitioned for the purpose, and which I would have given little prospect of their owners ever seeing again.
To my amazement in pride of place to left and right of the entrance were two Manchester Liners 20ft boxes of the aluminium clad/plywood lined variety, equipped with desks and chairs, occupied of course by customs offices. They were obviously much more attractive as offices than your run-of-the-mill steel boxes, and perhaps more comfortable in the searing heat....?
I didn't rate their chances of ever seeing Manchester again!

In 1995 in Saudi Arabia our agency "rescued' a batch of 43 20ft boxes that the major shipping lines previous agent had 'given up on'. They were stuck in a remote piece of desert with cargo that had been destined for the early 90's Gulf War, but the cargo of thousands of tents had become surplus to requirement and had been virtually abandoned. The line also had apparently resigned any hope of their return. While we were elated at our success where others had failed, the muted response to our success gave us the impression that the boxes had been written off back at HQ, and to re-enter 43 boxes back into the fleet was more trouble than it was worth.
Funny old world!

A couple of years ago my wife and I were in Cyprus. One day we drove about a mile down a rough track to a beach. Before reaching the beach, there to our amazement, in a corner of a field, looking very dilapidated and forlorn was a red box. Stove pipes thrust up from its roof, which had been covered with an extra layer of corrugated iron sheets. Years of strong sunlight had faded the paintwork, but it's provenance was indisputable....... it was not any old red box, but a "Red Box", identity still clear as MLLU 8041053.
It had undoubtedly seen better days. It is, I suppose, one that got away!

Geoff Evans

 

Michael Robson wrote in with a REQUEST for old ML NEWS -
…… the copies of "ML News" I collected during my tenure with Manchester Liners somehow got lost over the years and I am wondering if you would know if any are available for the years 1969-1973? It's probably a long shot, I know, as they are probably worth their weight in gold nowadays. Just thought I would ask.”

Michael also wrote, via the new website -
“I was quite excited to see that there is now an association of Old Shipmates from Manchester Liners.
I served as a Navigating Cadet Officer with ML between the years 1969-1973.
Living in Canada at the time I joined my first vessel, the "Manchester Progress", in Hamilton, Ontario in early July 1969. The Master was Capt.Alan Cookson, Chief Officer Oliver Selwood, 2nd Officer John Cryer and 3rd Officer Keith Wildebore. On your website I have seen some familiar names that have brought back memories.
After Manchester Liners I went on to sail with the Maersk Company U.K. before returning to Canada permanently in the early eighties to sail on the Great Lakes. For the past ten years I have been a Welland Canal Pilot.
Michael Robson is now one our new members.

Terry Mather another new member through the web site wrote –
“ I was apprentice through to Chief Officer with Liners until the 'Big Change' started in 1981, when I joined Safmarine.
I attended the initial Lindum weekends, and also one of the evening do’s at Curly Jenkins pub, The Jolly Waggoner. However, I lost contact in 1985 when I got 'exiled' to London for 12 years.
I'd love to hear from any of the 'old timers'.
Incidentally, I'm now employed by Manchester University as a computer programmer/DBA with a small research group based at Pendlebury Children's Hospital.

From: David S Lever
To: info@manchesterliners.co.uk

Dear Captain Askew,
I was an apprentice and third mate with the company 1969 to 1976. My collection of photos include some information about what happened to some ships in the fleet; and I have some books on, or mentioning Manchester Liners. It was nice to see this website posted as I often wonder what happened to some of my old shipmates.
I now live in Nova Scotia with my wife Corrina, son Andrew (18) and daughter Emma (16). I remember buying frozen salmon from Robin Townsend in Montreal and taking them home where they were a big hit with my family for Sunday dinner.
I worked on the Great Lakes and East Coast until I joined the Canadian Coast Guard in 1984. I swallowed the anchor in 1986 and have worked as a Rescue Co-ordinator and acting Regional Superintendant Marine Search and Rescue in Halifax Nova Scotia since.

I would appreciate information signing up as a member here are my contact details. Should any members find themselves in Nova Scotia they may get in touch with me…

Regards. David (Syd) Lever
Address & telephone numbers were supplied – now available through the members list as David is now also a member

From: Sam Wall
To: info@manchesterliners.co.uk

Good Afternoon,
I'm interested in joining the Old Shipmates Association. I worked for M L for a number of years based initially at St Anne's Square and then moving to M L House at Salford Quays where I worked under John Killick and Eric Morton.
I moved to Felixstowe in the 1980s as General Manager over seeing the newly formed St Lawrence Coordinated Service and working with John Cryer ,Robert Barnacle, Peter Bird etc.
Looking forward to hearing from you.

Regards Sam Wall

We are waiting to hear further from Sam

From: Neil Howard

Sent Tuesday 08/10/05.

Dear Captain Askew and Shipmates,

Only within the last few days have I managed to sit back and open up some of my outstanding Post Bag. I am always happy to receive the Shipmates Newsletter and, on opening up the latest, I was very pleased to see that those on the bridge have at last got away from the telegraph and are using electronics to communicate. A big thank you for setting up the Old Shipmates and for all your hard work over the years and a big pat on the back for the web wizard. The site looks terrific and the short cut is centre stage on my tool bar.

Looking down the mail bag a smile came across my face when the I saw letters from my shipmates whom, although I can well remember their faces and their voices, I did not expect to ever see or hear from them again. Those who have letters in the mail bag will know who I mean.

I see that the site is to have a secure location for members information/address/e-mail. I may be outside of procedure but if possible please can you register my e-mail address at the site. It is nchoward@aol.com.

Since leaving Liners in 1981, I have sculled about at little in the Oil and Gas exploration and production business. The last 24 years has been roughly split between working for Operating companies (Shell, Exxon BP) and a major design house ( Foster Wheeler Energy). Chunks of that time have been spent in Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Libya and Colombia.

I have been fortunate in that I have managed to keep one foot on board, so to speak, as FW have a thriving yacht club of which I am a member, even though I am a contractor not a staff man. My other "hobby" is maintaining two old Jaguars (XJS and XJ 5.3) which are now thirty years old. I run the XJS at Track days when I can. Funnily, I got into jags as a throw back from working on the magic ships (all wires, pneumatics, hydraulics and relays, any or all of which can go wrong at the most inconvenient of times).

At this time, I have good health and work, which is set to continue with oil at $50 a barrel. However, I am setting up to move to Colombia permanently. Not the most secure of countries internally, but a place with lots of advantages as well as disadvantages.

I live in Reading and if any of you are passing this way or need help down this area let me know. It would be a privilege to do so.

In the last day I have received photographs from a family member, who is in Hong Kong. His vantage point allowed him to look right down the channel. I mused to myself, when looking at the channel dead end, the last time I saw that dead end was when Cap Cullen and Bill Lowe asked for full astern and got zilch response

That is my situation at the moment. Wishing you and all Shipmates the very best that life can give them.

Regards,

Neil Howard

From: David S Lever
Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2005 1:11 AM

Subject: Old Picture Of A Manchester Liners Lifeboat 1909

I came across this picture on ebay, it is a postcard sized picture of the "Manchester Exchange" marked Manchester Liners Lifeboat.

 

Did we/company sponsor an RNLI lifeboat in 1909? Interesting to ask our members if they know anything about this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Manchester-Liners-Lifeboat-RP-yphotohosting
Regards. Dave Lever

Ed note: Unfortunately no room left for the photo – full details in next letter and we might even establish the final selling price. Bids were being invited in excess of £6.50 for this postcard.
Perhaps it is time for a bit of spring cleaning in the attic??

 

From: David S Lever
Sent Thursday October 27, 2005 00:37
Subject: Mike Robson

Dear All,
I was glad to see Mike Robson's name on the membership list as we joined Manchester Liners around the same time. We met up with one another in the Arctic, at a port called Nanisivik in 1985. I had just joined the Canadian Coastguard the year before, I was serving as Third Officer on the icebreaker CCGS Sir John A MacDonald; he was the Chief Officer on the M/V Arctic. We escorted him outbound during the month of November, which was very late in the season. My wife's uncle worked on designing the M/V Arctic, small world isn't it?

Regards. Dave Lever

From: Geoff Rushton (rls4solage@fsmail.net)
Sent: 27 October 2005 17:24
To: Info@manchesterliners.co.uk
Subject: My details

Dear Steve

Thank you and Peter for organising the reunion today. Just to let you know my email address and to give you the authority to publish my details.

Geoff Rushton

From: Roger Llewellyn

Didsbury Thursday 27 October 2005

Men & Ships

I have some photographs and pictures that I think will be of interest to our members.

The C.S. Manchester Challenge the first fully cellular container vessel to trade between Europe and the east coast of Canada. The first captain of the Manchester Challenge was Captain Phillip Fielding and she commenced her maiden voyage from Manchester in 1967.

This photograph was taken on her 100th voyage in 1978 and is of her master Captain James Illingworth with Phillip Carrick, Manchester Liners Manager in Montréal, and the President of the Port of Montréal.

This second photograph was taken on the maiden voyage of the Manchester Vigour in 1973 and shows her master CaptainP D Cullen being presented with a picture of the port of Montréal by the President of the port.

I also include prints of two paintings by the artist J. Van de Engel.

This one depicts the S.S. Manchester Shipper (2) in heavy weather in the North Atlantic in 1965.

Whilst the second shows a Manchester Liner in the Lower St Lawrence in the winter of 1978.

Finally the last photograph is of the next generation after Manchester Liners had been incorporated into OOCL, and is of the C.S. OOCL Montreal built at the Daewoo Shipyard in Koje, South Korea.

She is the largest ship to transit the St Lawrence from Québec to Montréal, and is also the largest commercial ship to transit the Panama Cana. The largest was the USS. New Jersey. The OOCL Montreal's capacity is 4,032 TEU's and her service speed is 23 knots.

Roger Llewellyn

From: Bill Lowe

Sent: 04 November 2005 09:13

Spoke to my old friend Blake Nelson earlier today and he gave me the ad of "shipmates" What a wonderful site and all credits to everyone involved.
Having just got the word about an hour ago and browsing commenced soon afterwards, I came across a note from Derrick Porter seeking info on yours truly. Here I am, time goes so damn quickly these days (must be getting old)!! I must admit I have known about "shipmates" for quite a few years - having kept in touch with Blake, but like so many other things time goes by and other things crop up so poor old "shipmates" got put on the back burner. But no more, cause I'm going to join and this evening! I have even told my wife Mairi to pencil in the dates on our social calender for the reunion dinner.
Please pass on the following to Derrick.
Left Liners (Only because of promotion prospects to Master) Then they promoted only on seniority and doing calculations it looked liked I would retire before getting my command - even though I was apparently the youngest Chief Officer ever in Liners.
I joined Triport Ferries (Part of Denholmns) and 18 months later got my command.
Harry Gilbert worked for them at the same time.
Triport asked me if I was interested in becoming a "super" so moved back North of the border, alas the decline in our Merchant Fleet was then biting and I could see the writing on the wall. I was lucky to have been offered a few shore jobs in the USA and plummed for a surveyors job in Houston.
Firstly with a small independent firm then I went alone for a while and got head hunted by London Offshore Consultants finally making the position of President (USA).
I was with LOC for 10 years and retired early due to ill health - now fully recovered!
Returned to UK in 1995 due to health and sons University and have pottered ever since.
Just completed a full renovation of a cottage in Arrochar (Nr Loch Lomond), well almost finished so now I guess Im looking for something else to keep me out of trouble!!
Perhaps you would be kind enough to pass my brief "lifespan" to all concearned. I'll do proper one in the near future.
Thanks again and will close so I can get "joined up"
All the best,

Bill Lowe