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OLD MAILBAG 2009 |
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THE USE OF MAILBAG IS RESTRICTED TO MLOSA MEMBERS ONLY All NON-MEMBER emails should be sent to: info@manchesterliners.co.uk Owing to the large volume of spam mail that this email address now attracts and its misuse, any emails that are sent to it from non-members will automatically be deleted. Please be advised that the contents of emails sent to Mailbag may be published within these pages after the removal of their contact details LETTERS WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEXT EDITION OF THE NEWSLETTER BEFORE BEING POSTED From: Bryan B Farlow Hello Derrick, Thank you for forwarding this exciting
information. Please keep me informed of further developments. Regards, See Totem Pole
From: David
Lever Derrick, Thank you for the update, I have often wondered if a museum would help take care of this icon. I confess that after the lack of recognition of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Seaway; and the fact that Manchester Docks have fallen into such disuse, I was quite saddened. It would be nice to see the Manchester Docks, and something left of our unique shipping companys identity getting some care and recognition. I am trying to get some memorabilia made up for the website, I have a 1/1250 model of a Manchester liner (sadly not my beloved Miller) but I will send a picture of it soon. Compliments Of The Season Regards. Dave Lever See Totem Pole From: David Lever I am wearing my poppy, and remembered the Captains and crewmembers I sailed with in Manchester Liners, who served during WW2. It occurred to me that they may take comfort from the
fact that the 3rd September is now officially Merchant Navy day. Those
that served in both the Royal and Merchant Navies deserve our undying
respect and thanks. Please find attached a short composition I put together
and sent out to people in the Coast Guard, and some of my friends as
an email; the vast majority of whom were born after the war; and it is
my way of ensuring "that We shall remember them" On September 3rd 1939 (Now designated as Merchant Navy Day) The very first Canadian casualty of WW2 was Hannah Baird, stewardess drowned aboard the torpedoed SS Athenia lost in the longest battle of WW2, the Battle of the North Atlantic. World War One. There were 3,305 Allied Merchant vessels lost with 17,000 British and Commonwealth crew members lives. World War Two. There were 5,150 Allied and Neutral Merchant vessels lost with approximately 32,000 British and Commonwealth crew members lives (WW 2 total Canadian losses includes 58 Canadian registered ships 1,629 Canadian Merchant Seamen, 8 of them females including Hannah Baird), 198 Canadian MN Prisoners of war (mostly ships officers or captains captured for interogation, 8 died in captivity, ( U-boats usually left crew in liferafts and boats to perish) The German Prisoner of War camp for allied MN personnell was Milag Nord Lager III some 4,500 allied prisoners spent up to five years internment despite being classed as non-combatants. On May 10, 1945, the British Admiralty, sent a message expressing its own, and the Royal Navy’s, thanks and admiration to the Merchant Navy: …For more than five and a half years side by side with the Allied Merchant Navies in the face of continual and merciless attacks by the enemy you have maintained the ceaseless flow of sea traffic on which the life and strength of this country depend... In this historic hour we think with special gratitude of the many merchant seamen who have fallen in the fight and whose service and sacrifice will always be a proud memory. Many years after the end of the war, the Government of Canada, followed by the UK, finally recognised the Merchant Navy as Veterans, and allowed them to parade the Red Ensign (Nelsons flag prior to Trafalgar). Lest “We” Forget. From: Bryan B Farlow Dear Steve, Peter and Derrick, I thought that you and other members of MLOSA (especially those living abroad ) might wish to see the attached photographs of the current Salford Quays (taken today). As usual, I attended the Remembrance Service which was held close to my childhood home at nearby Eccles. Afterwards I visited Salford Quays. The photographs
show : The Merchant Navy Memorial Tablet.
Furness House & The Dock Office:
The new BBC Media Centre, which is currently being built at the entrance to what used to be Manchester Liners No. 9 Dock. If any MLOSA members might wish to see other buildings / features relating to the Salford Quays area, then please let me know and I will try to oblige.
With Best Wishes, From: Ralph Murray I have over the years maintained contact with Andy Shaw and his wife Floss. Andy was the first ML Container Terminal Manager in Montreal from 1968 through to the mid 70's . He came to ML in Montreal from St.John's Nfld. where he had been with Furness Withy for a number of years. In the mid seventies he relocated to Vancouver and joined the Port of Vancouver as Marketing Manager and subsequently moved to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island where he eventually retired. I recently was advised that Floss passed away in early July and Andy is now in a Seniors Home in Vancouver. This little tidbit will no doubt be of interest to many of our members From: Ken Livingston Hi Derrick I've just received the below e-mail from a friend of
mine in Canada and wondered if there were any points of interest for
the Newsletter. Best Regards Seaway 50th Anniversary Seaway History The St. Lawrence Seaway opened to navigation in 1959. Construction of the 189-mile (306-kilometer) stretch of the Seaway between Montreal and Lake Ontario is recognized as one of the most challenging engineering feats in history. Seven locks were built in the Montreal-Lake Ontario section of the Seaway, five Canadian and two U.S., in order to lift vessels to 246 feet (75 meters) above sea level. The 28-mile (44 kilometer) Welland Canal is the fourth version of a waterway link between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, first built in 1829. The present canal was competed in 1932, deepened in the 1950s as part of the Seaway project, and further straightened in 1973. Today its eight locks, all Canadian, lift ships 326 feet (100 meters) over the Niagara Escarpment. View our online video of the Seaway's history (5 minutes) Milestones 1680 1779 1783 1824 1829 1833 1843 1845 1895 1932 1949 Negotiations continued, an International Joint Commission was established in 1909, followed by the signing of the 1932 Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Deep Waterway Treaty and the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Basin Agreement in 1941. Still, work did not begin). 1951 1954 The United States joins Canada on the development of the St. Lawrence Seaway with the passage of the Wiley-Dondero Act (or Seaway Act) on May 13. The U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) was also created by the law. Agreement reached between the U.S. and Canada concerning construction of thee Seaway. The cost of the navigation project was $470.3 million, of which Canada paid $336.5 million and the U.S. $133.8 million. Work on the Seaway begins in September. Four Montreal-area bridges are modified without disrupting traffic, new channels are dug and existing ones dredged. Excavators uncover rock formations so tough that new methods and stronger machinery are needed. The related power development will flood 259 square km (100 square miles); land is expropriated and entire communities resettled. Some 6,500 people are moved to new homes and some 550 dwellings are transported to waiting foundations in the new Ontario towns of Long Sault, Ingleside and Iroquois. 1958 1959 On April 25, the icebreaker "D'Iberville" begins the first through transit of the St. Lawrence Seaway, officially opened by Queen Elizabeth and President Eisenhower on June 26. Dedication ceremonies were also held June 27 in Massena, New York, and involved the Queen and Vice-President Richard M. Nixon. Gross ship registered tons for this navigation season amount to 25.1 million. 1966 The U. S. Department of Transportation is created, making SLSDC subject to the policy direction and supervision of the Secretary of Transportation. 1973 1977 1978 1979 20th anniversary of the opening of the Seaway to deep-draft navigation, and 150th anniversary of opening of original Welland Canal. 1983 1984 1986 The U.S. Congress passes the Water Resources Development Act converting SLSDC from a self-financing to an appropriated agency and eliminating the U.S. portion of Seaway tolls. 1989 1993 1995 1996 1998 1999 2003 2004 50th anniversary of the beginning of construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Seaway’s draft is increased from 26 feet, 3 inches, to 26 feet, 6 inches, enabling ships to carry up to 300 tonnes of additional cargo per voyage. The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway is now branded as HwyH2O. 2007 © 2009 The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation,
All Rights Reserved From: Ralph Murray News articles are starting to surface re the Seaway Opening. You might like to see the most recent from Canadian Sailings including articles and videos. The website is www.canadiansailings.ca From: Alan Jones Vic Cookson (ML 1963 - about 1969, Dave Geddes and i finally managed a reunion at a Knutsaford watering hole a couple of days ago. Vic is a grain surveyor in New orleans and is visiting family in Poynton. We had not met up since we were apprentices in 1964 in the "Shipper". Dave and he last met on the Miller when she made a charter run to the west coast of South america with Dennis Millard in 1969.
From: Derrick
Howarth Hi Ralph Your disc has arrived safely this morning without duty being paid on it and opens without problem. I shall have to think how I can use it in the web site as there is more of it than I expected. I shall probably create a section of its own linked through from the documents page. I will let you know when I have done it. On behalf of MLOSA I thank you for your contribution to our archives. Regards Derrick From: Lever, David I was hoping someone had brought this matter up, I would not like to see this item perish on a bonfire. I don't know its condition, but it should be repairable. I am sure it could be quite valuable as artwork. Regards. Dave From: Derrick
Howarth Hi David Thanks for your email, how coincidental I received this from Bryan on Tuesday 24th. As you can see it most certainly has not been forgotten. Derrick See Totem Pole From: Lever, David http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1076233_fight_to_save_salfords_totem_pole Perhaps we should try and raise some awareness to save it? Seems a pity to lose such an icon, these things have a lot of meaning to the Indians, and are considered sacred by some. Yours, Aye. Dave Lever See Totem Pole From: Ralph
Murray Dear Derrick, I am in possession of a very old scrapbook which was started by V.S. Northrup when he was Import Freight Manager at Montreal. The book starts in 1942 and runs through to 1963, with a great number of articles about ML. You piqued my interest with the article about the Manchester Merchant winning the Gold Cane in 1952. The scrapbook has several articles on the performance but not a copy of the cartoon. As a teaser I am attaching a copy of Mtl. Gazette photo(s) re the presentation. If you would like to have the scrapbook to add to the History of ML I would be delighted to send it along to you for your archives From: Bryan B Farlow Hello, Derrick, I have been prompted to make enquiries regarding the Canadian Indian Totem Pole, which used to stand outside Manchester Liners House, Salford Docks. The Offices have since been renamed Furness House. The totem pole was commissioned by Mr. Robert Stoker, who was at that time the Chairman of Manchester Liners. The totem pole was carved by Douglas Cranmer, of the Kwakiutl tribe of Indians, British Columbia, and it was delivered and erected in time for the opening ceremony of the new Manchester Liners House, 12th. December, 1969. In 2005, the totem pole was taken down, due to its state of deterioration. At the moment, the Pole lies in a shed on the King William Industrial Estate, adjacent to the former Salford Docks. Sooner or later, a decision will have to be made regarding how best to respect the Pole. Salford City Councillor, Cllr. Stephen Coen, is hoping that it might be restored and relocated in the old docks area. Apparently, Salford City Council does have a small sum of money, which could be contributed towards restoration costs. But current estimates would far exceed this amount. Another solution might be to restore the Totem Pole sufficiently for it to be suitably housed in The Salford Museum & Art Gallery. The links, below, give additional items of information regarding this issue. I will leave this matter with you for your consideration. If you consider that you might wish to have an “on-site” meeting, then I would be pleased to join you. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1076233_fight_to_save_salfords_totem_pole http://www.salford.gov.uk/council/pressreleases/pressrelease.htm?id=78631 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totem_pole http://www.manchesterliners.co.uk/photoarchive6.htm Regards, See Totem Pole From: John Wilkinson Hello Derrick, Thought you might use this photo from "Ships monthly Jan 2009".
I also have recently acquired a Copy of "Shipping" May 2008, this has article by Mark Rowbotham, (Forgotted Fleets) covering Manchester Liners Fleet History Etc. If you want this article of approx 6-a4 pages, let
me know and I will post Best Regards John. From: David Lever I have bid on it but the bidding will go higher and this ship may attract some interest from people who actully sailed on her. Regards Dave Lever From: Bryan B Farlow Hello, Derrick, Today, 6th. February, 2009, marks the 51st. anniversary
of the Manchester United “Munich Air Disaster”. The BBC interview representatives came to visit me at my home. They stayed for over two hours and the edited account of my memories were shown on the actual evening of the 50th. anniversary.
I feel that I ought to explain the reference which I made to Alf Clarke.
Regards,
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