Newsletter No 10 - February 2007

With the Christmas and New Year festivities behind us it is once again time to put pen to paper and produce the Newsletter. It is amazing how the time has flown since we produced the first newsletter in September 2002.

Did you see Webmaster Derrick’s good wishes to all from Captain Pete, Captain Steve and Webmaster Derrick on the website? We hope everyone had a pleasant Christmas and that the New Year, 2007, is kind to you all.

As members will be aware this is the 25th Anniversary of the foundation of the MLOSA under the secretaryship of Capt Eric Askew. The occasion was celebrated at the Didsbury Reunion in October where just short of 100 members and guests gathered to celebrate. The reunion is described in more detail in an article later in the newsletter penned by Michael Kendall with photographs by Derrick Howarth – thank you both for your contributions.

ST ANNES REUNION WEEKEND 12th/13th MAY 2007

It is our intention to mark the Silver Anniversary of MLOSA at the St Annes Weekend Reunion, so reaching more members, some of whom could not attend Didsbury.

At the reunion a special vote of thanks will be extended to Captain Eric Askew for his efforts in both starting the Association and expanding it over his 20 years as Honorary Secretary. In recognition of Capt Askew’s contribution and to thank him on behalf of all the membership for bringing us all together again Capt. Askew will be made a Life Member.

Given how the membership has risen over recent years from 60 in 2000 to 120 in 2006, the demand for places at both Didsbury and St Annes has risen considerably. This resulted in Didsbury having a turnout of 98 which was very close to the limit of the dining facility.

St Annes 2007 is limited to 50 which is the maximum number the private dining room can accommodate. A number of rooms have already been booked, requested by members who attend year on year, so this year the balance of places available will have to be on a strictly first come first serve basis, and a waiting list will be held in case anyone with a reservation has to drop out.

Immediately after the success of Didsbury we tried to re-schedule the 2007 Reunion but unfortunately there were no weekends available to us which would enable us to increase our numbers.

Due to this increase in demand from the increased membership the larger dining room at the Lindum Hotel has been provisionally reserved for 2008, together with accommodation for around 70-80 guests. This will be held slightly later in May, on the third weekend in May - on 17th & 18th May 2008.

Attached to the Newsletter is the booking form for St Annes 2007. Please complete this at your earliest possible opportunity and return it to the Hon Sec. All applications will be acknowledged to let you know whether a place has been reserved or if you are on the waiting list.

FUTURE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

DIDSBURY LUNCHEON 2007 will be on THURSDAY 25th October 2007 at the Didsbury Golf Club
ST ANNES WEEKEND REUNION 2008 will be on Saturday & Sunday 17th & 18th May 2008 at the Lindum Hotel, St Annes on Sea.

Places for either of these reunions may be reserved by email or by letter at any time.

WEB SITE REPORT

During 2006 our web site has had 607,939 hits resulting in our being in the top two places for Manchester Liners when requested in the Google Search Engine. Thank you to all of you that have made it your home page and thus create a hit every time that you log onto the Internet. The site itself has received 10,594 visits with 41,449 pages being accessed.

The web site is now approaching its second birthday and I felt that time had come to give it a make over. In the last few weeks it has undergone many changes. This was prompted by kind permission for the use of copyright photographs being granted by both John Slavin and the National Maritime Museum London, to both of whom we are most grateful.

All photographs on the web site retain their original copyright and therefore it is not possible to supply any individual prints.

I thank you all for the loan of photographs and will return all of them safely to their rightful owners during the next few weeks.

The PHOTO ARCHIVE now contains six pages of ships with added links to the WAR & PEACE page where relevant, and a new page called ART GALLERY has been created where copies of paintings of the ships can be found. We are still searching for a few ship photographs to complete the collection, so please keep a good look out as they turn up in the most unlikely places.

MANCHESTER LINERS SHIP PHOTOGRAPHS REQUIRED
Name	No	GRT	Previously	Company	Built	Acquired
Manchester Inventor	1	4247			1902
Manchester Miller	1	4234			1903
Manchester Citizen	1	4251			1912
Manchester Trader	2	3938	Auchenblae	Auchen SS Co, UK	1902	1916
Manchester Commerce	2	4144	King	State SS Co, UK	1906	1916
Manchester Inventor	2	4112	Celtic King	Celtic Shipping Co, UK	1907	1917
Manchester Merchant	3	7264			1940
Riverdale Park		7149	Managed	Ministry of War Transport, UK	1943	1943
Escalante		7791	Escalante	Royal Mail Lines, UK	1955	1966
Manchester Trader	5	1999	Werratal	J A Reinecke, Hamburg Germany	1952	1968
Manchester Trader	7	1596	Kaethe Johanna	Hamburg, Germany	1976	1978
Manchester Eagle		965	Atlantic Eagle	Senator, Singapore	1972	1981
Manchester Trader	8	1999	Lamara	Meteor, Singapore	1977	1984
Manchester Faith	3	1599	Nahost Kurier	H Bastion, Panama	1971	1985
Manchester City	4	3598	City of Lisbon	J Luhrs, Hamburg, Germany	1978	1985
Manchester Trader	9	4146	Kormoran	Hamburg, Germany	1980	1985
Manchester Prince		1599	Njord	F Beutelrock, Limassol, Cyprus	1981	1985
Manchester Trader	10	3348	Karyatein	Karyatein, Hamburg, Germany	1980	1989

The original Photo Gallery has now become PHOTO GALLERY REUNIONS and other photographs that were previously in the Gallery have been moved back into their original documents in HON SEC’S LOG, OLD NEWS, MAIL BAG, OLD MAIL BAG1 – 2005, and OLD MAIL BAG 2 – 2006.

With the exception of items for LOOK OUT, all news, photos and mail items will first be published in the hard copy of the Newsletter that is posted out. Only after this will items appear on the web site.

A web site contains many links between pages, documents and photographs etc. If at any time you think that something is not working properly, I will be grateful if you will send a note of any broken links that you may find and also any other corrections or changes that you feel are required or even additions that you would like to see, to me by email: webmaster@manchesterliners.co.uk. After all, it is YOUR web site.

Derrick Howarth,
Hon. Webmaster.

THE 25th ANNUAL MEETING AND LUNCHEON HELD AT DIDSBURY GOLF CLUB 26TH OCTOBER 2006

25th Anniversaryof the first get-together at the Last Drop Inn in October 1981

A Committee Meeting and Luncheon was held on the 26th October 2006 at the Didsbury Golf Club. Once again on a perfect late autumn day, nearly 100 members and their guests arrived and from 1200 hrs onwards sampled the splendid range of drinks from the bar. At 1300 hrs luncheon was announced and 98 diners sat down to a first class meal. The catering staff must be congratulated on their excellent service and variety of food on offer, and one wonders just how many diners they can cater for on such a fine scale. The membership of the Association has consistently risen since 2002 when 63 members and guests attended the luncheon following the article in the Manchester Evening News submitted by Messrs Ted Bowen and John Prince. The previous year, in 2001, 39 members and guests had been present at the luncheon!!! Nothing succeeds like

success and Captain Pete Cullen and Mrs Kath Cullen, in conjunction with the Club Steward and his wife and staff, must be a significant part of that success with their organisation and arrangements The Hon Secretary Captain Steve Worthington addressed the members after luncheon and reminded them once again of the importance of submitting to him, as editor, items of interest and possible trips of interest for future newsletters as it is upon their submission and suggestion that the strength of this remarkably interesting and detailed broadsheet depends. The Hon Sec also reminded those present of the next St Anne’s Reunion on Saturday/Sunday 12th & 13th May 2007 at the Lindum Hotel. If the current membership expansion is a yardstick, early booking might be a good idea!!

The Hon Treasurer Captain Peter Cullen addressed the meeting expressing his gratitude for prizes donated for the raffle which was as usual a great success, due in no small measure to him and his wife Kath who most “diligently” persuaded members to purchase vast quantities of tickets. Members were reminded that this was the year of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the MLOSA by Captain Eric Askew who over the years had nurtured and steered the organisation in his position of Secretary, and without whom none of the Association’s luncheons or weekend reunions would in point of fact take place. In recognition of the 25th Anniversary of the first gathering of what is now the Old Shipmates Association, and Captain Eric Askew’s invaluable contribution by the founding and nurturing of the Association, Captain Askew was invited to cut the anniversary cake.

A spirited rendition of Trafalgar 2005 – a Discourse between Admiral Lord Nelson and Captain Hardy on the Political Correctness of the Battle – was given by two of our own notable captains, Capt. Michael Taylor and Capt. Eoan Edwards, and very well received by the members. All in all a most enjoyable and memorable occasion was had by all. Michael Kendall Photos by Derrick Howarth

Hello folks,

A terrific "Thank you" for the highly successful and most enjoyable Luncheon at Didsbury last Thursday. The thanks and

credits have to go to you guys (and of course your loyal and lovely ladies), for all your efforts, as without them we just wouldn't have the pleasure and enjoyment of the "Old Shipmates".
As Jim Illingworth so rightly said in his writings on the Silver Anniversary how it reflects as such a close-knit Company Manchester Liners were.

Bill & Mairi Lowe

Who was there at Didsbury

Manchester Liners Old Shipmates Luncheon - Table Plan

	TABLE A Capt & Mrs P D Cullen Capt & Mrs W S Worthington Capt & Mrs A G Rowlands Capt & Mrs G M Taylor	TABLE B Mr & Mrs D Hodes Mr D Corker Mr & Mrs E Morton Capt & Mrs W Lowe Mrs J Minshull Mr G Rushton	TABLE C Capt & Mrs E Edwards Capt & Mrs R Jones Capt & Mrs D Jebb Mr & Mrs G Bancroft Mr & Mrs P Hennessey Mr R Lomas Mr I Thomson Capt D Geddes Mr J Dawson	TABLE D Mr & Mrs D Fox Mr G Donnally Mrs M Grimshaw Mr & Mrs M Kendall Mr & Mrs D Clulow
	TABLE E Mr E Richardson Mr & Mrs E Moore Mr & Mrs J Newby Mr & Mrs K Livingston Mr & Mrs B Connolly	TABLE F Mr & Mrs G Bettridge Mrs L Bettridge Mr & Mrs J McCann Mr & Mrs J Boden Mr P Moorwood Mr B Hulme	TABLE G Capt & Mrs J Illingworth Mr J Wilkinson Mr R Gregson Mr N Howard Capt & Mrs A Lacey Mr W Harrison	TABLE H Mr & Mrs R Camelleri Mr & Mrs A Gunshon Mr & Mrs B Charlesworth Mr J Gunshon Mr & Mrs A Smith
	TABLE J Mr & Mrs B Sellers Mr & Mrs W Sellers Mr & Mrs J Turnbull Mr & Mrs C Davies	TABLE K Capt & Mrs B Hancock Mr & Mrs D Howarth Mr M Hatton Mr B Wylie Mr R W Bowen Mr R Nichol	TABLE L Mr & Mrs C Morris Mr & Mrs D Porter Mr G Evans Capt J E Askew Capt & Mrs R Llewellyn

 

STOP PRESS N.B. A Commemorative Whisky Glass engraved on Lancashire Crystal is being produced to celebrate 25 years of M.L.O.S.A These will be available for sale at St Annes Reunion in May at £10 per glass, and thereafter by mail order for £10 plus postage and packaging Photo will be available when the glasses arrive - approx mid April

PROFILE ON Captain W. H. Moore 1903 - 1965

You may find some of the enclosed items of interest for the 'ML' website. They are all related to my father's employment by 'Manchester Liners', which was in fact his whole working life. This applied to many people in those days, but not so much today. Some members may remember that my father started his career as a deck apprentice in about 1919, eventually working his way up to Chief Officer. I think that he served as Master for a very short period of time, thus being able to use the title of Captain when he came ashore in 1943 as Assistant Dock Superintendent under Sydney Kennels (Possible spelling or name errors here). In 1956, he was promoted to Dock Superintendent, based in the old dock office at the head of No. 8 dock, this being very close to where the 'Furness Withy' "Pacific" boats tied up, their cargoes also being his responsibility. Due to this promotion, we had to move from Wallasey to Sale in order to be 'closer to the job', thus ending 13 years of daily commuting between Wallasey and Manchester on the train.

I must have seen very little of him in those days, as even Saturday was a norma lworking day. I seem to remember that we often all used to meet up in Liverpool 'Lewis's for Saturday lunch, before eventually getting the train back under the river to Wallasey. He died in April 1965 whilst sat at his desk in the office, having had several years of heart problems, so he never actually got the chance to enjoy any retirement. It is actually rather worrying, as I am now the same age as he was when he died, although up to now, touch wood, I haven't had any major medical problems. I know that some of the older members will remember Bill Moore, although I am aware that he wasn't everybody's favourite person. He was of the old school, where people thought they had to be extremely strict when in a senior position. Unlike now, in those days there were no first name terms unless you were working on the same level.

Ernie Moore - 22nd December 2006

THE GOLD HEADED CANE & CAPT JAMES BARCLAY
Manchester Shipper 1948

My Grandfather Capt. James Barclay was a Ship's Master with Manchester Liners.

In April 1948 he was awarded a Gold headed Cane by the Montreal Harbour Board as he was Master of the SS Manchester Shipper and was the first Ocean Going Vessel to reach port that year after the ice receded.

This was an annual event. He won a Sugar Cane in a previous year for being a runner up!

David James Barclay

From: David S Lever Sent: 20 November 2005 19:39 Subject: Gold Cane Awards To Manchester Liners

Amongst Captain Moore’s papers we found the following article –
………..Manchester Civilian under the command of Capt James Barclay

Peter Cullen wrote in: Captain James Barclay Gold Headed Cane & Manchester Shipper 1948 Captain Barclay was always referred to as my uncle, not by any relationship other than he used to live at 33 Wingate Drive with my Grandmother and Aunt Lucy and Uncle Arthur. Captain James Barclay was a Master with ML and one of the few to hold a Square Rigged Ticket. I remember the occasion of him getting the Gold Headed Cane being the first ship into Montreal after the ice in the spring of 1948 – 19th April 1948 - with the Manchester Shipper. Above my computer as I write this is a picture of Captain Jim with his officers taken on the Boatdeck of the Shipper after the presentation.

Master Ch Officer 2nd Officer 3rd Officer Chief Eng 2nd Eng 3rd Eng 4th Eng 5th Eng 6th Eng Ch Steward Radio Officer Apprentices

Captain James Barclay Albert Starmer Philip Lothian Harry Lynn Russell Stobo Mcnaught Patchet ? ? Livingstone Tommy Sumner Ernie Ambler Ginger Coleman Charles Samson Peter Cullen

 

UK MERCHANT SEAFARERS VETERANS BADGE After many years the Government has decided to formally acknowledge the role of the Merchant Navy during World War II and in supporting H.M.Forces after the War and in campaigns around the world up to and including 31st December 1984 To qualify for the UK MERCHANT SEAFARERS VETERANS BADGE all Merchant Navy Seafarers and Fishermen must have served in a vessel at a time when it was operated to facilitate military operations by H.M Armed Forces at any time up to and including 31st December 1984. For example in support of Forces in Korea, Malaya, Suez, Cyprus, Aden. To apply for this badge write to The Merchant Mariners 16 Glebe Road Brampton Huntington PE28 4PH Or email to info@merchantmariners.co.uk, or phone 01480-412958

As always my grateful thanks go to all those who contributed to this issue of your Newsletter with photographs, reports, news and snippets of interest…. Please keep sending them in.

AND NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS…………………

TIME TO RENEW YOUR SUBS IN MAY –

PLEASE AND SEND BACK THE FORM TO CAPT. PETER CULLEN WITH YOUR CHEQUE FOR £7.00 .

NEWSLETTER 10 OCTOBER 2007

With 2007 now well advanced we can look back at the success of our 25th Anniversary celebrations both at Didsbury in October 2006 at the start of our year and at St Annes in May 2007.  Both reunions, Didsbury lunch and the St Annes weekend, attracted maximum attendance.  The feedback has been very positive which to the organisers make the task so much more pleasurable.

Our membership continues to grow due in the main to the web site, which continues to improve under the stewardship of our web master Derrick Howarth.

Word of mouth is another way to spread the word and I would ask members to encourage anyone eligible they know to consider joining.  Remember there is no new intake from which to draw new members.  What we have is what we have.

We have recently been included in the section headed "Reunion Associations" in the publication Sea Breezes, so this again should attract new members.

If any member can suggest alternative ways of attracting new members please contact the Hon Sec.

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FUTURE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

ST ANNES REUNION WEEKEND 2008 will be over the weekend of Saturday/Sunday MAY 17/18  2008

This is now the second weekend after the Bank Holiday.   Moving to this particular weekend has allowed us tosecure the larger dining room in an effort not to have to restrict numbers as in the past.

To justify this move I would encourage members to support the reunion.  The venue is great and the natives are very friendly…….Lindum Hotel, St Annes-on-Sea

PLEASE BOOK EARLY - ring the Honarary Secretary to place a provisional booking or send an email to captainsteve@manchesteriners.co.uk.  Several people have already put their markers down - don't miss out.    And don't forget friends are most welcome.

DIDSBURY 2008 will be on Thursday  23rd October 2008
The venue is the Didsbury Golf Club
Again, to avoid disappointment please book early by contacting the Honorary Treasurer Peter Cullen by email to captainpete@manchesterliners.co.uk or by phone.

Meanwhile we look forward to seeing many of our members at DIDSBURY 2007 on 25th October.
The numbers are creeping up every day, and the last count before going to press was already over 100.
If you need directions to find the Didsbury Golf club please contact Peter Cullen for directions and a map

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25TH  ANNIVERSARY OF THE MANCHESTER LINERS OLD SHIPMATES ASSOCIATION

LINDUM HOTEL REUNION DINNER - Saturday 13th May 2007    

The 25th Reunion Weekend proved to be a great success with 66 initial applications for the maximum number of only 50 places at the dinner. This maximum figure was due to the constraints of the dining room, so to those members who were disappointed we apologize, and to those who were able to take up last minute cancellations, we were very pleased you could join the gathering.  Hopefully with the larger dining room this will not be an issue in 2008.

The weather over the weekend was very kind to us which makes a big difference to any get-together, especially on the west coast of the UK.

The Reunion started when we all gathered at 16.30hrs for afternoon tea and scones.  It was a great pleasure to welcome Capt Blake Nelson who had travelled all the way from Ontario Canada especially for the Reunion.   We also had the pleasure to welcome new members Malcolm Ross and his wife Louise who were booked in for the weekend.

At 1900 hr we regrouped in the bar for drinks prior to dinner at 1930hrs.  During this interlude Kath Cullen and Carol Worthington circulated relieving members and guests of their hard earned cash selling tickets for the raffle.

The meal was excellent, as always.  This was followed by the raffle which was well stocked with a variety of prizes in the main kindly donated by members.  One table, mainly occupied by engineers, seemed at one point to be commandeering the prizes, to the calls and boos from other tables.  However eventually their luck ran out and the prizes continued to spread around the room.  Many thanks to all, especially the engineers, who so generously supported the raffle which raised £76 for the Association's funds

At this point in the proceedings we formally acknowledged and thanked Capt Eric Askew for all his efforts in helping found the MLOSA, and for the excellent job he did in being the Hon Sec from concept to 2001.  It gave me great pleasure to offer Eric on behalf of the membership Life Membership of the Association and present him with two whisky tumblers commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Association he helped to found.

WELL DONE ERIC, AND ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERSHIP, A BIG THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE.

The after dinner speakers were excellent.    First to the podium was Mr Michael Kendal who once again gave a very interesting talk on the work of the Society for Nautical Research which Michael is very involved in.

Our second speaker was Captain Blake Nelson who presented a very informative paper he had given to the Canadian Federal Court Seminar entitled "Sink or Swim" which highlighted a number of marine casualties and the investigations which followed.

Both talks were well received by the members and their guests.  Our resident comedian Derek Clulow and his wife Jean were unfortunately not able to attend.  Derek was sorely missed as the Hon Sec tried to fill in for him with a few jokes - and failed miserably.  Derek has set a very high standard!

A big thank you to Blake and to Michael for putting the finishing touches to a very good evening.
Next day following a hearty breakfast some guests settled down with the Sunday papers, some set off at a great pace for a walk on the prom and some went to church.  Lunch was served at 1300hrs at which we were very pleased to welcome another new member Alan Jones who had driven up from Birkenhead for the occasion.

After lunch members programmed their GPS navigators, a far cry from sextants, and set off for home.

TABLE 1

Capt Jim Illingworth, Mrs Peggy Illingworth, Mrs Dorothy Wright, Stan Roberts, Bryan Whitby, Mrs Dorothy Whitby,Ted Boden, Mrs Anne Boden, Chris Morris, Mrs Ruth Morris.

TABLE 2

Capt Steve Worthington, Mrs Carol Worthington, Capt Eric Askew, Colin Spence, Neville Baker, Mrs Jean Baker, Michael Kendal, Mrs Mary Kendal, David Fox, Mrs Margaret Fox.

TABLE 3

Capt Peter Cullen, Mrs Kath Cullen, Capt Bill Lowe, Mrs Mairi Lowe, Capt Blake Nelson, Brian Wylie, John Wilkinson, Bill Harrison, Carl Hiltunen, Bel Casa.

TABLE 4

Rod Sellers, Mrs Joan Sellers, Brian Sellers, Mrs Mavis Sellers, Bernard Charlesworth,
Mrs Monica Charlesworth, Malcolm Ross, Mrs Louise Ross.

TABLE 5

Eddie Richardson, Mrs Merryl Moore, Ken Livingston, Mrs Lesley Livingston, Barry Connoly, Mrs Margaret Connoly, John Ashcroft, Mrs Mavis Ashcroft.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Steve and Carol
Thanks for another great weekend at St Annes, all your hard work made it very enjoyable. 

Request for next year, please can we sit at the same table with the same people to win all the raffle prizes again.

Regards
Ken & Lesley Livingston

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

WE HAVE HEARD FROM

David Lever has been offered a 9 to 5 position at SAR CCG HQ  in Ottawa, and had hoped to be moving to Ontario sometime this summer gone.  However Dave says he is still in Halifax working at JRCC Halifax on a project. The house is up for sale (taking longer than anticipated to sell) and they hope to be moved soon.

James Catlow
Best regards to all and I hope the anniversary gathering was a success. .
I see my old mate Roger Llewelyn is doing well - good on yer mate!

Neville Baker retired at the end of April - but is still living at the vicarage and working as a locum until he is replaced.   New phone number and address will be notified in due course.

George Rushworth - apologies, George.  Your personal history was typed incorrectly as Brown Boven.  Thanks for pointing that out and for sending the corrected details.  It should have read:

1972-2002 with Asea Brown Boveri both the UK (London) and Southern Africa.  Johannesburg-Cape Town-Port Elizabeth- and Botswana.  first as Commissioning Engineer (UK)  Project Engineer. Regional Manager, South Africa)   finally Managing Director (Botswana) and called back from retirement to Consult. for a couple of years.

Chris Davies
Yes, it is true, I retired on the first of September so please change my e-mail address!
 

I have always wanted to take my wife, Sue, across "the pond" and at last I can do it!  We were married 40 years ago next month and we were an item as they now say throughout most of my engineering apprenticeship with ML.  So as you can see it has taken some time but at last we can make it.

More from Chris another time,  meanwhile CONGRATULATIONS

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

JOHN NORCLIFFE

Manny Liners Boys at work

In January 2007 I took the Barge "Atlantic Trader" to Trinidad loading at a place called Chaguaramas (pronounced Shag- a-ra-ma- us ).

The Barge is a dumb flat deck barge 300 feet x 76 feet x 20 feet. Not fitted with ballast lines or pumps just a steel envelope surrounding a big piece of air. I fitted it with 3 inch portable pumps in 9 of the 21 hatches and then led air lines to the forecastle.

I thus produced a float on / float off barge which cost about $50,000.00 about £25,000.00 Sterling not bad when a semi submersible cost today $60,000,000.00 to build.

Using this Heath Robinson piece of junk I was able to compete with the big boys and won a multi million dollar contract to float on an Oil Rig in Trinidad and take it to Houston USA.

Now you have to watch that you don't go over 1 atmosphere otherwise these rust buckets will explode and if you sink it too deep and don't let it suck in air real good it will implode.

Well, it all went well.  We expressly told the owners of the OIL Rig we would NOT be responsible for the jack up legs which allow the rig to stand on the sea bed. Because I don't know how those things work. This we put in the Contract of Carriage. I also got the Owners, Charterers, Tug Owners, to Name and Waive of subrogation My Company.

The legs fell off on the way to Houston. The Oil Rig which was our responsibility to secure did not move 1 millimeter.
Guess who was my Surveyor for the damage in Houston ….yes!  Kevin Highfield.  Manny Liners Boys at Work.

Regards
John Norcliffe 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

DEEPWATER Q4000

	James Catlow		The Q4000 is a custom designed, dynamically positioned, and constructed semi-submersible.
	Photo: James Catlow		Photo: Unknown

Good day "Old shipmates"

As you can see from the photo "age waits for no man" and where you end up cannot be foreseen.

The colour of the hull is near the same, the shape is definitely not and the shipmates here are of a different breed.
What with computers, Vessel Management Systems, Dynamic Positioning etc one could say there is a relationship between the Q4000 and the "C " Class.

Both leaders in design and concept, specialised tonnage, and equally easily identifiable!

So you can say that my years spent with Mannie Liners led me to here.
Well you'd be wrong I have had such a diversified career from RoRo's to Anchor Handlers then D.P. Diving Support, then Project Engineering on D.P.Vessels to this - Project Engineer tasked to conduct Root Cause Analysis of Thruster Failures, Redesign Cooling systems and HVAC install VFD Propulsion Drives.
 
But what I will say is the years spent with Manchester Liners stood me in good stead! I remember the Chiefs were not required to stand-by at Dry Docks so the 2nd Engineer conducted the docking.. I usually was assigned to George Nansom.  When I got to know George he was a good guy, very quiet but looked after me.

So! as Harry Wright the Chief would say. My position is Site Project Marine Manager Q4000 Upgrade.  Sounds impressive.  Really just same as ever - I am still a grubby hands on Engineer, no "whistle and flute for me".

The world of Project Marine Engineering is so under resourced of experienced people that the workload becomes quite ridiculous.
I commenced a $50million upgrade in April this year.  No other detailed work had been done other than ordering $5 mill worth of VFD drives and Motors. From there I have had to develop conceptuals on design etc integration of equipment and controls etc etc.

The main features of the Marine Upgrade will be to change propulsion from Fixed Speed ,Variable Pitch Highly Inductive Drives when in low demand D.P.operations.  to Variable Frequency Control Motors driving fixed pitch prop.   Other upgrades will be to the D.P. system, cooling and HVAC in addition.  The vessel will be upgraded to a full Drilling Rig together with changing the 6 azimuth thrusters from C.P.P. to variable frequency drives

Anybody interested in details of the Q 4000 can access the web site.

Janet my wife and 2 of the grandchildren are due to arrive for a week's holiday very soon and for me it will be a welcome break.   I would hope to be home one day and meet up at a re-union.

James Catlow

James was an Engineer Officer with Manchester Liners during the period 1972-78.  He remembers Harry Wright, Josh White, John Ramwell and Roger Llewellyn to name a few. He is now working in Galveston on "The Q4000" where he is Project Managing the upgrade.

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S. S. MANCHESTER BRIGADE

SUNK OFF THE NORTH COAST OF IRELAND - 26th September 1940

	S.S. Manchester Brigade
	Photo: Manchester Liners

Last year a letter was printed in Newsletter No 8 regarding the torpedoed Manchester Brigade.

Subject: Manchester Brigade

Just want to know if anyone knew my uncle JAMES COWSILL who was on the Manchester Brigade which was torpedoed in September 1940.  My uncle did not survive but there were 4 that were rescued.
 I would like just to hear from anyone that could tell me a little about my uncle.           

Josie Cocking

This brought quite a few more enquiries on the website -

Subject: SS Manchester Brigade

Hi, looking for any details for AUGUSTUS SAMUEL YANKEY who was on this liner and died when sunk. Also would like to know what this ship was doing, going etc; any info to build a picture.
Thank you so much.

Karen Connor (Yankey)

Subject: SS Manchester Brigade

Can you help me tracing my grandfather's steps in the Merchant Navy.  JOSEPH PRATT was my grandfather's name.  He died 1940 on the SS Manchester Brigade off north tip of Ireland sunk by torpedo by U-137. Lost at sea was 58 crew.  The ship was a steam driven weighed in at 6021 tonnes. Looking for any info on the vessel plus photos, and if possible a crew log or service names at the time of sinking.  If you don’t have the info can you please tell me some of the roads to go down to get this type of info.  All I know is that the ship was owned by Manchester Liners.
Thanks and regards                                                                                                     

Trevor Pratt

Through the website the following interesting response was received :

From: Ray Lloyd
Subject: "Manchester Brigade"

Firstly Manchester Liners Ltd., did not run a liner service as we understand  (i.e. carrying almost exclusively passengers) but carried goods to and from Canada & the USA in the main, with a few passengers briefly in the latter years.
"Manchester Brigade" was en-route Liverpool - Halifax N.S. - Montreal with 1147 tons of government and general cargo, and would have returned with a much larger load of vital supplies for the U.K. She was part of convoy OB 218 and had the Convoy Commander (a R.N.  Vice Admiral in command of the convoy aboard).  Her Captain was Frederick Clough. 
At 00-50 on the 26 September 1940 she was hit by a torpedo from the German submarine U-137 and sank as a result. Her Captain, the Commodore, 6 R.N. staff, a gunner and 47 crew were lost (56 in total) 4 survivors were picked up by a French Hospital ship and landed at Gibraltar.  The dead will all be commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London.

Hope this information adds to your knowledge of your relative's life.
Kind regards,
Ray.

Webmaster Derrick Howarth added the following note:

Another source where enquirers might find what they are looking for is in a book published earlier this year in Eire.  The Manchester Brigade is mentioned in it.
"Remembering the War Dead: British Commonwealth and International War Graves in Ireland since 1914" was published in March 2007 by the Government of Ireland Publications Office on behalf of the Office of Public Works. The book is not for profit but the nature of this publication is intended to be educational, cultural as well as commemorative.
The OPW in Ireland was 175 years old in 2006. This book on war graves in Ireland was compiled as part of the events to mark the occasion as well as the 90th anniversary of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Karen Connor later wrote in to the web site -

Re: "Manchester Brigade" FAO Ray

Dear Ray
Just to let you know that I went onto the net for Tower Hill Memorial.  It has a section called Debt of Honour, I put in my grandfather's name and it came up with the details, it is panel 67, and he was a Greaser
Thank you for your help
Karen Connor (Yankey)

Another success story for the web site

Ray Lloyd became a correspondent through the web site mail page just over at year ago when he started researching the maritime history of a family member, and found the Manchester Liners website.

The "family member" was Capt Robert Smith formerly of Manchester Liners (from 1905 to sometime after WW1), who was torpedoed twice during World War 1, surviving both times.  During Mr Lloyd's investigations he uncovered some interesting information about the early history of the Company and the Company's ships, as well about Capt. Smith.  Mr Lloyd has written a very interesting article for the Newsletter about Capt Smith, which we hope to print in one of our future editions,

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And now for the Webmaster report ………

MLOSA WEB SITE HITS  - MAY to SEPTEMBER 2007

As many of you will know, in early May 2007 the MLOSA web site was off line for about a week. This was due to a virus attack upon the server that hosts our web site. We were not alone in this as all the sites hosted by this server were corrupted I have a full backup of our site and was able to upload it again when the server was back on line.

Unfortunately we lost all our previous statistics relating to the hits on the site as these are only available on the server. Since normal service was resumed in May we have received regular hits from thirty-seven countries across every continent of the world.

During the summer months the traffic through the site was relatively quiet, probably because of holidays. Since then the Lookout page has been very active with enquiries and replies relating to ships and persons.

New Page on the Web Site

To make it easier to find recent changes and additions on the web site another page has been added “NEW ITEMS”, which is easily accessed by clicking on the waving semaphore flag on the “CHART” page. Once on “NEW ITEMS” a further click on the button adjacent to each new item leads directly to the relevant page. The page lists only the five most recent postings.

Please do keep sending in your news items and requests for info as this maintains the interest in YOUR site thus ensuring its continuing success.

Derrick Howarth
Hon. Webmaster  

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Oceanic Anecdotes and Atlantic Antics

Asian Renown 1975 Sent in by Steve Lyons Bill Lowe. Jock Mckay  Ronnie (cadet), myself and John Norcliffe with a comment from Bill Lowe - Fantastic, we remember it well.  It was a great trip that one, 4 months of good weather!!  We flew to Hong Kong and had about 5/6 days holiday before joining the ship, about half way through the tour, major engine repairs had to be taken care of in Hong Kong, where we drydocked for 14days. Left the ship in Melbourne and had a weeks holiday in Australia.  I bet you cannot do that these days!!

Photo: Steve Lyons

 

Photo: Ken Livingston

Manchester Faith Autumn 1967 From: KEN LIVINGSTON From the left  Jeff Clements (4th Engineer), Ken Livingston (2nd Engineer), ? (3rd mate), Eddie Richardson (Chief), ?  (Junior Engineer), ?

 

Sea Train Bennington - New Year 1978 From: KEN LIVINGSTON Bill Cain (Chief),  Ken Livingston (2nd Engineer),  Dougie Park (Junior Engineer), Phill Griffiths & Wife, (4th Engineer), Frank ? (Mate), Les ?  (Junior Engineer), 3 Deck Cadets

Photo: Ken Livingston

Peter Cullen on Harold Appleyard and the Football Team…

I reminded him years ago when he ran the ships football team on the Merchant. - Did he remember the time we were one short, and on that voyage we had a Naval Officer with us doing the voyage to see how we did things.

When he asked this RN Type would he make up, the reply Harold got was
 "Oh Steward I don't play any of the standard games"
 to which "H" replied, 
 "Well sir, hang on.  I will nip up to the mission to see if we can borrow 12 horses, then maybe you could join us and we will challenge the Empress boat to a game of Polo" !!

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WHAT DO EX - ML PEOPLE DO IN THEIR SPARE TIME AND IN RETIREMENT?

Following Michael Kendall's two very interesting talks on his great interest in Nautical Research I thought it would be interesting to run an article about what our members do in their spare time and in retirement.  It may even give some of our members food for thought and start them off with a new hobby or interest.

We start with our Webmaster Derrick Howarth who was a navigating Officer with Liners during the 60's. 
Derrick retired at the age 62 after selling his wine retailing business, and he takes up story as follows:

Having retired at the age of 62, after six months I decided that I needed a bolt hole away from home. We discussed various options which lead to me saying that I wanted a boat. Ann told me that I could have one if I found a canal that didn't have locks. First I found that the lovely Lancaster Canal had forty-two miles without locks between Preston and Tewitfield, which is near Milnthorpe in Cumbria. The Lancaster is a contour canal and originally ran between Preston and Kendal, with the only one set of locks at Tewitfield, which are now closed to navigation as are the Upper Reaches above there and the last few miles below Kendal have been filled in. There are however plans to re-open the canal right through to Kendal.

M.B. Cara Mia in Glasson Dock - Lancaster Canal Photo: Derrick Howarth

Having found the canal, the next thing was the boat. In late August 2005 we found “Cara Mia” moored at Bridge House Marina in Garstang, about an hour’s drive from home. She is a Norman 23 (23ft long x 6ft 10in beam) four berth GRP cabin cruiser built about 1980 and powered by a 9.9 hp 4 stroke Honda outboard. She needed a new canopy but the interior was newly refurbished. So subject to her passing both Hull and Boat Safety Certificate surveys an offer was made and accepted and at the beginning of September 2005 she became mine. Since then we have cruised over 600 miles from Preston through Lancaster crossing the River Lune over Rennie’s famous aqueduct, skirting Morecambe Bay at Hest Bank and through Carnforth to Tewitfield. We have even been down the Glasson Branch twice, which has six locks that drop down to Glasson Dock on the Lune Estuary where the above photograph was taken. The flora and fauna continually changing with the seasons make every cruise different.

Cruising tranquilly at 4 mph (the speed limit) it is hard to believe that we are in a mile wide corridor beneath the Bowland Fells that contains the canal, M6, A6 and the west coast main railway line. We have also made many new friends and are active members of The Lancaster Canal Boat Club.

 

John Meadowcroft served in Manchester Liners from 1955 to 1960 mainly as Assistant Steward. When he finally left the Merchant Navy he was Chief Steward with Shaw Saville Line.

John is a man of many interests which include building and sailing radio controlled boats, building computers, playing a very active roll at the Merchant Navy establishment, Springbok Estate, where he and his wife Joyce live. He is also the official standard bearer for the Merchant Navy and represents the Merchant Navy at many civic and national events.

I hope I have the same get-up-and-go and interest when I am John's age!

John Meadowcroft (on the left) and John Delamere with the two National Standards after attending a Sea Service in Horsham

Photo: Jon Meadowcroft

 

John on the bridge of Liberty Ship - S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien Photo: Jon Meadowcroft

Liberty Ship - S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien Photo: Jon Meadowcroft The occasion was the ship had come over for the Normandy landings. He had presented the Captain with a plaque from The British Merchant Navy and Springbok Estate     The Merchant Seamens War Memorial Society Springbok Estate

 

Richard Simpson joined Liners as an Engineer Cadet in 1975 to 1979.  He was eventually absorbed into Furness Withy in 1982.  He remembers sailing with Peter Cullen on the Vanguard in 1977. Bill Lowe was Chief Officer and Walter Stargeant was Chief Engineer.  Richard is now Chief Engineer in his own right on a large cruise liner.

Unfortunately I cannot write from the perspective of a retired member as I am still working at sea but I will nonetheless write a bit about my hobby. My particular interest is Radio Controlled model boats, which I have now been involved with for about the past five years.  Modeling has always been an interest of mine but it was a second hand model of HMS Cossack on Ebay that captured my interest.  I bought the model, did a bit more work on the detail and refitted the electronics and quickly realized just how rewarding the hobby could be.The trouble was to make my own model was going to take a number of years so I put a lot of time into choosing what I wanted to make before finally coming up with a kit from a local manufacturer.  The kit I purchased is of an Irish Sea Coaster by the name of Ben Ain, operated by Thomas Brothers and then the Ramsey Steamship Company.

Model - HMS Cossack Photo: Richard Simpson

One of the things that attracted me to this ship was the fact that she was built in Manchester Dry Docks at Ellesmere so could well have been trading in the area when my father was going to sea with Manchester Liners.

Being an engineer I decided very early that the model should be propelled by a steam plant so the first two years of its construction was spent in putting this together in a way that would give me a degree of reliability as well as ease of operation.  There is still a lot to do to the model but it is progressing nicely and I reckon another two years should she it somewhere near finished.  Being a kit a lot of the materials were not of the type or standard that I was happy with so I have done quite a bit of modifications to it as I went along such as replacing pre-printed plywood panels for hatch boards with real planks, replacing pre-printed ply overlays for the decks with real planks and replacing pre-printed plywood overlays for the flying bridge paneling with real planks.

Photos below show the progress to date.

Model - S.S. Ben Ain		Model - S.S. Ben Ain		Model - S.S. Ben Ain
Photo: Richard Simpson		Photo: Richard Simpson		Photo: Richard Simpson

 

While this has been going on other Ebay purchases have kept my interest at the pond on a Sunday morning so the work on the Ben Ain has been interspersed with modification and upgrade work to other acquisitions such as the Customs Cutter Badger (see photo), an Admiralty Tug, not to mention a couple of yachts, and a converted plastic u-boat kit.   Many thanks for the photos - I wish there had been space to put them all in.  ed

Model - S.T. Badger Photo: Richard Simpson

 

Stewart Adamson

Stewart showing his Triumph motorbike Photo: Stewart Adamson

I am very fortunate in that I am still able to involve myself in all sorts of DIY and so keep very busy. I have also a 1939 Triumph motorcycle which I restored when I came ashore in the 60's. This Sept. I repeated my previous visits to the I.0 Man to compete in the Manx Grand Prix Rally. Highlights are riding on the TT course immediately after the last racer passes, this means we are on the "Closed Roads" circuit and is a wonderful experience. I also have a 1962 TR4 on which I do enjoy "mechanicing".(Much much better than Pielsticks.) Looking forward to meeting up again with my "Shipmates".

 

Brian Wylie

Brian Wylie was spotted at a Classic & Vintage Motorbike Show on his immaculate (?1939) Norton.

Brian Wylie showing his Norton motorbike Photo: Derrick Howarth

Alan Wilde

AlanWilde's giant Lemon Photo: Alan wilde

Alan Wilde wrote in from Spain - (where else can one grow giant lemons) For retirement activities perhaps this will qualify with the following caption: “Cultivation of giant lemons for a decent G & T. Now all I need is a suitable glass.”   Grown in his garden in Alicante!

 

The last word must be from James Catlow who sent us this from his hotel bedroom in Galveston:

Not retired - in my spare time when away from home dream of family, golf, (used to be page 3 girls), scoring the winning try for England in the World Cup, the local countryside around the West Riding and North West Scotland, then wake up to reality!  - a hotel room in Galveston and the heap I am working on.

Best regards
James Catlow

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Please see Crew Changes for information about new members and changes.

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As always, many thanks for all your contributions, letters, snippets and interesting articles.  Keep 'em coming and we'll keep looking for space to print them.  If you are interested in what you see in this newsletter, then others will be interested in what you have to contribute

If you have sent in something and it hasn't appeared in print yet then it is always worth checking the website - it might have landed there, and will possibly hit the newsletter in a later issue.

Happy wishes to all - keep happy, keep healthy, and most of all keep going !!
                                                                                                                                      

Hon Sec & your editor
Captain Steve