nobby s
23rd July 2007, 14:00
Hi to all ex U/C lads. While I was on the "Southern Cross" (Shaw Sav.) 1963
we picked up a DBS (cant remember where now) by the name of Bob West. He was from Brading on the I.O.W. and a deckhand. It turned out he had relations living in the same village as me whom I knew very well. We became very good pals and decided to find a ship together. However as I was getting married when we arrived in Southampton, he was going to do at trip on the Pretoria. I dont remember how but the next I heard was of his death. I was told that as the ship was leaving Capetown homeward bound and he fell from a bosuns chair while soogying the mast down. This was put down to an epileptic fit (an epileptic deckhand Idont think so!!!) Slightly pi****d perhaps? Was anyone there who could perhaps tell me more and not leave me wondering?????
we picked up a DBS (cant remember where now) by the name of Bob West. He was from Brading on the I.O.W. and a deckhand. It turned out he had relations living in the same village as me whom I knew very well. We became very good pals and decided to find a ship together. However as I was getting married when we arrived in Southampton, he was going to do at trip on the Pretoria. I dont remember how but the next I heard was of his death. I was told that as the ship was leaving Capetown homeward bound and he fell from a bosuns chair while soogying the mast down. This was put down to an epileptic fit (an epileptic deckhand Idont think so!!!) Slightly pi****d perhaps? Was anyone there who could perhaps tell me more and not leave me wondering?????