Revisit the port.

[John Dryden]

Heres one for ex Bankliners.If you good revisit a port now(only one chaps)which one would it be on the routes?
We know it will have changed a bit but that is progress!
Mine would be,after much consideration,Penang.

[Johnnietwocoats]

Seychelles Islands......Without a doubt...

[Alistair Macnab]

Apia, Western Samoa.

[Alan Rawlinson]

How about Bromboro Dock - for a whiff of pure Nostalgia!

[billyboy]

I would have said Falmouth but she's pushing 70 by now (like me)

[iain48]

Sydney would be my choice, having had a great time there on Elmbank 1974. Went back on holiday in 2002 and once again really enjoyed myself. Hopefully back again next year.

Iain

[jimthehat]

Dunedin definitely and second lytleton parties and nurses

[Joe C]

Yokahama,for no particular reason,or maybe Durban or Brisbane or Point Fortin or Singapore......................................... ..

[Pat Kennedy]

How about Bromboro Dock - for a whiff of pure Nostalgia!

You would be hard put to find Bromboro' Dock Alan.It was filled in years ago! even the smell has gone.(A)
Pat

[Pat Kennedy]

I have revisited several of my favourite ports in the years since I came ashore, and looked for the bars where I had had such a good time.
None lived up to my memory of them, places like Hong Kong and Singapore, Manila and Penang, totally different and alien. Even Betty's Bar in Glasgow turned out to be a lifeless dump when I called in in 1981.
The only place with even a hint of the good times of the 1960s was San Francisco, still a good sailor's town.
Pat

[Duncan112]

Durban.

But as John says it will all have changed - I went back to Apia about 2002 and Aggie Greys had been modernised - you could be in any Best Western in the world now - gone is the little bar to the right with the old photos, replaced by a glass and stainless steel concoction in the reception area. Probably all changed again now http://aggiegreys.com/hotel/restaurants-and-bars.

[Winebuff]

Shanghai - to see the changes in 30 years.

[IBlenkinsopp]

South Shields

[pete]

(Pint) For me it must be Penang. I believe the Hong Kong Bar is still there despite that fire which destroyed all those wonderful 'Photo Albums.......pete (Pint)

ps see you all at the reunion

[rcraig]

Calcutta. Honest! And to add the places that I would have liked to visit but didn't, Valparaiso via the Magellans and New Zealand.

[Alan Rawlinson]

You would be hard put to find Bromboro' Dock Alan.It was filled in years ago! even the smell has gone.(A)
Pat

Yes, I understand it is a carpark or housing estate - how did they ever get rid of that sweet penetrating smell of the coconut oil, I wonder?

Another one - Galveston

I have some really good memories of Galveston, and took the opportunity when on a business trip to Houston in the 90's to drive down to Galveston - for old times sake. Shock, Horror, the street that I fondly remembered was still there, but turned into a tourist attraction and had the film set treatment with hitching rails for the horses, and artificial swing doors etc - It was barred to traffic and turned into a sort of Hollywood set......

[Pat Kennedy]

Yes, I understand it is a carpark or housing estate - how did they ever get rid of that sweet penetrating smell of the coconut oil, I wonder?

Another one - Galveston

I have some really good memories of Galveston, and took the opportunity when on a business trip to Houston in the 90's to drive down to Galveston - for old times sake. Shock, Horror, the street that I fondly remembered was still there, but turned into a tourist attraction and had the film set treatment with hitching rails for the horses, and artificial swing doors etc - It was barred to traffic and turned into a sort of Hollywood set......

Alan, it became a landfill site, and plans are afoot to landscape it and turn it into a public park.
Pat

[Alan Rawlinson]

Alan, it became a landfill site, and plans are afoot to landscape it and turn it into a public park.
Pat

Hi Pat

Would look nice then with a model of a Bankline ship, dischaging copra! My Missus has just said it should be ' themed ' at least.

[China hand]

Rosario

[Johnnietwocoats]

Calcutta. Honest! And to add the places that I would have liked to visit but didn't, Valparaiso via the Magellans and New Zealand.

I would love to go back to Calcutta...(Whaaa)

Probably the only Port that hasn't changed much in the last fifty odd years....(Pint)

[Ian Harrod]

Buenos Aires - 25 de Mayo Street!!

[DURANGO]

Recife , but I would only want to stay for a couple of months .

[Aberdonian]

I had intended to opt for Buenos Aires but the siren-call of the Hughli has me settling for Calcutta.

I wonder if an iced coffee can still be had at “Magnolia’s”.......

Aberdonian

[makko]

Aggie Greys

The rooms are good ("roll in" showers), the bars "middling" and the main restaurant SPECTACULAR! Have stayed there several times on the way to/from American Samoa - A real haven after AS, although Sadies by the Sea is acceptable and Sadie Thompson's a dining experience!
Rgds.
Dave

[David E]

I would love to go back to Calcutta...(Whaaa)

Probably the only Port that hasn't changed much in the last fifty odd years....(Pint)


Same here-fascinating place

[China hand]

Yup, still a filthy tip. New name, same shite.(Night)

[Johnnietwocoats]

Same here-fascinating place

This should bring back Memories...

As I said...Hasn't changed much...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRMSUxl7DIA&feature=related

[Ron Stringer]

As I said...Hasn't changed much...



....Chowringhee to Broadway's a ****ing long way.

Line from an old song.

[JoeQ]

Apia, Western Samoa.

I have to agree, had some good times in Apia on the Meadowbank, I will be revisiting Valporaiso next month on business, I expect it to be much changed

[Frank P]

Did the Bank Line have a regular run to the East coast of South America, Buenos Aires and Rio etc.

Cheers Frank

[jmcg]

Diego Suarez in Madagascar where we were for 3 weeks in a Jebsens bulker. We were treated like Royalty by the indiginous folk and upstream Portuguese. No effect on the "sub" balance either.

Ladies were coffee coloured and well equiped. 2nd cook and a steward "jumped" or failed to return for sailing.



BW

J(Gleam)(Gleam)

[Alistair Macnab]

Did the Bank Line have a regular run to the East coast of South America, Buenos Aires and Rio etc.

Cheers Frank

Frank....
Bank Line operated a one way liner service from Calcutta and Bangladesh ports to the River Plate, mainly Buenos Aires but occasionally Montevideo via South Africa, Durban with occasional calls at Capetown. Service was monthly within the Calcutta Liner Conference Agreement.

Usual backhaul was a bulk grain cargo for Bunge to India although a bulk sugar cargo was sometimes available. During the era of two-year trips, getting a BA trip from Calcutta was often a hoped-for cargo to the Continent and pay-off!

My own experiences on four Calcutta-BA voyages was twice to Trinidad light ship to load bitumen for India; once to Port Sudan with sugar then back to India with salt; and once down to Bahia Blanca then back to BA to top off with pollards for Germany!

[Alan Rawlinson]

This should bring back Memories...

As I said...Hasn't changed much...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRMSUxl7DIA&feature=related

Thanks, great video...

It looks more prosperous ( if that's the right word) than the 1950's - less squalor, bodies, roadside barbers, etc etc. Life still looks tough in Calcutta, though, for the ordinary folk. No doubt there are still polished and panelled clubs for the lucky ones to retreat to.

[Ian Harrod]

This should bring back Memories...

As I said...Hasn't changed much...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRMSUxl7DIA&feature=related

Great video. I saw 3 old girlfriends, the crew off the Taybank and Dr Ganguly!

[Johnnietwocoats]

Frank....
Bank Line operated a one way liner service from Calcutta and Bangladesh ports to the River Plate, mainly Buenos Aires but occasionally Montevideo via South Africa, Durban with occasional calls at Capetown. Service was monthly within the Calcutta Liner Conference Agreement.

Usual backhaul was a bulk grain cargo for Bunge to India although a bulk sugar cargo was sometimes available. During the era of two-year trips, getting a BA trip from Calcutta was often a hoped-for cargo to the Continent and pay-off!

My own experiences on four Calcutta-BA voyages was twice to Trinidad light ship to load bitumen for India; once to Port Sudan with sugar then back to India with salt; and once down to Bahia Blanca then back to BA to top off with pollards for Germany!

I was fortunate to do the East Coast of SA, Valparaiso once and West Coast, BA and Monte twice...

I do remember doing a run to Trinidad...

I am fortunate to have copies of my ships logs and crew Lists for the Eastbank, Foylebank, Fleetbank, Streambank and the Cedarbank so I pretty much know exactly where I was from July 1960 until July 1964 with Bank Line...(Pint)

[obrbob1948]

I agree with John Dryden...Penang is fantastic. Actually, I spent 3 weeks there while on leave from Singapore (British Army)...this was a year or so before I left Singapore to join to join an Army ship - HMAV AACHEN based out of Portsmouth Naval base...ship was an LCT - I was one of two Radio Operators on board (Royal Signals). Subsequently served on 2 other LCT's visiting GOTHENBERG, COPENHAGEN, ANTWERP, ROTTERDAM. AMSTERDAM, KIEL CANAL ports etc. My time at sea was the best time I had while serving in the British army. Far East posting was simply outstanding.

[China hand]

Two copra runs. The rest either India~ West coast Sud America, or India~East coast Sud America, both via South Africa, or tramping. Good times.

[Frank P]

Frank....
Bank Line operated a one way liner service from Calcutta and Bangladesh ports to the River Plate, mainly Buenos Aires but occasionally Montevideo via South Africa, Durban with occasional calls at Capetown. Service was monthly within the Calcutta Liner Conference Agreement.

Usual backhaul was a bulk grain cargo for Bunge to India although a bulk sugar cargo was sometimes available. During the era of two-year trips, getting a BA trip from Calcutta was often a hoped-for cargo to the Continent and pay-off!

My own experiences on four Calcutta-BA voyages was twice to Trinidad light ship to load bitumen for India; once to Port Sudan with sugar then back to India with salt; and once down to Bahia Blanca then back to BA to top off with pollards for Germany!

Alistair, thanks for the reply.

Frank