[dearev]

Have a look at the attached pictures taken from an ancient brochure

[Kerrysue]

Thanks for the pictures. Brilliant Star allegedly towed the Great Eastern from Dublin to Liverpool - that's all I know about her and her captain was Isaac Walton.

[Pugwash48]

I had forgotten just how plush these "BA Flyers" were. As BSL used to boast"1st Class only"

I sailed on the "Brasil Star" as 4th and 3rd Mate from 1968 to 1970, mind you in those days we were kept well away from the Passengers.

Great days though.

John L

[China hand]

Originally Posted by Pugwash48

I had forgotten just how plush these "BA Flyers" were. As BSL used to boast"1st Class only"

I sailed on the "Brasil Star" as 4th and 3rd Mate from 1968 to 1970, mind you in those days we were kept well away from the Passengers.

Great days though.

John L

Not if you tried hard enough, on the odd occasion contacts were made. Certainly until 1968! Then I left.

[John Gurton]

My father did the floor tiling in the saloons of these ships, probably the first ship I went on board as a child, his stories of his life at sea and probably those visits encouraged me to go to sea.

[Offshore Engineer]

Brings back a few memories to say the least, I sailed on the Argentina Star from 1965 to 1968 then went onto the South Africa Star and Brasil Star after the SAS was scrapped. would be interested to hear from any of the Engineers from those days. I left Blue Star line to follow the Offshore game (North Sea & others) sailed as Ch/Eng on drill ships. crane ships and many other offshore pieces of equipment, am still at it, any body else still out there and at it from those days?

JP Dick. Ch/Eng.Offshore Thailand

[harry pennington]

Pugwash48, I was R/O on Brasil Star from June 59 -Nov 60, 7 trips in all. Split by 1 trip on Argentina Star Nov 59 -Jan 60. They were like two totally different ships. With Captain Vernon on Brasil as officers we had cricket matches,horse racing, [no not real horses], deck games, fancy dress and the like. As this was on the same run every 7 weeks, we saw some of the passengers more than once, and were on first name terms. The Argentina was a whole new ball game Under Captain Pearce, and that was it, just the cricket match nothing else, still only 1 trip. Regards Harry

[Tingira]

Originally Posted by harry pennington

Pugwash48, I was R/O on Brasil Star from June 59 -Nov 60, 7 trips in all. Split by 1 trip on Argentina Star Nov 59 -Jan 60. They were like two totally different ships. With Captain Vernon on Brasil as officers we had cricket matches,horse racing, [no not real horses], deck games, fancy dress and the like. As this was on the same run every 7 weeks, we saw some of the passengers more than once, and were on first name terms. The Argentina was a whole new ball game Under Captain Pearce, and that was it, just the cricket match nothing else, still only 1 trip. Regards Harry

Harry I was a steward on the Brasil Star 1957-61
I could have been your cabin steward at the time, on several trips I was Captain Vernons Steward. David.

[harry pennington]

Tingira, David, I saw your picture on the Blue Star list of ships under Brasil Star, the pictures which you must of supplied. I don't think you were my cabin steward, but it is a long time ago. The 18 months or so on that ship were one of the best times i had at sea, with great people/ crew. We got to know some of the passengers rather well. In fact the 2nd mate John Noyon got to know one young lady very well and I went to their wedding in southampton. She was Feona [ can't remember her other name ]. Their family were big in brazil, San paulo. They travelled to the UK and back twice a year always on Brasil Star. Good times. Cheers, Harry

[funnelstays]

Originally Posted by Kerrysue

Thanks for the pictures. Brilliant Star allegedly towed the Great Eastern from Dublin to Liverpool - that's all I
know about her and her captain was Isaac Walton.

For all you anglers.
I think that we could start a different thread.
I have sailed with shipmates with following famous names.
William (Bill) Shakespeare, Deck Cadet.Bob Hope, Lecky,
John Brown, Donkeyman,Bobby Charlton,Motorman,Jimmy Johnstone,Oldman.Dick Tracy,Cook.

[Boseley]

Originally Posted by Offshore Engineer

Brings back a few memories to say the least, I sailed on the Argentina Star from 1965 to 1968 then went onto the South Africa Star and Brasil Star after the SAS was scrapped. would be interested to hear from any of the Engineers from those days. I left Blue Star line to follow the Offshore game (North Sea & others) sailed as Ch/Eng on drill ships. crane ships and many other offshore pieces of equipment, am still at it, any body else still out there and at it from those days?

JP Dick. Ch/Eng.Offshore Thailand

South Africa Star, the whole of 1963! Happy ship

Bob Sendall

[China hand]

Originally Posted by harry pennington

Pugwash48, I was R/O on Brasil Star from June 59 -Nov 60, 7 trips in all. Split by 1 trip on Argentina Star Nov 59 -Jan 60. They were like two totally different ships. With Captain Vernon on Brasil as officers we had cricket matches,horse racing, [no not real horses], deck games, fancy dress and the like. As this was on the same run every 7 weeks, we saw some of the passengers more than once, and were on first name terms. The Argentina was a whole new ball game Under Captain Pearce, and that was it, just the cricket match nothing else, still only 1 trip. Regards Harry

Vernon and Pearce were chalk and cheese, and the cheese was not so fresh.

[Bridie]

Believe the deck crowd signed for their ovies BEFORE the trip.

[Bill Sharpe]

I also did a couple of trips on the Brasil Star in 1968 - on the first of the two trips most of the deck crew got D.R.s ( the deckboy and I were the only two not to get one). Was you a mate on that voyage?

[DURANGO]

Originally Posted by Bridie

Believe the deck crowd signed for their ovies BEFORE the trip.

I dont remember which one of the B.A. fliers I was ment to join to many years have passed , but I went aboard and the mate told me it would be compulsery overtime even when alongside in South America so I made a swift about turn and joined the old Durango instead same run and plenty of time ashore I had been in two of Blue Stars previously the Wellington and the Tasmania .

[Bill Sharpe]

I also sailed on the Tassie Star 1968/1969. Best trip I ever had - great crew and wonderful times on the Aussie and Kiwi coast. Happy days.

[DURANGO]

Originally Posted by Bill Sharpe

I also sailed on the Tassie Star 1968/1969. Best trip I ever had - great crew and wonderful times on the Aussie and Kiwi coast. Happy days.

Happy days indeed I was a boy in the wellington 1958 deep sea to Kiwi the old man was captain Riley of operation pedastal I was jos in the Tasmania only went round the land as I wanted my sos rating and I knew that I could get it a couple of months earlier if I did a couple of home trades which was what happened one thing for sure they where a work up on deck , having said that no worse than the Blue funnel line ships that I was in best regards Dave .

[alan ward]

Originally Posted by harry pennington

Tingira, David, I saw your picture on the Blue Star list of ships under Brasil Star, the pictures which you must of supplied. I don't think you were my cabin steward, but it is a long time ago. The 18 months or so on that ship were one of the best times i had at sea, with great people/ crew. We got to know some of the passengers rather well. In fact the 2nd mate John Noyon got to know one young lady very well and I went to their wedding in southampton. She was Feona [ can't remember her other name ]. Their family were big in brazil, San paulo. They travelled to the UK and back twice a year always on Brasil Star. Good times. Cheers, Harry

Would this John Noyon come from Guernsey originally then Southampton?If so i sailed with on the Orchidea and he is one of my most unforgettable characters,I have many happy memories of him.

[harry pennington]

Hi Alan, Yes it would be the very same John Noyon. Had he made 1st mate by the time you knew him or even a greater position. He was one of those men who stood out and very good at his job. I wonder what or where John is now. He was a year older that me and i am 75 now. [ oh dear time does fly ]. regards Harry

[alan ward]

Originally Posted by harry pennington

Hi Alan, Yes it would be the very same John Noyon. Had he made 1st mate by the time you knew him or even a greater position. He was one of those men who stood out and very good at his job. I wonder what or where John is now. He was a year older that me and i am 75 now. [ oh dear time does fly ]. regards Harry

John Noyon joined the Orchidea as Master in Long Beach sometime in summer 1974.It`s no good looking in my book as I stayed on her through choice for over 8 months and served under 3 masters during that time.Out of the 3 only one stands out as an unusual man and that would he Captain Noyon,a very strong personality,consummate seaman,gentleman and a great shipmate.We were primarily on a fruit shuttle run,citrus from USA to Japan,cars back to USA and as the seasons changed bananas from Central America to USA again,then it all got very odd.Rice from Sacramento to Papua New Guinea.Bananas from Davao to Japan,for some reason we wound up in Mombasa.My wife and I went for a day out and returned to watch our ship sailing our of the harbour with no agent around to explain what was going on.I knew the ship was heading back to the Philipines and the prospect of paying my wifes fare out there was unthinkable.Luckily she had only been moved off her berth and came back some hours later.

Back to John Noyon,unusually for an OM he spent a lot of time in a boiler suit working on deck.One day a thunderous noise and strong vibration ran through the accomodation block,I ran out of my office for`d to where the noise seemed to come from and found a shaken 2nd.Mate looking at the end of a derrick that had come through his port.We stood there staring at this object when John appeared shocked but very relieved that no-one was hurt they`d ben topping derricks when one came adrift.
On another occasion,a couple came on board the ship asking for the Captain,I took then up to John whereupon they invited him out for dinner when he returned to ship the following morning he told me in no uncertain terms that if ever he was placed in that situation again I was to stop him,what on earth had happenend?
He paid off in Long Beach after 6 months and,as my missus was fed up with seafaring,she went home as well.He made sure she was looked after and escorted her right to her Liverpool flight from Heathrow not allowing her to pay for anything.I followed on from Guayaquil a few weeks later.
Years later I bumped into him in Southampton,accompanied by a good looking woman in sunglasses on a winters day!she didn`t look too happy with him I assumed this was Fiona.Last I heard,and this was back in the late 70`she was Fleet Superintendent for some outit out in the Lebanon before the s**t hit the fan out there.As you said earlier I was 25 then and 63 now,it was a long time ago;but I remember John Noyon with respect and affection,a proper bloke.

[harry pennington]

Alan, Thanks for an update on John, glad to hear he was still the same old John. I hope he is still around and well. Harry

[Pat McCardle]

Googled John Noyon & found this post from twogrumpy, here on SN.

Captain John Noyon, ex Blue Star, Salen Line and Arabian Bunkering Ltd. Crossed the Bar for the last time 11 May 2008.

Obituary in Daily Telegraph May 19th.

[harry pennington]

Originally Posted by Pat McCardle

Googled John Noyon & found this post from twogrumpy, here on SN.

Captain John Noyon, ex Blue Star, Salen Line and Arabian Bunkering Ltd. Crossed the Bar for the last time 11 May 2008.

Obituary in Daily Telegraph May 19th.

Sorry to hear that John has left us. God bless Fiona and the family.

[alan ward]

Me too Harry,during the course of your life you get to meet many people.Few stay fresh in your mind and John was one of mine,Goodnight Captain Noyon.