[John Cassels]

Here's a blast from the past for us old Denholm guys.

Sailed with all of them except A.J.

Anyone remember "Black Duncan "?.

[Orcadian]

I remember Black Duncan I sailed with him on my first trip to sea on the Stirling Bridge way back in 1973. I could never understand why he always wore long sleeved shirts until I saw the tattoos on his arms one day. He always took sights with an old micrometer sextant. As far as I know her retired a couple of trips later. I found him strict but fair.

[Erimus]

Orcadian......who was the fellow Orcadian, little fellow, who had the Gleddoch and perhaps Wellpark as well during the 60's??.............once managed to get him one of your local newspapers sent out when he was waiting in Tees Bay and was well chuffed..

geoff

[randcmackenzie]

Alfie Cromarty.

And when on MacDonald's don't forget Black Mac - wasn't he MacDonald too.

Last heard of on the big Burmah boats.

[randcmackenzie]

Hector was Hector Walter, not the Walker shown in the magazine.

I only ever sailed with Hector (Glenpark, Mountpark) and Norman Angus (various Seatrain.)

[Erimus]

Originally Posted by randcmackenzie

Alfie Cromarty.

And when on MacDonald's don't forget Black Mac - wasn't he MacDonald too.

Last heard of on the big Burmah boats.

Thanks for Captain Cromarty...........very dry humour but we got on well after the newspaper incident...is the paper called The Orcadian too??

geoff

[randcmackenzie]

Hello Erimus.

I'm afraid I can't tell you the name of the newspaper.

I believe Alfie was a Shetland? pony breeder of some renown.

B/R

[randcmackenzie]

Anybody know how many are still alive?

I know Norman Angus died a few years ago, and from this forum we recently learned of the passing of AJ.

The Thomas listed was I think actually T.D., who would be a very old man indeed today, Black Duncan and Dugald I knew little about.

Hector could still be alive though, was he not from the Costa Clyde somewhere?

B/R.

[Erimus]

Originally Posted by randcmackenzie

Hello Erimus.

I'm afraid I can't tell you the name of the newspaper.

I believe Alfie was a Shetland? pony breeder of some renown.

B/R

Thanks amigo............I know this is off thread but the same people, ex Denholm, will be reading it..........I do remember him having a heated debate about 'the office' with Capt.Warwick Furneaux (another of our regulars and favourites) and they were not being very complimentary............

geoff

[Orcadian]

The Alfie Cromarty was from Orkney and I believe his wife was involved in the breeding of horses possibly Shetland Ponies. The local paper is the Orcadian. Some of his descendants still breed horses on South Ronaldsay in Orkney. I believe that Capt Cromarty only had one eye but I never knew the man only heard of him. He passed away about 73/74 as far as I know.

[John Cassels]

Was Hector not from the Paisley area ?. Sailed with him on the Trollpark
until he was relieved by Bill Tawse.
Sailed with Norman Angus many times.

Did Capt.Cant also only have one eye ?.

There were quite a few "regular "ore carrier masters that Erimus would
recognise.

[Tom S]

Originally Posted by John Cassels

Was Hector not from the Paisley area ?. Sailed with him on the Trollpark
until he was relieved by Bill Tawse.
Sailed with Norman Angus many times.

Did Capt.Cant also only have one eye ?.

There were quite a few "regular "ore carrier masters that Erimus would
recognise.

John
I think Hector stayed in Milngavie? I sailed with him as Mate on the Troll Park one of the things i do remember about him was the first thing he did when he went on leave was to go off in his caravan that was his hobby
Tom

[Erimus]

Originally Posted by John Cassels

Was Hector not from the Paisley area ?. Sailed with him on the Trollpark
until he was relieved by Bill Tawse.
Sailed with Norman Angus many times.

Did Capt.Cant also only have one eye ?.

There were quite a few "regular "ore carrier masters that Erimus would
recognise.

Indeed that is why I am so glad I found this site!
'My' Denholm Fleet was Dunadd,Dunkyle (named after Denis Kyle the BISCO MD),Duncraig (named after the Craigs of Colvilles), Sir Andrew Duncan (who served the 'National' government during the war and was heavily involved with the Iron & Steel Bill post-war..then returned to Iron & Steel Federation),
The small Port Talbot vessels in sevice at same time were...
Arisaig,Ormsary,Wellpark,Gleddoch,the infamous Morar, Naess Trader then the slightly larger Crinan & Craigallian......

Happy Days.......

geoff

[John Cassels]

Some names to remember;

Bert Buckley, W C Taylor,George MacIntosh,Ginger Lomax,Archie Allan,
to name just a few.

And yes tom , Do indeed remember Hector and his caravan.

[John Cassels]

Geoff , don't forget the Clarkavon and Clarkeden.

[Erimus]

Originally Posted by John Cassels

Geoff , don't forget the Clarkavon and Clarkeden.

I hadn't.....I've got 'em on my list John but for some reason in the 60's they didn't come under the same people in DSM.......perhaps still a Clarkson hangover???.dunno.........

rgds

geoff

[John Cassels]

Originally Posted by Erimus

I hadn't.....I've got 'em on my list John but for some reason in the 60's they didn't come under the same people in DSM.......perhaps still a Clarkson hangover???.dunno.........

rgds

geoff

Joined the Clarkeden 1st.trip 2nd.mate at Irlam July 1969. As a
lowly 2nd.mate would not have been to concerned which ship group
she came under.

Masters were Archie Allan followed by Ian Graham.

[Malky Glaister]

Famously a saying by himself " I am Captain Cant, that's spelt with an a"

Amusing.

I recall Cap Lomax being taken ashore from Dunadd on a stretcher 1969, at the General Terminus, Glasgow. I think Jim Rhodes took over.

I sailed on the Bibi with capt Allan, he had a nickname, granny. He was an old Old man at the time 1968.

Regards

Malky

[randcmackenzie]

Yes, that's correct, Alfie Cromarty only had one eye, hence the apochryphal tale:

He used to leave his glass eye on the chartroom table, and depart below with the immortal words ' I'll be keeping an eye on you'.

So far as I ever heard, all the other Denholm masters were possessed of both eyes.

Interesting to hear where the Dun boat names came from - I thought they were named after remote Scottish outposts of some kind.

Another couple of masters I sailed with were Jim Nicol (Crinan) and Terry Taylor (Dunadd).

In later life I was Master on Scandia Team when we brought a full cargo of coking coal from Port Kembla (New South Wales) to Port Talbot (Old South Wales), then Friendly Carrier with ore from Port Cartier to Port Talbot, and somewhat earlier, the famous MUIRFIELD from Saldanha Bay to the Tees.

The Port Talbot in question bore no resemblance to the historic Margam Wharf, by that time in total disrepair.

B/R.

[Erimus]

Originally Posted by randcmackenzie

Yes, that's correct, Alfie Cromarty only had one eye, hence the apochryphal tale:

He used to leave his glass eye on the chartroom table, and depart below with the immortal words ' I'll be keeping an eye on you'.

So far as I ever heard, all the other Denholm masters were possessed of both eyes.

Interesting to hear where the Dun boat names came from - I thought they were named after remote Scottish outposts of some kind.

Another couple of masters I sailed with were Jim Nicol (Crinan) and Terry Taylor (Dunadd).

In later life I was Master on Scandia Team when we brought a full cargo of coking coal from Port Kembla (New South Wales) to Port Talbot (Old South Wales), then Friendly Carrier with ore from Port Cartier to Port Talbot, and somewhat earlier, the famous MUIRFIELD from Saldanha Bay to the Tees.

The Port Talbot in question bore no resemblance to the historic Margam Wharf, by that time in total disrepair.

B/R.

I remember Terry Taylor...another friendly one was Capt. Kidd.....

When the Muirfield joined the fleet ( ex Tibetan I seem to remember), our Marine Super, Capt. Dan Cameron has something to do with the naming as it was supposed to be the same length as one of the holes on the Muirfield Course......So the great and the good arranged a grand Luncheon in London for the heirarchy from Muirfield and presentations were made....I think we had a painting done of the vessel....and we got a photo of the course in return!..........no invitations to play which was a great disappointment to Inverness born golfer Dan!

geoff

[NZSCOTTY]

hey John I here the violins playing for "Denholm Nostalgia"!!!!!!!!!!!!

[John Cassels]

Originally Posted by NZSCOTTY

hey John I here the violins playing for "Denholm Nostalgia"!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's age John , simply old age slowly creeping up on me.

[Malky Glaister]

Muirfield, no violins! March of the damned I would have thought.

Remember the anchor chain knot!

regards

Malky

[Erimus]

Originally Posted by Malky Glaister

Muirfield, no violins! March of the damned I would have thought.

Remember the anchor chain knot!

regards

Malky

No sitting on the fence for you then Malky!

rgds

geoff

[Varley]

Originally Posted by Malky Glaister

Muirfield, no violins! March of the damned I would have thought.

Remember the anchor chain knot!

regards

Malky

I was going to mention that. What about de-scaling the holds in DD - more economic to cut the bottom and let it fall out that use mucking winches (rather before my office time but Dick Swindall had it as a favourite topic).