[BUGGINS]

February 2012, reported sold at Greenock and en route to the Mersey for refit prior to service in West Africa.

[Slowone]

Good luck to those that work on her in the future, I remember when she arrived nice and new in Rosyth back in the 80's

[Waighty]

Originally Posted by Slowone

Good luck to those that work on her in the future, I remember when she arrived nice and new in Rosyth back in the 80's

Likewise Mark. I remember Barry Kinch getting very excited by the prospect of taking it over. Pity the arrival of the Tutts at Rosyth coincided with a reduction in the bigger grey ships a couple of years later! Great accommodation vessels when duty crew though.

Not sure if I'd like to make the delivery voyage to West Africa though!

[roofaerosyth]

she was skippered by john canpbell by the time i joined her.willie thornton skippered nimble at that time.

[Slowone]

Never liked the TUTT's at sea, they had a strange feel to them in a swell, sort of going up the swell sideways, screw round and go down the otherside swinging the other way. NEWTON was a great deal more comfortable.
Sailed with John Campbell, Willie Thornton amongst many of the skippers / pilots at Rosyth - Happy days

[roofaerosyth]

it was the noise of the engines that i didnt like.it took a bit of getting used to.i was lucky enough that i never went to sea in them.lol

[Waighty]

John Campbell was a wry humoured highly individual sort of guy who I got on with well. I seem to recall his legs gave him grief causing him to retire early. Willie Thornton was always in a hurry particularly if it was anywhere near 1600!

[roofaerosyth]

as you say mike , he was definately individual.i got on great with john after i got used to his ways and mannerisms.really nice guy.derek welbon(stoker or mech?) was aboard at the same time as me.you might remember him as he was always telling really bad jokes that only he laughed at.i met him in tescos in rosyth last night.hes still telling bad jokes.and he still laughs at them too.lol.

[senior pilot]

nice to see some names from the past willie and derek

[Waighty]

Originally Posted by roofaerosyth

as you say mike , he was definately individual.i got on great with john after i got used to his ways and mannerisms.really nice guy.derek welbon(stoker or mech?) was aboard at the same time as me.you might remember him as he was always telling really bad jokes that only he laughed at.i met him in tescos in rosyth last night.hes still telling bad jokes.and he still laughs at them too.lol.

Oh yes I remember Derek Welbon well. Also "splitpin" but can't remember his real name. Dougie Harper from Sal days. Loads of faces but the old grey matter can't put names to them. Roy Beveridge, the demon HLD driver, was always a happy bloke and good for the crack. One time I remember coming alongside the FFP on Cairn and managed it with only one engine movement asten before stopping right on the mark - pure fluke mind you - never happened again but Roy was duty with me that night and he jumped on to the FFP and shouted at anyone who would listen that that was how a dog class should be handled! I was dead embarrassed as it was just luck really. I believe he's crossed the bar?

[roofaerosyth]

he did mike.roy went roundabout the same time as willie pratt .closely followed by seymour lauchlan.i seen wee dunc gillanders(salmaster) about a year ago.i also seen norman stubbs 2 or 3 years back.dougie harper lives 100 yards from vince in inverkeithing.i believe his son greg is still in the job.as is alex laird jr.and colin erskine (son of bob erskine).p.s. i still see roys son eric a lot in rosyth.

[senior pilot]

more names from the past i attended roys service it was a celebration of his life.

[Compass Rose]

SD DEXTEROUS is currently being repainted (white housing) whilst alongside at Vittoria dock, Birkenhead. I have also heard a whisper that she will soon change her name to AGILITY. But this is unconfirmed.

[roofaerosyth]

think ive been at that dock during a refit on salmaster.(you might be able to confirm that mark).is it just my brain playing up , or did the pas/rmas have a vessel called agillity many moons ago.or was it agile ? someone on here will know.

[zero]

Agile was a tug of the "Confiance" class.

[roofaerosyth]

thanks zero.

[senior pilot]

has been renamed Agility in Birkenhead

[senior pilot]

AGILITY.
New Owner: Monty Jones.
Port of Registry: London. British Flag.
Presently being painted in her new colours, overhauling machinery and having air-conditioning fitted.
Expected to depart Birkenhead for Africa in some four to five weeks time.

[Compass Rose]

AGILITY, taken today in Vittoria dock, Birkenhead

[Bob S]

I saw her there the other day but couldn't find a photographic vantage point, is there public access to get a photo like this?

[Compass Rose]

Hi Robert, yes to take that photo you have to be on Tower Road and shoot with a long lens up into Vittoria Dock.

Park by the traffic lights (Tower Rd/Tower Wharf) and walk towards the roundabout looking through into Vittoria Dock until you have a clear shot of her.

[Bob S]

Originally Posted by Compass Rose

Hi Robert, yes to take that photo you have to be on Tower Road and shoot with a long lens up into Vittoria Dock.

Park by the traffic lights (Tower Rd/Tower Wharf) and walk towards the roundabout looking through into Vittoria Dock until you have a clear shot of her.

Cheers for that, hopefully I will be able to get a shot before she goes.

Bob

[nodes]

Besides the noise I hated the vibration of the TUT's at sea. But then they are paddlers at the end of the day.

[marka108]

hi guys, im new on here and found you whilst looking for info on my step dad who worked on the tugs in rosyth, he was gordon allan or "big G" to anyone who knew him. im sure he was chief steward on the dexterous,

i hope someone remembers him and maybe theres someone out there with some pictures kicking around,

cheers guys.

[john ferrary]

my old man used work on capable in gib and was one that did a trip to rescue hms tireless off sardinia, had a few storms on the way back to gib but says not a very good tug in high seas