[Dick S]

Hi all,
served my time as Deck cadet with Bibbys from 66 to 71. My last trip was on the Rangoon run when Captain Sheldrake died and we buried him at sea, his wife was sailing with him at he time. I seemed to spend most of my time on the Rangoon run so I left to go 'on the Pool' for a more exciting time - and I got it!(Bill Fooley - christened me senior Rangoon Cadet and it stuck!!)
Ships included Glouscestershre. Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, Warwickshre and Lancashire.

Dick

[storybooks]

Originally Posted by sparksatsea

Sailed with Bibby Line from 1975 until 1985 as Radio Officer on the following
vessels:

Ocean Bridge / Dart America / Berkshire / Lancashire [cargo] / Lincolnshire
Hampshire / Devonshire / Staffordshire / and lastly the good old Wiltshire.

Really enjoyed my time at sea, pity one cannot turn the clock back.

Hi Geoff
Were you in the Wiltshire any time between Feb and July 1977 or the Lincolnshire Oct 1977 - Feb 1978?
Cheers. John

[R58484956]

Greetings John (sb) to the site of SN. Enjoy what you see. Bon voyage.

[Roger Bentley]

Originally Posted by trotterdotpom

Does anyone remember a Bibby Line Purser called Leather (lived in Childwall, Liverpool)?

John T.

Not sure what date or period you mean, but I seem to recall that the chief steward not purser on the old Lancashire was called Leather. Period 1950-52.
Regards, Roger Bentley

[wa002f0328]

Can any of you Bibby lads remember Capt Albert Young? Devonshire, during the last war, he was one of the top men in the company.

[Dick S]

I sailed with Captain Albert Edward Young in the late 1960s he was master I was a gadget and he spoke to me 3 times if I remember and one was Switch those clusters off!!

It was on the Rangoon Run via the Cape as suez was closed and if I remember rightly he had his wife with him.
He was not very tall and used to carry box around to be able to see over the dodgers.

Dick

[trotterdotpom]

Originally Posted by Roger Bentley

Not sure what date or period you mean, but I seem to recall that the chief steward not purser on the old Lancashire was called Leather. Period 1950-52.
Regards, Roger Bentley

Thanks Roger. I didn't know him personally but knew his daughter. Although I never sailed with Bibby's, I still have happy memories of the company.

John T.

[Keith Adams]

Hi Guys! I sailed with Capt Young on the "Worcestershire" Dec 1959 to March 1960, it was my last trip with Bibby ... proud to have served. I originally joined them to boost my Navigation skills prior to sitting for First Mate and liked it enough to stay on ... all mates turned out for morning and evening star sights, in addition to the normal Noon deal ... aced my writtens! Does anyone remember we wrote the rough log on a slate with a slate pencil and perspiration droplets fell onto it and partly erased it so the 3RD Mate had a hell of a job to write the Fair Log. I bet the Admiralty Lawyers didn't like not
having a Rough Log to find fault with! Snowy

[Roger Bentley]

John, As I recall it Mr Leather did have a daughter! Regards, Roger

[trotterdotpom]

Originally Posted by Roger Bentley

John, As I recall it Mr Leather did have a daughter! Regards, Roger

Yes and very nice too. Thanks Roger.

John T.

[Roger Bentley]

Re Captain Young, when I was on the Cheshire in 1951 he was chief officer, this was a come down as previously he had sailed in command of the Warwickshire, but due to his lack of seniority he was back as chief officer for a while (he was not a happy bunny!). I think this was because Bibbys had sold the Oxfordshire in 1951. I met him again in Calcutta when I was with Brocklebanks he was then in command of the Yorkshire. This would have been in 1959. Cheers, Roger

[Keith Adams]

Thankyou Roger for the update on Capt. Young ... one of my Uncles (Ex-Para.Reg.) received his MBE for work done after after being demobbed from WWII... did you ever sail with Capt. R.D. Fitch who also was awarded a Gong, as you so aptly put it ? He practically made a career out of the new "Oxfordshire" ... one of the best Captains I ever sailed with. Snowy

[Roger Bentley]

Hi Snowy, Yes I do remember Captain Fitch, and entirely concur with the statements about him being a great chap. I did one trip with him on the old Lancashire in 1952 as 3rd R/O. We went to Singapore and back. She was a very happy ship. Regards, Roger

[Roger Bentley]

Originally Posted by Dick S

Hi all,
served my time as Deck cadet with Bibbys from 66 to 71. My last trip was on the Rangoon run when Captain Sheldrake died and we buried him at sea, his wife was sailing with him at he time. I seemed to spend most of my time on the Rangoon run so I left to go 'on the Pool' for a more exciting time - and I got it!(Bill Fooley - christened me senior Rangoon Cadet and it stuck!!)
Ships included Glouscestershre. Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, Warwickshre and Lancashire.

Dick

Dick,
Mention of Captain Sheldrake brings back a memory, he was chief officer for my last trip as 2nd R/O on the Derbyshire in 1953, like a lot of senior officers of the time he was quite old as promotion was slow. He had survived the sinking of the Yorkshire in 1939 and by coincidence another survivor of this event was also on the Derbyshire this was the great Frank Bardy who was chief radio officer. Frank was a wonderful man, having survived the First World War and experiencing Paschaendale in 1917. He also served on the Derbyshire when she was an AMC as well as a trooper afterwards. He really had a row of medal ribbons. Best wishes, Roger

[paisleymerchant]

I sailed on the Lincolnshire twice and also the Staffordshire if I remember rightly British ratings took the ships from the chinese ratings !
For a period of about 2 Years,
Then We were all made redundant and the ships were crewed by Philopeno ratings.
Strongly suspect that we were only there to bring the ships upto standard!
However I remember both ships with fond memories and we certainly had some good nights ashore.
If memory serves at one point we dry-docked in Lisbon for 2 Months ...enough said !!!....lol

[Dick S]

Roger,
Glad that my post brought back good memories. As regards Shelly I remeber just before we sailed an article about him was in the Liverpool Echo as the 'Golfing Captain' including a photograph.

My mother was a District Nurse in Cheshire and nursed Sir Harold Bibby in his latter years. Lady Bibby told her the story that Shelly was the only surviving Deck Officer and came up out of the Yorkshire and surfaced completely naked except for his uniform cap which he was gripping for dear life (drowning man and straws comes to mind.)

He was master for my first and last trip with Bibbys I remember as one of the 'old school'

Dick

[Roger Bentley]

Dick, Bibbys had a small history printed and in reference to the Yorkshire it mentions that 33 passengers and 25 crew were lost. I know there has been some more details in Sea Breezes and I will see if I can find them. I remember Frank Bardy telling me that as he made his way to the lifeboats he saw the chief officer still sitting in a trance and in a state of shock and unable to move. The memory had always stuck with him. He also said that they had seen the U-Boat on the surface during the day and more or less knew that someone was going to get it. Grim days, Regards. Roger

[R870708]

I joined MV Warwickshire 6th September 1968 in Hong Kong the under the command of Alan Hudson, as a deck cadet a pretty awsome experience!
Allan Melia was Sparks originally from the Chesire area I think.

Mr Toby at Water Street offices was the interviewer for original interview before I joined the Bibby that Patch over his face (old war wound?) gave me plenty to think about.

Took a run ashore for a few years but once the salt gets in the blood---I returned to work in the Offshore industry for a few years before heading for the ferries between Vancouver and the Island.

Have many pleasant memories of time at sea including chasing a badito who nicked Jock Mathesons (ENG) wifes hand bag in Callao SA. Got a telling off for being so bloody stupid!!! CSAV charter onboard Yorkshire memory is fading!!

Any other memories or contact would be welcome thro the forum.

Now for a stubby or two.

[muldonaich]

anyone ever sail with captain a hudson he was old man on cheshire when i was there kev.

[Dick S]

Hey R870708,
That was the trip I was there, Alan was R/0
and other things I can't remember! 3 cadets in all I joined in Japan before the others. Wasn't Clayton the mate? Or have I got it wrong!! Did a trip up the lakes if I remember rightly

Dick

[M29]

Hi Guys
This is Alan Melia. Yes we joined Warwickshire in Hongkong in a big rush but the ship had not turned up! Remember we had a great couple of days in the Merchant Navy Hotel, saw the sights etc.
"Rock" Hudson was the Master and Clayton the Mate. Without consulting old Bibby house mags can,t remember many of the others, anyone got a list?
I have cine film of that voyage, remember racing the model cars we bought in Japan?
Was 5th Eng Mark Blaxland?
Anyway, nice surprise hearing from old friends
Alan

[muldonaich]

Originally Posted by M29

Hi Guys
This is Alan Melia. Yes we joined Warwickshire in Hongkong in a big rush but the ship had not turned up! Remember we had a great couple of days in the Merchant Navy Hotel, saw the sights etc.
"Rock" Hudson was the Master and Clayton the Mate. Without consulting old Bibby house mags can,t remember many of the others, anyone got a list?
I have cine film of that voyage, remember racing the model cars we bought in Japan?
Was 5th Eng Mark Blaxland?
Anyway, nice surprise hearing from old friends
Alan

hi is that the same hudson iwas asking about the chief off was called redman.

[Dick S]

Alan,
So you are still around!!! I remember going ashore and buying replica guns with you, we must have been bloody mad! You I think bought an replica Automatic and I a Replica 38 Police special!!! Mine was confiscated at Manchester Airport on arrival home with a promise of no further action but it would be test fired never heard from 'em since and that was 40!!!! years ago - what happened to yours?!!! And to you?

Some good runs ashore if I remember rightly, up the Great Lakes especially, last I saw of you was when you were sparks on the Wiltshire(?) in Wiltons Holland,I was on a bulker as 3/0, early 70s, I think was Wiltshires maiden voyage and she had a problem. And yes I remember the model cars - mainly in the alley way outside your cabin, and the Bar

Dick

[M29]

Hi Dick
Yes you may have seen me in Holland. I think me and a few others came across to your ship for a visit and a few beers. (My Walther PPK 32 automatic is still in my socks draw!)
After Warwickshire I went round the fleet, Atlantic Bridge, Cheshire (new one)
Oxfordshire, Lincolnshire, English Bridge, a full year or so on Dart Atlantic and Dart America and funnily enough, last voyage back on Warwickshire together with my wife.
Yes got married and swallowed the pick. Came ashore in 1975 to Lecture in Marine Electronics at Brunel College Bristol. Am still here but there is no salt left in what we teach these days.
Any way, nice to remember those days, having a hell of a job recalling faces and names from that voyage, although "Rock" Hudson is firmly imprinted on the mind. Before joining you on Warwickshire I had just done 9 months on "Worcestershire" with "Rocky". Was the C/Eng Gresham? Seem to remember he liked to go around stealing things for a laugh. Up the great lakes we went on a German ship and Gresham disabled the engine, big stink afterwards, German Captain not very happy. Also, Gresham used to jump off the Boat deck sun awning into the swimming pool! He had to time the ships roll right to get max depth of water when he jumped in!
Any way, often think of the old days, nice to hear from you.
Alan

[M29]

Originally Posted by muldonaich

hi is that the same hudson iwas asking about the chief off was called redman.

Must be. There was only one Captain Alan Hudson during to late 60's/Early 70's. I did two voyages with him, Worcestershire and Warwickshire spanning 1968/1969. I understand from his stories that he was a Cadet in WWII so must have been due to retire in the mid 70's
Best Wishes
Alan Melia