[kevjacko]

I was regalling a story to some mates yesterday about when I was on the Security. Old Man at the time was Captain Buchanan, I'm pretty sure he was from the Isles somewhere. Then I started thinking I had seen a thread on here somewhere possibly about him. Was I correct? Haven't got time to search them all?

[DAVELECKIE]

Originally Posted by kevjacko

I was regalling a story to some mates yesterday about when I was on the Security. Old Man at the time was Captain Buchanan, I'm pretty sure he was from the Isles somewhere. Then I started thinking I had seen a thread on here somewhere possibly about him. Was I correct? Haven't got time to search them all?

Malcolm Buchanan? Quietly spoken, a real gent with a great sense of humour. Sailed with him as a mate and old man, memory does not compute what ships [ity/river boats perhaps a vlcc Pioneer].
He was definitely from somewhere in the Western isles.

[kevjacko]

Originally Posted by DAVELECKIE

Malcolm Buchanan? Quietly spoken, a real gent with a great sense of humour. Sailed with him as a mate and old man, memory does not compute what ships [ity/river boats perhaps a vlcc Pioneer].
He was definitely from somewhere in the Western isles.

Yes that's him Dave. It was my last trip with BP in the eighties. I paid off when they sold her.

[DAVELECKIE]

Searching the old memory banks I have a feeling I bumped into Malcolm either in Dyce offices or offshore in the Forties in the late eighties early nineties. He could well have been doing a marine superintendent roll at the time.
Others on here may well be able to provide a bit more info.

[King Ratt]

I was in British Forth May 1982 until Nov 82. The Master was Captain J Buchanan. I think he was from the Western Isles. A pleasant and a quiet man he was. Is this the same man Kevjacko is enquiring after?

[Graham Wallace]

Originally Posted by King Ratt

I was in British Forth May 1982 until Nov 82. The Master was Captain J Buchanan. I think he was from the Western Isles. A pleasant and a quiet man he was. Is this the same man Kevjacko is enquiring after?

He was JA Buchanan!

The person mentioned in previously postings I presume was MJ Buchanan who was a 1961(?) BP Navigating Apprentice on the Officer in November 1961. However to completely screw it up the 2M on the Officer at the same time was an M Buchanan

I hope that helps

Graham

[Gordon L Smeaton]

Believe Malcolm and Jim were either brothers or cousins and hailed from Stornoway, Malcolm did indeed end up working out of Dyce, he did a short spell as Capt on the Iolair, was responsible for Marine matters. After leaving BP he worked at RGI Aberdeen teaching rig stability for a few years, but I guess he will be well retired by now.

[King Ratt]

Originally Posted by Graham Wallace

He was JA Buchanan!

The person mentioned in previously postings I presume was MJ Buchanan who was a 1961(?) BP Navigating Apprentice on the Officer in November 1961. However to completely screw it up the 2M on the Officer at the same time was an M Buchanan

I hope that helps

Graham

Thank you, Graham. JA were his initials. A nice fellow who made me very welcome on his ship as an RFA sparks supposedly onboard to help out with MoD speak. The BP boys were a fine lot who also made me welcome along with a lot of piss taking regarding me wearing a cummerbund ! Good days.

Regards

KR

[Satanic Mechanic]

John Buchanan , I'm sure it was his brother that was also a master.

Good captain,He was from Uig on the west coast of Lewis but claimed not to be a wee free, but no one believed him

[brummiechris]

Originally Posted by King Ratt

I was in British Forth May 1982 until Nov 82. The Master was Captain J Buchanan. I think he was from the Western Isles. A pleasant and a quiet man he was. Is this the same man Kevjacko is enquiring after?

I was on the Forth as 2/O then. If I remember correctly there was an RFA C/O on board as well. Nautical Ned? Smashing fellow.

I left off Dover to go to college for my Masters. John Dixon relieved me.

[King Ratt]

Originally Posted by brummiechris

I was on the Forth as 2/O then. If I remember correctly there was an RFA C/O on board as well. Nautical Ned? Smashing fellow.

I left off Dover to go to college for my Masters. John Dixon relieved me.

Hello Brummiechris. You are correct. The RFA C/O was Ned Newton, Aka Knackered Ned. A fine fellow who very sadly crossed the bar about a month ago. Were you there when the lifeboat got stuck ashore in San Carlos Bay when the weather blew up? Seem to recall a helicopter bringing revellers back to Forth.

Regards from Rab Thomson

[kevjacko]

Originally Posted by Satanic Mechanic

John Buchanan , I'm sure it was his brother that was also a master.

Good captain,He was from Uig on the west coast of Lewis but claimed not to be a wee free, but no one believed him

C'mon then Satanic, what's a Wee free?

[pitcrew]

Originally Posted by kevjacko

C'mon then Satanic, what's a Wee free?

A wee free is a member of the free Church of Scotland as opposed to the Church of Scotland which is the mainstream Protestant church north of the border
They are seen as strict and unbending in their outlook and are quite numerous in the Highlands and Islands.
Sunday as a day of rest seems to be very important to them and they tend to oppose things like ferry services on the sabbath and appear to be puritanical in the extreme when it comes to what are acceptable pastimes and entertainment.
The name wee free is a derogatory term.
One of the jokes about them is that they're against sex standing up, in case it leads to dancing.

[brummiechris]

Originally Posted by King Ratt

Hello Brummiechris. You are correct. The RFA C/O was Ned Newton, Aka Knackered Ned. A fine fellow who very sadly crossed the bar about a month ago. Were you there when the lifeboat got stuck ashore in San Carlos Bay when the weather blew up? Seem to recall a helicopter bringing revellers back to Forth.

Regards from Rab Thomson

Hi Rab,
I left as the Forth was on it's way down south. Previously been to Ascension, who can forget Wideawake, Wideawake! Missed the lifeboat incident though.

I certainly remember the cummerbunds, and the hilarity they provoked. In Ned's case we thought it must be a corset. Sorry to hear he's gone, a great character and shipmate. I seem to remember his wife visiting for a few days, Portsmouth or Portland, one or the other, they made a good couple. Ned used to refer to turning in as getting into the lee of bum island.

[Ajohnson]

Sorry for the late reply but I have not been on the site for a while.

The last time I saw Malcolm was in 1991 or 92 when I was a BP vetting inspector, he was a mooring Master at Sullom Voe along with another Master (from Hull) whose name escapes me at the moment.

[linesrg]

Malcolm became an OIM in Forties, did a brief stint on the Iolair or Seillean (can't recall precisely now) and was one of the original OIM's on the Schiehallion.

After retiring he was part time lecturing doing the Semi-sub courses at Aberdeen College and also OIM assessments.

I liked him a lot, nice guy.

Regards

Richard