[stan mayes]

Hi Spartan,
Many thanks for that.. I was sailing as mate in sailing barges from 1936 and one day I heard that the coaster Camroux I wanted a seaman and I got the job.
I was then told that I was relieving a seaman who wanted a few weeks off.
I remember it was in summer but not sure in which year but recalled seeing
a lot of furniture being taken off Arlanza so it must have been soon after she
was berthed there..Thankyou again.
Stan

[Chris Wakefield]

some pics from local sources of some ships on their way to being broken up at Hughes Bolcklow in Blyth

[hhodgetts]

'Arlanza' was broken up at Bolckows in 1938.

P

[brownboots]

HI joe could you send me your e,mail add. Mine is [email protected]

[scruff]

Hi, I am ex C&W and was wondering which C&W ship was broken at Bolckows in North Blyth? (70's I think)
cheers
P

[spartan]

Hi scruff, that was the Sentinel (ex Monarch) arrived 25.10.77
spartan

[scruff]

Just before I joined them, I knew quite a few who sailed on her though. Thanks for the answer Spartan

[kenn1475]

I remember the ships or algerine class minesweepers wave @welcome @Falmouth castle being towed up to clayton @daives breakers underthe bridges on the south side of the river whilst I was serving my time working on hms lion in the 60s ive got all the books never to sail again @lots of ship books on all classes of warships

[kenn1475]

Originally Posted by 77vonspee77

have the complete list from 1960 till the yard closed in 1980 she is not on the list anytime near 1979 ......

hmsmatapan arrived @ blyth on11th august 1979 @was broken up in no 3 drydock gotto sail no more its in part 4 regards ken

[kenn1475]

hms puma was broken up @blyth in 1977

[kenn1475]

I remember seeing hms Glasgow town class cruiser being broken up in blyth @ hms euraylis belona class anti aircraft cruiser armed with 10 5.25 guns in 5 turrets a b q x @y high angle turrets nice looking ships

[chadburn]

A number of Algerines which were scrapped on the Tyne were towed up from the Reserve Fleet at Hartlepool.

[StevenLockhart]

Hi Folks - thanks for letting me join. With a lifelong interest in all things mechanical, I was delighted to move to Blyth at the end of the 70's and be able to walk down to the river and watch all the ships coming and going, the power station, and the pit. I've also have a 'thing' for shipwrecks, and the NE coast doesn't disappoint there either. As you get older, notions of the past get stronger, and I want to learn more. A picture popped up on facebook local history page which has me obsessed and fascinated - https://scontent.fman1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...da&oe=5B61850B I cropped it slightly, but was definitely beached at Blyth. From the state of her, I reckon she was undertow to HB to be broken up, but the tow was lost and she beached here. Does anyone have more information as to the identity of this vessel or what happened before and after the picture was taken?

[pityacka]

StevenLockhart, Just been notified of your query. I have had a look at the photo of the beached ship. In 1947 there was a ship being towed to Blyth which went aground at South Beach. Check out www.rootschat.com then look for the Northumberland page; then search for ' Blyth History', which runs to many pages. I am sure in Blyth History I mentioned this about the ship running aground, and then someone posted a photo of the 1947 mishap. (My grandmother had taken me to South Beach at that time to see it, and the photo posted looked like the one I saw as a boy.
Shipwrecks - Also have a look at the following site - www.wrecksite.eu and you will find much interesting and valuable information about wrecks round the UK, and also Europe.
Good hunting.

[spartan]

Stephen photo is possibly Bendoran which was scuttled as a blockship in Normandy in June 1944.She arrived at Bolkows direct from Normandy May 19th 1947.Must admit that have not seen this photo before and no record in the book Battleship Wharf published in 1961.However looking at a photo of her in a previous guise as Cambrian Peeress there are similarities.
Spartan

[StevenLockhart]

Hi Pityacka & Spartan - many thanks for both replies. I'm flogging through the timelines of Bendorran's career and certainly looks promising. I'll report back anything new I dig up. The plot thickens as they say!

[Andyuk123]

Hi Joe. Your name came up in a Google search in relation to shipbreakers at Blyth. I am in the final stages of writing a book on the armoured cruiser Duke of Edinburgh and am trying to source information on her sale and breaking up in Blyth. Do you have any information on this time in her life?
Fingers crossed.Andy.

[Frank P]

Originally Posted by Andyuk123

Hi Joe. Your name came up in a Google search in relation to shipbreakers at Blyth. I am in the final stages of writing a book on the armoured cruiser Duke of Edinburgh and am trying to source information on her sale and breaking up in Blyth. Do you have any information on this time in her life?
Fingers crossed.Andy.

Hello Andy,

According to his file Joe sadly 'crossed the bar' (passed away) on 21st of April 2010

[Andyuk123]

That's a shame. Thanks for telling me.

[pramsec]

Joe RRooney & Peter Dryden
Hi, Joe & Peter,
I'm trying to compile a history of the Sea Scout troop I was in at Newcastle, We also has use of the "ice house" in Blyth. One yacht used by the troop was "Bonaventure" During [email protected] she was acquired by H.M.Govt and converted into a fire tender for use on the Tyne. After the was previous owners refused her dur to poor condition, but Lloyds Register had her entered from1948-1952 and owned by a T.W.Stoke and kept at Blyth. It occurs to me that she may have been bought by HB and used as a fire tender between the years given above. If you can confirm this it would be most helpful and appreciated.
Cheers, pramsec

[spartan]

Hi pramsec can find no record of vessel in the history of Bolkows
spartan

[George Bis]

The "Vanda" arrived at Hughes Bolckow for break-up in 1978 and when I parked an HGV outside the yards gates in 1986 she (or a vessel of that name and reg.) was still there.
Seems an awful long time to break up a ship.
Wonder if anyone has any info. Thanks

[spartan]

George
Bolkows closed in 1981 so not the same vessel.
spartan

[frank fish]

In about 1936 my father bought a teak wood deckhouse from Bolkows for use as a garden shed on his allotment He claimed it was a wheelhouse but from my memory it could have been a retrofit radio cabin as it had a maze of lead jacketed wire insidebut no room for a compass He got it home on a hay bogey pulled with a horse to East Sleekburn where we lived It is long gone now as the bye pass went over his garden It was well made double skin with drop down windows on 3 sides