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Captains of Colliers

52211 Views 104 Replies 59 Participants Last post by  soniadelaney
I worked in the agency department of Stephenson Clarke Shipping, mainly in the Blyth office during 1962-1965 and remember some of the names of the Masters of the vessels, mentioned in these pages, that were regular visitors to the port which I looked after.

Barford - Captain Witten
Captain J.M.Donaldson - Captain Topson / Captain Connacher
Chas H. Merz – Captain Wright?
Cliff Quay - Captain Moseley – Fleet Commodore?
Hackney - Captain McRae. Few 'flatirons' called at the port during my time and I knew Captain McRae as he lived in Seaton Sluice and it was handier for him to pick up monies from the Blyth office.
Lord Citrine - Captain Kellet
Oliver Bury - Captain Connacher / Captain Tudor
Pompey Light - Captain Tudor
Sir Archibald Page - Captain Johnstone
Sir Fon (hopper barge) - Captain Green
Sir John Snell - Captain Richmond
Sir William Walker - Captain Wilson
W.J.H.Wood - Captain Heatherington

Some of the Stephenson Clarke Masters I remember:

Amberley - Captain Black
Arundel - Captain Lawton
Borde - Captain Judge
Broadhurst - Captain Hannah
Findon - Captain Grewar
Heyshott - Captain Pryor
Pulborough -Captain Hansen
Storrington - Captain Pearson

Other vessels that were a regular visitor to Blyth and for whom SC acted as agents for were:

Ballyrory - Captain Ross; Ballyrush - Captain Adair; Firethorn – Captain Hegarty; Maythorn - Captain Lavery / Hegarty; Osborne Queen – Captain Steeley; Security – Captain Wadhams

Can anyone provide info on other Masters and their vessels?
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Stevie Clarkes

Try Lance Hislop, I think he will have the information.
Surtees of the "Beeding" Stark of the "Seaford" Grifiths of the "Petworth" circa early 50,s
Thanks and appreciated . Before my time but good to add to the history.
Stephenson Clarke - Tommy Bone, aka T Bone.

Think I sailed with Hansen on Storrington he was the "man in a suitcase" - did the relieving trip on Storrington and Pulborough (I think) - good bloke.

Duncansby Head was fairly regular in Blyth in the late '60s - Captain was James Grant, a martinet with a Napoleon complex.

John T.
If my memory serves me correctly I first came across him when he left one of the deep sea vessels, might have been the Methane Pioneer that was under management at that time? He joined Pulburough when she was completing building at Blyth. He may well have moved to Rogate when she was newly built too.
I worked in the agency department of Stephenson Clarke Shipping, mainly in the Blyth office during 1962-1965 and remember some of the names of the Masters of the vessels, mentioned in these pages, that were regular visitors to the port which I looked after.

Security – Captain Wadhams

Can anyone provide info on other Masters and their vessels?
There were three Capt Wadhams. Bert Senior and Bert Junior. Harold was Bert junior's younger briother.

Harold is dead and I believe both Berts are too.
Capt. Tommy Callander,"Gosport"
Capt.Bob Purvis,"Lady Charrington"
Harold was with the Security in my time. A Norfolk man. I think that he went on leave and whilst ashore the vessel sank whilst it was anchored in thick fog in River Elbe in 1964. She was raised and broken up in Hamburg.
Remember Callander now but never looked after Lady Charrington. There was also Captain Cooke and I think that he was on the Greathope?
I sailed as 2/mate with Harold Wadhams on the Superiority, Joe Gowan was mate, two good coastal shipmasters of the past, great characters and shipmates.
Bruce.
Captain Donald Mac Kinnon : M.V. Beeding (1981 - 1983)
Captain John Mac Leod - various 1980s thro 1990s (I think)
I worked as 2nd mate on two CEA vessels managed by Stephenson Clarke, the "Dame Caroline Haslett" (Capt. Richmond from Barry) and "Sir John Snell" (Capt. Heatherington, a Geordie) both great ships and great captains.
Glan(K)
If it is the same Captain Richmond (Bill?) he transferred to the Dame Caroline Haslett when she was used for cable laying. Only knew him when he was on the Sir John Snell. Not sure where he was from. Likewise with Captain Heatherington only knew him when he was on the W.J.H.Wood. The mate of the W.J.H.Wood at that time was called Featherstone. He did relief on other vessels as Master from time to time.
Remember Callander now but never looked after Lady Charrington. There was also Captain Cooke and I think that he was on the Greathope?
Robert Cook was captain of "Greathope" in 1956
Cory Colliers. "Corfleet" regular caller at Blyth, in 1955/56 her Master was, A.G. Waller.
Corburn Captain Waller Captain Granger(Two brothers both Masters with Cory)
Capt'n Eoll off the "Polden", went ashore to be a Seaham Harbour pilot, which reminds me. Capt'n Stark of the "Seaford" was heard to remark to the Seaham Harbour pilot after a "hairy' entrance in a bit of a blow,"I don't know why they waste money going to the south pacific to test the atomic bombs, when there are places like this around"
Cory's Corbeach in the 60's: Captain Griffin, (a relieving master was a Captain Sharpe from South Shields). Happy Christmas to all.
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