Hello, Graham and Roger, You have probably seen mycomments from time to time most recently the sad sight of the Sansu and the Sangara at preston awaiting demolition. Two regrets of my ED service, from 1950/60 was that l/My camara gave good results but nothing like the almost effortless results of today. I had a 35mm and one would end up with many photo's but the subject would be a dot on the horizon and 2/ Not a single momento of the ships I sailed on. It was not easy to filch the ships bell or the shipyard plate. All the smaller items were carefully put away in the office for the next voyage.
We have our memories however and several still make me shudder. On the Queens Coronation I was Supernumery on the mv Martagon, Kaye & Son. We were at sea and dress with bunting. The Sparks and I climbed the foremas and took photo's looking down on the ship. I spent my 21st birthday on the Zini and caught a States run. The party was held next to my cabin in a rest room. I seem to remember somebody reciting many verses, with chorus, of Eskino Nell. I also seem to rember an engineer trying to lift himslf of the deck with his feet in two buckets -could it have been Charlie Duggan?.
In 1956 I got married and transferred to the Coast Staff. I spent most of my two tours as Ferry Manager in Calabar, Eket, Oron and the dinky Itu. Calabar was a good station and we enjoyed life there. I finished as export Manager in Apapa. This was similar to Purser duties in that I signed all the Bills of Lading for goods shipped out by Elders. All this came to an end with Mascmillans wind of change speech. I didone more trip on the Owerri, to keep away from National Service which was still going in 1960 Peter Boggan was the full Purser and we had a fairly un eventful trip apart from, Brian had met up with a local (we where in Naples or Genoa) who offered him a good rate for sterling. We went ashore, did the deal, and went to the nearest bar to have a beer. Brian paid with the lira. The barman took one look and roared with laughter. Were do you get the Mussolini money. We slunk out, Not life threatening fortunately.
Some years after I came ashore I heard of the EPC which met at a Night Club in ***berland Street, near Exchange station in Liverpool. All the old faces where there and very many happy gatherings were there over the years. Freddy Griffiths took over the newsletter and like all good things the EPC folded, like so many clubs and societies. Dwindling numbers and inability to do the admin etc.
I did attend a few of the E of E gatherings, although by this time I was living out of Merseyside and ultimately in Dorset. The lunches were good get togethers
and I met up again the Alan Dean, the model maker, and Jim Cowden, both of whom I sailed with. Arthur Day also springs to mind. I said hello to Derek but I didn't know him well. I did appreciate the work he put in though.
Apart from the pages of SN I am only in touch with one ex Purser, Ben Armishaw. We have kept in touch since 1956. Now by phone every couple of weeks - mainly to see who is the last man standing. (He is 88 and I am 85)
I hope this stirs the ED waters, I will look though my photo's and perhaps list a few more names to help. Cheers Bob Appleton
