Yes, I remember her well, regular runner Chile/Japan, and Denholm's first ore/oiler, though the oil part was only used once I believe.Nobody remember the Morven?? what a Sh## Heap sailed as leckie on B articles made more money in O/T than wages. Capt McDonald, Ch Eng'rs Semple,& Fleck who I think came to a sad end, anybody know the story?
Kenny Grier Jnr Eng think he became Eng Super, not one of the happiest years of my life after the RN.
Vic S.
old man angus john macdonald from isle of mcgee eric baily from manchester told me the exact same story he was with you on that flight regards kev.Hi Mac,
this epistle could be a cathartic experience for me I still wake up sweating to the sounds of B&Ws grinding to a halt, literally grinding (sal****er contamination of the lub oil) bucketting white metal out the crankcase bottom.However enough of my problems. As far as I can remember
the old man was A.J. Macdonald, nice guy, but I was never on first name terms. Fingers Fleck got his Yamaha Organ as a "presento" from Mitsobishie Yard (excuse spelling) Yokohama for clearing Japans national dept single handed...Mate was JD Farley, 2/O Bert Frater(wound up as harbourmaster Stornoway) 3/0 Lenny Bell, other engineers were 2/eng RA Steven(Orcadian very kind to a poor lost ex RN Leckie) 3/eng Jimmy Gannon(Clydebank, previously on Morar & was still shaking) 3/eng R Hanlan 4/eng JR Clark Jnr/engs K Greer (cream of the crop) J Morrison (Ginge ex NB Loco) & W McDonald. I have to admit to an aid memoir of my last surviving copy of Denholm News.
As far as I can remember she was built by Cantiarra Navalie Triest who went bust before completion, lots of bits and pieces still lying about still to be fitted. ( owner Ollafson ??The trip started badly flying out to SA From Renfrew by the dreaded
Martin air charter (Dutch?) loosing an engine going over the Sahara forced landing in the Belgian Congo (where the "crowd" started throwing stale cheese rolls at the Belgian Special Forces) new engine flown up from SA and so we limped down to Jo'burg where for 3 or 4 days they tried to get the plane airbourne with us all in it! It got so bad that every time we were called to board Pathy News camera crews were on the airport balcony awaiting the imminant disaster. Eventually sense prevailed and the powers that be sent us down to PE to join the ship by Springbok airlines. Subsequently heard the Italian crew, that we releaved, mutinied about there return trip with Martins!! Enough stress for now Vic S..
yes he was young in those days just like you and i but not anymore and yes there was a few barrachs on there was the boson not from there gillies regards kev.Eric Bailey was he a young seaman in 64 I kind of remember him. Most of the sailors were from Greenock and Barrachs the black gang were all Arabs from
Tiger Bay ?? Sarang was a Somallie of whom they were all sh*t scared.
Regards Vic...
could have been i know old sati gillies was bosun on her for a long time regards kev.thought the bosun was Mcneil with his cousin as deputy vic.