Pendennis Castle
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Prior to her beging named "Sinbad I" she was named "Ocean Queen" but ended up being laid-up in Hong Kong. In 1977 the shipping company of Panama bought her and named her "Sinbad I". In 1980 she finally ended her days in Koahsiung Taiwan for scarpping.
The "Pendennis Castle" was a trully great and happy ship loved by all who sailed in her.
The "Pendennis Castle" was a trully great and happy ship loved by all who sailed in her.
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227 Posts
Did one round trip on her in april 73.Great deck crew on trip.Good ship to work on. Notice she is often called Sinbad 1 but in photos i have seen she is called Sindbad 1. the d is always left out in a lot of articles written about her. She may be gone but will never be forgotton.
Pendennis Castle was my first ship when I was 16. I joined her as a bell boy in December 1971 and did 8 round trips before I left in January 1973.
She was a great ship and I still have lots of good memories. Even now I am still collecting many photos and other memorabilia from those days.
She was a great ship and I still have lots of good memories. Even now I am still collecting many photos and other memorabilia from those days.
The Pendennis is another ship that brings back some memories for me. I remember going down and seeing an old mate of mine off on her maiden voyage in 1958. Little did I know then that in 1963 I would complete 5 trips on her as assistant pantryman. The 5th being my last trip to sea as crew.
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Why is it that some ships are remembered by all with such fondness. I sailed on her for many voyages as Extra and Senior Second Officer in the late 60s and early 70s.
She was always the most popular of the mail ships..... she had the old charm of ships like Edinburgh Castle, the comfort of the new like Windsor Castle but without the Windsor b***s***
She was always the most popular of the mail ships..... she had the old charm of ships like Edinburgh Castle, the comfort of the new like Windsor Castle but without the Windsor b***s***
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227 Posts
Chris where you on her in April 73 when i was on her? Dave
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The Pendennis, Edinburgh, Windsor, S.A.Oranje and Vaal (I think?) were my first ever ships. Sailed on all those before I'd even reached the age of 10. They were the days when it was cheaper to sail to South Africa than it was to fly. Still have a scar above my right eye from when I smashed my head open on one of them. I was only a kid then but still have fond memories - especially the fun on Crossing the Line day.
Incidently, my Uncle and Aunt both worked for Union Castle too. He was (I think, a Chippy) and my Aunt a nurse.
Incidently, my Uncle and Aunt both worked for Union Castle too. He was (I think, a Chippy) and my Aunt a nurse.
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1,172 Posts
Hi Chris ...
Were you on there with a 4th R/O called Dave Abbey ? Commonly known as 'Abbey the Nu' I believe ! He and I were at Norwood Tech together, and joined B&C at the same time - the end of 1970
(God - it seems a hell of a long time ago !)
Cheers
Andy
Were you on there with a 4th R/O called Dave Abbey ? Commonly known as 'Abbey the Nu' I believe ! He and I were at Norwood Tech together, and joined B&C at the same time - the end of 1970
(God - it seems a hell of a long time ago !)
Cheers
Andy
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Dave
I had left Pendennis by 1973 so seems like out times did not coincide
Andy
The name Dave Abbey rings a huge bell but it was a very long time ago and I have to admit that I would be more likely to remember the names of Purserettes, Nursing Sisters and Chilly Hos that 4R/Os.
Cheers
Chris
I had left Pendennis by 1973 so seems like out times did not coincide
Andy
The name Dave Abbey rings a huge bell but it was a very long time ago and I have to admit that I would be more likely to remember the names of Purserettes, Nursing Sisters and Chilly Hos that 4R/Os.
Cheers
Chris
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2,323 Posts
Not everyone liked PENDENNIS CASTLE. I sailed in her for a year & although I acknowledge that she was a fine looking ship & the ship's company were first class, I didn't find her particularly comfortable. The 1st class cabins, captain & chief engineer enjoyed air conditioning as well as the crew, but the officers & tourist passengers just had to boil & simmer in the tropics. To make matters worse, I had a bridge front cabin with the door opposite it & a long alleyway opposite the door. If I had window & door open, I had to put up with a 22 1/2 knot draught roaring through & often woke up soaked by tropical rain. There were also a lot of cockroaches crawling about in the accommodation, more than I have seen on any other ship. I served on WINDSOR CASTLE for five years and found her a much more comfortable ship and can honestly say that we all got on very well and I was not aware of any friction between departments although it seems to have become "legend" that she was not as happy as the rest. I spent a year in S.A. ORANJE as well & given the choice between here & PENDENNIS, it would be S.A. ORANJE any time. Also sailed in TRANSVAAL CASTLE, EDINBURGH CASTLE, RICHMOND CASTLE, GOOD HOPE CASTLE & REINA DEL MAR. My favourite was GOOD HOPE CASTLE, followed by WINDSOR CASTLE.
Bob
Bob
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63 Posts
Well spoken Bob. I found the Windsor a happy ship, and didn't we have fun on the Reina. Known as the fun ship of the the Lavender Line with good reason!!!!!
The other U.C. Bob
The other U.C. Bob
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Hi Bob,
yes, we did indeed. I should have mentioned REINA DEL MAR as another favourite - a very comfortable & well fitted out ship. There didn't seem much Bull at all on WINDSOR CASTLE - Captain Hort was very quiet & I can't remember him ever raising his voice to anyone. Followed by Captain Ronnie Wright, another good chap. The pair of them served their time in Hungry Hogarths "Barons".
When I joined, I had just come from S.A. VAAL where Bull was at an astonishing level. I dreaded boat drills where the captain seemd to take a delight in bawling me out all the time. It was nothing personal though, everyone from the Staff Commander (Mr. Lofts) downwards got the same treatment. The peace & friendliness of WINDSOR CASTLE came as a great relief.
Regards
Bob
yes, we did indeed. I should have mentioned REINA DEL MAR as another favourite - a very comfortable & well fitted out ship. There didn't seem much Bull at all on WINDSOR CASTLE - Captain Hort was very quiet & I can't remember him ever raising his voice to anyone. Followed by Captain Ronnie Wright, another good chap. The pair of them served their time in Hungry Hogarths "Barons".
When I joined, I had just come from S.A. VAAL where Bull was at an astonishing level. I dreaded boat drills where the captain seemd to take a delight in bawling me out all the time. It was nothing personal though, everyone from the Staff Commander (Mr. Lofts) downwards got the same treatment. The peace & friendliness of WINDSOR CASTLE came as a great relief.
Regards
Bob
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Bob (ShipBuilder)
I am fairly sure we sailed on Pendennis together, I was Second Officer and had the other cabin that had the bridge front window, the opposite (starboard) alley way and the 22.5 (sometimes 23) knot wind blowing through.
Capt Charnley was master at the time.
We may also have been togther on Reina del Mar, I was 3rd Officer with Capt Jimmy James as Master.
I went on to the Windsor with Chuckles when he was appointed there.
Pendennis was my own favourite of all the mail ships.
Never sailed with Capt Hort but I do remember Ronnie Wright with great fondness... good man... good master a real gentleman with a great sense of humour.
In fact I liked nearly all mail ship masters... they always left you to get on with it on the bridge didnt interfere. I guess they had other things to do unlike cargo ship captains who were in and out of the bridge all day long.
I am fairly sure we sailed on Pendennis together, I was Second Officer and had the other cabin that had the bridge front window, the opposite (starboard) alley way and the 22.5 (sometimes 23) knot wind blowing through.
Capt Charnley was master at the time.
We may also have been togther on Reina del Mar, I was 3rd Officer with Capt Jimmy James as Master.
I went on to the Windsor with Chuckles when he was appointed there.
Pendennis was my own favourite of all the mail ships.
Never sailed with Capt Hort but I do remember Ronnie Wright with great fondness... good man... good master a real gentleman with a great sense of humour.
In fact I liked nearly all mail ship masters... they always left you to get on with it on the bridge didnt interfere. I guess they had other things to do unlike cargo ship captains who were in and out of the bridge all day long.
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Hi Chris,
On PENDENNIS CASTLE when I was there, the captains were Beadon & Charnley respectively. I joined PENDENNIS on 20th Sept 1972 & left 20th Aug 1973.
REINA DEL MAR 30th Mar 68 to 30th Aug 68 - 23rd Mar 70 to 5th June 70 & finally 12th Jul to 8th Sep 72. Selection of captains there - James, Catterall, Wright, Sillars. Last saw Capt. Caterall in 1983 in Falmouth. Was sauntering along the front with Capt. Bob Wyatt (ex UC) whilst our RMS ST. HELENA was laid up there after refit following Falkland Islands 13 months & he was coming in the opposite direction with Dr. McNamara (Ex UC). We had a long reminicence, & Bob invited them to lunch on ST. HELENA next day, but I missed it because I went on leave next morning.
Regarding WINDSOR CASTLE. Friends I met aboard there, I sailed with more or less continually until leaving the sea in Oct. 92. Namely Colin Dellar purser, Dave Padmore catering officer, Jeannie Bonner Chilli Ho, Dusty Miller Head Waiter, Les Farrow Chief Barman, Chef Joe Laight. Other ex UC staff in the ST. HELENA were Angie Read purserette, John McMinn 2nd eng, Tony Fussell deck, Bob Bendall 2nd eng, Wally Croston 3rd eng, Peter Wood 4the eng, Bryan Gillot chief eng ex 1st eng Pen C, Brian Cooper chief eng,Peter Anstruther ex SA VAAL steward.
Regards
Bob
On PENDENNIS CASTLE when I was there, the captains were Beadon & Charnley respectively. I joined PENDENNIS on 20th Sept 1972 & left 20th Aug 1973.
REINA DEL MAR 30th Mar 68 to 30th Aug 68 - 23rd Mar 70 to 5th June 70 & finally 12th Jul to 8th Sep 72. Selection of captains there - James, Catterall, Wright, Sillars. Last saw Capt. Caterall in 1983 in Falmouth. Was sauntering along the front with Capt. Bob Wyatt (ex UC) whilst our RMS ST. HELENA was laid up there after refit following Falkland Islands 13 months & he was coming in the opposite direction with Dr. McNamara (Ex UC). We had a long reminicence, & Bob invited them to lunch on ST. HELENA next day, but I missed it because I went on leave next morning.
Regarding WINDSOR CASTLE. Friends I met aboard there, I sailed with more or less continually until leaving the sea in Oct. 92. Namely Colin Dellar purser, Dave Padmore catering officer, Jeannie Bonner Chilli Ho, Dusty Miller Head Waiter, Les Farrow Chief Barman, Chef Joe Laight. Other ex UC staff in the ST. HELENA were Angie Read purserette, John McMinn 2nd eng, Tony Fussell deck, Bob Bendall 2nd eng, Wally Croston 3rd eng, Peter Wood 4the eng, Bryan Gillot chief eng ex 1st eng Pen C, Brian Cooper chief eng,Peter Anstruther ex SA VAAL steward.
Regards
Bob
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PS
Forgot to mention pursers Geoff Shallcross & John Dimmock, both ex UC & ex WINDSOR CASTLE.
Bob
Forgot to mention pursers Geoff Shallcross & John Dimmock, both ex UC & ex WINDSOR CASTLE.
Bob
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Several familiar names in your list Bob, well remember John McMinn, who did a period on ELBE ORE with his wife, Marion (?). She, if I remember right, made some comment about having seen enough after a day and a half punching into a severe gale in ballast to Seven Islands in January of, I think, 1973 or 1974. I took some slides, when I find them I'll scan and post them here. Phil Rentall was 2/O at that time - now Captain on Saga something I think. The Captain was Ian 'Corky' Bennett from Helensburgh.
That was a fun trip for weather ....
That was a fun trip for weather ....
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