[nigelland45]

Anyone at Poplar 1960/62? I joined BP in 1960 and stayed at the Mariners. A very good course that set me up for an interesting career in engineering after discovering how much I hated life at sea! A lot down to the attitude of the 'upper deck' lot. Endorsements at South Tech and time at Hawthorn Leslie when we still actually built ships.Then 15 months on British Osprey. Called at some interesting ports but always busy fixing something! Wouldn't have missed it for the world!
Nigel Land

 

[Donald D Ward]

Hi Feather, remember me, we were at Poplar at the same time, I was with Mobil Shipping also on the OND course. I left the sea while doing seconds at Riversdale, rail strike scuppered that, my wife and I were trying to start a family so I ended up ashore with the then CEGB, retired from them 8 years ago after a good career.

At King Teds with Steve De Lee, Phil Burnell, Pat Cannie, Mark Brennan, Andy Barker, Martin Coomber, Keith Snelgrove, Zygmunt Yankovsky, Andy Balogh and many others I can’t recall their names. Don Ward a south African who I think posted on this site was across the corridor from me in King Teds?

Queen Vic’s - John Delaney, Gareth Griffiths, Ath’o (Dave Atherton) Dick Romero, Mick Dance, (Triumph Vitesse), Leo Martin? Andy Benstead (Tiny)

I remember you were into rugby, being a big lad. I remember playing football, at Hackney Marshes, Paddy O'Rourke (the lab technician) used to run the team. Also played at Norwegian playing fields somewhere past the docks mainly against teams made up from ship’s crews docked locally. They were tough games; I think they were organised by Jack Whittington the student councillor, a right Gent.

We had a great time, mainly in a pub round the corner Charles Napier, also Rachael McMillan’s, a great bunch of lads, how did we manage to pass any exams!

 

[Donald D Ward]

Steve I remember you well. I still keep in contact with Nick Ardley ( he has published a number of books now). I spoke to Andy Barker about four years ago, he still lives in Corby. Clive Warwick migrated to Canda and lives near Toronto, happily retired.
Often wonder what happened to all the lads at King Teds. Do you recall Paul Whitaker he jumped ship on the MV Naria half way through his first voyage in phase II ? He came back to the ship in Rotterdam and stayed for a couple of days before disappearing, shared a cabin with him on the ship. Sea life was not for him.
Also recall two lads on our corridor at King Teds who worked for CT Bowering ( paper mill ships) that traded on the great lakes in Canada.
Great to read your post. Also correspond with Feather and I hope to contact Keith Snelgrove soon.
Regards Don Ward

 

[JON8H]

I spent from September 75 to July 76 at Poplar, staying at Queen Victoria Seamens Rest.
Sort of a "Remedial" course for about 25 of us from all different companies and previous colleges to retake the METC we failed in Phase 1 - in my case due to having too much of a good time in Hull for the first two years!! The idea was to resit the original exam and do workshops in the first four months and then go on to the METAC the next year. A very condensed course.

There were a couple of us from P&O, BP and Shell, with half a dozen from RFA, the rest if I remember correctly coming from Houlders/Blue Funnel/Ocean.

Workshops on a Friday down in Woolwich with an 0800 start, and 1700 finish - we had to get the required workshop time in to satisfy City and Guilds! Always remember that place - there was an old condenser in the yard we were 'sent to work on' as punishment for an assortment of offences. 'Work' involved battering the ferrules and tube packing to death in order to remove a tube. (you'll need to do that a lot when you get back to sea sonny!) I've never seen a condenser with tube packing in the 35 years at sea since then!!
I remember that most of the (steam recip) pumps we had to dismantle and take measurements as exercises had the nuts and bolts only hand tight and there was usually a sheet inside with all the correct answers/figures written down by previous cadets.
Used to have lunch at the STC cables factory on workshop days, food was superb compared with that at Queen Vics.

We spent most evenings in a pub a couple of hundred yards behind Queen Vics, at a bend in the road on Upper North Street, can anyone remember the name of it? Manager was called 'Tell' or Terry and used to drink Guiness - usually had a drink on four corners of the bar! The building is still there (I've looked on Google Earth Street View) but has been converted to flats by the look of it and is overgrown with ivy.

Happy times................

Hi Alan

a very similar life story, but a couple of year after yourself.

I too was a Remedial, in 1980. Having overly enjoyed 2 years doing my Phase 1 METC course in Hull.

 

[AllanSteel]

Hi all
did my HNC POP Tech stayed in King Ted's phase1, then phase 3 at Mariners and Queen Vics. 1976/78
was really strange to see my name on here
would love to hear from any of the guys.
Allan Steel (Rory super scott)

 

[AllanSteel]

Hi Shady or sorry Mr. Shady, hard to shake of teachers and Lecturers as being non authoritative!

Rob McLaren here, what a great memory or recall you have. I still dine out on that distinction. We all use to revise with a guy from Shell, forget his name, got the newly introduced “Firkin Sword” after Mr. Firkin passed away whilst we were studying.

I remember you getting the Dolomite Sprint, very envious, single camshaft but 16 valve! Saw one the other day, they look tiny now.

I remember Mr Satchwell, I think he came from around where I used to live. Also there was a lecturer in the electrical department that was something to do with Suzuki or Barry Sheene?

I remember also the pastor at our hall of residence was Jack? Welsh guy. He had a tough job keeping us all in check. The college had a good football team at the time. Enjoyed my time in Poplar, but was maybe too young to appreciate it at the time.

Did my third phase in South Shields, was not the same but understood more to enjoy it.

Great forum and post. Brings back many memories.

The Merchant Navy set me up well for life, still travel selling capital equipment but left in 1986 when CP went foreign flag.

Regards.

Rob McLaren

Hi Rob the guy was with Texaco Heron Team Suzuki and introduced me and a few others to Barry Sheene at Brands Hatch.
Do you remember the ride round the south coast, you drove the support vehicle lol, a blue escort van I think. I was the nutter on the bright orange Yamaha RD200 dx. I have photos somewhere. Happy days.

 

[Rob.Mac]

Blue mini Van, yes, went toSouthend on sea, & Pete Dixon old place of work, a chip shop. Was a good weekend!

 

[markwf49]

I was there, foundry technology 1966-1970 day release course.
Mark Franklin

 

[tavasoliebrahim]

I was there 1978 to 80. Stayed at Angel Hostel in custom house. The Anex workshop was in Epson Street.

 

[Tim Mark]

The North Woolwich Annexe was at the Junction of Store Road & Factory Road, though the area has changed more than once since 1971/72

 

[Ian A Rogers]

I think the name of the bloke who wore the blazer was Minchin - he taught EK's. I was best mates with Chas Wilkie (Blue Star), John Kelly (Bowrings), John Jenkins the skin head?,
Most of us got thrown out or at least told to leave early after a fire extinuisher fight during the end of our 3rd phase, I think we were doing our lifeboat tickets at the time. Bit hazy now after all these years.

The riot was the the first year cadets getting their own back on the second year cadets who had been giving them a hard time. the second year cadets were out celebrating the end of their college phase and the first year ambushed them on their return to King Teds. Apparently it was a brawl, however I was safely tucked up in my fart sack at the time.
However some of us were accused of inciting the riot and finishe phase three in other accommodation.

 

[Charlie Findlay]

Poplar Tech 1968

Ahoy Shipmates!, I was at Poplar Tech. from 1968-70, then North Woolwich Annexe from 1971-72. I was RFA, anybody else out there from that time?
I remember lots of names from those days, but sadly have not kept in contact with anyone apart from Jack Handley, anyone remember him?
He was with Texaco.
I remember Mr Girling and Commander Martin, but what about Commander Andrews, he was a nice guy, but the main thing I recall about him is telling the class regularly to ‘Be Silent!’.
I am also in contact with Frank Port-Louis, also ex-RFA, anyone remember him?
I was initially at King Ted’s, sadly now flats.

Charlie Findlay here, I remember Frank Port Louis, he was RFA, from the Seychelles, and I believe he raced motorcycles there. I have a photo of us together at 'The Stack of Bricks' getting pissed in my 'cabin', which was just above "The Ideal Hairdresser", in the street below. I was Blue Star Line, ended up in living in Auckland sailing with the USS Co of NZ for a while, Reef Shipping Co on the infamous Jean Phillipe, running up to Fiji with Fijian crew.Had a great time. Worked the oil rig supply ships out of Aberdeen. I also was in King Teds, which was absolutely dire, my window got all the light from the Ben Truman pirate's neon leg flashing up and down all night from that pub across the road. I sailed on one of the last trips the Glen Strathallan made, and bumped into her engine in the Kensington Science museum years later.She was sadly scuttled when she was too expensive to keep going, as that was the deal the college had made with her owner, which was sad. I remember Mr Bennet, at Woolwich annexe, Sid Minchin, and Mr Korner, who was known as Alexis, naturally. not to his face, obviously, and have no idea how they put up with us. I ended up in the London Fire Brigade, and am now retired in Somerset. Sadly, I never kept up with any of the blokes. I'm 74 today, but some of it feels like it happened last week.