[Ozzie]

"MV PRINCE RUPERT CITY built 1970
Sold 1982 Maritima Astarte SA Panama (Parent Company TMM) renamed YAQUI
Sold and renamed CHRISTINAKI Maltese owner
On February 3rd 1994 on passage from Liverpool to Vera Cruz foundered in a storm 249 miles west of Ireland"

re JRG post on page 10 as above.
Sorry, but the Prince Rupert City did not become the Christinaki and sink as you said above.

The Christinaki was never owned by RSL and was in fact the former Irish Pine built by Upper Clyde in 1973 to the same design as the RSL ships ie the Cardiff class. This was the ship that was lost with all hands in 1994.

The former Prince Rupert City was still going strong in 2008 see earlier post
http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=134285
Rgds(Thumb)

 

[lekie]

Happy Memories

Glad to hear that the m.v. Prince Rupert is still around. We sailed on her to Prince Rupert, British Columbia late 1973.
Joe Thornhill old man, he retired after this trip. C/E Brian Draper

 

[richaddis]

I sailed as apprentice on Fresno City 1963-64 and paid off in Manchester in March 1964, 2 weeks out of my time & a few days before my 21st, heady times.
I dont think the new personnel had arrived before I left. There is a photo of the Fresno City anchored off Sakaidi in the gallery
(Rick Sumner)

I joined at Brown & Polson wharf in Manchester 1964 Thanks for the photos of the Fresno... Lots of memories coming back.

 

[richaddis]

I joined at Brown & Polson wharf in Manchester 1964 Thanks for the photos of the Fresno... Lots of memories coming back.

I think I must have joined after you had left. My next ship was the Australian City, joined in Amsterdam. After that I sailed on the Leeds City for two voyages.Anyone on board at that time?

 

[jrg]

Hi all! Im new here and still trying to find my way around the site.I spent a year with Reardon smiths, (march 1958-Feb 59) as asst steward on the Bradford City. I then left the company and went to the Wireles College in Colwyn Bay for 18 months and beame a Radio Officer, and spent a few years with J&J Denholms.I never never got the chance to work with Reardon Smiths which was a shame because it was a great company to work for.I seem to remember the OM was a Capt Justin, My memory is fadeing now so Im not sure. During that time there was an Apprentice on there from my home town (Ebbw Vale) called Brian Jones who was a great mate of mine,he later became master at the age of 28 or 29 one of the yougest in the British MN i ,believe not quite sure. I never saw him again as we were never on leave at the same time. He was later killed in Australia, drove his car off the dock or so the story goes. Never did find out the exact details. If anybody remembers me or that era I would love to here from them

Regards to you all Ray Davies

Captain Brian Jones was on the Cornish City in Sydney in 1976. We were on the Prince Rupert City in Port Kembla, and had sailed a few days earlier, when we heard that Brian Jones drove off the dock. Everyone very shocked-Master Was Robin Stuart, who went to college with him.

 

[jrg]

Hello all, surprised to see so many names I remember. I was an engineering cadet in the early 70s Cardiff and later Glasgow. Went to sea first on the Atlantic city, then the Cornish, Maria Elisa, etc. until early 80's. My sea going career was notable in that all those years I new sailed on the (I think it was called) the 840 class. I was interviewed by Captain Birrell for the job, having thankfully been rejected by two tanker lines. Spent most of my time attempting to have the biggest bar bill..

Hello Paddy-we were on the Atlantic together; you were first trip cadet. Brian Jones OM and Bob Chambers Chief, Gerry Hughes 2/E, Mike Snook 3/E, Mo Green 4/E, Carl Graddage J4/E and me J/E. What are you up to now?
JRG

 

[jrg]

re JRG post on page 10 as above.
Sorry, but the Prince Rupert City did not become the Christinaki and sink as you said above.

The Christinaki was never owned by RSL and was in fact the former Irish Pine built by Upper Clyde in 1973 to the same design as the RSL ships ie the Cardiff class. This was the ship that was lost with all hands in 1994.

The former Prince Rupert City was still going strong in 2008 see earlier post
http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=134285
Rgds(Thumb)

You are quite right, Ozzie-I was corrected soon after posting from another archive site.

 

[Alex Baxter]

Captain Brian Jones was on the Cornish City in Sydney in 1976. We were on the Prince Rupert City in Port Kembla, and had sailed a few days earlier, when we heard that Brian Jones drove off the dock. Everyone very shocked-Master Was Robin Stuart, who went to college with him.

Yes, I was on the Cornish at that time, (strikebound, discharging 4 ships stabilisers from Kobe, which took five and a half weeks to resolve, it was over some docker throwing dunnage on to the quay when it was not his job) Brian Jones was a gentlemanly sort, he hired a Ford Fairmont (I think) then swapped it for an XJ6 when it became available from Hertz. There does not seem to be any doubt that it was suicide, but we were all astonished by this though. We had an excellent crowd, no friction or rows, which made it all the more of a shock!

 

[Alex Baxter]

Hello Paddy-we were on the Atlantic together; you were first trip cadet. Brian Jones OM and Bob Chambers Chief, Gerry Hughes 2/E, Mike Snook 3/E, Mo Green 4/E, Carl Graddage J4/E and me J/E. What are you up to now?
JRG

Hi JRG, wow, I'd forgotten the names, and yours too, but reading them, I can suddenly put faces to them. I left Smiths in 1982, just before the axe fell, I remember being a confused kid at the time. I sailed with Mo a few times since, Gerry once and Brian Jones once on his last trip. I'm regional manager for an air pollution monitoring company, instrumentation and stillsons..

 

[jrg]

Hi JRG, wow, I'd forgotten the names, and yours too, but reading them, I can suddenly put faces to them. I left Smiths in 1982, just before the axe fell, I remember being a confused kid at the time. I sailed with Mo a few times since, Gerry once and Brian Jones once on his last trip. I'm regional manager for an air pollution monitoring company, instrumentation and stillsons..

If you send an email, I have some RSL ship photos I can forward. I now live in Australia, and work in the offshore industry.

 

[lekie]

Captain Brian Jones

Yes, I was on the Cornish at that time, (strikebound, discharging 4 ships stabilisers from Kobe, which took five and a half weeks to resolve, it was over some docker throwing dunnage on to the quay when it was not his job) Brian Jones was a gentlemanly sort, he hired a Ford Fairmont (I think) then swapped it for an XJ6 when it became available from Hertz. There does not seem to be any doubt that it was suicide, but we were all astonished by this though. We had an excellent crowd, no friction or rows, which made it all the more of a shock!

I had the pleasure to sail in the early 70's with Brian when he was Mate. He was a true gentleman and as stated in the earlier thread achieved the senior rank of Master at a young age.
If my memory serves me rightly (many years have past) Brian had at his home a cherished Jaguar XJ6 which his family were encouraged to use while he was at sea.

 

[Alex Baxter]

I had the pleasure to sail in the early 70's with Brian when he was Mate. He was a true gentleman and as stated in the earlier thread achieved the senior rank of Master at a young age.
If my memory serves me rightly (many years have past) Brian had at his home a cherished Jaguar XJ6 which his family were encouraged to use while he was at sea.

Yes Leckie, he was a Jaguar fan. Brian complained to Hertz that they did not have a XJ6, when the hire Jaguar came he had a week to run on the Ford (itself the top of the range Fairmont, and he held up the keys and asked if anyone wanted them. I held up my hand and got them, much to my astonishment, as I was a cadet at the time. It's strange what you remember..

 

[ErictheViking]

Hello to all you old Smiths reprobates!!!!
Eric (theViking) Bromham ex sparkie from 1970 (Indian City) to 1987 (TMM ships)I remember Paddy Baxter , Brian Jones etc. Since leaving I was 2nd and 1st Mate on Windjammer Barefoot cruises in the Caribbean ( I had a sailing background)Then skipper on a few largish yachts , a bit of boatbuilding.
Now am Sailing instructor based Gibraltar/Southern Spain. Regards ,Eric.
Also remeber Mo Green , Jackie Chatten Dave Brown Tony Lightfoot lots more will have to have a memory search and write them down.

 

[garwatts]

Hi Eric - looks like you have been living the high life. Bit of a come down going from Sparks to Mate though(*)) I've been trying to remember the ships I sailed on in the 70s and early 80s.....GOND, GPHR, GNEM, GJWN, GPUQ, 3ELO, GKMA, Samia(?), the new Welsh City(?). Can't remember the collective call sign, was it GTZJ?
I remember John Mathews, Gordon Walker, Reg Smith, Tony Lightfoot and his wife (Moira?), Charlie Boyer, Dinger Bell, Tom McNulty, Evan Warmsley, Lennie Taylor, Dave Litson, Julian York, Andy Jaggers, Dave Wedlake, Terry Rooney, Al Nichols, Neil Jerrum, John Ashley, Jumbo Coombes, John Davies, Keith Bean et al
73s
Garry

 

[ErictheViking]

Hi Garry,
Nice to get a reply. Yes GTZJ was RSL collective c/s, I recall GKMA (Houston City ) AKA Golf Rugby Football Cricket by a mate I forget and Go Kiss My A.... by Tony Lightfoot ! I forget her c/s as Maria Elisa , GNEM and 3ELO ring bells.
John - JRM - Matthews was my senior for my 1st 6 months on INDIAN CITY
Commenced January 1970.
I met with John (Henry)Davies in Barry a few years ago for a few beers.
Had to call Gordon Walker once in his retirement for a security reference for
a skippers job on a yacht owned by a software company that did M.O.D work.
I mostly only instruct on 12 to 15 metre yachts now sailing from Gibraltar to Southern Spain Portugal & Morrocco , although right now I,m in Florida preparing a 46ft boat for a trip through the Bahamas , the weather is a bit cool for March but warmer than Gib and a LOT warmer than UK I,m sure .
73s 2U also ... .._
Eric.

 

[lekie]

R.S.L. R/O's from the past, John Cowardine from Bristol and D.S.Thomson from Berwick-upon-Tweed.
I still remember Evan Walmsley as a totally laid back guy.
Did Julian York have bushy side boards and moustache?

 

[garwatts]

When I sailed with Julian he had the full set. It was on the 'new' Welsh City. I joined in Le Havre and then I think down to South Africa (Richards Bay(?) and back to Le Havre and Ollie Lindsay was the OM. I joined the elite club of people that have been 'sacked' by Ollie. The C/E whose name escapes me came from Bank Line and lived in Llantwit-Major (Geoff McBride?) and also recall the 3rd Eng from Ulster Les Magill who was good company for Jules. The pair of them kept me sane and entertained on that trip.
A couple more names come to mind 'legs' Diamond and PJ Prendergast....
I do wish my memory was better.
R/Os PJ Barker - anyone know his whereabouts? I have been trying to track him down for some years.
Roger Chugg (I still hear from Rog every year) He is currently on holiday in Thailand/Vietnam - still single and enjoying the high life.
Jonathon Clarke - met up with him a couple of years ago for a drink in Bristol. He now lives in Coos Bay, Oregon.
Dave Short (DC) I was junior to him on the Port Alberni City.
Eric there is a link here to some old crew lists
http://www.balmaha.net/mnavy/clistrs.html
Cheers for now

 

[ErictheViking]

Thanks,I will be offline for while (sailing) will get back in a while.Cheers.Eric.

 

[Alex Baxter]

Hello to all you old Smiths reprobates!!!!
Eric (theViking) Bromham ex sparkie from 1970 (Indian City) to 1987 (TMM ships)I remember Paddy Baxter , Brian Jones etc. Since leaving I was 2nd and 1st Mate on Windjammer Barefoot cruises in the Caribbean ( I had a sailing background)Then skipper on a few largish yachts , a bit of boatbuilding.
Now am Sailing instructor based Gibraltar/Southern Spain. Regards ,Eric.
Also remeber Mo Green , Jackie Chatten Dave Brown Tony Lightfoot lots more will have to have a memory search and write them down.

Hi Eric, great to know you're well (I presume you are?) I could not get your surname right when looking for you. Do you have your own yacht by now? It sounds like you fulfilled your life ambitions. Remember Durban? How good was that trip..

 

[ErictheViking]

Hi Paddy ,
Have some memories of Durban (Cornish City was it ?) Mostly remember Mo Green ,do you know he died from a motorbike collission in Hong Kong ?
Yes I've fulfilled a few of my sailing ambitions, dont actually own a yacht as I know so may people who own them but dont have time to use them which is often where I come in.Whereabouts are you living these days,I still consider Bristol my home town but spend most of my time in Gibraltar and Southern Spain .
Right now am in Florida assisting a friend sailing his boat around the Florida Keys ,well someones got to do it !!
I dont know what the rules are about personal e-mails on this site , maybe we can correspond about some of the more crazy RSL memories ?
Regards Eric.(Bromham)