Between early 1961 and late 1992, I sailed in 19 different ships. Only one now remains of the whole 19, and it is now scheduled to be disposed on in Febraury 2018, to be replaced by an aircraft! 🙁 The relentless march of technology. "Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away!" I only found this out a few minutes ago. Here is the link: **LINK**
Bob

Just another old merchant ship going – looks like its no big deal.

Bob

Actually, I never had any great feelings for the ship, but a lot of others do. After two years in it, I really couldn't stand any more, and when they made us all redundant and offered us our jobs back at 30% pay cut, I left, and never regretted it. But it does mark the end of of my long sea career, being the only ship of a total of 19 that I sailed in to still be running. When it came to London last year amidst a "fanfare of trumpets" to mark its sale, my wife and I were invited to the "do" nboard but did not attend. Then the opening of the airport was delayed, and she was repreived for another year. I much preferred th old St. Helena, in which I spent 11 glorious years. And my wife had our honeymoon voayge in in 1987. I just find it sad that old ships are just discarded like used boots when no longer considered useful. I was in the old one when the two ships met for the first and last time in Cardiff in 1989, and for the old one, it was a case of:

They didn't hold no service, for to mark her dying day,

But the new ship hooted mournful as we passed,

And a brace if dirty tugboats came and hustled her away,

With her colours drooping sadly at the mast.

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Most of the ex officers and crews of both ships communicate with each other regularly on the Facebook group RMS St. Helena, so we are still together in a way.

For anyone interested, here is the London visit on Utube last year **LINK**

Bob

There was a delay in take off. At the time of writing, 14th 1335 BST, the aircraft is about 1 1/2 hours away from St. Helena at 36,000 feet, making 394 knots. Bob

They landed safely a few minutes ago! Ascension runway is presently closed due to cracks in it. Someone said on Facebook an hour ago that the aircraft was low on fuel – maybe just a rumour. But on the radar, they climbed to 38,000 feet and speeded up for the final 70km or so. I expect they will all be rushing round celebrating now, the airport was crowded this morning, Drinks later at Plantation House (Governor's Residence) – Bob