My first ship

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Joined this ship is Victoria Dock London in May, 1961, and made a voyage to Australia and back to Liverpool. Decided that I had had enough of the sea, but couldn't think of any way to get out of it without losing face . After about five years, I began to quite like it, and finally love it. Eventually left in late 1992 after many interesting adventures in all parts of the world.

Bob

Edited By Bob Wilson on 22/07/2016 07:33:24

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

[John W EParticipant @johnwe]

Hi Bob this is my first ship in 1961 or roundabout there Capn of the ship

but the real one of 1974 City of Columbo down on the Persian Gulf run from Liverpool

john

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Very smart. I remember the Cities very well. Visited City of Durban once, and was very impressed. Later on though, many UK shipping companies seemed to start competing with each other to spoil the looks of their ships by sticking "inverted plantpot" like structures on top of the funnels. Quite a few Cities sprouted them as well. The Rhodesia Star got one several years after I left!

Whenever I show pictures of my old ships these days, eyes generally glaze over in non-comprehension – sign of the passing years no doubt, but the late 40s, 50s and 60s produced some really beautiful designs that are rarely modelled this century!

Your picture looks like she was leaving Durban?

Bob

[John W EParticipant @johnwe]

Hi ya Bob

here are a few memory jogs for ya:

What is red and used to come to your front door and go put put put put put – with a man with a little blue uniform on….telegram boys haha

they used to deliver your telegram

dear sir, please pick up ship at so and so point … maybe Liverpool Docks .. it was for me

 

and

 

can you remember the night before, checking all your stuff in your suitcase. For me, as engineer, it used to be 3 white boiler suits, one of them with no arms and cut down to shorts – cos it was very not in the engineroom. Then dress for the tropics – 3 pairs of white shorts; 3 shirts with short sleeves, 3 pairs of knee length socks, pair of white plimsoles; epiletts with your rank etc. and your Company button on.

 

and yes, boat was leaving Durban started off only being a run down to the Gulf, and got stuck in Khorramshahr at anchor for just under a month – happy days now that is another story.

For those who have never been to sea, it is an experience I can tell you. Well in 1974 it was. None of your ship to shore phones – we used to carry a Marconi wireless operator and all still done in morsecode and we also had a radar that sometimes worked.

 

John

 

Edited By bluebird on 25/07/2016 18:10:39

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi John,

Yes, it was all as you said. I was looking at my first telegram the other day "JOIN RHODESIASTAR D SHED VICTORIA DOCK LONDON" followed by the date. I was radio officer and, as you say, no radio telephone and the Rhodesia Star did not even have radar. It was five years before I sailed with long-distance radio telephone equipment, and 21 years before I sailed with satellite communications. But I used morse every day all through my career, until leaving in October 1992, when my last communication with anyone was a telegram sent in morse to the island of St. Helena from just south of Falmouth!

For many years, we always joined the ship in UK and remained there until it came back which could be two years hence!

Bob

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