CAN YOU HELP?
If you can help with information about any of the questions below posed by visitors please make contact via the CONTACT OR ENQUIRY button in the top menu. Answers will be posted below under the relevant request. Many thanks.
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Message posted 12-2-2014
I have been researching the histories of the various ferries on the Tilbury Gravesend service. As the numbers of ferries declined I understand Sun tugs were used on the service. Do you know which tugs, did they have a passenger certificate or were the limited to 12 passengers?
Enjoyed you web site very much. I am also interested in the history of Harwich harbour and remember the tugs Empire Lucy/Race and seeing Ocean Cock awaiting orders, shame no photos.
With regards,
Philip Cone
14-2-2014 For can you help tilbury ferry. The tug used, when the ferry was broken down was the Vanquisher [ LONDON TUGS LTD [2 ]page] and passenger certificate for 85 passengers. Hope this helps - Peter Sutherland
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Message posted 25-9-2013
MT Formidable [Alexandra Towing - Gravesend]
Were you a crew member on Saturday 6th. May 1995? She was involved in the Thames Sailing Barge Match on that day, which started and finished off the Royal Clarendon Hotel, Gravesend. Dr. Mike Wignall MNI is writing a book on the history of the match which ran from 1995 until 2013. If you have any personal memories or photos of that day, or know of someone who has - please contact this site via contact or enquiry button in top menu and I will pass message on or put you in touch.
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Message posted 19-8-2013
My Grandfather Richard Hammock and my Uncle also Richard Hammock both worked on the Sun Boats when I was a teenager. I believe my Grandfather was the oldest skipper at the same time as my Uncle was the youngest on the Sun boats. I understand that my Grandfather was given the honour of being on one of the tugs that bought the Cutty Sark up the Thames to Greenwich. I remember a certificate being displayed in his home recognising this. I would be grateful if anyone can give me any other information relating to this.
Pauline Pellerito
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ENQUIRY POSTED 9-1-2013
I was on a Thames based tug when the Medway Queen was towed from Depford to the estuary in 1965/6.
I am now a friend of the Medway Queen Presevation Society at Gillingham pier. Can anyone supply copies of any photos taken during that tow, I think by the tug Dhalia.
Also any information about Max Hamilton who kindly arranged the visit for me while at the Medway Tech at Fort Horsted.
Regards,
Bob Cox
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ENQUIRY POSTED 2-1-2013
I was wondering if anyone remembers my great grandfather, George Page. He originally worked at king George V dock and I have pictures of next to the tug Dhulia next to what my mum called his office a building which is still there today. My mum remembers all 'his' tugs were navy blue and a dark red. He retired in January 1967 when he was 65. He went back to work in the head office maybe a year later for about a year to help out with something? He was permanently retired in 1969.
His Uncle was William Page lost on the Muria in 1940 and we believe his father also George Page was involved in Thames tugs.
Any information or memories would be much appreciated. Andrew.
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ENQUIRY POSTED 11-12-2012
Hi im looking for any infomation regarding my father-in-law and his father,sam taplin and fred taplin they both served on the sun tugs many thanks Paul Hodgkins
8-1-2013 To Paul Hodgkins
reference to your request for information,I worked with Fred Taplin in the late 1950,s in the Sun12 relief crew.If your still interested I can give you a crew list/tell you a few stories and I believe I might have a picture or two of Fred. If your still interested please contact me by E-Mail. Yours John Burgess.
Paul If you want to contact John please get in touch with this site for his email address.
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ENQUIRY POSTED 24-7-2012
My great grandfather was Vincent Davis who died in his early thirties in a straight jacket in an asylum suffering with epilepsy ( or so the family legend goes)My mothers family have always held that Vincent was the founder and co owner of a tug boat company that owned all the tugs on the woolwich ferry. When vincent died the buisness never passed to his wife and instead was handeed to his partner Mr alexander.Any and all information gratefully received. Robert Gifford.
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W H J ALEXANDER LTD.
Having recently received a privately compiled 800 page history of the Watkins family I am now trying to 'balance the books' as it were by finding out more about the Alexander family. If you can help with any details about William Henry James Alexander [Sun Tugs] , his family, or anecdotes about the company I would be very pleased if you would contact this site. Many thanks.
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ENQUIRY POSTED 29-9-2011
Can anybody help with the origin of the Dunkirk Logs on this web site by David Brown. I have a copy of the crew agreement/log for the tug Sun XII for 1940 but it does not have the detailed account that David has provided, it simply says
'28th May to the 8th June assisting in the evacuation of Dunkirk'
Regards Steve Glover
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William Irwin worked on the river and was described as a retired tug engineer. He died 1st Jan 1954 aged 89 so would probably have worked on the river from 1880,s to about 1930. I do not know which company he worked for but would like to know where to go to get information about his working life. I would be most grateful if you can send me in the right direction. Mary Lewis
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ENQUIRY POSTED 9-11-2011
i believe sid Lockyer was the tug controller of sun tugs at north woolwich in the sixtys could you find out what happened to him - Don Reed
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ENQUIRY POSTED 18-8-2011
i am trying to settle an argument in our family our father worked for sun tugs london he was boy of 15. and we are trying to find out when he left which we believe he was made redundant after only couple years we are trying to find the year he was made redundant. do you have any idea we can find a list of past workers. just for interest his name is John Pilkington born 7/7/45. it would have been around 1960.regards olly.
24-8-2011; I knew a John Pilkington ( Pinky)who used to work for blue circle cement tugs,he was down below on the snowcem,cemenco and others,he lived in the blackheath area,he also rode a royal enfield crusader sport.the age is about right hope this helps.Eric Cawsey.
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I am trying to find information on my Grandfather Henry Alfred James CAUDWELL believed to be a tugboat captain on the Thames about 1919 approx he lived in the poplar area.
He was born about 1882?
No idea where
soldier in colchester 1914-1918
Married in Lexden Colchester
Moved to Poplar about 1919/1920
Thankyou for your time
Pat Newton (Mrs)
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ARCHIVED REQUESTS
Hello there,
I have been told that my paternal grandfather, Edward ("Ted") King worked on Sun Tugs, in London. He lived in Wapping. His Son, my father was born in 1930, and I believe that "Ted" was working on Sun Tugs in/for some number of years after that.
I do appreciate that this is somewhat vague, and maybe a long-shot, but any help you could give me would be very much appreciated.
Regards & many thanks,
Martin King
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DOES ANYBODY OUT THERE HAVE ANY RECOLLECTION OR RECORDS OF THE FOLLOWING TWO GUYS WORKING ON THE TUGS.
[1] LEONARD VICTOR CHURCH, BORN GRAVESEND 1917 AND BELIEVED TO HAVE WORKED ON TUGS PRIOR TO WW2;
[2] SYDNEY CHURCH, BORN GRAVESEND 1949.
ANY REPLIES TO ME PLEASE AND I WILL PASS THE MESSAGES ON TO THE YOUNG LADY MAKING THE ENQUIRY.
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George Albert Mills.
Any information on the working life of George Albert Mills, born 25-1-1885 Gravesend, died 8-1-1968 Gravesend.
1911 a mariner on the Customs Revenue Cutter.
On retirement in 1950 was Skipper of revenue cutter from Gravesend.
Material needed for book.
Yours sincerely Margaret Somers [Australia]
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Pamplin family on Sun Tugs. [See message in Mess Room]
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Dear Sir
John Frederick William Murphy - 1930 - 1979 - I am researching my family history and I believe my late Dad worked on the tugs at Gravesend in Kent. He may have also worked on the TSS Edith. I know he was working for the GPO on the 15 September 1957 and I know he worked on the water before this. Can you please tell me anything aobut his time on the river?
Thanking you
Kindest regards from
Karen
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HAS ANYONE ANY KNOWLEDGE OR INFORMATION ABOUT CAPTAIN ARTHUR LOWE. IT IS BELIEVED HE DIED ABOARD MURIA. IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE CONTACT ME. THANKS. TUG.
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THIS YEARS PUZZLE !!!!!!!
Courtesy of Mike Houckham a photo of an annual tuggies childrens christmas party. Mike thinks it was taken about 1957 at either the Clarendon Hotel or the Co-op Hall.
SO!!! Do you recognise yourself or can you identify any future tug hands or their future wives or girlfriends or both!! Mike professes to be able to identify several but is keeping quiet for the moment. Answers by email or the contact form please [not in the guestbook please] and all received will be printed here below the pic.
1-1-2011; i can recognise myself two of my brothers and my dad bill pitcher,about four rows back on the right. regards terry pitcher
14-12-2014 Girl in front row 2nd left is Anita Kendrick - Margaret Clifford.
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From Mick Holloway collection and he suggests there may be some connection with the Arnold family. Input, as ever, most welcome.
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A tug company dinner being held at Gravesend, date unknown but I would guess at late 50's or early 60's. Any information gratefully received especially identification of any individuals. Photo from STL collection.
6-2-2009: The photograph you showed was probably taken at The Clarendon in Oct.1952. Seated at the table second from bottom facing are from left Johnny (Zero) and Sheila Allen, Betty and Gordon Williams. Backs to camera from left Nobby and Nell Haydon and Fred and Peggy Pattison.
Regards, K J Haydon.
14-3-2009; lovely site the photo of the dinner we think the man in the backround to
the right is my father in law frank cable my wife agrees i used to go on
the hibernia with him in the late 60s before i married his daugther sandra
as did my dad who was boat crazy he was from newcastle on the fishing
boats before the war. love your site.
roger knott.
28-6-2009: I have been asked to get in touch with you and give you a few more names for the Tug company dinner photo on your site. Sitting to Fred Pattisons right is a gentleman (blond haired man) called Chunkie. Man behind Fred Pattison is Johnny Watts and his wife. and we think that top left of Mr & Mrs Watts is Charlie Gwalter & Audrey his wife, (I believe he drowned on the river, when a towing cable snapped and knocked him into the river) and sitting next to Audrey is Bill Money.
My father (Mr George East) was on the river too but he was Customs but knew a lot of the tuggies when he was alive
Regards Tricia Filley.
27-8-2009: the lady in white sitting bottom right of picture is mrs mason capt tom masons wife &
the young lady opposite is her daughter pauline. my aunt & cousin by the way.
ken .chick hills.
6-11-2010; the chap sitting with the flowers in front of him is RON CHARMERS,
and the chap sitting behind him is ARTHUR JUDD. - Doug Hardy.
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Two pics from early WW2. The lower pic would appear to be the ill-fated Sun VII complete with grey funnel and may be taken at Southend Pier. The upper picture is also beleived to be a Sun Tug Crew. A long shot I know but grateful for any names or other details. Both photos from Alan Hughes colln.
1-11-2013 The two stern on pics are indeed the Sun VII which was mined in the estuary. The skipper was my grandad George Skinner Cawsey, also blown up in the sun IX he,s the one in the middle of both pics.should have called him lucky instead of oddie, he spent the first world war in a Turkish prisoner of war camp after his ship the Assiout was sunk in the Dardenelles. Eric Cawsey.
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