THE MESS ROOM
2007
JUNE - JANUARY
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IF YOU WISH TO VIEW IN CORRECT ORDER SCROLL TO BOTTOM AND WORK UP PAGE!!!
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Message received 30th June 2007.
Hi tug, great web site keep up the hard work thought I would send a few hms Belfast to you best regards nigel spiers.
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Message received 19th June 2007.
Thank you, Tug. I enjoy your site very much. Some of the pictures are of tugs my great grandfather, William, my grandfather James Frederick and great uncles William, George and Thomas Mason skippered.
Best wishes
David Mason.
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Message Received 8th June 2007.
Hi Tug
As you are now covering ATCL on the website I am sending a pic of the Sun Mercia.I joined her as master at the builders and brought her round to Gravesend in Sept. 1990 and remained in her until I retired in June 2000.
Colin Gardner
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Message received 1st June 2007.
Hello thames tugs,
What a great website, my name is Les Moore son of one the longest serving tuggies of Gravesend, most of you visiting this site will know him as Paddy ( real name Eric Moore)here is a list of the tugs he worked on- Ocencock,Arcadia,Cervia, Napia,Crested cock,Oceancock,Simla,Java,muria,Racia,Challange,Contest,Culex,Vespa, Water cock,Rana,Avenger,Hibernia,Suns 19,25,26,27, and the ill fated Implaccable.
please accept my apologies for any incorrect spellings.
Dad came over to England in the early fifties soon after his mother passed away, and found himself knocking on the office door of Dick and Page he lied to them that he was a stoker and was told to report the next day to the Ocean cock at 6 o'clock the rest is history as they say he retired in 1994 having worked up from stoker to Chief engineer.
He often recalls the shock of frequenting some of the public houses near the pier in those days as a young lad from Befast brought up in a church going family to witness shall we say ladies of the night. But most of all it was the comradship of fellow tuggies he remembers the most. I remember going on board with him as a boy Ridham dock was my favourite towing ships back and forth under the Sheppy bridge with people running from their cars to watch.
I remember tea made from sticky milk out of a tin and wonderful cooked breakfasts and being allowed to sit up in the bridge.
Dad is still around and can be seen EVERY lunchtime in the Westcourt inn two years ago he had a mild stroke but still likes a pint.
I have plenty of photo's you may like to look at please e mail me back.
Regards
Les Moore
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Message received 29th May 2007.
Hi All
I have just stumbled on your great site it prompted me to write a couple of words. I joined the Napia in about 1965 after a few months I was sent to woolwich to join the Java then transfered to the London releive crew.
I have some great memories the London docks at that time I am sure if any one thinks back they would say you could walk on the barges from one end of KG5 to the other with out going ashore I rose to the giddy heights of a 3rd had after a spell as junior Fireman. I left to join London dredging when the new Tilbury dock was being dredged. All the very best if any one remembers me jot me a line and i will reply. Being in a releif crew we were lucky enough to sail on most of Ship towage tugs. Does any body remember when Fossa , Rana and Culex were first bought (What rust buckets)
Regards
Glenn Hutchins
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Message received 21st May 2007.
Hi Tug
Just seen the site, Some of the more recent crew photo's brought back a
few memories. I joined London tugs in 1975 just as they became Alexandra Towing. Had
twenty years with them before taking severance in 1995. I have some
photo's taken on the Thames & on some of the sea trips I went on, if you
are intrested in seeing them.
Regards Ian Jarvis
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Message received 18th May 2007.
Hi Tug
Saw letter dated 13 May from Ray asking about Ted Lynch.Well, Ted now lives in Spain and I may be able find a contact adress through another ex-tugman friend of mine who I think is in contact with Ted
Colin Gardner
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Message received 14th May 2007.
Hello there,
My name is Frank Cable and I'm sure some of your fans will remember my
father, Frank Cable senior. Dad was at Dunkirk in the Cervia. I believe that some of the tugs went back and forth several times seem to remember him saying that he went more than once and didn't like it very much at all !
The Cervia was then stationed at Methil then Greenock on the Firth of Clyde and later, from there to Londonderry.
A story he told was that on the way back on the ferry someone asked his skipper, who was wearing his uniform, with white cap, what time the train left. They thought he was an employee of the ferry company. They tug crew found this hilarious, Captain Simmons didn't see the funny side at all. Dad said he would never wear a uniform out in public and never did. He would always go home and change before going into town. He was very proud of the uniform though.
I don't know exactly when he was made skipper, probably in the early 50's. One of his first and most well known salvages was of the 'British Builder'. He was acting master of the Contest at the time and received not only the salvage money but a bonus from the ships owners for the good work carried out by the tugs involved. I still have his letter from the company.
He took over as regular master of the Challenge sometime after that. I loved that tug. Any chance I got I came aboard with him, begged him, pleaded with him to let me come. I would be up at 5 in the morning waiting for him! I'm sure some of the crew got sick of me. If any of them remember me, I'm sorry, OK? I spent most of the time helping the cook or practicing throwing a rope on the foredeck. Much to dad and the chief engineer's annoyance.
In 1962 dad took over as the second crew of the brand new Hibernia. I was 11 years old at the time. What a different tug she was, all noise and vibrations. The sense of power was enormous! However, I did spend a very scary few minutes on the platform when turning a tanker at Thames Haven. I asked Dad if I could go up and watch the job from the platform. not thinking that when the turn started, the tug would take the strain over the quarter thus putting a 10 or 15 degree list on, that and the fact the engines were put to full ahead with the exhaust coming out of the funnel, the whole tug vibrating under the strain. I can still remember to this day hanging on for dear life! Never did go up there during a job ever again !
I joined the tugs myself in 1967, serving as 'boy' under Fred Love (I was petrified of him!) on the Contest. Then Harry Lane, ex Gaselee, in a relief crew at Woolwich until we were settled into the Fossa. From there I went to Gravesend on the Sun XlX under Harry Webb, His wife had 'The Peacock' up Peacock street. Other people I remember are John 'Persey' Peard, Denis Roberts, and John, the mate who took over the pub TheTerrace, I left the tugs in 1971 to join the Royal Air Force but still remember the tugs with huge affection. Anyway, hello to anyone that remembers me.
Dad, for some reason, I don't know what, finished his time on the Ionia, he retired early at 63 and sadly past away when he was only 67. I still miss him. I have his log book. You just would not believe how many hour they used to work! It also features some of the salvages he was involved with: In the Challenge, the KASSEL a ship hit amidships at the bottom of Gravesend Reach.
In the Hibernia, the VORBAN, a small ship that caught fire in the estuary and the MAGDEBURGE, collided with a Japanese ship at the top of Northfleet Hope. The Hibernia rescued some of her crew in the water; dad appeared in the Reporter, all very heroic!
I attach a couple of photos of dad on the Hibernia, slightly damaged, I'm afraid. Some friends of a member of the crew were aboard and the photos were given to him.
Hope this has been of interest, love the site and look forward to any new editions.
Sincerely
Frank Cable
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Message received 14th May 2007.
Greetings Tug.
Having spent some time away from your site I was amazed at how much extra content has been added.
Seeing pictures of my dad enjoying himself at Harwich with the tug of war picture brought a tear to my eye.
If you don't mind I will print that picture off for my mother who sorely misses my father.
Thank you for your efforts as this site is becoming more than the sum of it's parts for a lot of people.
I feel it's becoming a community as well as a historical document in it's own right.
Sites like this are too important to the descendants of the people that worked the Thames.
Please keep up the hard work.
It is appreciated probably more than you can imagine.
The one thing that will be tricky to complete is the list of crews for various tugs.
I Know that my father was probably on more than five tugs during his working life.
Some were as part of the two main crews that would have had to man the tugs but he also was part of relief crews
that went from tug to tug as needed.
I know he spent time based at Gravesend, Woolwich and Harwich.
Also does anybody have a photo of the ' Denton ' ?
Though I know it's not a tug, it did play a role of getting crews to and from tugs at the beginning and end of shifts.
In my short time of working for them during summer holidays it scared me stiff being on a boat that bow heavy.
Ray Fothergill.
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Message received 13th May 2007.
Hi Tug,
Just looked into the site and saw a pictur of the Sun Essex crew. Do you have any contact details for one of the crew namely Ted Lynch who was senior deckhand on the Sun X1 when I was cook and I would like to get in touch with him.
Kind regards
Ray
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Message Received 29th April 2007.
Hello All,
Late in life, starting family research, I have discovered that my forebears were very much in to 'towing', according to a cousin. I know little of my father`s side of the family having only seen 3 of his brother`s on a couple of occasions in the 50s. My Gt Grandfather was a William Mason (born c1840) , my grandmother was a Milton (born c1875). Family names were, William, James, George, John, Philip, Thomas. There was a rumour that 'Adcock' was sometimes added to the names of William`s children. Stormcock and Ulysses were tugs mentioned to me and Gamecock and Tilbury Towing companies may have family associations. Any snippet of information would be much appreciated.
Best Wishes,
John Mason
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Message received 16th April 2007
Dear Tug,
Looking through your photographs once more, I was taking a closer look at the "Java" she appears to be standing off Silvertown as in the background through the cranes, the chimneys of Brunswick Wharf PowerStation can be seen.
I was impressed with the view of the "Badia" taken from the jib of the "London Mammoth". It would have been in 1952 that the inner set of lock gates were lifted out for repair and maintenance. They were replaced by the gates from the centre of the lock, to enable the Surrey Docks to remain operational while repair work lasting several weeks were carried out: lifting out these heavy lock gates required the services of the 150 ton capacity "London Mammoth", and at least three attendant tugs to assist in manoeuvring her around the docks.
The "London Mammoth" had three engine rooms, the central engine room contained the main generator set for the crane motors, the ship lighting generator, ballast, deck wash, general service and boiler feed pumps, also the condenser with its circulating pump and air pump. The port and starboard engine rooms each contained a small compound propulsion engine, each complete with its own condenser, air and CW pumps. These engines were mainly to assist with the manoeuvrelibity of the vessel, and would not have been used to propell her without the assistance of the tugs. Steam was generated in a single two furnace oil fired Scotch boiler, which also supllied steam for the capstans, windlasses and the steering engine. The two tiller quadrants for the twin rudders can be clearly seen in the photograph, a truly magnificent shot.
Finished with engines,
With best wishes,
Tom Sheriff.
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Message received 14th April 2007
Hi there Tug. Just to say thanks to Colin Gardiner and Tom Sheriff for their replies to my queries about Clyde Puffer type boats.
Very helpful and informative. Thanks very much gents.
Regards Dave Coombes.
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Message received 13th April 2007.
Dear Tug,
Your excellent photographs have bought back memorys of the early 1950's when the Thames was alive, in particular the photographs of the Danube tugs, I remember watching "Danube VIII" on a clear sunny summers day passing the Greenland Dock Entrance Locks on her way downstream, with mud hopper "Bow Creeck" low down in the water. Considering the mucky business that they were involved with they allways seemed to be kept spotlessly clean.
I allso remember watching the mud hopper "Knock Deep" heavily loaded with mud, moving down the Lavender Dock at Surrey Docks using her windlass, a couple of deck hands walking along the dockside with the mooring ropes to the next bollard. Once into the Greenland Dock the waiting tug would take charge, I believe at that time many of the crew on these mud hoppers were East European refugees who lived on board. As a teenager I was allways very impressed by the site of the Danube tugs.
Finished with engines,
Best Wishes,
Tom Sheriff.
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Message Received 8th April 2007.
Hullo Tug,
I notice in your fleet list that the "Gallions Reach" is listed as a part of
the Tilbury Dredging Company's fleet, when I knew her in the 1950's she was a part of the PLA Dredging Service, was she later sold to TiburyDredging in the 1960's ?.
St. Katherine.
The PLA owned and operated their own passenger vessel, she took passengers down to the Royal Docks to look at the large passenger ships berthed their, and to see the dock installions, serving afternoon tea in the large but narrow dining saloon foward of the bridge on the way back to Tower Pier. She had been built during the 1920's by Phillip & Son of Dartmouth who also built the two totaly enclosed triple expansion main engines. Steam was generated in the forced draught coal fired scotch boiler, and electricity for lighting and navigation was generated by a small Greenwood and Batley steam turbine generator set. She was maintained by the PLA in an immaculate condition, and her crew were smartly atired n yachting type uniforms, when passing through the KG V locks she was held in the middlle of the lock by mooring ropes to prevent any damage to her white paint. She is now moored at Victoria Embankment in service as a floating Thai Restaurant, not as pristene as she was in her PLA days, a sad end for a neat little craft.
Finished With Engines,
Best Wishes,
Tom Sheriff
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Message received 2nd April 2007.
Dear Tug,
There were three tugs that I remember being attached to the PLA Dredging Service, they were "Westbourne", "Thorny" and the "Brent", they were all fitted with a drag and under running gear, a large rake suspended over the stern from a gallows which could be raised or lowered by means of a duplex steam winch located abaft the engine room casing. This apparatus would be lowered against a dock wall or similar position that the dredgers could not reach, and tow or drag mud and silt to the middle of the river where it would have been carried away by the outflowing tide. In the bows was a small jib with a roller suspended by a shackle from it, this jib was used for running the dredgers large kedge anchors out to a new position.
The "Westbourne" was the largest of the three tugs being fairly broad in the beam, but the "Thorny" was rather narrow beamed and on one occasion while running out the heavy anchor and chain for Dredger No 7, she was almost pulled over on her beam ends. Dredger No 7 being the largest vessel in the PLA fleet.
The "Brent" was built for the Ministry of Transport as TID 159 by W.
Pickerskill & Sons Ltd. Sunderland in 1945, she had a length of 65 feet,
beam 17 feet maximum depth 7 feet 4 inches. with a gross tonnage 54, she was propelled by a two cranck compound steam engine; steam was generated in an oil fired scotch boiler, appart from "London Mammoth", and the "Gallions Reach" she was the only oil fired PLA vessel in the PLA service in the 1950's. During the late 1970's she was owned by a Ronald L Hall of Maldon, Essex, who mainted her in working order.
The ship handling tugs were "Beverly", "Beam" and the "Walbrooke" there may have been a fourth but after more than fifty years I cannot be certain of this. They were twin screw and were propelled by two crank compound steam engines steam was generated by a three furnace scotch boiler. About 1952 the first of a fleet of four diesel tugs arrived the first being the "Plagall", followed by the "Plangent", "Platina" and "Platuae", they were twin screw being propelled by Crossley two stroke diesel engines. The "Beverlerly" was tested against the "Plagall" on a static bollard test, which I think was reffered to as a "Duckham Test", in the Norway Dock, the wash from their screws being directed through the cut under Redriffe Road to the Russia Dock. The "Plagall" pulled almost twice that of the "Beverly". As delivered "Plagall" was fitted with Khort Nozzles and expensive manganese bronze propellers, shortly after entering service she picked up a large baulk of timber which entered the starboard nozzle seriouslly damaging her propeller blades; the nozzles were removed and the propellers replaced by cast iron ones.
There were a couple of small diesel barge handling tugs for moving swim
ended barges around the Surrey Docks and into Surrey Canal; held on standby was a small elderly steam tug "Harty", she may have been built by the Rowhedge Ironworks, she had a small single furnace scotch boiler and a small two crank compound steam engine with the condenser cast into the rear columns. The circulating and air pumps, bilge and feed rams were driven by levers from the HP crosshead, lighting for ship and navigation was by parrafin oil lamps.
Finished With Engines,
Best Wishes,
Tom Sheriff.
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Message received 30th March 2007.
On Deck There,
With regard to David Coombes request about the small cargo vessels built on the lines of a Clyde Puffer, this sounds very much like a class of vessel known as the VIC boats, they were built during the war on the instructions of the War Department, they were capable of being beached where there was no wharf or jetty to discharge or load their cargo.
There are a couple of these vessels still around, one at least has been
converted to carry holiday makers around the Firth of the Clyde. The Port of London Authority operated one of these vessels as a Buoy Tender in their Salvage Department. I think that she may have been built by Richard Dunston of Thorne, she had a length of 66 feet 6 inches, with a maximum draft of 9 eet six inches: weighing in at 95 gross tons as built. She was propelled by a two crank compound engine, which may have been built by Crabtrees of Great Yarmouth.
Modifications by the PLA consisted fitting a rams horn over her bows,
placing a large duplex steam winch forward of the wheelhouse. A new spacious wheelhouse was placed forward of the funnel, and she was also given a new hinged funnel with an Admiralty top.
Her engine room became even more cramped, with with barely enough space for the main engine and the vertical cross tube boiler; the PLA added a banjo pump pump bolted to the bulkhead, a 3kW Sunderland Forge generator set, and a small G&J Weirs vertical boiler feed pump.
Working in this confined space was a driver and fireman; both would have been about sixty years of age, and things were even worse when on a test run, with a fitter, apprentice and fitters mate crowded into the engine room. It was one of the hottest engine rooms that I have ever been in, and in an attempt to improve the situation the PLA installed a "Thermo Tank Punker Louver" forced ventilation system to supply fresh air to the engine room and crews quarters. A repeater telegraph was also added, and a compartment aft of the engine room in the stern was fitted out as accomodation for the driver and master; she was also given the name "Glengall". The "Glengall" carried a slightly larger crew than would have been the case on a Clyde Puffer, including Master, Mate, Engine Driver, Fireman, two Deck Hands, a Cook and a Diver.
As with all other vessels in the Salvage Department, she was painted a deep bright green with a pale yellow funnel with a black top, the funnel however became hot enough to turn it to a pale pink.
Steering was completely manual using wire ropes, chains and spring buffers from the steering wheel to the simple unbalanced rudder mounted on the stern post. I saw her on one occasion heading into the Pool of London with a large mooring buoy suspended from her rams horn,this was pulling her down by the head making it heavy work against the current and the outgoing tide. I last saw her from a train crossing the Thames in the 1960's; she was moored off Battersea Power Station.
Regards,
Tom.
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Message received 28th March 2007.
Dear Sirs,
I served my apprenticeship with Harland & Wolff at their No 2 Surrey Docks works, and lattery in the drawing office at the No 10 works North Woolwich; at the Surrey Docks repair yard work was concentrated on the repair and maintenance of the Port of London Authority dredgers, tugs, and salvage vessels.
No 2 yard was located along the south and west sides of the Norway Dock, and from the time I started work in 1949 untill c1951, "Gallions Reach" was laid up along side the north side of the Norway Dock, at that time she was still dressed in wartime grey and had been converted to a salvage vessel during the war, with a rams horn over her bows. About 1951 she sailed north to Hull where she was converted to a grab dredger hopper vessel, three modern Priestman steam cranes with totaly enclosed cabs and separate duplex enclosed slewing engines. On her return she was absorbed into the Port of London Dredging Service. The Chief Engineer from Dredger No 5 was her new Chief Engineer on her return.
Hopper No 14 built by Fergusson Bros in 1911, was the other large grab dredger in the fleet, I understand that there were three of these vessels built by Fergussons for the PLA in 1911,as self propelling mud hoppers designed to tow large dumb hoppers out to the deeps and that two of the hoppers and the dumb hoppers were sold to The Tilbury Contracting and Dredging Company.
The tugs of the PLA fleet I remember and worked on as an apprentice were, "Thorney", "Westbourne", "Brent" oil fired an ex TID, "Harty" a very small steam canal tug, the PLA ship handling tugs "Beverly", "Wallbrook" and "Beam" and the new motor tugs "Plagall"," Platina" and "Plangent". From 1953 untill the end of my apprenticeship in 1954 I worked in the Ship Drawing office at North Woolwich, the large windows looked straight down the King George V Dock, giving a wonderfull display of the large passenger ships such as "Dominion Monarch", "Mooltan","Maloja","Highland Brigade" and many others belonging to Union Castle, and the New Zealand Shipping Company.
One of my memories is of watching the "Mooltan" loaded up with passengers outward bound for Sydney, being escorted down the KG V dock by four Gamecock tugs, the tugs going into the locks first, and standing off in the Gallions Reach while the "Mooltan" was warped into the lock; using the lockside hydraulic capstans. She came out in to the Gallions Reach stern first where the tugs took charge and brought her about ,before escorting her downstream.
Yours Faithfully,
Thomas Sheriff.
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Message received 23rd March 2007.
Hi Tug,
I have just noticed the pictures of model tugs in gallery 2 sent in by George Boyd, I would love to get hold of a model of the SUN XV or the Sun X1 or Sun X11 do you know where George got his models or can you find out? Please feel free to pass my e-mail address on to George. Since finding the site I am now a regular visitor as your site brings back very fond memories of my time aboard the Sun X1 and Sun X11, it was nice to see a picture of my old Skipper Fred Cawsey when his was Skipper of the relief crew Sun V111. I would appreciate any help that any one who visits the site can give regarding the models.
Aye Aye Skip, Ray Wood.
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Message received 21st March 2007.
Hi Tug
your correspondent Dave Coombes was asking about small coasters that looked like Clyde puffers. I do remember them and believe they were involved in the munitions trade and run by the government
Colin Gardner
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Message Received 19th March 2007.
Hi, I have an interest in the old Ship Towage tugs as my father was chief engineer for some time on the Sun Tugs, Sun XXI etc., his name was Bob Farrow.To get back to the reason for this email, I put into Ramsgate the other week and spied the poor old Cervia, she is in a disgusting state of repair and will shortly if nothing is done most probably sink at her moorings. A very sad end for what was once a smart looking work horse on the Thames. - David Farrow.
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Message received 17th march 2007.
hello there,
My name is Dave Coombes. In the early 1950s I worked briefly on the Sun Tugs before going to sea. During this time I recall seeing small cargo ships which were not named but carried I.D. codes. They had brown or perhaps khaki superstructure and black hulls. they looked like a small version of the Clyde Puffers. As I remember the codes were 1 or 2 letters and a number e.g. RE 10, or R10 or similar. They were usually moored on the South bank of the river in the lower reaches. I thought they may have been military vessels. I feel sure that some long serving tug men would know what these ships were and who operated them, and I would much appreciate any info. they could give me.I have tried to find out about these ships for some time and was pleased to find your excellent site. Hope to hear from you soon - Dave Coombes.
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Message Received 14th March 2007.
Hi, I am looking for my Grandad and am wondering if you can help me. I was told he worked on the tugs. The name I have are the sun and Alexander towing. Is there a way I can find any more please? His name was William Henry Kimberley, he was a fireman and died in 1950. Thanks,
Mr Chris Kimberley.
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Message received 6th March 2007
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Hi, my name is Tony Gregory and I recently left the tugs as Skipper after 40 odd years. I have just found your site and I think it is great, particularly the crew photo's, seeing all the people I grew up with. I have got loads of tug photo's including towing jobs and crew photo's if you are interested. Keep up the good work, hope to hear from you soon - Tony.
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Message Posted 6th March 2007.
With reference to the picture in the message below [ Now in photo gallery] I am indebted to Bill Harvey who contacted me via another site with the following:-
" Donaldsons CORRIENTES inward to Thames collided with Bullard King's UMTALI outward for S. Africa, shortly before 07:00 16th May 1937. Pushed onto sandbank by six tugs to avoid blocking nav. channel. (Source Donaldson Line by P. J. Telford, WSS 1989)"
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Message Received 15th February 2007.
Hi tug have found this photo i do not have the sp on it perhaps one of your members can throw some light on it regards
Tony Judd
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Message received 5th February 2007.
Hi My name is Don Harris, I have worked on the river Thames, man and boy, up until the year 2000.Since I retired I have been building up a collection of rare film of life on the Thames since the begining of thecentury, Gravesend tugs in particular. Including rare film of Sun tugs and Watkins.I would like to contact anyone with similar interests, with view to sharing and adding to my collection.
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Message received 4th February 2007.
Hi,
I inherited a large number of photos of tugs etc from my father Cyril Thomas Phillips who was with Dick and Page, Watkins, Ship Towage and London Tugs for 51 years. would you be interested in seeing them?
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Message received 28th January 2007.
Dear Tug
I would really appreciate your help.
I am tracing my Family Tree and have found through the 1881 Census that a member of my family was once a driver on the 'Game Cock Steam Tug' this is the information supplied to me via the census form.
His name was 'Charles Hammond' aged 33 years and was the driver of the above Vessel.
Please could you help with this information as I would love to see a photograph or a sketch of this vessel.
I have been on to your web site and was very impressed so hopefully you can help me!!
Anxiously waiting for any information Sarah
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Message received 26th January 2007.
Hi,
My Name is Ray Wood and I worked on Sun Tugs in the early 60’s. I started off as cook on the Sun X1 and then went on to be junior deckhand on the Sun X11 to my regret I left and have lamented that decision ever since!!
I recall most of the crew members of the Sun X1 during my time on board. Skipper was Fred Causey, the Mate was Jim Lakey, and Chief engineer was Malkie can’t remember his surname now! Leading hand was Fred Elliott and completing the engine room staff was Les Wood no relation. Senior Deckhand was Ted Lynch and Junior Deckhand was George Cuthbert soon to leave for the Sun X11 as Senior deckhand.
Joey Hoare joined the X1 as junior deckhand replacing George, I later went to the X11 as junior deckhand, Ted Mee was the Skipper with Nutty Arnold as Mate, and George Cuthbert as Senior deckhand can’t remember the rest of the crew. I have very fond memories of my time with Sun Tugs, so I was very pleased to find your website should any of the guys from back then be reading this get in touch with me via this site.
Tell me is it possible to obtain any of the pictures of the Sun tugs on the
site?
Kind regards
Ray
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Message Received 23rd January 2007
Hi,
Just been looking through your website after my mum had been given a photo of her father. My grandfather was captain Frank Cable. He appears in your "crew photos" on the Kenia. He was also on (as far as I know) the Challenge, the Crested Cock and the Cervia). If anyone has any information or even better some photographs, I would really love to hear from them. I haven't seen a photo of my grandfather for a very long time and was delighted to see him in his uniform as I remember him dressed in it when I was a child.
great site, keep up the good work!
sarah b
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Message received 5th January 2007.
Hi tug! myname is Tony Judd i would like to join your messroom and get some pics of your webbsite I was cook on the SUNXV111 in 1958/9 as far as i can remember the crew i was with were Captain Smythe OBE ,mate Dennis ?, deckhand Frank ? chief engineer Jim ? 2nd engineer Sam? we were one of 2 crews 24hrs on24of we allways relieved at 0900 at north woolwich pier or werever we wereworking. i was only a slip of a lad and the mate Dennis was a great help to me
Regards Tony Judd
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