Seadogs Index A-B

'I joined Oriana for her maiden voyage and served on her throughout the early and mid sixties. I was a Steward. I joined her more or less straight from school and was a Bell Boy for the first two years. I was assigned to the print shop and spent most of the time walking round the ship delivering menus etc. When I got my rating I worked in the first-class dining saloon. Happy days! Best wishes to all ex crew members.'

Alan's email address is Freddy9797@blueyonder.co.uk

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Alan Conlin (aka TT)

Here he is in the shit as usual.

TT was a really likeable guy. I can’t remember ever hearing him say a bad word about anybody. The nickname TT came from his likeness to the actor Terry Thomas because of the trademark gap between his two front teeth.

Here’s a very recent shot of TT and his lovely wife Debrah and yes that is Adro, the winner of Australia’s Biggest Loser.

Alan sent this message;

‘My other half, Debrah, recently became a Subway franchisee. A week or so ago we attended a Subway convention in Coolum in Qld, and as major sponsor to the programme 'Biggest Loser', one of the guest speakers was the winner of the game, Adro. That’s Deb and I having a chat with Adro after his presentation, he is a genuinely decent bloke. I mentioned that I had a friend who had been inspired by the programme to change their lifestyle and he sent best wishes and encouragement and strongly recommends you log onto an online ( FREE) health programme he says will help, which is...’

http://www.free-online-health.com/

I really appreciate that TT so if there’s any more seadogs out there struggling with trying to get rid of the odd pound then check that site out.

There’s more photos of TT here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here,

Alan’s email address is adsconlin@tpg.com.au

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Alan MacKenzie

Alan joined P&O in November 1976 as a Trainee Radio Officer. His first ship was the Canberra followed by 7 others totalling an amazing 26 years at sea. He started as Radio/Electronics Officer, later ETO and finally, in the last ten years or so, SETO. The above shot was taken on the 10th September 1980 and his gorgeous companions are Joy & Helen, Social Hostesses. They’d bring joy to anywhere wouldn’t they :)

Alan’s Sea Career was as follows;

Canberra	about 12 years on and off 1976-1996
Oriana (I)	about 2 years total 1977-1982
Sea Princess/Victoria	about 7 years total 1979-2001
Uganda	only 1 month regretfully, June/July 1980
Sun Princess (I)	4 months, August-November 1980
Island Princess (I)	1 week, June 1982
Royal Princess	building standby, then six months, 1984/85
Arcadia (III)	18 months, curtailed by necessity, 2001-2002

Sadly he had to leave the Sea in November 2002 to become a permanent carer for his increasingly aged and disabled parents.

Alan wrote the following in his email to me;

‘Firstly may I say how very impressed I have been, going through the wonderful collection you have put together on this website. I have spent literally, hours going through it (I think I've just about seen it all now) and bits are just so nostalgic it almost hurts!’

‘It is just so atmospheric looking through all this material, it really brings the old ships back to life again’

Thanks Alan, receiving feedback like that makes it all worthwhile. We wish you all the best with, what many would see as, the burden you now have to bear. Hopefully you don’t consider it a burden but a privilege.

Alan’s written an amazing account of his time at sea which I considered selecting pieces from to post here but decided it needed to be read in it’s entirety so click here to read it.

Alan’s supplied over 200 photos all with his own narration which I’ve split into 9 new sections which are now all posted here.

You really have to check out this new section. Alan actually owns and operates two ships and you can see them both here.

Alan’s email address is strathspey@talktalk.net

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Alan Richards (aka Yorkie)

Alan was definitely on the Canberra because I cut this from the 1984 Xmas Eve group in the Island Room but I'm not sure of the rest of his sea history. You can see the full photo here.

Alan has supplied some additional interesting information about the infamous Baron Von Barraclough pourout.

Alan's email address is alan@alankazam.co.uk

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Alan Sinclair

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

Christmas 1977 on the Strathaird, Alan Sinclair EO as Father Christmas and Roger Lownsborough collecting his Christmas present (He tells me he'd hoped for a replacement radar!).

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Alan Wadham

Photo & narration courtesy of Steve Hodge

Al Wadham - Alan Wadham AELO on Pacific Princess. Al was pretty good at darts as I remember - better at getting people in the head than double tops though. That's Jim Lakin in the background. Jim was an Ug Tug man on PP for motor time, I don't think he enjoyed it too much - noisy diesels and all that oil in the bilge!

There’s more photos of Al here, here, here,

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Alan Williams

Alan was an Engineer on Sun Princess, Canberra and Pacific Princess. The above was taken on Pacific Princess around 1989. The full shot can be seen in Pacific Princess Groups.

Alan's email address is awalanwilliams@gmail.com

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Alec Sunderland (RO)

Alec was a Radio Officer on Oriana but due to the relatively large size of the Engineering Dept we tended just to socialise amongst ourselves and didn’t have the need to get to know other officers which of course, in hindsight, was pretty narrow minded.

When I first received this picture of Alec I remembered his face but realised I’d never actually spoken to him. I also discovered he’s been living just a few miles away from me here in Perth for years now.

There’s more of Alec in Alec's Memories section.

Alec’s email address is alecsunderland@hotmail.com

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Alex Morton

Alex was one of the first guys I met when I joined P&O. We were on the induction course together in Southampton. Alex & I sailed on TE Canberra together in 1974 and later on SS Nevasa. Here he is sharing an Allsopps Lager in my Canberra cabin. Note the froth on the top … warm beer. I couldn’t do it these days.

This is Alex in my cabin on Nevasa with his left arm around Judith Garbutt (Nee Wright) who at the time was just a passenger but has turned out to be my Cousin by marriage and I was the Best Man at her wedding.

This is the latest shot I have of Alex with his girlfriend and her mother. He tells me he’s very happy with his life. Lucky man.

Above is the Crown Princess which Alex and wife, Lynn have just spent a few weeks on sailing from New York to the Caribbean and back. They thoroughly enjoyed it and are going again next year.

Relaxing on the private balcony.

Speaks for itself.

A very handsome couple indeed. Alex says his life has been wonderfully crazy since he met and married Lynn. He knows he left it a bit late but boy have they had fun since that happy day. Good luck to them both.

Alex’s email address is ibroxeck@blueyonder.co.uk (bouncing at the moment)

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Alistair ? (aka Super Mac)

That’s Super Mac on the right with John Thow. He was a legend at wheeling in. His record was 6 in one night. I take my hat off to you Mac. He’s another person I haven’t been able to track down since I started the original website. If anyone knows anything about him please let me know.

Here’s a good shot of Super Mac in Athens I think it was with Dirty Harry on the left and TT behind.

Does anyone know where he is now?

I’ve just received the following information from Brian Griffin;

‘After leaving the sea, Alistair moved to Sydney, in 1979. We met up regularly for a 'few' beers at the Neutral Bay, Oaks Hotel, in Sydney, and reminisced about the good old days. Mac, like myself was a VO, and he was employed by a company called Atlas Air, whilst I was with Danfoss, both in Sydney. During 79-81 we met regularly until we both got 'involved' and the last I heard of Mac he was married/living in North Ryde, in Sydney. I too would like to catch up with him, if anybody knows his whereabouts....he owes me a round from the Oaks!’

There’s more photos of Super Mac here

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Alistair Cordiner

No Photo yet

To date I know nothing about Alistair but he was one of the few who used the new self upload feature which is now being dismantled. The photos have been transferred to Alistair's Memories.

Alistair's email address is adcordiner@hotmail.com

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Amanda ? (Nursing Sister)

No photo yet!

Amanda recalls;

A few faces I remember from my time as a Nursing Officer. Had the pleasure of being on the Oriana for her Maiden Voyage and two contracts on the good old Canberra. Lots of 'hazy' but happy memories of my 2 years with P&O

Amanda's email address is ajbowlegs@aol.com

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Andrew Rowlands

Andrew was part of the very important Bar staff on Canberra without which our lives at sea wouldn't have been worth living. Our thanks go to all of you for a brilliant job well done.

Andrew sent in a great group shot of the entire Canberra Bar Staff (other than those on duty at the time).

Andrew's email address eagles64@bigpond.net.au

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Andy Ball (aka Lightning)

I'm hoping to get some better photos of Andy since he's now found the site and contacted me with some great information about other photos on the site especially the last unnamed person in the Engineers Formal '75 Group.

"The missing name from the photo is definitely Pete Woods, he was the other cadet with Dave Grant, both paying off at the end of the October refit in Southampton, when they were replaced by Steve "Slimey" Allen and myself (Lightning). I never actually sailed with Pete, but spent all 3 years at college with him, I think he went to the West Coast as did Steve, but I don't think either of them stayed at sea very long as I never heard of them for more than a couple of years after we finished our time and became juniors. I bumped into Dave Grant occasionally over the years, I certainly heard of him as a 3/E/O, but not since. I left after the last cruise of the big "O" in 1986. When I left there was only the Captain (can't remember who), Dave Mitchell 3/E/O, the 2/E/O (might have been George McHugh, I'm not sure) and another 3/E/O left behind, making a total ship's company left from the old days of four!

Here I am enjoying a drink with Pat Kilbane. If I remember rightly we're at an Irish club in Kilburn near where we both lived (Pat being Irish by the way).

No idea what I'm giggling hysterically at, but it was funny at the time!

Andy recalls;

"This will remind everyone just how much soot there was and I can assure you I left plenty behind for everyone else! Good excuse to clear the tubes with some amber nectar though! The best thing about this photo is that you can see one of my prized possessions on the shelf behind me. The brass cloud and lightning bolt mounted on a highly polished wooden plaque. It was made for me as a "Secret Santa" present one year on the big "O". I never found out who made it but I always suspected Dave Jewkes or Mike Jack. It was a superb piece of engineering, highly polished and it sat in my cabin on display for the remainder of my sea-going career. Credit where credit's due would the manufacturer like to confess after all these years?"

L-R:

Bill "Fly Cruise" Kent (3/O), Roddy McConnell (A/E/O) and Andrew "Lightning" Ball (A/E/O).

Here's an unbelievable story about the above shot told by Andy;

We were all on the 12-4, outward bound to Oz, (I think it would have been 1979, but I'm open to correction on that one). We decided to go ashore for breakfast and then had a wander around the Ports O'Call shopping village (like you do), saw the photo shop and went in. We quickly established that we would have to come back for the photos after they'd been developed and framed and by the time they would be ready, we'd all be back on watch. However, the shop re-opened at 4:30 pm and as we weren't sailing till 5 we thought we were in with a good chance of a quick shower, dash ashore, collect the photos prompt at 4:30, back to the ship with at least 5-10 minutes to spare! Even Fly Cruise thought we could do it, and as you can guess from his nick name, he knew all about missing the ship!

Anyway, after watch we were just about to leg it ashore when one of the electricians, (I always remembered it as Don Cole, but he swears it wasn't him!) wanted to join us as he'd been given an early knock off because he'd been on standby that morning and wanted to get ashore in L A even for a few minutes. We all legged it to the photo shop, got there before 4:30 (congratulating ourselves that we therefore had plenty of time to get back), but the owner was late, we were just going to give up when he arrived. We finally left the shop with all our photos in my canvas P & O bag and started to run as we were quite late by now. The anonymous electrician was lagging behind a few feet and so was the first to be approached by this American in a Porsche asking what his hurry was and did he want a lift? He explained he was with us, and the Yank said "they can ride on the hood!" He got in and the car caught us up, and after the brief explanation we all piled on the front, Bill and Roddy at the two sides and me in the middle, rubbing shoulders with them, with the bag of photos on my lap, we all thought we were going to do about 5 mph through the docks, and so we did, until we came to the next dock gate, when Yankee boy did a hard left turn out of the dock gate and right onto the Freeway running alongside and accelerated up to 50 mph. At least Bill and Roddy had spare hands to hold on with, (although there is nothing to hold on to, next time you see a Porsche have a look!) I was sat in the middle with my hands full of photos wondering how far ahead of the car I could get if he even looked at the brakes before he ran me over! I may even have made a modest request of the driver to ease his speed down slightly! (My companions will put it a little stronger than this, but I assure you I maintained a stiff upper lip throughout.) Anyway we made it back to the Oriana in time before sailing and over a very large gin each ( and by very large, I do mean VERY VERY LARGE) in Bill's cabin before he had to go on standby the now anonymous electrician tried to tell us that he had the scariest ride, inside the car with his seat belt on as he could see the speed we were doing, and nothing out of the front window except three backs and he could only imaging what was going on in front of the car! We assured him that as we could see, and we didn't need to see the speedo to know we were overtaking everyone and weaving in and out of the traffic we had the slight advantage of the experience!

Andy's email address is andrew.ball10@virgin.net

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Andy Jackson

Andy was a real nice guy. Very quiet but very funny. I’d love to hear from him. That’s Andy on the left having an Allsopps with Roy Arnold (aka Arnie).

It turns out Andy’s still at sea sailing as Guarantee Engineer on the MV Arcadia.

L-R:

Paul Clasby (CTO), Andy Jackson (Guarantee Engineer) and Steve Burgoine (Captain).

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

Glass in hand, surrounded by women - situation normal ! Good old Andy. I think the gorgeous lady on the left is Roger Lownsborough's wife.

There’s more photos of Andy here, here,

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Andy Patterson

No photo yet!

Andy sailed on Uganda in 1976 for 3 months after the Malta drydock, Oriana for 4 months from October 1977, both as a Deck Cadet. On Oriana he ran the Officer's Wardroom. Then 3/0 on Oriana and Canberra in 1978, followed by Uganda in 1979. He then moved to Princess sailing on IP in 1979 and SP in 1980. Andy quit P&O in 1981 and joined the local ferries where he's now Senior Master.

Andy's email address is apatters@telus.net

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Andy Smales

No photo yet!

Andy writes;

I attended sea school at Gravesend under contract for P&O in 1980. My first 3 ships were deep sea cargo division, Strathdoon, Strathesk & Wild Fulmar then onto Uganda for about a year on the falklands supply run. I then joined Canberra in Sydney early 1984. I then joined the Royal Princess for her maiden voyage and stayed with her till she was made redundant. My last position was a wine steward on the Royal Princess. The skipper was mainly John Young (very dry humour but once you got to know him he was a great skipper).

I met Ann on Canberra (PRS) and got married in 1985. We both ended up together on the Royal Princess. My family, (me, Ann and our two kids) did the final cruise on Canberra in September 1997. It was our second honeymoon and farewell to the ship that brought us together. My father, Norman Smales, was with B.I. and P&O for almost 40yrs, mainly sailing as 3rd eng officer (I have ALL his old dishcharge books). Sadly he passed away in 1989. His favourite ships were Dunera, Chusan, Nevasa & Uganda.

Andy's email address is susan.andrews943@ntlworld.com

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Ank Bakker (now Hawkesworth)

Ank sailed between 1968-1973 on Canberra, Chusan and Himalaya and is now the lovely wife of Mike Hawkesworth.

Ank's email address is ankhawkesworth@hotmail.co.uk

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Annette George

Oriana 1975

L-R:

Dave Rourke (2nd Chef), Annette George (SWAP), Phil Prescott (AP), Pauline Miller (AP).

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Annie Ollson

Courtesy of Dave Traynor

Annie (Duchess of Bootle) Ollson

There's more of Annie here,

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Archie Anderson

Archie worked on the Big O as V/O in the mid 1980’s and remembers most of the Engineers around that time. He went to the TEV Canberra as 2nd V/O after the Falklands and from there to the famous Island Princess (love Boat ). He now works as an Industrial Refrigeration Engineer in the UK .

Above is Archie on the left with Jim Craig.

Archie also sent me a three brilliant shots of the Big O and two group shots which I’ve put in the relevant sections.

Archie’s email address is canb12000@yahoo.co.uk

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Barry Chilton (Freeza Geeza)

This is Barry on his first outward bound trip to Oz on the portside aft boat deck of Himalaya in 1968

Here's Barry showing the dedication that Merchant Navy Engineers are World famous for ... Work Until You Drop. The planting of the Bacardi bottle was a malicious setup and the shameless perpetrator will remain nameless.

This is Barry and wife on their wedding day.

The family group and his good Mate Rick Butler on the right.

Here's Barry a few years on taken at his Nephew's wedding.

The magnificent venue is Castle Campbell, Dollar in Scotland and was taken on the 20th October 2007.

There's more photos of Barry in the Oronsay Groups section here, here, here, here and here.

Barry's email address is barrye@telus.net

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Barry Roughton

No photo yet!

Barry joined Oriana in 1962 as Baker, before then he was on Ivernia and Orion. He loved the Oriana but as P&O took over Orient Lines in the early 60's a lot of crew were made redundant, including Barry and he was not happy about it. He then joined Port Line on Port Wyndham, now that was different ..

Barry adds;

'So sad to see the crappy ending to the great and much loved Oriana after all those years of service'

Barry's email address is roughton.v68@iinet.net.au

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Bernie O’Dell (Deceased)

Courtesy of Andy Ball

Andy recalls;

Uganda 1975, a bit of a tribute to the late Bernie O'Dell, a really great guy and fun to be with. I think he's a 3/E/O by the time of this shot and that's Ian Grant A/El/O on the right. We had a special coach trip, ship's company only, to Rome. I was a cadet at the time, on 8-12 with Ian Mark, 3/E/O and John Barclay, 4/E/O, and I was put in charge of the ice, we froze ice cream containers full of water in the brine room in advance, ran the containers under a tap to get the blocks out, wrapped the blocks in towels and bashed them on the deck to break them up (no fancy flake ice machines then), the ice went in the polystyrene boxes obtained from the stores by John Barclay (ex cauliflower containers or something like) and the beers went in as well. Someone from the deck department was sent down to find out what was making the ship shake so much, but when he found out it was me breaking ice for the beers for the trip, asked me to finish asap before someone in real authority came down to find out what was happening, in the meantime he was going to nip and get changed and then come back and give us a hand carrying the beers if he could put his cans in too! All day people passed us warm beers in exchange for cold, the very last beer being ceremoniously opened (by John Barclay I think) within sight of the dock gates on the way back. Perfect timing!

Bernie is listed in the Seadogs Departed section here

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Bernie Warner

Courtesy of Phil Archer

Phil writes;

This one is taken on the IP (1982) of Bernie and the new Hairy Manager.
"Have you seen the size of my bread Stick"... welcome aboard!

There's more of Bernie here.

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Bert McAughtrie

Bert was a nice young lad who fitted in well. As you can see in the photo he loved a beer and a good laugh and did pretty well with the ladies as I recall.

This is what Bert looks like now

L-R:

Brian Griffin, Bert McAughtrie, Willie Henry, James Stevens

There’s more photos of Bert here, here, here, here,

Bert’s email address is bert.mcaughtrie@g-lng-m.com

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Betty Leong

Betty was gorgeous, both personality and physically. She was a Croupier on Oriana in ‘75/’76 we were very good friends for a while. We lost contact 30 years ago but I would love to find out if she’s OK. If anybody out there knows anything about her then please email me.

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Bill Bixley (aka Bill Bruce)

Photo & narration courtesy of Steve Hodge

Bill Bruce - Another Aussie engineer with P&O. Bill Bixley (aka Bill Bruce), a thoroughly nice bloke and top engineer. Think he got a job with a turbine company in Sydney when he left the sea.

There’s more photos of Bill here,

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Bill Carr (aka Willy)

Courtesy of Keith Radford

That's Bill "Willy" Carr holding up the Aft pool Tam Shanter Bar on Oronsay, looking a bit worse for wear I must say.

There's lots more photos of Bill in the Oronsay Groups section here, here, here, here and here.

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Bill McCandless

That’s a very young looking Bill on the right taken on Oronsay. Bill’s another stayer who reached the dizzy heights of Chief Technical Officer on the new Pacific Princess.

Here’s Bill in the middle of Celia Cowan (now Chester) and her husband Peter Chester who was an Engineer on Uganda. The photo was taken by Celia’s Daughter Katie who was a WAP on the PP at that time … talk about keeping it in the family.

Here's a great photo and the first we have of the great man's better half.

L-R

Bill MCCandless (CTO), Mrs McCandless, Margaret Macdonald (1Off) and Darko Paluncic (Senior 1st Engineer Officer).

There’s more photos of Bill starting here.

Bill’s due to retire on the 27th February 2007. We wish you all the best for a long and happy retirement Bill in Long Beach, California.

Bill Wilson (aka Quarter To)

Bill was the nicest, quietest Bloke you’re ever likely to meet. His nick name “Quarter To” came from the fact that he always called the watch and the words “it’s a quarter to Steve” was all I ever heard him say :). I’ve heard on the grapevine that Bill was left a tidy inheritance and is now retired and enjoying the life of Riley but Bill refutes that rumour and tells me he’s just another poor Scott living in England.

That's Bill on the left with Taffy Williams getting off the Big O somewhere in the Pacific.

Now that’s a face I definitely would’ve have recognized in the street … another one who’s hardly changed a bit. Onya Bill. Bill and his wife, Mary now live in Malvern and on the occasion of his 55th Birthday recently Dave Jewkes went to visit them and took these great shots.

What proper Scottish family would be complete without a Cairn Terrier?

Two old Seadogs together … priceless :)

A rose between two thorns … Mary Quarter To I presume …

Great photos Dave, well done.

There’s more photos of Bill here,

Bill’s email address is polobill@aol.co.uk

Bob Baker

Photo & narration courtesy of Steve Hodge

Bob Silly Hat - Bob Baker AEO on Pacific Princess, one of the best guys I ever sailed with.

Photo & narration courtesy of Steve Hodge

Bob in a Blow - Bob Baker. I think we were heading down to Panama and the day after this was shot went straight through a hurricane. It tested some sea legs and as I remember I failed horribly.

There’s more photos of Bob here, here, here, here, here,

Bob Brunyee

Courtesy of Don Cole

Don recalls;

‘The shot above, taken on Uganda in 1979, is of a cabin singsong with Bob Brunyee on the accordion who used to entertain us (which kind of made up for the lack of crumpet on deck's). On the left of Bob was the Honey Monster who's name escapes me but he was big so you just kept giving him beer.’

He continues;

‘This serious looking group obviously worrying that the "Slops" may be running low were Right to Left, Derek ?, the smart one in the cap was Mr Crump the 3rd officer of the watch (it's OK we where in port I hope), then Bob Brunyee and John Adamson 3rd Eng.’

There's more photos of Bob here,

Bob Chambers

Bob was a quiet but very capable guy. He was in the next cabin to me on Oriana and I don’t remember him ever keeping me awake but I don’t think he could say the same about me. I hope he couldn’t anyway. Bob never complained about anything and just got on with everything quietly and confidently.

Below are snippets from an email Bob sent,

‘Let me honestly say this to you Steve - I can never hear a Barry White song on the radio without thinking of the Big "O" and one Steve Borrill who would, without fail, put this great man’s music on the very moment he entered his cabin after a grueling 4 hours down the pit! It was never ever a problem to me I swear, but you must have been sick as a dog of hearing my Tubular Bells and Moody Blues stuff over and over again - just can’t believe that I used to actually "wheel in" to that crap! little wonder that it never got me very far with the "cargo"! (to tell the truth I still like to hear it even now, but only when I’m alone driving my car for obvious reasons!).

You remembered correctly about the circumstances when we last met Steve, it was my mother that was critically ill from a brain hemorrhage that was to leave her partially paralyzed, but, thankfully from which she later recovered. I was of course repatriated and spent all of my accrued leave with my mother during her convalescence, some 5 months I recall. This leave was what I had saved to spend in Oz but was never meant to be - God laughs when man plans!!! How true and how my life would have been so different had I gone to Oz!?

Yes I have loads of photos my friend, including some very special pictures of the infamous "Whale Watch" performed by our very own - Charles Oxley - inventor of the PZ Gas Lighter! Will get these to you as soon as I find out how to do so, I promise.

And of course Desiderata ... what wonderful stuff it was and still is! I saw it first on your cabin wall mate and love it today as much as ever along with Rudyard Kipling’s "If" - What wonderful values to live your life by - "and above all.....strive to be happy!

Thanks again old salt for all that you’ve done in creating such a wonderful website.’

And thank you Bob for being one of life’s true gentlemen and especially for your comments that makes this labour of love all worth while.

and here's what Bob looks like now. If you added the mo and took off the specs you'd hardly notice a difference.

There’s more photos of Bob here, and here,

Bob’s email address is bobchambers365@hotmail.com

Bob Eden

Bob was the life and soul of any party on Nevasa. He’s a very competent guitar player which never failed to come out as the party went on and the consummate entertainer emerged.

Here's Bob at Ports O' Call, San Pedro, California.

This was a pub night on the Canberra

Ditto

He’s still at sea and still entertaining on the tall ships off the Whitsunday Islands. This one is called the Defender.

This is Bob now as Captain Bob of the good ship Ron of Argyll but he looks a bit more like Pirate Bob to me. Sorry Mate.

Bob kindly gave me his great album of Folk music at the recent Reunion in Perth.

Click on the above picture which is the inside image of the CD, it's brilliant and I can't stop playing it. Bob had kindly agreed to allow me to put one track on here and so I've chosen his great rendition of Danny Boy.

There’s more photos of Bob here and here and in Nevasa groups section.

Bob’s email address is eden_bob@hotmail.com

Bob Frost

No Photo Yet!

Bob was Orient Line Senior Assistant and Tourist Purser on Orsova, Orion, Orcades, Oronsay, Oriana 1 from 1956 to 1963.

Bob's email address is dawlish@bigpond.com

Bob Godding

No Photo Yet!

Bob joined Orsova in 1968. He started as a 1st class waiter (Pat Devaney was assistant head waiter), he then moved to the hospital as hospital attendant. Bob left the sea in 1972 to marry Viv the Tele-Op.

Bob's email address is julia.bob@sky.com

Bob Gower

Courtesy of Joe Clark

Bob served in the Pursers Department on Orcades in 1961. He now lives in Brisbane.

There's the group photo where this was cut from in Orcades Groups here

Bob Johnston

Bob was a Public Room Steward in the Ocean Bar on Oriana. He joined Oriana in Sept 1975 in Southampton outward bound to Aussie and stayed on until she returned to Southampton. He served me many a beer in the O Bar. He finished on Oriana in April of 1978, married a passenger and has been in Sydney since then.

Bob recalls;

'We all had a good time on Oriana it will always be a part of our lives.

I remember him well along with a few others like Kevin. They were very important to us and had to be treated with great respect. Your wheeling triumphs depended on these guys doing the right thing to make you look good to the wheelees. If you crossed them the chances of being totally ignored while trying to get your girl a drink was just about guaranteed and hence your chances of a wheeling success were pretty well dashed.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for a job well done guys.

The next photos are some recent shots of Bob who now lives in Sydney and the ship is the new Oriana.

Great shots Bob, thanks for sending them in. I have to say Mate, I don’t think I would have recognised you in the street but I’m glad we found you and look forward to meeting you one day.

Bob's email address is bobbojohnston@hotmail.com

Bob Scarrott

Bob was a nice bloke. That’s him in the centre of this shot. It was taken on the Bridge during the Nevasa scrap run in 1974. I can’t remember the name of the young Deck Officer on the left. I think he was teaching Bob Navigation. We had some real good times on Nevasa.

That’s Ivor Young on the left shining his torch into Bob’s ear I think. It’s also a great shot of Nevasa’s Plates.

There’s more photos of Bob here,

Bob Stewart (aka Surely Surely) (Deceased)

Bob was 1st Engineer on Oriana in my day and he’s the one seated 5th from the left in the very front row i.e. not including the guys seated behind the front row.

Below is a story involving Tony Mazonowicz, Bob Stewart & Greg Sinclair in early 1971

The memory of this anecdote came flooding back to me when seeing the emails about Bob Stewart. I’m amazed at the detail I can remember. You have to be familiar with the awe in which Tony Mazonowicz was held and his seriousness to appreciate this story but I guess everyone on the website will be aware of that.

The story starts on the 8-12 night watch after taking over from the 4-8 at the end of a standby, leaving port somewhere in the world. I was Senior Assistant Engineer at the time meaning that one of my responsibilities was running the evaporators. I don’t know if that’s how it was in later years.

The evaporators had been off line when we were in port and there was some concern about the water levels. I started to bring the evaporators back on line but was having trouble raising a vacuum in the distiller.

At “full away” Tony Mazonowicz came up to me and asked if I was making water, to which I answered that I wasn’t as I had a problem somewhere. The Chief simply said (very sternly) that I’d better start making water soon and he then left the engine room.

This put the pressure on me and the Third Engineer on the watch was new to Oriana and couldn’t be of much help. I searched everywhere for the problem and eventually found a small cock valve that I didn’t even know existed. It had been opened and was drawing in air. When I shut the cock the vacuum rose immediately and we were making water soon after.

I was really annoyed that this hadn’t been handed over to me when I started the watch, as it had caused some concern to me and I was on notice from the Chief to make water soon. I decided to write a smart arse comment in the log. Part of what I wrote said “A strategic cock was found open on C set, causing a vacuum less distiller”. It was meant for the 4-8 watch and I didn’t even consider that the Chief would read it and what he’d think.

The Chief would come down on some mornings with the First to read the log and I was in the engine room on the 8-12 next morning when Tony Mazonowicz and Bob Stewart came down. The Chief used to stand at the log table and the First would read the log entries out aloud to him. When Bob Stewart started reading the log I thought I’d better become inconspicuous but couldn’t resist listening in at a discrete distance.

When Bob Stewart got to my entry he saw the funny side, his voice got louder and he roared with laughter as he read “A strategic cock was found open on C set, causing a vacuum less distiller”. He must have seen the stern look on Mozzo’s face and immediately composed himself. The Chief would not let his guard down and that made it all the funnier with the First trying to keep a straight face.

Mozzo turned around toward me without any change of expression on his face. He just looked at me for a couple of seconds without smiling or scowling. I couldn’t help a cheeky smile and nothing more was said. He probably thought “Bloody Australians” or something worse.

I later found out that it was the J2 on the 4-8 that opened the cock for reasons unknown. He did it without telling his Senior Assistant and that’s why it was never passed on to me.

Being the only Australian engineer for most of my time on Oriana was a bit of an advantage. I was a bit of a novelty to the others and both Poms and Aussie had fun taking the mickey out of each other.

Greg Sinclair – 24 August 2005

There's another photo of Bob here.

Brendan O’Donaghue

Courtesy of Martin Pickles

Martin recalls;

I think one of the famous “Cripplers” is starting to have its effect in this photo of Brendan (BOD) O’Donaghue.

There's more of Brendan starting here.

Brian Bailey

No photo yet!

Brian recalls;

I sailed on the Himalaya during Captain Peter Love's first command. I was a bedroom steward and actually challenged him in Lisbon for his boarding pass while on gangway duty. He was dead chuffed and glad to know his boat was in safe hands. I'd only joined three weeks before and didn't know him from a bar of soap. I went on to have two wonderful years on Oronsay and she was a wonderful happy ship. I sailed under Captains Terry, Love, Scott-Masson, Wooley, LeFevre and Phil Jackson. I miss the good old days and those of us who sailed before they all become floating hotels had the best of days.

Brian's email address is brianbailey54@hotmail.com

Brian Griffin (aka Griff)

Brian was VO between 1974-78 and then again between 2000-01. He tells me he can’t believe he actually went back! I must admit the thought has crossed my mind a few times. Brian’s Ships were: Canberra, Sun Princess (ex Spirit of London), Oriana, Island, Ocean, Regal, Pacific Princess.

He’s good mates with Bert McAughtrie, Willie Henry and James Stevens (aka Jady). Griff’s come up with some great ideas to develop the site and is going to send me some more photos soon. Meanwhile he’s sent this one of the 4 Musketeers taken at an evening BBQ in Scotland.

L-R:

Brian Griffin, Bert McAughtrie, Willie Henry, James Stevens

Below is what they all looked like during the “Good Old Days”

L-R:

Brian Griffin, A very attractive WAP called Theresa Conway, Gudrun Hansen (Entertainments), Willie Henry, Jady Stevens with an unknown punter.

The 4 Musketeers have become 5 in this shot below with the addition of Ian Jennings (aka Geordie). All I know about Ian is he sailed on Oriana and Arcadia and this shot was taken at a BBQ in Glasgow in August 2005.

L-R:

Willie Henry, Ian Jennings (aka Geordie), James Stevens (aka Jady), Brian and Bert McAughtrie.

The next shot comes from the infamous Princess Reunion at the Hyatt Hotel in Birmingham on the 30th October 2005.

L-R:

Helen Davies (Entertainments), Griff, Joy Casaru (Social Hostess) in front and Anita Burton (Social Hostess) on the right.

Nice work if you can get it :)

There’s more photos of Brian here, here, here,

Brian’s email address is contactgriffin@yahoo.com

Brian Jewson

No photo yet!

Brian sailed on Iberia, Orsova, Himalaya and Uganda and like many of his regards the time as the best years of his life and recalls falling in love at least once a week.

Brian's email address is eevfashion1@optusnet.com.au

Brian Mathews

Courtesy of Rod Sharpe

Brian was an Electrician on Oronsay and here he is with Roy Statham in the background. Rod Sharpe tells me that Brian’s hair was never, ever, out of shape. Brian was always immaculately attired and even had creases ironed into his boiler suit. He never found his way into the engine room.

Brian Milton (aka Sherbet)

Courtesy of Mike Maskell

All I can tell you about Brian is that he was a Junior Electrical Officer and the above photo was taken on the Chusan in 1968 and was sent in by Mike Maskell.

Brian has since met up with Mike Maskell and there's a photo of the reunion here.

Brian's email address is tobjm@btinternet.com

Brian Richards (aka Janner/Cornwall))

No Photo Yet!

Brian was 2nd Butcher on Himalaya between 1967-70 and also sailed on Chusan and Spirit of London and is keen to make contact with any of his old shipmates.

This postcard was posted by Brian by Tin Can Mail, Tonga in 1968

Brian's email address is brianrichards84@yahoo.co.uk

Brian Richardson (aka Big Ball)

Brian was a fun guy who saw the funny side of most things. The only time I remember him not smiling was when he came to me while I was on the lathe in the workshop in the working alleyway and asked me to have a look at a very swollen part of his anatomy. It was huge but fortunately it did go down as it was interfering with his wheeling in. I don’t know whether he ever did find out what caused it. Of course as sympathetic as we were we couldn’t let a thing like that go by without note hence his everlasting nickname.

There's that same infectious smile a few years later.

There's more of Brian starting here.

Brian's email address is Brian_Richardson@cargill.com

Bruce Waller

Bruce was 2nd Engineer and a scarier man you’re never likely to meet. Of course that’s only the view of a 5th Engineer looking up to a guy who knew everything and commanded respect by his very demeanour. That’s Bruce in the blue boilersuit. He led by example as a ship’s engineer and a human being.

There’s quite a few people in that shot that I know but can’t name so if anyone can help me I’d appreciate it.

Courtesy of Dave Harbinson

This is Bruce's surprise retirement party which Harbo will explain;

" I'm not sure of the exact date but I think it was early to mid 1998 and we had the unofficial surprise party for him in his home town of Battle. Phil Aldridge and I were the only two attending who were still at sea at the time, but the man was held in such high regard that they came out of the woodwork for Bruce's party, Graham Lewis even flew in from L.A. We set it up that his wife Shirley had talked him into taking her for a quiet dinner, of course when he arrived, he was absolutely gob smacked. He switched from the Sky Princess to the Royal just before his retirement, but the Sky team led by Bill McCandless were not going to let him slip away unnoticed. Bruce had this thing about Lamborghini or Ferrari (don't we all) can't remember which one specifically, but Bill organised all the accessories to go with such a fine animal i.e. fluffy dice, nodding dog, windshield name sign with Bruce & Shirley and every ship Bruce went on had his trademark interlocking rubber mats in the control room. They managed to salvage a couple and make car mats with with the maker's emblem embedded in them. Very tastefully done I may say so. Everything was boxed up and sent to the Royal for his retirement party, but due to a "Royal" screw up, he didn't get them in time. He did however receive them before our unofficial party and he was made up."

There’s more photos of Bruce starting here.