ss Himalaya Groups Index

Himalaya Groups Index

1967 Brass on the Bridge Wing

1968 The story of Pippa Spit

1968/69 Bridge Wing Group 1968/69

1973 Engineers on Decks

1974 Purser's Department

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

1967 Brass on the Bridge Wing

Courtesy of Graham Stephens

Graham writes;

Staff Captain Adie and Captain Prowse on the bridge approaching our berth at Hong-Kong in 1967. That's possibly Phil Jackson (Chief officer) in the background.

Those were the days.

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

The story of Pippa Spit 1968

Story told by Roger Lownsborough.

Onboard Himalaya 1968

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

A light drizzle was falling as we came alongside in Suva, Fiji, taking the berth that Oriana had just vacated.

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

Once alongside we started day work which involved antenna maintenance, and offering some splendid views from the dizzy height of the foremast top, and of another P&O ship berthed alongside, Arcadia.

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

The warmth of the sun and the sight of our own lifeboats suggested that it was going to be a perfect day for a boat trip.

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

A couple of phone calls were all that was necessary to persuade the 8-12 watch to come out and play, and armed with a couple of cases of beer and a few cold chicken legs, we set off.

L-R

Pippa Sheen (Social Hostess), John (The Bopper) Englefield (2EO), Roger Lownsborough (3RO) at the helm, Rodney Boswell (3O) watching how not to steer a lifeboat, ??, ??, ?? (8-12 watch keeping engineers).

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

Rodney Boswell posed coyly with a beach towel whilst Bopper took the helm.

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

Rodney Boswell ensured that everyone took suitable precautions against the heat, and kept our liquid levels up - I think he was sponsored by VB!

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

Feeling absolutely no pain whatsoever, we sighted a small sand spit, and gently ran the boat ashore.....on a falling tide!

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

Within a few minutes we were hopelessly aground!

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

I seized the chance to claim this newly expanding sand spit in the name of Her Majesty, in the true tradition, and christened the new found land in honour of the only female in the party, Pippa Sheen. so "Pippa Spit" it was.

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

It seemed only right that we should raise a toast to Pippa Spit...

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

L-R

Roger Chapman (1st RO), Pippa Sheen (Social Hostess) Huw Williams (Chief RO) (deceased), ??

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

Behaving as a senior officer should, Roger Chapman tried to make contact with Himalaya to inform them of our plight - but in the true tradition of the Radio Department - the batteries were flat!!

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

While the RO's were arguing about who was to blame, Pippa somehow lost the top of her bikini, and to protect her modesty flung herself, face-down on the sand.

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

Whoever said that Engineer Officers were not chivalrous? Well this guy certainly was. He jumped out of the boat armed with a bailing pan....and rushed to her side....

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

Where, with the ferocity of a Jack Russell terrier he proceeded to dig a trench into which his colleagues, armed with an oar, proceeded to demonstrate the first order of levers...!

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

Needless to say, it was sunset before the tide rise sufficiently for us to refloat the lifeboat and return to the ship - where we received a monumental bollocking for our prolonged disappearing act.

What happened to the photo of the levered over Pippa?

Brilliant stuff ... thanks Roger.

Bridge Wing Group 1968/69

Courtesy of Roger Lownsborough

L-R

Pat Archer (WAP), Rodney Boswell (3rd Officer) and unknown WAP on Himalaya's Bridge Wing somewhere in the South Pacific, 1968/9.

Engineers on Decks 1973

Courtesy of Kevin O'Connor

All I can tell you is that's Kevin O'Connor on the left.

1974 Purser's Department

Courtesy of Lauraine Mulberry

Lauraine recalls;

Above is the Purser's department onboard Himalaya taken on 14 October 1974! This was my first ship....joined it in March and did not get off until the ship docked in Hong Kong prior to being broken up.

L-R Back Row:

John Bonham (D/P Cat), Mike Andrew (D/P Admin), Tony Boxall (D/P Accom), Barry Mulder (Purser), Denis Rogers (Chef), Alex Graham (Writer), Graham Mansell (AP), Charles Caton (AP).

Front Row:

Judy Smyth (S/WAP), Val Jones (WAP), Vicki Russell (WAP), Daphne Cutler (Ch Ho - daughter of Capt Roger Cutler), Lauraine Mulberry (JWAP), Ian Rover (Crew AP).