ss Oriana Groups 1980 Onwards Index

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Oriana Groups Post 1980 Index

1980 Istanbul group

1981 Officers' Revue

1982 Captain's Cocktail Party

1982-1984 Boat Ticket

1982-1984 Gearbox Shot

1982-1984 Leckies

1982-1984 Leckies Missing Something

1982-1984 Silly Hat Party

1982-1984 Wheeling Practice

1984 Nuku’alofa July

1984 Nuku’alofa Fun Run

1985 Hong Kong Skivvies Party

1985 Officer's Revue

1985 Stern Gallery Group

1986 Bridge Group

1986 Crew Office

1986 Bullitt's Stag Night

1986 Rutter's Rams

Dianne "Dizzy" Brabham's photos

Leading Hand's Alley Group - Early 80's

Erakor Island Group - Early 80's

Island Night - Mid 80's

Pago Pago Beach - Mid 80's

Wardroom Group

David Saunders' Memories

David Smith's Memories

Dianne Brabham's Memories

Rod Drake's Memories

Wendy Kaye's Memories

Oriana Group Nuku’alofa July 1984

Courtesy of Archie Anderson

Archie’s named as many of this group that he can remember;

L-R Back:

Michael Blasciewicz (aka Blaster), Archie Anderson, Stuart Pharaoh (aka Big Boy), ??, ??

Middle:

Jeff Talbot (standing), Miskin (Mick) Rahman Samy (aka Sinbad) (sitting), Timmy Wride (aka Tampon), Andy Ball (aka Lightning with the White Hat), ??

Front:

Marty Elliot, Gary Maine , John Guy, (aka Squash), Graham Bond (aka Bondy), ??

additional names have been kindly supplied by Andy Ball.

1984 Nuku’alofa Fun Run

Courtesy of Andy Ball

Andy recalls:

We took part in a ship's "Fun Run" in Nuku'alofa, Tonga early 80's, kneeling at the front is Michael "Blaster" Blasciewicz, and left to right standing are Stuey "Big Boy" Pharaoh, Graham "Bondy" Bond, ??, Timmy "Tampon" Wride, Gary Maine, Archie Anderson, Miskin (Mick) Rahman "Sinbad" Samy, and last but not least Andy "Lightning" Ball. We thought it would be a great gimmick to run all joined together with a rope, and at first it was, we were all running together in a group with the slack rope held loosely in our hands, I was at about number 5 I think, I don't know who tripped first, number 8 or number 9, but the first I knew was a shout from just behind and as I glanced over my shoulder number 7 was snatched off his feet by the rope suddenly going tight, and remember number 6 behind me and myself trying to stop but also trying not to fall over, shouting at those in front and pulling back on the rope, which by this time was tight all the way forward and as each person in front realised what was happening and tried to slow, the remainder seemed to run all the harder. It was one of those over in seconds type thing, but the three at the back that went down got some nasty scrapes from being dragged up the road for a few yards.

Oriana Group Hong Kong Skivvies Party 1985

Courtesy of Archie Anderson

This was taken in the Wardroom in 1985.

L-R Back:

Alan Harmston, Dougie Barr, Archie Anderson, Jeff Talbot, Dave (Buster) Brown, M Turner, Paul 'Freddie' Truman, Jim Barlow

Middle:

Gary Maine , Chris Bale

Front:

Steve Sayer, Bob Ashdown, Dave Hulbert (Scruffy), Miskin (Mick) Rahman Samy (aka Sinbad), John Guy, Tim Wride

Jim Barlow & Tim Wride have been added by Andy Ball along with the following note;

"Tim Wride, known briefly as "Donkey", but subsequently and much more famously as Timmy Tampon and inspired the phase, "Don't thwart the third, don't f**k with the fourth, don't josh with the juniors and certainly don't tamper with Timmy!"

Alan Harmston, Paul 'Freddie' Truman and Mick Sammy have been named by Mark Barnett

Dave Brown, Steve Sayer and ?? (Scruffy) have been named by Ken Ellis.

Dave 'Buster' Brown thinks it's Dougie Barr second from the left, back row.

1985 Officer's Revue

Officer's Review in October 1985 (Singapore-Fremantle).

L-R:

Glenn Moore, Stewart Drew (3EO), Graham Bond (4EO), ?? (WAP), Jim Barlow (3rd or 4EO - I should know him as we did our seconds together in Warsash)

Oriana Boat Ticket (82-84)

Photo & Comments Courtesy of Ken Ellis

I did my boat ticket in Suva with this mottley crew. I seem to remember that a cooler full of beer was the first thing to be loaded on board during our lessons.

Guy Richards contacted me to say he is the 3/O on the left and the Baby Doc was in fact Janet Cooke.

L-R Back:

Chris Bale (A/E/O), Wendy Chappell (WAP).

Sat:

Graham Bond, Guy Richards (3/O the man in charge), Ken Ellis, Sue Janet Cooke (Baby Doc) between Ken’s legs, Scarey Joe, Sandie Elson (not sure what Sandie's job title was), Tracy Piper (Ents Off.), Peter Johnson (2/E/O), Aussie Maggie (Nurse). The guy on the right was a bedroom steward named Francis. By the way, we all passed our boat ticket.

Wheeling Practice 82-84

Photo & Comments Courtesy of Ken Ellis

The lads doing what they did best!

L-R:

Buster, Ken Ellis and Scary Joe with three Aussie punters in the Wardroom.

Oriana Silly Hat Party 1982-1984

Photo & Comments Courtesy of Ken Ellis

Silly Hat Party in the Wardroom.

L-R:

Kieran Goulding (4/E/O), ?? (Trog), Michael Blasciewicz (Blaster) (3/E/O), Chris White (Chalkie) (4/E/O)

Andy Ball thinks that's his left shoulder on the far left.

Oriana Gearbox Shot 1982-1984

Photo & Comments Courtesy of Ken Ellis

Here’s another gearbox shot taken around 82 or early 83.

Oriana Leckies 1985-1984

Photo & Comments Courtesy of Ken Ellis

Taken in 1982 or early 1983.

L-R Back:

Kenny Barnes (Alvin)(A/EL/O), Ken Ellis (A/EL/O).

Front:

Ian Stoker (A/EL/O), Alan Harmston (Isambard) (A/EL/O), Ken Campbell (A/EL/O), ??(known as Raleigh) (A/EL/O), Ron Dunford (1/EL/O), Don Oliver (A/EL/O), Andy Jackson (2/EL/O), Gary Wood (J/2/EL/O)

Oriana Leckies Missing Something 1982-1984

Photo & Comments Courtesy of Ken Ellis

Dave Brown (Buster) (A/EL/O) and Bob Ashdown (Cuddly Bob) (J2/EL/O) at a Hong Kong Jocks party. We used to have a rogues gallery in the leckies workshop on the 'O' and I remember a picture of Buster after we found him fast asleep stuffed down the side of an AC unit in a fan room at about 10:00AM - priceless.

Wardroom Group

Courtesy of Graham Bond

All Graham has told me about the above group is that’s Colin Hindmarsh the Entertainer receiving his "Penguin" award.

I can spot my old Mate Mike Jack peaking through second from the right. What’s the hell’s a Penguin Award and why didn’t I get one? :)

1986 Bullitt's Stag Night

Courtesy of Andy Ball

Andy recalls;

That might be "Scruffy" on the left but I'm not sure. On the right of the alleyway, Gary Maine is furthest away, Dave "Bullitt" Pithers is the one with the ball and chain, no idea about the girl sitting in the doorway. The occasion was Bullitt's stag night on board Oriana while she was tied up in Sydney after the last cruise and before too many people got paid off so about April/May 1986. Bullitt got his nickname due to a resemblance to a young Steve McQueen (perhaps you had to see him in person)

Dave Hulbert (aka Scruffy) assures me that's definitely him although he can't remember anything about the party ... must have been a ripper pourout!

1986 Rutter's Rams

Courtesy of Wendy Kaye

Oriana Feb 1986

Rutters Rams v. Bureau Belles ...
L-R:

John (SAP), Wendy Kaye, Mandy Sterry (in background).

Courtesy of Wendy Kaye

Oriana Feb 1986

L-R Back:

Dickie Rutter (Purser), Ian Robson (DP), Alistair McCallum (DP Catering), Julian, Mark.

L-R Front:

Jane Parsons (AP), Cathy Jacey (AP) (now Leneghan), John Ibbotson (SAP), Wendy Kaye (AP), Jane (SAP), Dickie Rutter's wife (?)

Erakor Island Group - Early 80's

Courtesy of Andy Ball

Erakor Island is on the other side of the island to Port Vila, Vanuatu, or the New Hebrides as it used to be called.

L-R

Paul "Arthur" Truman (later seemingly known as "Freddie", but definitely Arthur in the early 80's on the big "O"), ? "Chalky" White, Steve "Robbo" Robinson, Andy "Lightning" Ball, and Miskin (Mick) Rahman Samy (aka Sinbad) who I believe has passed away some time since but I can't remember who told me. A great bloke and a sad loss to the world of seadogs.

Above Chalky's head is the "gong", a length of large diameter metal pipe and in Robbo's hand is the metal striker provided to "kill" the gong with. The ferry is run by the "Le Lagoon" hotel which is on the mainland opposite and owns the Island. Its not far off shore and would be easily swimmable if you didn't mind getting your clothes wet. The ferry was a flat pontoon with a barrier around the edge, an outboard motor mounted at one end, a canvas roof and free-standing chairs scattered around if you wanted to sit down.

Island Night - Mid 80's

Courtesy of Andy Ball

Andy recalls;

Early to mid 80's, probably cabin drinks before decks on Island night

L-R

??, Gilly ? (WAP), Martin "Slim" Egan, Andy "Lightning" Ball

Slim and I were great mates from the Uganda and were always skitting at each other, to such an extent that for ages we were never put on watch together as the "powers that be" though we would come to blows. If only they knew the insults were all made up for fun!

I can see my old Nevasa mate Dave Kirchin in the mirror!

Courtesy of Andy Ball

L-R

Dave "The Old Chap" Kirchin, Punter, Punter, Stuart "Big Stuey" Drew, and finally another Punter.

In the background you can see my prized "lightning" plaque again, so it's definitely my cabin

Pago Pago Beach - Mid 80's

Courtesy of Andy Ball

Relaxing on the beach at Pago Pago, John Warburton on the left and Steve "Robbo" Robinson on the right. (Cans of VB visible next to them, so it's a genuine engineer's run ashore!)

1985 Stern Gallery Group

Courtesy of Dave Hulbert

L-R:

Sinbad, Robbo, Arthur & Scruffy

1986 Bridge Group

Courtesy of Mike Hitch

Mike recalls;

I only remember a few names from this. There's Stuart Wortley (2nd from left), Phil Hadden 3/0 (6th from left), and moving right Mike Hitch (Cadet), Graham Waller (2/0) and Paul Morgan (J2/0).

1986 Crew Office

Courtesy of Wendy Kaye

Crew Office Oriana Mar 1986

Wendy Kaye and Carol Brown

1980 Istanbul Group

Courtesy of Don Cole

This was taken on the bridge over the Bisferious in Istanbul, with Malc (the Alc) Orr on the right, cannot name the guy in the middle, and the guy on the left was just a passer by, with the Big O in the background taken in 1980.

1981 Officer's Revue

Courtesy of Mike Jack

1982 Captains Cocktail Party

Courtesy of Lynn Hurlstone (Now Hart)

Lynn's first Captains Cocktail Party! 30th Dec 1982 onboard Oriana.... aaahhh!

L-R:

Alan Kirby (Herbie), Sonia Grimason (now Johnson), Sheree Lynch, Nicky Shutt, Tim Pettifer, Lynn Hurlstone, ~~Carrie~~ Kerry Fox, Julia Schariven, Richard Hewitt (Dick the Whizz), Mark Haslingdon.

Kerry Fox named by David Saunders.

Dianne "Dizzy" Brabham's Photos

The girl was an Aussie change girl – Midships Bar

Gerry and Mary – Midships Bar

The Pink Pussy’s Tug of War team and “Trainer”. I’m 2nd from left at the back and I’m struggling with most of the other names! Mostly PRS’s but not all I don’t think. Tracey in the middle.

John Trembling advises that his wife Lissette (was Wallis) is in the middle at the front in the very sexy knickers and pink boob tube.

The Stern Gallery Gang From right - ?? (Jimmy Macs friend from the shops), Jimmy MacIntyre, ??, Stevie Ides, Andy Stageman, Hollywood, Me, ??. Think this may have been in Hong Kong dry dock.

Frank (I think) Me and ?? worked with Roman John.

Me and Big Bob in the Ocean Bar New Years Eve - Aussie Cruising

Crew relaxing ashore.

2 croupiers and Mike Armes DJ.

L to R: ??, Liz and me

Tosh, Tel and Me in Pago Pago – alcoholically challenged I believe!!

Nuku’alofa Beach, The girls were Liz and Trolley (can’t remember her real name!). The boys – well it’s hard to tell!!

Ted Gantley – the funniest and definitely one of the loveliest men on P&O. (I still blush now to remember some of things he said and no they weren’t rude!!!)

Midships Bar L to R: ??, me, Stevie Ides, Helen.

Leading Hand's Alley Group - Early 80's

Courtesy of Dave Traynor

From Top Left at back; Ray Gerbino (Ent Leading Hand), Dave Traynor (Fruit Machine Op), Geoff Gibbs (Writer), Robin Mason aka Big Piece (Welfare Leading Hand), Kevin ? (Ent Leading Hand).

Dave writes;

This was taken onboard ss Oriana early 80’s in the Leading Hand's Alley on D Deck Forrad. Sadly, a few weeks ago, Ray Gerbino had a serious heart problem and was rushed into hospital with a ruptured Aorta and had an 8 hour operation, I was one of the few allowed to see him. I have to say I thought he was going to die. He is recovering now but is off work for 6 months at least. He is looking better now but there is still a problem and he may need another operation later in the year.