Canberra Crew Show 1984

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Passenger Memories

1956 - Margaret Bradley - Corfu

1956 - Stephen Clow - Chusan

1959 - Linda Newman (nee Doore) - Chusan & 1963 on Oriana

70's & 80's - Robert Dobson - Oriana

1972 - Janene Duncan - Oronsay

1973 - Robyn McPhee - Himalaya

1974 - Denise Sasse - Himalaya

1978 - Marten Brunning - Oriana

1978 - Rosemary Thomas - Canberra

Margaret Bradley - Corfu

On 02/12/2008 10:34 PM, Margaret Bradley wrote:

"I found your site whilst surfin' looking for anything I can find out about the SS Corfu. I was on board in 1956 with my mother and brother heading to Hong Kong for three years. Dad was already there.

We lost the ship's cat in the Bay of Biscay and the newspapers back in the UK called it a jinxed voyage because of all the things which were happening. I had the best time!

I see from you site that Terry Wild was also on board in 1956 but I can't access his email address. Could you possibly let me have it or, if you would prefer, you give him mine if he can remember anything?

I would very very much appreciate any help."

Best wishes
Margaret Bradley
Nottingham

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Stephen Clow - Chusan 1956

On 14/09/2008 6:43 PM, Stephen Clow wrote:

"I sailed P&O with my parents back to the UK in 1956 to live from Singapore where I was born in 1949, and your website is full of Chusan photographs which have really been great to see. But your non-seadogs bit brought tears to my eyes as I remembered the happy years with my Mum and Dad - not long now! I could write a book, but I just wanted to record a grateful thanks for those very moving additions to your website."

God bless

Stephen

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Linda Newman - Chusan 1959 & Oriana 1963

On 21/03/2011 2:40 AM, Linda Newman wrote:

Please don’t denigrate the passengers. I adored travelling P&O. My dad was on one of the old colonial contracts, where travelling home on leave by sea was assumed – flying was so much more expensive!

In 1959 when he was forced to fly to Hong Kong to assume his new role (with overnight stop in India when the Comet had to land) mum & I embarked on Chusan to join him later. It was the most momentous voyage for an 8 year old. I remember discovering club sandwiches at the Tanglin Club, and coca cola in bottles (different to the syrup on the ship) and have been addicted ever since! And the botanical gardens in Penang, and Breach Candy club, with salt and fresh water pools. So many things, and such excitement for a child in the 50’s.

Then in 1963 we returned from Hong Kong to UK on the Oriana. What a wonderful ship. I recall our table steward was called Alfred, which was particularly appropriate as he burned the toast every morning.

Some of us really appreciated the ships, the standard of service, etc., and some of us wish it was all still available – particularly now some of us can actually afford it, but it’s no longer there! (Unless of course you know differently?)

With thanks to you if you were there, and to everyone who may read this who was there & made it all so wonderful.

Linda Newman (nee Doore)

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Robert Dobson - Oriana 1970's & 80's

On 07/02/2010 3:31 PM, Robert Dobson wrote:

"May I congratulate you on such an interesting and informative site. I enjoyed frequent cruises during the 70s and 80s. Being a shipyard engineer, I took every opportunity to enjoy the engine room visits (but a bit hot for me). Also I often met and mixed with engineers at parties and in the public rooms. I must admit that I often took with a large pinch of salt what they would say about life as a cruise ship engineer. Then on more than one occasion another engineer would join the company and it was like another gear had been engaged, and I could then see it was so. I guess it would have been difficult to find the motivation or time to sleep. I expect your site is still in its infancy as there are a lot of officers I had the pleasure to meet but not mentioned on your lists. Perhaps you should consider a passenger section as I recall there was plenty of social intercourse between them and the engineers. I did meet John Milner and electrical officer Alan Bell at a Captain's Cocktail Party. Then ten years ago I bumped into John and I seem to remember he said he had acquired his second engineers certificate before leaving the sea. He said he now worked as a electricity transmission technician in North Yorkshire. His responsibility was overhead pylons and cabling. He also said Alan Bell owned and ran a hotel in York. John also said his partner had left him a year earlier and was very sad about that. I see a Dave Oakes is often mentioned with John, I was surprised that a P&O officer would emigrate to South Africa. If it were that I wanted to try to critique your site it would be to say perhaps you should have a section of 'Where Are They Now' as I found the most interesting aspect of the site was seeing how the engineers had got on since leaving the sea i.e. what is John Speed, Pete Smith and yourself doing now? But perhaps for you, this website is a full time occupation. What about all the other passenger info that must be out there. Also I wonder how many engineers went to live down under and how many came back to the UK. Keep up the good work and I hope you have no objection to passenger viewing."

Cruiser

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Janene Duncan - Oronsay 1972

On 06/07/2010 6:58 PM, Janene Duncan wrote:

"Congratulations on a great web site, you’ve certainly put a lot of effort into it.

I sailed as a passenger on the Oronsay in 1972. I did half of a circle Pacific Cruise then joined the ship in San Francisco for the trip to Southampton. From memory the ship had been cruising for some time and was going home. I was 19 years old and travelling alone – the trip was full of firsts and full of many wonderful memories made even better by a terrific group of guys.

I think I read on here that John Sullivan was working on Sydney harbour these days. The first time I met him was at the Red Garter when I insulted him by assuming that he was a waiter and questioned how good my eggs would be the next morning seeing that he was so drunk. He very quickly put me in my place. He was with, among others, Graham Tuck who was also drunk and obnoxious and the obvious ring leader of this very rowdy group. I did not think much of this lot at all and wondered what I had got myself into for the long trip to the UK. In the sober light of day of course we all became great mates.

I dragged my photos out after first finding your site with all the great photos. There were people that I had forgotten about like Charlie Dodsworth, Kevin Morgan and Trevor Lewis (I think) an electrician who once we’d docked late at night in Southampton dressed me up in a white boiler suit and took me down the crew gang way so that I could be the first passenger to set foot on British soil. We were both very drunk and I think we took a cab to his parents place in Bournemouth – or maybe we were going to and didn’t end up, I really can’t remember we were both so under the weather. I do remember though the white boiler suit and my high heels going down that gangway!

I was also good mates with Steve Norris and kept in touch with him after he joined the British Antarctic Survey. I still have these little black and white photos that he sent me of penguins and him with frost all over his beard. The last I saw of him was at my flat in Ealing when he brought his new girlfriend around to introduce her. They were getting married. I often wondered what happened to Noddy.

I saw kept in touch with Graham Tuck too for a while after the trip. A gorgeous man, and if my life was a movie he would have had a special part. He wanted to do one more trip and I wanted to not sit home waiting..... C‘est la vie.

So here we all are many years later. What a fabulous life you guys had. Once again keep up the good work with the site and if you see John Sully tell him I bet he’s still a rude old fart."

Regards

Janene Duncan

Tamworth NSW.

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Robyn McPhee - Himalaya 1973

On 09/09/2009 9:29 PM, Robyn McPhee wrote:

"I came across this website by accident. Having travelled on the Himalaya several times during the early '70's I was fascinated to see the faces of several people I remember from the wonderful times I had aboard the Himalaya cruising the Pacific. I have travelled with other lines over the years but none were as good as the P & O cruises of the 70's.

I have attached two photos taken aboard the Himalaya in 1973 and it would be great if you could put them on your website! One is of myself with engineer Kevin O'Connor - despite the flirtatious nature of the pic, Kevin and I were just friends! He was very handsome, charming and always a real gentleman!

The second pic is of a couple of engineers fooling around (!) - the one with the big bowtie I believe was Peter Robinson - can't remember the names of the others. 'Pee Wee' Robinson was a real character and kept many of us entertained when he was "off duty"!

Hope the pics are in a suitable format - I am no expert but could send them again if you need them in a different format.

I wonder what Kevin and Peter are doing nowadays?"

Regards
Robyn McPhee
Wollongong, NSW Australia

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1974 - Denise Sasse - Himalaya

On 05/11/2010 12:04 PM, Denise Sasse wrote:

My name is Denise Sasse and I would like to congratulate you on your wonderful Seadogs site – you have put so much work into it to bring so much enjoyment to everyone who visits it – thank you.

I have been a passenger on “Himalaya” a number of times, the first in 1969 and the last her final Pacific cruise in 1974 before she left Sydney for Taiwan. Forty years ago in February 1971 a friend, Val Toogood, and I departed from Sydney on “Himalaya” on the Women’s Weekly World Discovery Tour, a five month overseas adventure. The majority of that time was spent onboard “Himalaya” where we sailed for nine weeks outward bound and four and a bit weeks homeward bound – needless to say, we formed a bond with passengers and staff alike. I’ve attached a couple of photos for your site if you would like to include them.

The first is at a pour-out in Engineers quarters – David Selby, Brian Flower-Ellis (Engineers), Paul Tutton (Bureau) and Roy Saunderson (Radio).

Next is on decks before docking in Port Melbourne where a large number of friends were disembarking – I think we were singing in this photo!!! The Bridge Officer is an Aussie (I can’t remember his surname, but he was known as Aussie John).

The third is at a farewell cocktail party we hosted for all the Officers – most of the names escape me except second on the left is John McCririck (Baby Doc) and next to him is Iain McLeod and in front is Ann McLeod (nee Simpson).

The last two photos are of “Himalaya” in 1974 as she sets sail for Taiwan – the hoisting of the Paying-off Pennant and...

...as the tugs pull her out from Circular Quay terminal.

As it is 40 years since the WWWDT we are trying to get together anyone who sailed on “Himalaya” during that tour for a reunion in Sydney in February and wondered if I could put my email address on your site as a contact point for any old Himalaya Seadogs living in Sydney who might be interested in coming along.

denisesasse@bigpond.com

Thank you once again and I’ll be sure to send you any relevant Seadogs photos from the reunion.

Marten Brunning - Oriana

On 11/01/2010 3:52 AM, Marten Brunning wrote:

"I have stumbled onto the seadog website which I guess is meant for ex crew members. However I was a passenger on Oriana yearly from 1978 till its decommissioning and have happy memories of it especially of Colin Hindmarsh whom I think needs no introduction. I went to his memorial service at the Rising Sun where his brother Ron paid a tribute. He was equally as good as Colin.

My main purpose for writing is to ask if you know of anyone who has any cine film of Colin. He was irreplaceable and I would love to copy it. I was one of those who booked a cruise only if Colin was performing.

All for now, hope you will reply.

Regards

Marten Brunning

PS. I'm sure you will never forget your past times on board, many of which would not happen today."

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Rosemary Thomas - Canberra 1978

On 10/12/2009 5:53 PM, Rosemary Thomas wrote:

"I was a passenger on the Canberra on several cruises including the World Cruise 1978 when I was in my 20's. A wonderful ship and I enjoyed visiting so many interesting places and meeting many passengers and crew members.

One crew member I particularly remember was Richard Webster who was the Baby Doc on the Canberra for the World Cruise 1978.

We lost touch and I have often thought about trying to make contact but it is difficult. I am therefore sending this email in the hope that you may know how to contact him or send a message on my behalf.

I found your website Seadogs - reunited fascinating and I have enjoyed looking at all the photographs - there are several familiar faces. Great times! I also have a lot of lovely photos taken during my cruises on the Canberra that bring back many happy memories."

Regards

Rosemary Thomas (my surname was Holliday then)

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