Canberra Reunion July 2008

Courtesy of Gerry Murphy

Gerry Writes:
It was while visiting seadogs-reunited.com a few weeks ago that I saw that Harbo had tracked down Richard Wood to a bar in Paphos, Cyprus. Well what a coincidence, I had just booked a weeks holiday in Paphos for myself and my wife Anne, so we thought it would be great to catch up with Richard.
 
Having booked into our hotel the day before we decided it was time to find Richard and Alexander's Pub. I asked the receptionist at our hotel if she could find out where Alexander's Pub was and after a couple of phone calls said that the local taxi firm thought they knew the place. After a 10 minute cab ride we end up at Alexandys bar! Not to be put off we got out of the cab and decided to start our search from there. Ordering a drink I asked if the barman knew Richard or where Alexander's Pub was, yes was the reply it's 100 yards up the road, but doesn't open for a couple of hours. Oh well says I, we'll stay here for a while! 
 
Anyway a couple of hours later we make our way to Richards place. We parked ourselves on 2 bar stools and proceeded to order our drinks. Anne's drink was ordered and as it turns out, one of the main brews in Cyprus is Carlsberg, so I asked for a "Charlie" for myself. Richard went to the pump and then took a double take! I haven't heard it called that for a long time was his response. After a couple of rounds of "Who do you think I am", he twigged who I was (I don't know why it took so long as I don't think I have changed a bit in 27 years since we sailed together last). Anyway with that out the way, we spent a couple of hours reminiscing about days gone by, such as spending may hours in the Bonito club, listening to the Colin Hindmarsh trio. When we finally left Richard, we arranged to have lunch later during the week, which unfortunately due to work commitments Richard was not able to attend, so Anne and I went back to Alexander's Pub to say our goodbyes.
 
It was great catching up with Richard again, he is a fine host and if any other seadogs are in Paphos I recommend that you pop in and say hello.
 
PS. You can tell that he is ex P&O as if you look in the top left hand side of the photo, there are a can of Allsopps and a Farewell Oriana tinny on the shelf!

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Seadogs Reunion 7th July 2008

Peter Chester, his lovely wife Celia Chester (nee Cowan) and Peter Pratt (Purser)

Relaxing at dinner. 

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Seadogs Reunion August 2008

Martin Reed (Ch Off Oriana and Captain Saga Rose) and Peter Chester (2nd Engineer P&O Passenger Division and Chief Engineer P&O Ferries) 

Martin Reed, Celia Cowan (now Chester, WAP Oriana), Peter Chester and Denise Donnelly (now Reed Nursing Sister Oriana).
 

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Seadogs Reunion 4th September 2008

Courtesy of Mark Sawyer

Jewkesy and the Bean in Barcelona. Jewkesy was there as Chief Engineer of the new Oriana and the Bean on a holiday cruise and both ships were in dock together.

Courtesy of Mark Sawyer

I haven't heard anything more about what else happened as Mark is still away but he will be interrogated on his return.

Dave has advised the following:

What happened re myself and Mark was that we arrived in Barcelona around 0830 hrs and docked behind the Carnival Freedom. When Mark went ashore he saw Oriana and was a little speechless. He emailed me to let me know and we managed to catch up when he returned from ashore. We had a good old chin wag on the dock side for 10 minutes before he went back onboard and they sailed about an hour before us. 

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design

Oriana Reunion 17th September 2008

L-R: 

Dave Coleman (aka Cornish), Peter Bennett, Marlene Harris (the self confessed Seadog Moll) and Martin Harris (aka Chopper).

Peter writes;

We met up at the Holiday Inn for a few beers and then went off to Pinocchio’s for a meal. It was a fantastic night, the thirty year gap since sailing with these guys just melted away and the “do you remember and what happened to?” Nostalgia came thick and fast, uncanny how the friendships of the past were as if the years never existed, the tales just got better with the retelling! These guys have not changed they still look the same and would be recognized anywhere (scary thought considering the wheeling that went on!) apart from the blonde look and ballast.
 

Marlene is researching the possibility of a bigger get together in Sydney in September 2009, would be terrific if we could get everyone together in the one place.

Steve Borrill © Amberfluid Web Design