Remembering shaw savill line & itsships

[Doc Vernon]

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After posting some photos of liners such as the
Southern Cross,our good friend Dave Townson wrote: "It was in the SouthernCross that I made my first Panama Canal transit, in December 1962. When we emerged into a Pacific I'd never seen before, I peered over the portbow and saw a hammerhead shark swimming alongside. A new half of theworld lay ahead, and the very air seemed to smell different."

He continued, "Late on Christmas Eve we weresteaming serenely towards Tahiti, and as an assistant purser I joineda gathering of passengers on the open deck forward of the bridge to sing(or at least hear) carols. Of course there was nopersonal instant global communication in those days, and unless any of thepassengers were using portable tape recorders probably no record exists of thatextraordinary event, but there we all were, in our floating microcosm out ofsight from the world, under a bowl of unfamiliar stars that included theship's namesake, about as far from land and in as unlikely a Christmas settingas possible - save for the eponymous island - singing carols no one elsewould hear. The voices just drifted off into the tropical night, andit was quite wonderful."

He concluded, "In complete contrast, Ialso 'worked' aboard her fleetmate Ceramic in the London docks in 1963,simply standing by to pay harbour wages to the crew but living quite well inher First Class accommodation."

[Keith Tindell]

Remember it well Vernon, but of course we had the pig and whistle in those days , and i don't know if it was that trip where we had a Scottish women band, who came down to the well deck to entertain the boys, they were some lovely ladies, caused a 17 years old lads brain to go into orbit, but on the trampers in later years, most did not have a film, or anything for entertainment, but still all good memories,

[Lewis McColl]

#jeez its not against the law to support our government is it keith ....after all the majority voted it in .....and our gov is fighting for brexit .....to get out that jigsaw of europe surely is the right thing to do ......oops now i await incoming lol cappy

That £10 is still on Cappy don't forget now. Even old Nigel Farage is thinking oh dear

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Keith
Not on that trip,as I recall very well in the Tourist Dining Room ,after hours we had a Skiffle band going full swing ,it was made up from the Catering Crew ,and a bleedin good show too!
Earlier in the Pig ,there were three Queens giving another damn good show,and the Beer was flowing quite freely.
Had one Lad though,that overshot the mark,and was taken away to the Lockup Room ,he had had so much and was really causing all kinds of trouble,but soon it was sorted and on with the Celebrations !
Does this jog the memory at all!
Cheers

All I can say it was not a very good Turn To the following Morning,with the Beer and Linen carry as well as the setting up for Breakfast etc!
Then the actual serving Oiu what a palava in the Dining Room,but most of the Bloods took it all very well,and had a good few laughs! We were a few short of course which made for even worse conditions at the Tables! LOL Running around like Chooks with our heads cut off!

[happy daze john in oz]

Yes Vernon, one thing about the UCL queens they sure knew how to put on a good show.
On one voyage the skipper saw part and was so impressed he allowed it to be put on for the bloods.

But grog, we hade one cook on the Pretoria who had perfected making some form of mind blower using prunes in syrup with additional sugar, surgical spirt and something else which he would not tell about. Kept it for a week in the hot press which he said was the right temperature for it to 'mature'.
Not so good for the head but I am sure you could have run the car on it.

[Keith Tindell]

Don't remember the skiffle group Vernon, must have kept that info away from the deck crowd. I do remember a party on the forward deck, and the queens in full regalia, kt

[cappy]

That £10 is still on Cappy don't forget now. Even old Nigel Farage is thinking oh dear

####yes lewis but the proof of the pudding is in the eating ..ie i still have my tenner you blew yours ...and dear old nigel went of like a rocket into space ..and sadly burned out... to be followed by a funny little chap with a funnier little girlfriend .....whose followers have just revolted and all gone home...... lol cappy ..

[john middleton]

Only did one trip with Shaw Savill 'New Australia'
nice trip up to Japan and Korea after taking the £10
out to Australia.
In 1951 whilst stuck in Wellington as a result of the dock
strike the D.M. sailed to the U.K. and returned and we were
still tied up at aotea quay.
The ill fated Runic was also with us.

[happy daze john in oz]

Just looking at the bow of the Southern Cross in the photo.
It just shows how the bow on ships have changed so much over the years, now mainly bulbous bows and of course side thrusters.