Wellington Star/tasmania Star

[Mick Brown]

What rank were you and i will find out. We had a ch/cook at our last one. Regards Mick

[Mick Brown]

Port line. Port Invercargill 1 aug 62- 20 nov 62. pPort st lawrence 29 jan 63- 11 jan 63. Port Victor 23 july- 12 july 64. Port st lawrence 28 oct 64- 2 july 65. BSL Auckland star 7 june 68-5oct 68. Tasmania star 20 feb 70-7 march 70. port lyttelton 8 april 70- 17 sept 70. auckland star 2 dec 70- 16-june 71. New zealand star 31 oct 72- 15jan 73.Hobart star 25 jan73-30 july73. fremantle star 10 aug 73- 12 may 74. Buenos aires star 25 june 74- 7 nov 74. Brasilia star 8nov74-15dec 74. Halifax star28 april 75-25oct 75.Auckland star 15 july76-25 aug 77. Ronsard 7 oct77-1 sept78. Buenos aires star25 oct78-12 dec79 scrapped. Gladestone star13 march80-30oct 80. Belloc 23 feb 81-30july81.ACT 5 2nov81-29april 82. ACT4 7 aug 82-20june83. Benedict 11 aug83- 9april 84.

[Mick Brown]

Hello peter just to let you know there are some photos from 2009 London reunion on Fraser web site BlueStar Line Mick

[Mick Brown]

Let me know your rank and and i will get back to you. We had a ch/cook at our last reunion Regards Mick email brownmick46@yahoo.co.uk

[Peter Simpson]

[Hi Wally, I have been looking at all your paintings on the Blue Star web site run by Fraser and then you contacted me on the British merchant Navy Old Friends site. I didnt realise that it was you in the gorrilla suit.
I got medical severance from the Merchant Navy in 1988 as the pool doctor said I was overweight and had to lose weight before he would let me back to sea. Anyway Blue star then transfered all their ships to foreign flag so he did me a great favour.
I worked in the local jobcentre in Mold (North Wales) for 12 years and have now been retired for 7 years and enjoying my retirement.
NIce to hear from you and will keep in touch, all the very best
Pete Simpson

[Steve Riley]

hi mick and del, i would also be interested in any reunions it would be nice to see some old ship mates my best time at sea was with blue star
all the best steve riley
blue star 1971 -1986

[Wallace Trickett]

Hello Peter,

Thanks for the message, I have heard from a few others on that last voyage of Wellington Star.
Third engineers Brian Custons and Ritchie Dellow as well as John Anderson who lives not far from us.
I recall with so many engineers on board for the coast trip from Sheerness to London we doubled up in cabins -one day bed , one on bunk etc as well as using passenger cabins.

I begain painting seriously around 12 years ago whilst in the transport industry . I left Blue Star Line in 79 and came out here finding employment with several transport operators . By 2002 I had built up alot of clients and contacts enabling me to go full time painting . The work has gone everywhere with alot published in books , magazines and even featured on tv. I was also a freelance cartoonist for 25 years only retiring from that this year to put my full energy into the paintings.

Fraser has been most kind in promoting the work on site and allowing doors to open within the maritime world, hopefully I will be able to capture the ships we loved so much for a few years yet.

Next year at the end of February a reunion is being held in Sydney , 2011 marks 100 years since the Vestey family formed the Union Cold Storage Company, buying ships to trade worldwide which brought about Blue Star Line in 1920 , so in effect a centenary of its formation.
All BSL staff are welcome and is being organised by Mr Chris De Jong . Full details can be given or obtained.

Keep well and thanks again for the contact after many years.

regards ,
Wally .

[Peter Simpson]

Hi Wally,
I look on this site about three or four times a week and I glad you have sent me another recollection.
I came out of Blue start in 1988, I was du to go back on the L A to NZ run but I had to have a medical as you had to have one every 2 years when you are over 40, and the pool doctor failed me as I was overweight so I was pensioned off. It was a good job too as the Southland Star changed to Foreign flag and all except Captain & Ch.Eng were sent back to the UK.

Since then I worked as a Civil Servant in the Local Jobcentre and retired from there seven years ago this July and am now enjoying full retirement. We have a Static Caravan in West Wales and we spend most of the summer (When we have one) down there.
I have a friend I keeep in touch with in Auckland, his name is Bruce Matthews and he lives in Torbay, He was a passenger on the Benedict with me and we have beeen in touch ever since.

I dont think I will make the Sydney reunion unless I win the Lottery but its nice to see the photos. Give my regards to tom Sommerville if you see him , we were on the New York Star together (He was 3rd Eng Then)I remember Brian Custons, Richie Dellow and John Anderson give them my regards if you see them

Well I hope you keep in touch, all the very best
Pete

[Gordon Turnbull]

The Welly was the only Blue Star boat I was on. Joined her in Feb '73 in Glasgow as pantry boy (passenger's saloon). Trip via Panama to Kiwi and back. Then a a few weeks round Europe, Tilbury and Liverpool then up the Red Sea of all places before heading back to Oz. Unfortunately love strings pulled my heart and in december '73 I decided to jump ship in Melbourne (along with one of the A/S). had a few months in Oz before doing something stupid, getting caught, thrown into the deportation centre in Sydney for a month waiting for a ship to take me home. Eventually put on the ACT1 and sent home. Contemplated jumping ship again when she docked in Aukland but thought that might be beyond stoopid!!!! Got home in May '74 so 15 months away from home (left when I was 16 returned when I was 18). One week at home. Final written warning from the Glasgow Pool and away back on one of Dalglish's cement carriers. Oh, and a 99 year ban from Blue Star. Only about 63 years to go :-)

[Del Francis]

Port line. Port Invercargill 1 aug 62- 20 nov 62. pPort st lawrence 29 jan 63- 11 jan 63. Port Victor 23 july- 12 july 64. Port st lawrence 28 oct 64- 2 july 65. BSL Auckland star 7 june 68-5oct 68. Tasmania star 20 feb 70-7 march 70. port lyttelton 8 april 70- 17 sept 70. auckland star 2 dec 70- 16-june 71. New zealand star 31 oct 72- 15jan 73.Hobart star 25 jan73-30 july73. fremantle star 10 aug 73- 12 may 74. Buenos aires star 25 june 74- 7 nov 74. Brasilia star 8nov74-15dec 74. Halifax star28 april 75-25oct 75.Auckland star 15 july76-25 aug 77. Ronsard 7 oct77-1 sept78. Buenos aires star25 oct78-12 dec79 scrapped. Gladestone star13 march80-30oct 80. Belloc 23 feb 81-30july81.ACT 5 2nov81-29april 82. ACT4 7 aug 82-20june83. Benedict 11 aug83- 9april 84.

Hi Mick, Sailed on the "Kiwi Star" with you and Brian Furnell, paid off in Napier NZ with a busted shoulder just before Xmas '72