Ships I served on.

[David Williams]

Hi Peter.
Just a line to welcome you to these pages.
Missed you at sea,I went from 1952 until 1959,
and I also sailed on a few British Tankers.......
British Pioneer
British Resource
British Envoy
British Duke
British Hero.
Apart from the Duke,they were all great ships
even had single berth cabins.I also did a few trips
on the "Big Boats",and a couple of general cargo boats.
Hope that you are keeping well.Please stay in touch.


Dave Williams(R583900)

[phil866]

Hi all, just introducing myself as I'm new on the site (good site!). I seem to be the baby here which is nice for a change. I sailed on the British Unity 71', British Navigator 72', British Mariner 72', British Confidence (twice, why, was I mad?) 73/74', British Norness 74', and finally British Pioneer75'. I started as a GP boy and ended up a GP1. I then went to Grimsby College for 2 years to train as a sparky but by then there was no Merchant Navy left so became land bound and a motor mechanic, then BT engineer and finally I'm now a social worker (not in Harringay!).
One memory of BP was swopping films with 2 other BP tankers off the west coast of Africa as all three of us had broken down within half a mile of each other!

[David Williams]

Hi Peter.
I see that you were a glutton for punishment,or did
you enjoy on time on B.P.To be honest,apart from
the "Duke",I realy enjoyed my time with B.P.Im from
Llanelli,South Wales,and after the Vindi in 1952 I went
to sea until 1959,sailing mainly out from Swansea on
British Tankers,but I did do a few trips out from Tilbury
and Southampton on the "big boats",but to be honest
I prefered the tankers,longer at sea and shorter in port
giveing you a chance to save a few bob.The B.P.tankers
I sailed on,apart from the Duke all had single berth cabins
so it wasnt to bad,and of course,the best of food.The
British Tankers I sailed on were.....British Pioneer,Resource,
Envoy,Duke and Hero,also did one trip on a Shell Tanker,
the" Latirus",not to bad a ship.When on the Envoy,we were
the first ship into Kwinana in Western Australia,they were trips.
for you the Gulf(nothing there) to Kwinana(nothing there) and
back..If you get a chance,drop us a line.


Dave Williams(R583900)

[happy daze john in oz]

Well Phil866, you sure have picked a good site to come to. welcome aboard, grab a cold one sit back and enjoy the voyage.

[alf corbyn]

G'day graham, not in my dotage yet, no cannot speak text I still use the mobile for phone messages, bit unique some may say. Just thoght it was all a bit too long to write in full.

g'day john. i only use my mobile once a week on a saturday at the car boot, and then only to tell the family i'm at the tea bar. i used to park my lorry on blundells car park just by the bridge in gateshead. or at st james park in newcastle. great nights out. ah!! that newcastle brown, a pint of heavy or a pint of camerons.cheers. alf

[ken richardson]

hey there peter i sailed on the british pilot but i think before your time i am expat of tyne and wearouth shields in fact but in my senior years now have great christmas ken richardson

[David Williams]

Hi Peter.
I see that you liked British Tankers as well as myself.
I went to the Vindi in 1952 then to sea until 1959 and
sailed mainly out from Swansea on tankers.The ones
I sailed on were the British Pioneer,Resource,Duke,
Envoy and Hero.I was in catering and finished up as
second steward.I did do a few trips out from Tilbury
and Southampton on "Big Boats",also did trips with
Shell and Houlder Bros on iron ore boats.Hope that
your keeping well.Id like to wish you and your family
a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.


Dave Williams(R583900)

[rednlichty]

Hi I have just joined and found your thread on British Might. I joined her as a first trip junior engineer in Swansea25/07/60 and stayed on board till she went to the breakers in Ardrossan in 1961 paid off 09/05/61. We had a few hairy moments which I could describe if anyone is interested.
Good to see that there are still some survivors fro these days.
Cheers for now
Hamish

[happy daze john in oz]

Rednlichy welcome to the site, hope you find it enjoyable. Given time you may well meet with some of your old mates, so sit back with a cold one and enjoy the voyage.

[b bulmer]

I was your cabin mate on Br.Patriot (I think)."Flower" and John Firmin were there also