Peter Copley

[Peter Copley]

SHIPS NAME AND SERVICE RECORD

Full Name

Peter Copley

Discharge Book Number

R710198

Department

Catering/Deck/Radio

Your Rank/Rating

Galley Boy/Deck Boy/Deckie Learner/Radio Officer

Which Ships were you on and When

MV Clangula BCSNC Liverpool 1959
MV Sheaf Field - Sousters - Newcastle - 1959
MV Silvercrag - Silver Line - London - 1959/60
MV Cragmoor - Runciman's - Newcastle 1960
MV Dartmoor - Runciman's Newcastle 1960/61
MT Armana FD207 -John Marrs Fleetwood - 1962
Radio College Manchester 1963 - 1965
MT Edwina FD162 - Marrs Fleetwood 1965
MT Velia FD116 - Marrs Fleetwood 1965
MT Arlanda FD206 - Dinas/J Marr Fleetwood 1965
MV Azadeh - Iranian Shipping Services 1966
MV Sapho 1 - Monrovia 1966
MV Eugenie S Embiricos - Embiricos Line 1967/1968
MV Donna Marika - Hermes Navegacion - 1969
MV Captain Avgerinos - Avon Steamship 3000 Marcus New York 1969
MV Don Manuel - Mavroleon Brothers Monrovia 1969/1970
MV World Justice - Niarchos - Monrovia - 1970/1971.

Notes:

I have been associated with the sea and the navy most of my life, serving with the Sea Cadets as a boy spent some time with RN HMS Drake, HMS Starling, HMS Vigo, HMS Adamant, HMS Artful, HMS Peregrine, HMS Gamecock and HMS Condor. Then later as an adult with the sea cadets (Lt RNR SCC) for 20 years, sailing on various boats, ships and shore establishments of the Royal Navy. I was chairman of the air cadets (2447 squadron) for 10 years. I had my own boat sailing out of Fleetwood for 22 years.

[cappy]

hi peter sailed in the cragmoor 1957 and the sheaf field 62......happy days ....regards cappy

[j.sabourn]

Who were the Masters on the Cragmoor and the Dartmoor when you were there Peter/ JS

[Peter Copley]

Hi Cappie, yes happy days indeed. I loved sailing with Runciman's and Captain Rowe for 18 months circumnavigating the world 3 times before I was 18.

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Captain Rowe on the Dartmoor, I sailed with him for 12 months. a genial man. I'm not sure of the Cragmoor skipper, he may have well been captain Rowe, but I'll look it up.

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Hi Cappie, did I call you crappie!!! Sorry about that. keep safe in lockdown regards Peter

[j.sabourn]

There was someone looking for a relative with the surname of Rowe recently but is a fairly common name. I sailed with Tommy Rowe as well. He used to carry 2 sets of heavy boxing gloves and any personal arguments on ship, he invited the two adversarys to sort it out between themselves on the Hatch. He was a well liked and fair man. When I went to sea my first Runciman ship was the Avonmoor and 2 of my classmates went on the Cragmoor but think it was before your and Cappys time. But during my 11 years , I was on the Avon , Dart, Glen, Hazel, Jed, Ex, in later years in the 70s i went back for one trip on another Exmmoor for one trip down the Red Sea for free food giveaways to the so called millions of the Sudan and other Countries, and like Ivan who was more deeply involved, I share his views on the rip offs that a lot of it was. Runcimans office which used to be at 56 Pilgrim street Newcastle/Tyne moved to Anchor Line in Glasgow about 1965 and worked under the name Runciman Shipping, it was previously registered as Moor Line Ltd. Cheers JS

PS My time on the Dartmoor was not long as was a relief for a second mate about 1960 , but was just discharging general around the UK . If remember rightly the master was Capt. Bradfield a fussy little man. I seem to remember a post on here a few yonks ago that someone mentioned he was taken off in Panama with a nervous breakdown, however this could have been due to suppressed tension from his time during the war. JS

PPS Did you know or know of a Wally Micheson. an ex Fleetwood fishing skipper. ? He was 69 in 1988 so probably well and truly dead by now. But one never knows, JS

[Peter Copley]

Hi JS. Thanks for that info about Captain TR Rowe and Moor Line. I really enjoyed sailing on Runciman's tramp steamers. I didn't know skipper Micheson, or I can't remember him. I had a boat in Fleetwood and met up with one or two of the old skippers, John Dunn, Victor Buskini, Bill Rawcliffe and so on but can't remember Wally.

[j.sabourn]

Wally was on sweepers during the war. He was mate with me at the Piper Alpha disaster. he is the only one plus the Ch. Engineer from Glasgow who I couldnt keep track of Old Wally had a withered right arm. and on the particular night he was got out of his bed must have thought he was back in the war. For a man of his advanced years at the time he did very well. Doing 6 on and 6 off during normal hours with the hand steering thrown in for good measure was bad enough, to be faced with what he had to on stepping out of his room must have been daunting for him , but he was of the type who couldnt keep away from the sea. I hope he enjoyed his retirement when and if he ever had any. Cheers JS

[happy daze john in oz]

Something of a change of direction there.
Galley to Radio room via the deck!!

[j.sabourn]

Maybe Peter was where they got the idea of GP crews from. JS

[George Bis]

Congratulations You certainly have had a very varied and successful sea career! Makes mine seem dull by comparison.
I see that you kept a boat at Fleetwood. That wasn't the River Wyre/Skippool by any chance?