crossed the Bar

[Colin Pook]

Captain B. James, Fishguard.

The recent death of Captain Bleddyn James drew to a close a life honourably served in the Merchant Navy

He was born in 1922, the 6th. of 8 children. Following his education at St. David's County School, he joined the Merchant Navy in 1940.

In 1942, at the height of the Battle of the Atlantic, he was a crew member on the 'CAPE of GOOD HOPE' which was torpedoed by the German submarine U-502 800 miles North East of the Dominican Republic. Together with the ship's Captain, and 16 other members of the crew, he was in an open life-boat for 13 days until their landfall at Tortolo in the Virgin Islands.

After a brief respite at home, he returned to the sea to serve with 'American' oil tankers based in Venezuela. After the war, he gained his officers certificate and was promoted to the rank of Captain. As a respected Captain on the 'super tankers' of the 1960s and 70s., his employers consulted him on the design of the worlds largest ship at that time, the 'TEXACO LONDON'. Following her commission in 1975, he served as her Master until his retirement in 1979.

As a mark of respect from his fellow mariners, his coffin was adorned with the RED ENSIGN.

A full report of the obituary from Colin Pook if required

[Keith at Tregenna]

The Old Sailor:

I've crossed the bar at last, mates,
My longest voyage is done;
And I can sit here, peaceful,
And watch th' setting sun
A-smilin' kind of glad like
Upon the waves so free.
My longest voyage is done, mates,
But oh, the heart of me,
Is out where sea meets skyline!
My longest voyage is done. . . .
But - can I sit, in peace, mates,
And watch the settin' sun?

For what's a peaceful life, mates,
When every breeze so free,
When every gale a-blowin',
Brings messages to me?
And is the sky so shinin',
For all it's golden sun,
To one who loves the sea, mates,
And knows his voyage is done?
And, can a year on land, mates,
Match with one day - at sea?
Ah, every wind a-singin'
Brings memory to me!

I've crossed the bar at last, mates,
My longest voyage is past,
And I must watch the sunset,
Must see it fade, at last.
My steps are not so light, mates,
As they were, years ago;
And sometimes, when I'm tired,
My head droops kind of low -
Yet, though I'm old and - weary,
The waves that dance so free,
Keep callin' to my soul, mates,
And thrill the heart of me!

Margaret Elizabeth Sangster (1838-1912 / USA)

[Doc Vernon]

May he rest in Peace
God Bless!
Sincere Condolences
Doc

[Keith at Tregenna]

Always attempt something different in tribute and remembrance for the family and loved ones, especially if all helps others:

K.

[huwships]

I was saddened to see this, but not altogether surprised. Bleddyn James's late wife Mary had been married to my Uncle Jack, my father's brother (and another oil tanker man) until he died in 1955. I spent large parts of my childhood in Fishguard and was a regular visitor to Mary and Bleddyn at their lovely home overlooking the sea. I last saw them in 2007, just before I left the UK to work in Bermuda and I was struck then by their great age and fragility. Unfortunately, I have not been back to Wales since and have been in the Turks and Caicos Islands since 2010.

In the words used on my father's gravestone,

"Ei dderbyn gadd i harbwr
Heb don ar wyneb y dwr".

Translated out of the language of heaven, "He was taken into harbour/No wave the water stirred".

Huw