Franconia

[donald w gillies]

Hello!
I also sailed on the RMS Franconia (AB/Quartermaster) July 1968 till Aug 1969. We were flown on a very noisy plane out from Stansted Airport ( after a 24 hour delay if I remember correctly), having to refuel in Newfoundland and divert to Bermuda as the Franconia had left New york. I remember arriving after our long flight with swollen ankles and being booked into the st George Hotel for a very welcoming over night stay till our ship arrived in Hamilton, sorry cannot recall names but I remember it was a good crowd . I would be very interested to hear where those lads are now, I remember Tom King the Boson and Mrs Macleod ( the Boson's mate!! ). Janet and Tom became friends of mine later, although he never found out who painted over the letters SMO on the No Smoking sign in the hatch. Janet and her daughter moved to Edinburgh and we somehow lost touch. In the late 80s while at my work ashore, with my head bowed, busy writing, I heard someone shout "Is the Boson a ******* on this one as well?" What a surprise- it was Tom King himself! Does any one know if he is still alive? I remember often having to take cadets from Bermuda on a tour of NewYork, the highlight of their tour was making paper planes, letting them go on the 102nd floor of the Empire State building and watch them sail down; no health and safety in those days!
Does any one remember the Irish boys who joined us in Fort Lauderdale? Shaun is the one I remember, he introduced me to most of the Irish pubs in Manhatten. Come on lads sign up and let's hear your stories!

[Captain Kong]

I was on the old Franconia in 1956 AB and QM, just before she was scrapped.
There is a story of that trip in the Seafaring Stories thread.
I never saw the new Franconia, so I guess conditions may have changed.
Hold on, wasnt she one of the quartet that came out in the 50s???? I was on the Carinthia after the 60s strike and then they changed some names.
Cheers
Brian.

[donald w gillies]

Hello Brian
Thanks for responding to my message, seems we have a lot in common.
Yes she was formerly called the Ivernia launched in Dec 1954 but taken off Transatlantic service in 1967, given a refit, painted white and put on permanent cruising Bermuda New York, Caribbean, medi and the Atlantic Islands Madeira and the Canary Islands.
Those were the days Brian, all those wonderful places and getting paid for it as well!
Regards,
DW.

[Captain Kong]

I still cant believe those days happened, but they did. we were the last of the Seafarers, the world will not see our likes again. Our lives were like a good movie. Loved every minute.
Cheers
Brian.

[Keith Tindell]

Hi Shipmates,
The only trip on Cunard was on the old Alsatia, June 1962, up to Montreal, Quebec, and home, rough crossing of the Atlantic as i recall. I was AB on her, regards Keith Tindell

[E.Martin]

Hi Shipmates,
The only trip on Cunard was on the old Alsatia, June 1962, up to Montreal, Quebec, and home, rough crossing of the Atlantic as i recall. I was AB on her, regards Keith Tindell

I was never involved with Cunard,I cannot remember the name of the ship involved.
The story goes that a Cunard cargo ship while in heavy weather in the Atlantic cracked fore side of the bridge,the crew lashed her with cargo runners etc and the ship made port.
Can any of you learned gentlemen recall this incident?.

[Captain Kong]

Not heard of that one, but I think they had some SAM boats during and after the war and they had a habbit of cracking across the fore deck

[peter thompson]

I was on the old Franconia in 1956 AAttachment 5605B and QM, just before she was scrapped.
There is a story of that trip in the Seafaring Stories thread.
I never saw the new Franconia, so I guess conditions may have changed.
Hold on, wasnt she one of the quartet that came out in the 50s???? I was on the Carinthia after the 60s strike and then they changed some names.
Cheers
Brian.

hi Brian i also sailed on the old Franconia at that time. my first voyage was unaventfull, the lsat voyage from New York we lost engine power mid atlantic but we were in becalmed waters. then they broke again in Cork. we sailed round the Isle of Man for what seemed like a month as the weather was to bad to get across the bar with only one engine. iwas a bell boy first trip steward second trip iv enclosed a photo of last voyage crew :eekAttachment 5605 i am the boy on the right at the front holding the life belt. the other was peter Prescot. id love to meet him again. bye an cheers.

[Captain Kong]

Hi Peter I have the full size one of that photo. The Captain behind the Life Buoy is or was Donald Murdo Maclean, DSO, RNR he became Commodore and Master of QM and QE.
Cheers
Brian

[Marci Lewis]

Hello!
I also sailed on the RMS Franconia (AB/Quartermaster) July 1968 till Aug 1969. We were flown on a very noisy plane out from Stansted Airport ( after a 24 hour delay if I remember correctly), having to refuel in Newfoundland and divert to Bermuda as the Franconia had left New york. I remember arriving after our long flight with swollen ankles and being booked into the st George Hotel for a very welcoming over night stay till our ship arrived in Hamilton, sorry cannot recall names but I remember it was a good crowd . I would be very interested to hear where those lads are now, I remember Tom King the Boson and Mrs Macleod ( the Boson's mate!! ). Janet and Tom became friends of mine later, although he never found out who painted over the letters SMO on the No Smoking sign in the hatch. Janet and her daughter moved to Edinburgh and we somehow lost touch. In the late 80s while at my work ashore, with my head bowed, busy writing, I heard someone shout "Is the Boson a ******* on this one as well?" What a surprise- it was Tom King himself! Does any one know if he is still alive? I remember often having to take cadets from Bermuda on a tour of NewYork, the highlight of their tour was making paper planes, letting them go on the 102nd floor of the Empire State building and watch them sail down; no health and safety in those days!
Does any one remember the Irish boys who joined us in Fort Lauderdale? Shaun is the one I remember, he introduced me to most of the Irish pubs in Manhatten. Come on lads sign up and let's hear your stories!

Do you remember my late husband Colin Lewis?