EDs 1957 - 1967

[Graham Smith]

Aternoon to 'the ex EDs'? person presently reading. A 'brief', personal history which, hopefully, may resurrect a few more 'names from the past century'!

Thanks to Paul Wood's excellent site, www.rakaia.co.uk , I am now back in touch with many shipmates, some from over 50 years ago!

Name: Graham 'the pipe' Smith.

Signed 'the parchment', as a deck apprentice, 9th September 1957. Second mates 1961. Mates 1963. Masters 1967.

I'll list 'just a few names', who I am regularly in touch with, to see if 'bells are rung' to whover is presently reading this.

Derek 'Buster' Brown. Tony 'Eboe' Bryant. Rodney 'Rodders' Matthews. Dave Porter. Michael 'Paddy' Kelly. Richard 'Paddy' Coyne. (All deck.) John Edge. Mike Raba. (Pursers.) OUR Derek Bailey! (Without whom we would not have an ongoing newsletter, after all these years!) Will stop there, for now, to see if these 'few words' generate any response!

GTP

[Gulliver]

Hi Graham 'the pipe' Smith.

Indeed ,that's a good nostalgic site ....especially the pics.

In fact this great site did provide a link to it in 2009-there's so much on this site,that it can take years to read it all,so thanks for reminding us.
It didn't generate a lot of comment last time,so worth trying again as a lot of guys and girls won't have seen it.?..........
The thread is here:

http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/showthread.php?p=22679&highlight=cadet+ships#post2 2679


Cheers!

Gulliver

[Doc Vernon]

Hi GTP (Full name please!)
Would just like to give you a warm Welcome to this very good site!
Here you will find lots of info,good Crew and with luck also find a few old Shipmates!
So sit back,relax and just enjoy the trip!
Hope we will have you here for a long time!
A site truly worthy of the British Merchant Navy!
Cheers

If you would like to join in and have your Full name R Number and First Ship
Included in the Flag then Please join the Crew List and leave full details on the Registration Form.
We need your names to get the New Flag full,so please do respond!
Thank you
Vernon (castleman)

Don’t forget to note your First Ship on the Form!

That site is indeed a nice one and i hope it will help others too!
Thanks for joining!

If any new Members or old ones too want a bit of info on the Flag Projects please
Go to the following Links where you can see Pics and Write ups on this subject!
Thanks

http://www.merchant-navy.net/gallery...php?photo=8380

If you have allready done this then Thank You!

[Bev Summerill]

I joined Ed's in 1964 with a brand new 2nd mates ticket stayed mainly on Ed ships rising to first mate and left with a good redundacy packet in 1984 .I sailed with buster Brown when he was a brand new master I do not recognise any of the other names which is not surprising with my memory

Bev Summerill

[Paul Hughes]

Hi Graham. I'm an ex ED R/O; we did once meet through the auspices of Nigel 'Sandy' Powell - possibly at his wedding - wasn't Archie Hartwell there too? I sailed with several of the names you list including Tony Bryant, Chief Officer Eboe 1960/61, Dave Porter, Cadet on Ebani 1959; I knew of Buster Brown as he was then (1960s) newly in command and local to me in Blackpool. I also believe you're in touch with Johnny Woodend still. Other ED names I have contact with include Brian Darwell and Roger French. I gather you've looked at Mike Evans' Elder Dempster site from material posted there. What's Tony up to these days?

Regards,

Paul Hughes

[Graham Smith]

Hi Graham we did once meet

Hi Paul!

Apologies for the 'somewhat long' delay in replying. Must look at this site more often to see how many of us are still alive and kicking. Well remember Sandy's wedding and - yes - Archie was best man. Was back in the 'mid' 60s I would guess but can't remember the exact year. Sorry I can't put a face to your name but don't think we ever sailed together, did we?

Tony was C/O on the Eboe when I was 4/O - also in '61. I used to do his 4>8 watch whilst he 'entertained' certain passengers, enough said! However, he did give me a watch off on my 21st birthday! This 'featured' in Monica Porter's Saturday Daily Mail 'Lost and found' column and Tony and I are now friends with her. Tony had his 80th this year - how time flies! Sadly I couldn't organise what I wanted to on the date as Norma, his wife of 50+ years, is far from well. He and Norma were among many guests, including other ED lads in uniform, at the 'surprise party' my elder daughter sprung on me, in 2010, for my 70th. Dave Porter, in uniform, was there too with wife Dulcie.

My e address is HERE if you'd like to make contact?

A happy, healthy and prosperous MMX11 to you and yours!

GTP

Your email address changed to a link for your security Graham. You can never be too careful on a Public Forum. Tony.

[Roger French]

Hi Graham, and Paul too. I'm the Roger French Paul referred to above, and I also sailed on the Eboe in 1962.
Archie Hartwell was my best man too, in Feb 1964, and I did my first trip on the Sobo, with Dave Porter as Senior Cadet. I'd be glad if you'd say "hello" from me, since you're still in touch.

I was at the Fourah Bay 50th anniversary in Liverpool back in October, a great "do" where I got to meet again many from the past, and even my wife met her old boss from years ago - she worked in ED's offices in India Buildings back then.

[Graham Smith]

Hi Roger, Hi, again, Paul.

Must visit this site more often! 'Names' pop up every time I look. Yours 'rings bells', Roger, although we never sailed together and - to the best of my knowledge - we have never met? Your notoriety must run ahead of you!

Have been 'advised', by the organisers of this site, that detailing e addresses is NOT a good idea, so would suggest that 'initial steps', in respect of putting your good self and Dave P back in touch, would be to contact me on facebook and I'll give you his address, phone numbers, e address etc. I must tell you now that, sadly, he is currently in hospital recovering from an operation on his bowels. I'll let Dulcie, his wife, know you are 'out there', so that she can tell him when she visits him today.

Think the name John Gilbert (nee Cronin) might ring bellls to you? Will elaborate when we can exchange 'personal' e mails.

Kindest to you and yours. GTP

[Roger French]

Yes, Johnny Gilbert's name rings very loud bells! I'll try to find you on Facebook.

[Graham Smith]

Hi Roger, delighted we are now in E 'touch'. Appropriate that one particular E - with a BOE 'attached' - is a common link!