Denby Grange

[lima]

Hi AJ,
It was a nightmare of a trip.I just can't make out the skippers signature in my discharge book but is surname starts with a P, he said that he wished he was paying off with me. Cyril Montereo was the bosun and he was sick of all the trouble. At the time i was glad to come ashore and a mate of mine who was with me on the Flatties had got me a job in Midland Silicones as it was then and that was it. The Barry boys were always ok they liked their drink but who did'nt. Did you ever use the "CHAIN LOCKER" ? it was a great pub.
Take Care.
Ray. L

[AJ Hawker]

Hi Ray
Cyril Montero was bosun with me on the Denby Grange a very big guy, the kind you did not argue with.
Yes i used the chain locker quite offten until they nocked the best pub in Barry down, a nice young lady named June took me under her wing when i was a young lad. where do you have a pint now Ray we will have to have one together sometime, speak soon.
Cheers AJ

[lima]

Hi AJ,
Yes he was a big bloke but he was ok with most of the deck crowed. He was brought up in Travis street and did not have an edge on him. You must have sailed with a lot of Barry boys in your time, but sadly a lot of them have gone on. "Plonky" Woolcocks, Wally Treweeks to name only 2 but they were all good shipmates. I don't go out much at night drinking now as you never know if you will be alright. The streets of Barry can be mean at night, not like years ago, i never ever seen a fight in the old Chain Locker and you had all different foreign seamen going in there.
Never mind i can still look back and think of the good times we had in them days.
Will keep in touch,all the best.
Ray. L
R597003

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi A.J. Hi Geoff,Hi shipmates' The old grey matter kick in last night thinking about the good old days, A.J. I was not on the Clutha River,only did one trip at christmas time on B.P. Hi Geoff our kid, Jackson had a pig farm in wenvoe, had some bad luck and lost it due to swine flu? he was at sea with a mate of his , cant remember his name but they both sail with blue flu for a few years allways on the same watch, All the docks cops were called Rats, A.J. I am sure Patsie would like to see you again. I will asked him when can we go for a beer? he is allways in company with his lady friends down the club. So it will be in the new year. Geoff any time you come back to Cardiff the pints in, and the Clarkies pie. take care and have a great christ mas.

[AJ Hawker]

Hi Ray
As you say the bosun was not all that bad, had to be pretty handy being brought up in Travis St. Ithink i sailed with Plonky Wilcox on the Arthur Albright not sure, worked with Wally in the dry dock in the 80s? very nice guy excellent rigger showed me the ropes a few times. You are right about Barry you cannot look at anyone without getting a load of abuse, anyway we must have a pint together sometime, Cheers for now.
AJ
ps are you any relation to the Limas that lived in Aneurin rd.

[AJ Hawker]

Hi Lois
Will take you up on that, let me know when thats if we can get Patsie away from his lady friends Cheers for now keep in touch.
AJ

[Geoff Anderson]

Hi Louis.
Was that the lane that run past the school,( was Glan Ely) past a juntion where a piggery was, then onto a farm and turn right down the hill on to the middle of the Wenvoe strights.? If its the piggery im thinking of the other road leading past it goes to a quarry, i think winstons use it now. but in my day it was disused and that is where the scrap yard was, and where the police eventually found the condesers.That farm where you have to turn right at the end of lane is or was the Greave farm where i helped out. Hey just thought maybe it dosnt exist now as it was nearly 40 yrs ago.
Geoff , will claim my pie and pint at sometime

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi A.J. Hi Geoff our kid,The school by the lane was Cynwell 1960 the school on the end of lane was Mostyn the Quarry{ limestone} was about 400 yds on the right the pig farm was just passed it on a hill, that was The Jackson place , the smell could kill? in them days they fed the pigs on swill, all the old rubbish from the shops and restarants around Cardiff was used after putting in the outdoor boiler for a few hours. A teacher{ metal work} was going with that farmers daughter { Greave Farm} she was a looker, do you remember her? that all happen around that time.{ The pie and pint is here when anytime your ready} also I will get you a rees pie to try from canton.

[Geoff Anderson]

Hi Luois.
Yes we are talking about the same piggery, imagine what the smell was like when we were working in the paddocks down wind of that place. Phewww used to make our eyes water. Cant remember the daughter never went up to the house much, we were just the peasants, only got invited to the house with a hand writen embossed invite or to get your cards.
Geoff

[lima]

Hi AJ, My brother Gil lived there and also went to sea as a cook. He was on the Houlders Ore boats also Radcliffe tankers. He sailed with Tom Blaney on the Ore carriers. I was with Tom on the Longwood a tanker that was 28years old when we joined her[ fored accomadation] a right old bucket. Billy Hocking,Georgie Birke, Jarver Javaise and many more from Barry. As you said Wally was a good guy and helped me a lot and although very quiet could also be a handfull.
perhaps we can meet up after Xmas and have a drink or two.
Regards
Ray. L