Denholm ships 70's and 80's

[GATESHEAD MICK]

Hello lads (and lasses).

I'm wandering if any of you sailed on the following ships and remember some of the characters I had
the good fortune to sail with.

CALADONIAN FOREST 1976
TROLL RIVER 1977
MUIRFIELD 1977
LOCH LOMOND 1978
LOCH MAREE 1978
TROLL RIVER 1979
TROLL PARK 1979
VANCOUVER FOREST 1980
TYNE BRIDGE 1980
TWEED BRIDGE 1981
CAST PETREL 1981
WELLPARK 1982
EXXTOR I 1982-1986

I was an AB on these ships and had some good trips on them.

MICK BELL

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi Mick, nice list of ships, But after my time at sea spent some time around that area some years ago great beer Newcastle exibition, I had the odd half,and a few pints of dog, Some very nice people in that part of the world. "Away the Lads"

[Mick Cutler]

Hi Mick,
I sailed with you when you was bosun on the Exxtor ,I was a motorman on your crew , shortly after you paid off I also left, to join the Prison service.
Get back to us soon so we can swing the lamp,all the best Mick Cutler.

[GATESHEAD MICK]

Hello Mick

Good to hear from you mate.

I see you're still living in Newhaven, we had some good times both in the Tavern and in town when the
ship was tied up. (I suppose old Danny and Lil have passed on now, maybe you could let me know).

I'm sure you would agree the Exxtor was a happy 'laid back' ship Mick, it was a shock to the system for
me to come from deep sea for 13 years to 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off when I first joined her.

There was always a good feeling coming towards the port on a saturday night, passing the sailing
club on the left-hand side, (with all the punters mingling with their drinky-poos in the windows) and
knowing we had Sunday off. (As you know, we all used to get dressed up on the Sunday and attend
the various services that were available in the local churches!)

I got on well with all the lads on the dock as well Mick, if any of them are still around give them my
regards.

Good to hear from you mate.

Mick Bell

[alex clark]

Hi Mick. I was cook on the Troll River.06/01/77 - 7/11/77 so I did a canny trip in her.Joined in Kobi @ left her in Tilbury.Made a few bob in her,doing suppers etc on a night time,John God Ridley even wangled crane money for me,but I bet he got a lot more for himself,even got me extra beer in Oslo when we converting to containers.Good ship.Good crew.Reg.Alex Clark. (Jarrow)

[GATESHEAD MICK]

Hello Alex mate

Looking at your dates of when you were on the Troll River I must have been on her after you, as we were running from the contintinent to the gulf with containers.

I remember Captain Ridley though, he was still ruling the roost! (with his hand made rolly cheroot hanging
out of his gob)!

Most of the lads were from the Shields pool but I carried on sailing with Denholms afterwards.

Ta for the message

Mick

[Grant Saunders]

Mick
I was stwd on the Exxtor 1 from July 84 to july 85

If I remember correctly you were right into Bruce Springsteen and had a fondness for Dancing in the Dark
which made for an interesting Sat Night when you fell off a table !
Do you remember that ?????

All the best

Grant

[GATESHEAD MICK]

Hello mate

Thanks for the message.

I remember you, and I do remember getting up on one of the tables (and sometimes the bar counter) in Danny's bar whenever Dancing in the dark came on the juke box and one had indulged in a couple of 'Merrydowns' too many on the odd times we all had the chance to have a day tied-up in Newhaven. (If I recall right, I'm sure Peter (Pedro) Galbraith was up there with me as a 'chookta' backing singer!!)

You'll remember some of the lads on board at that time Grant, Drop that cat, Southampton Bob,
Marty Hollier, Shuggie, Glasgow Davie the stewart, Bobby Danks the Chef, Donny Paul,Pompey John,
Chris Thomas was the skipper, Brian the mate, and Belfast Harry Chief engineer.

It's a canny while ago since then Grant and if you remember some more names of the lads drop me
a line mate.

Mick Bell

[Grant Saunders]

Mick
Glad to see you remember me !

I remember some of those names Remember going to see a Howard Jones concert with Bobby the Cook,
I remember Shuggie as I had sailed with him on the Tor Caledonia also remember a Steward who also had been on the Tor Cal a chap from Aberdeen Stewart I think that his surname was Wallace

As you say it was a long time ago, now I am doing Admin in Glasgow in a company where we try to get long time unemployed back into work not an easy task as all the people that we are sent are told to be there by the Job Centre !

[GATESHEAD MICK]

Hello mate

thanks for your reply

speaking of the local brew, we are all drowning in it at the moment with the toon
being relegated and the mackems staying up!
Plus the fact that the aussies look like keeping the ashes.
Woe is me ..........

Mick