It's a Strange Old Life !!!

[Roger Dyer]

Hi Shipmates,

Just two days ago, on the 14th Dec., in the 'Crossed the Bar' forum I informed members of the sudden death of a an old and dear ex-MN friend of mine, John 'Geordie' Redpath. In that thread I described how I'd met Geordie back in 1960 in the 'Black Horse' pub in Leman Street, Aldgate East (just around the corner from the Prescott Street ' Pool') and how he and I became part of a group of seaman who for several years always used that pub as a rallying point whenever we were in London.

As a result of that posting I received an e-mail from a member living in N.Z., Duncan Montgomery, telling me that he remembered meeting Geordie in the 'Black Horse' back in the early '60's when introduced to him by a cousin, Gary Pascoe, another Kiwi lad from Lyttelton. On reading this, I wasted no time at all in sending a reply to Duncan explaining that his cousin, Gary Pascoe, was also an old mate of mine whom I had sailed with back in the 60's. He had also been a member of that old gang of 'Black Horse' regulars referred to above, but we had lost touch when I emigrated to Oz in 1966. In my e-mail to Duncan I asked after Gary, hoping that his reply was not going to bring me further sadness.

Members will understand my delight, when this morning (Sydney time) I received a further e-mail from Duncan to say that Gary was indeed alive and well and nowadays living back in Christchurch, N.Z., having returned from the U.K. back in the 80's. He also told me that he had contacted Gary who it seems is 'over the moon' (his words, not mine) that we are now in touch with one another after 45 years. After giving me Gary's address and phone.no, Duncan mentioned that Gary owns a racehorse which, incidentally, was racing this very day in the 3rd race at Riccarton Park, N.Z., a maiden handicap (for horses that had never won a race before) and added that if I was interested I might like to have a bet on it, if only for old times sake. Apparently, Gary had named the mare after a long-ago girl-friend in Lisbon.

More for reasons of nostalgia than anything else, I wandered round to my local club where they also have a T.A.B. betting agency. I didn't want to get too carried away and so, somewhat cautiously, I placed a miserable little $10 on the nose, even though it was amongst the favourites. They say 'act in haste, repent at leisure' and now I shall forever regret my lack of speculative courage. Gary's mare romped home, winning by four lengths, and I, greedy bu--er that I am, was left cursing my lack of faith in the powers that be........ still I suppose it's better than losing. I think my old mate Geordie would have seen the humour in that.....probably up there laughing his head off right now. Meanwhile, back at the track, at this very moment, I picture Gary busily celebrating and enjoying the spoils of his victory and why not?

In the space of less than a week I have lost an old and dear MN mate, but as an indirect result of his passing I have found another old mate who, like Geordie and I , had been a member of that 'happy breed' of so long ago. I know for sure that Geordie would have liked that too! Perhaps, it's just self- indulgent fantasy to think that he, somehow, engineered the whole sequence of events since his passing,....but then again, who really knows?. It's a strange old life, isn't it.?


..........................Roger

[Doc Vernon]

What a wonderful Story Roger,i am so pleased for you and your new Found old Friend!
Yes that was an Omen about the Horse and as i always say take the chance while it is there! But none the less,a win is a win!
I hope that one day you will meet up in Person,who knows,its a very small World!
Cheell and thanks for the nice Post!

[Bob Hollis]

I sailed with a Gary Pascoe on the Fred Olsen's Blenheim, he was lampy or was it called bosun's mate. Nice guy.
I had a gentleman's agreement with the mate in that if he received any complaint/adverse comment from a passenger re my very long hair we would part company with no hard feelings. Gary was instrumental on my remaining on board.

[Keith Tindell]

Hi Roger,
Sure is sad to lose a close friend, and seems to be happening more frequent as we get older. I also met up with an old shipmate after 43 years and was lucky to go out to Canada and meet up, and of course are still in contact today. Your mention of the Black Horse pub also brought back memories, used to be my first stop when going to the pool, stop in for a swift pint, and someone always gave you news on what was in, such as *stay away mate, the Queen of Burmuda is in*. If my memory is correct the landlord was a Jew and his son also ran the bar? sons name possibly Stan?. Used to cash my advance note in there, ah happy days, regards Keith Tindell

[colin twine]

yes and i sailed with duncan on the tcenic and medic

[Roger Dyer]

Hi Keith....re your #4 post.

Your memory serves you well, mate. The landlord of the 'Black Horse', Barney Yellin was indeed a Jew and also one of nature's gentlemen. Amongst many other things I remember how he would allow seamen to leave their cases and gear in a large room above the bar for as long as they wanted, all at no cost, but no doubt good for business nevertheless. After selling the pub, he retired to Gants Hill, Essex, but sadly the grim reaper caught up with Barney about 20 years ago. After the pub was sold, his son Stan left the pub game and for the rest of his working life became a London 'cabbie'. Nowadays he lives in Hornchurch, Essex, and we still keep in touch each Xmas.

................Roger.

[Keith Tindell]

Thanks for that info re black horse shipmate!, we may have been in there the same time, give my regards to Stan next time, he wont remember me , i was just a snotty nosed 18 year old then!!!, but nice to hear he`s still fine, regards Keith Tindell

[happy daze john in oz]

Thanks for that Roger, Like you i also found a good old mate of mine last year. Lost for over thirty and after such time it is just great to know they are still around. We never sailed together but it was he who convinced me to join up, so glad I did.
Your mention of a maiden handicap would bring tears to a glass eye when I think back on some of them, never maidens, but certainlyt a handicap at times!

[John Pruden]

how is it we always seem to loose a friend or family member over the holiday period i was told yesterday of a good old friend of mine passing but that's life as they say? RIP JOE you will be missed.john

[alf corbyn]

hi roger gants hill and that area is known as the home of the black cabbies also a jewish area. there was a film i saw about black cabs and it was all about the area. alf