Lapthorn & C0

[Geoffrey Watson]

I was port agent Thames & Medway) and also crew manager for Lapthorn's in the 80's/90's. Just found the publicity blurb we had for the "Hoo Laurel" class of vessel

Hoo Laurel details.jpg

[j.sabourn]

Was the photo taken in Australia Geoff.?. Cheers JS

[Graham Shaw]

Was the photo taken in Australia Geoff.?. Cheers JS

Ha Ha !John Upside down. Just cricked my neck trying to read it! Doh!

[Graham Shaw]

Hi Geoffrey. Just for interest I found those vessels in some of the latest shipping registers and all seem to be still registered having had long lives.One of them, the ex-Hoopride being converted to a hopper in 2020,and another,the ex Hoo Marlin, rather appropriately being converted to a fisheries support vessel in 2017. Most of the other unconverted vessels would be about 35 years old now.
The only query is Betty Jean which does not appear to be the Hoo class,as the only one of that name mentioned is a much smaller and older(1960) Dutch coaster.Perhaps it was one of the other vessels you managed,unless that was a proposed name for a vessel of the same class as the Hoo's which never happened for some reason.
Regards Graham

[Doc Vernon]

Cannot make out anything on this Poster??
Thanks anyway

Here is an old Site that was given to me a long time back, has many old Companies this Link gives you i think most all the Ships of the Company in Question
Cheers Enjoy

RJ LAPTHORN & CO., Rochester. - transportsofdelight (smugmug.com)

Just one i have copied as it is mentioned! The Hoopride

Hoopride.jpg

British shipping companies (L) (crwflags.com)

Ship Photos - R. Lapthorn & Co.


R. Lapthorn and Company Limited By K.s Garrett 9781901703412 | eBay

[Graham Shaw]

That's a nice photo site Vernon. Enough to make a' rock-dodger's eyes water for a long time.Not me though,I went to sea to see the world-Rio de Janeiro, rather than Rochester ,Tahiti rather than Tynemouth,Iquique rather than Immingham,-you get the drift,although I must admit I did see the occasional British coaster in some out of the way foreign port,such as one of Comben Longstaff's 1,600 tonners refuelling at Bermuda en route for . UK. The Mate and Chief Eng.wouldn't disclose what or who they had carried or where to or from! Left us wondering about things like spies,or Royalty or drugs or gold bullion or.......! A bit mean ,or perhaps very British of them not to reveal all because they certainly weren't tight-lipped when it came to throwing our cans of Tennent's down their throats. These things we have pondered in our hearts and etched in our memories.....

[j.sabourn]

That sounds like Cappy with 3/9d etched into his memory banks a totally false premise. JS

PS You obviously didnt get to the Saturday night dance at the Tynemouth Plaza. As good as anything that Tahiti could produce , including pineapples and pimps. Cheers JS

[Graham Shaw]

That sounds like Cappy with 3/9d etched into his memory banks a totally false premise. JS

PS You obviously didnt get to the Saturday night dance at the Tynemouth Plaza. As good as anything that Tahiti could produce , including pineapples and pimps. Cheers JS

I know ,and if it wasn't for the biting wind howling off the North Sea ripping through the Plaza Girls grass skirts, the Geordie accents.and the nearest coconuts being on the fairground in South Shields you would swear you were on Bain Lot Beach,Papeete ...Bar Girl.gif

[j.sabourn]

Ah but you didnt have the advantage of a roller skating rink in the same building. Making a fast getaway was and advantage sometimes. Like when I peed down the back of a Teddy boys trousers as he was preening himself in front of the mirror in the Gents. How was I to know he had friends outside.? Cheers JS.