Memories from the 60's on the Orcades

[Red Lead Ted]

She was flying the blue ensign which meant her skipper would have been ex R.N. or Commodore of the fleet i reckon about 1960 i have some gr8 footage on most of the old Liners them were the days when there was work for everyone who wanted it My how times have changed. Just as a point off subject we got a t.v. set around that time 14 inch it had a back on it like a telephone box........The good old days gr8 film Regards Terry.

[Mike Newell]

Re the date Bob. Looking at my dis. book it would have been around August 59, when we were Medi cruising out of Southampton. The Old man was captain Birch (RNR)

[Ivan Cloherty]

She was flying the blue ensign which meant her skipper would have been ex R.N.

Hi Terry

Didn't have to be ex RN to fly Blue Ensign, if vessel had more than 5 crew members who were RNVR or above, including an officer then permission was given to fly Blue Ensign. We flew one in Suez 1956 and none of us were ex RN, but a lot of us were RNVR.

Nothing to do with being commodore though

As far as I remember it

Ivan

[Don Rafferty]

Thank you Bob for posting that, a real bit of nostalgia for me.

It was my first ship as a Deckboy/JOS - Mar 65-Mar 66, four trips on the immigrant run to Oz.

I must have done at least ten hours on that wheel as I got my steering ticket on her.

Many times did I clean those horns for'ard of the funnel, there was a dedicated cleaning kit locker on the bridge for them and you couldn't access the kit without first removing two signs, which had to be hung on the horn buttons either side of the bridge - DO NOT USE CLEANING IN PROGRESS.

[Bob Sendall]

Re the date Bob)

Thanks for that, August 1959 I was working at Vauxhall Motors, Luton, however I escaped in 1960 and became a Bell Boy on the old Corfu in May 1960, what a different world!! Like the rest I wish I could do it all again.

Thanks for all the kind comments,
Bob

[Graham Payne]

[QUOTE=Doc Vernon;77900]Hello Bob
A truly nostalgic Reel of Film there,and although i wasnt with the P&O it also brings back memories of i bet so many other great Shipping Companies in those days,like the old UCL Liners as well!
Looking at the Stewards at work on deck,the Cooks in the Galley,the Radio Officers on their sidewinders (recall my days in the RAF as wireless Op not with sidewinders though) and so many other things associated with our heydays at Sea!
Those were really good Ships,the feel of the Sea was then a true experience,not like these days with all these Huge Floating Hotels,and although they are great Building feats,to me no where near as good ! Just my thoughts!
There are other Pathe Pictorial Reels as well out there,some i have put on site quite a while ago,just need to search for them! Goodness knows where now though haha!
But i thank you for this Link,as said it is truly agreat Reel of Film!
And thanks to Pathe as well!
Cheers

I have given you a definate 5 Star rating on this Thread Bob!

And here is the followup Reel 2
Cheers

I AM A PASSENGER Reel 2. - British Pathe

And others here!

THREE SEASONS ( reels 1 & 2 ) - British Pathe

UCL Line

UNION CASTLE LINE (aka CASTLES IN (or ON) THE SEA) (aka HOLIDAY AHOY) - British Pathe[/QUOTE

Hi Doc

Do you know the full film http//www etc etc for the "Orcades ?
sorry to be thick but I know my mate in Aus would love to see it and I dont know how to foreward it, if you could please could you type in the full (http etc etc) for the film I could then e-mail him

[Tony Morcom]

Here are the links you want Graham ( Doc Vernon will be sleeping at the moment)

Reel One: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=78596

Reel Two: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=78597

All you need to do is to copy and paste these into your email and your friend will be able to click straight on them as they are Hyperlinks.

Cheers

[jenny]

Wonderful ship, I was passenger Xmas 1959. We left Suva Xmas eve after a day up the pub and all the drunken Aussies were diving in the pool, didnt realise that for their own safety they had started to empty it. Some idiot then dived in, was empty ofcourse, they carted him off, never saw him again, must have spent alot of time in the sick bay.Another drunk had his tap cut a day out of Auckland, he must have thought enough was enough and threw himself over the side. His body was retrieved some time later by life boat but they had a terrible time trying to find him. I wonder if any of the lads on site were on her that trip

[donald w gillies]

Thank you Bob for taking me on that lovely trip it brings back many good memories (and a little tear) from bygone days, never to return, how privileged we were to have been there,
It was a different world then, comradeship and teamwork and i must agree with Doc, Real ships where you got the true experience of the sea,
Thanks again.
Donald w.

[Red Lead Ted]

Didn't have to be ex RN....

It is widely tought that Titanic flew the blue ensign on her maiden voyage no EX R.N or RNRV ??? She was aloud to fly the blue ensign because her skipper signed his name Commodore of the fleet Captain Smith check for yourself m8 Regards Terry.