P&O Oronsay

[happy daze john in oz]

Make you right there Mike, weird ain't it Graham

With some of the replies we give...........................

[Graham Payne]

With some of the replies we give...........................

You may possibly have a serious point there John , but as the saying goes "if you cant swim you should have put a lifejacket on", Don't know what it means but it sounds educated?? Graham

[Jim Dunster]

Hi just joined the site - great fun - was anybody on the Oronsay 1966 - 1967 .She was my first ship as deck boy - my deck man was a guy called Owen ( can't remember his last name) . Did two world trips on her before moving on to VLCC with Esso BP and Shell.

We had the time of our lives spent my 16th Birthday on Hawaii- £25 a month puls overtime .Fags 10 and 6 a carton !!!! Would be great to here from any of the deck crew who sailed on her then .

Howard. Owen Pearson was his name , you must have been A deck tourist, George was on B deck.

[Jim Dunster]

Hi Howard, do you remember an AB called "Spud Murphy" he had been on it for a few years (a really nice bloke) helped me a lot when I was a Deck Boy '63/64 and then as an EDH April '67 to January '68, also there used to be a Deckman called "Dunster" ( not sure of his first name) on the Stadium deck in '67 he was a deck boy with me in '63.

Graham, Deckmans name is Jim. Did you know that Spud was asked to show his ID in Honolulu as they thought he was under age to drink. I think he was in his 40s at the time. I am trying to place you, but it was a long time ago.

[Jim Vallance]

As a 15-year-old in 1967 I travelled with my family on the Oronsay from Vancouver to Southampton via Japan etc. It was the best experience of my life (I'm now 56) ... and for that, I thank the many wonderful crew members, waiters and musicians (I ended up being a pro musician as a result).

Due to war in the Middle East in July '67, Oronsay was re-routed around Africa. There was also a fire in the hold, at sea. Quite frightening.

Would love to contact John, who was the drummer in the Peter Long Trio, and also Steve, who was a waiter in the 2nd class dining room, about 18 at the time. He lent me his turntable so I could listen to Sgt Pepper, which I purchased during our stop in San Francisco (vinyl LP, mono!).

Thanks to all.

Jim Vallance / Vancouver Canada

[Graham Payne]

Hi Jim, I was on the "Oronsay" 1st time joined in Tilbury 1963 March , I was on B deck tourist with Jimmy Mcvicar as deckman, I was the little ginger haired boy,if my memory serves me well you were a deck boy on the Stadium Deck? It was at the time "Biddy" the boatman fell overboard early one morning between Honolulu and Vancover (he was never found unfortunatley) Kind regards Graham (Ginger)

[Len Inglis]

I played football against the Oronsay in Kobe 64/65 time, was on Hms Victorious at the time.

[Neville Roberts]

there is an interesting site , go on ORIENT LINE and a few of the old ships will come up, with pics and deck plans

[john middleton]

Hi Nev I seem to come across you quite a lot, I did 1 trip on the Oronsay Feb 1958, sent down from Liverpool midnight Lime Street, under the clock, worked by for a fortnight, then sailed, it was just after the Munich air crash, and I remember seeing the cup game v Sheffield Wed on TV at some pub in Gravesend, 51 years ago, sound like the old BRs in our day off the Berengaria, dont we.
All the best
John

[Chris Jones]

Any former Oronsay crew (1974-75) out there? Love to catch up with you.