New Member

[J.T.Fitzpatrick]

Hello Keith,
I was with Clyde Shipping, on the "Needles" Iron ore carrier in 58.

John. (R694652)

[Tony Morcom]

Hi John. Have a look at our Crew List tab where you can lists all of your ships and the approx dates. From there it is easy for others to find you.

[J.T.Fitzpatrick]

Thank You Tony,
Will do that. One of my problems is memory a bit hazy on shipmates surnames. Lucky for me that I still have the old Discharge book to stop ships slipping away in the mist of time.
John (R694652)

[Keith Moody]

don`t worry about the grey matter being a bit stale, it happens to all of us!!!!!
just a question, where did the "Needles" travel to?
keith
R635978

[Roger Dyer]

HI ROGER forgot to mention i was on the Queen of the Channel for a season, my only time in the Catering Dept, there were more fiddles on that Ship than were in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, we had an AB on there who boasted he would get a legover befor we arrived at Southend Pier from Tower Pier, he usually did.was a mad house, could write a book on the fiddles, most of the Cargo Ships had Cook/Stewards,my brother was one, use to tell me how the fiddles were worked on those, amazing days.

Tony, I well remember the 'Queen of the Channel' . As her name implies, she would often dash across to France for the day whereas we on the 'Royal Sovereign'were mostly restricted to the Tower Pier-Southend-Margate run (with occasional stops at
Gravesend), although we did get some interesting charter trips. I believe the 'Queen and the 'Sovereign were virtually sister-ships, the main difference being the sun-deck immediately for'rd of the bridge. On the 'Queen it was open to the elements whereas on the 'Sovereign it was completely enclosed. Occasionally our paths would cross during the course of the summer. For me they were sublimely happy days to which my four summers as a crew-member would attest. Some members of the crew were 'rusted on', deck and catering alike. As you say, mate, there were 'fiddles' going on everywhere, some of them hilarious. Would have made a wonderful script for a 'Carry On' movie. I know of one or two other
members (apart from our new member, John) who worked the 'Summer Boats' during their time at sea, including our mate, Brian Probetts, who is ex-Royal Sovereign.

It would be nice to hear from anyone who served on the 'Queen of the
Channel, 'Royal Sovereign' or 'Royal Daffodil' during their time at sea, who could, perhaps, share a few memories with us. I have one or two little snippets that might be of interest to members, but will save them for another day.

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

[happy daze john in oz]

Hello J.T.,

During the summer months of 1962-1965 inclusive, I was also a happy sailor (A.B.) on G.S.N.C.'s 'Royal Sovereign'. Hope your time with us is both long and happy.

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

Thank goodness you used the word happy, had you said gay, AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Neil Morton]

Thank goodness you used the word happy, had you said gay, AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Hi John what are you doing on the 3rd Sept ?

Welcome aboard John T I was on the Port Nelson 61/62 "Tiger " to Capt Stannard. Also Ports New Plymouth, Alfred, Vindex, and Townsville. I hope you spend a productive and pleasant hour or two down memory lane.

[Gulliver]

Hello Keith,
I was with Clyde Shipping, on the "Needles" Iron ore carrier in 58.

John. (R694652)

Hello John. I see you had a new ship in 58 !


m.v. NEEDLES Ore carrier (O.N. 300198 ),6859grt 9,250 / dwt. 11.5kts. Completed 29.5.58 by Pickersgill,Southwick,Sunderland as Yard No.355 for Clyde Shipping Co.Ltd,Glasgow
1960 Renamed WELLPARK (VI) -there have been 7 of this name altogether)- by Denholm Line Steamers Ltd,Glasgow.

Broken Up Faslane 12.2.73 by Shipbreaking Industries. Comparatively short-lived.
Apparently Wellpark carried 24 deck cadets together with an additional Chief Officer, who acted as schoolmaster. I believe apart from a Bosun and Chippy,no other deck crew were carried,the Cadets fulfilling that role. (cheap labour then !)


Another Denholms ore-carrier/cadet training ship was the m.v.Crinan,which carried 18 Deck Cadets and was a near-sister to Wellpark completed in 1960,but built by Charles Connell,Scotstoun for Scottish Ore Carriers,Greenock,( Denholm Ship Management .) Crinan ,with Denhoms until 74,lasted until 1987 with Philippine owners,being variously converted into an ore/oil carrier,then back to a bulk(coal) carrier.



I can't find a pic of the NEEDLES,but a few of her as WELLPARK are shown.(Click to enlarge) them)

Best Regards





　

[J.T.Fitzpatrick]

Hello Gulliver,
Thank's for the info on the Needles, I joined her Sept 58 as catering boy and left as asst steward. April 59 I joined the Port Nelson. I have a copy photo of the WELLPARK vi (third photo you supplied). Downloaded from Ships Nostalgia
It is unfortunate that of the 7,000 + photos that I had taken until 1974. I lost about 5,500 in a flood, Most being the earlier ones. This winter I will be digitizing my old negatives for Family/History use, and hope one of the Needles may have survived. If it does then I will put it in the gallery for sure.

Regards, John

[J.T.Fitzpatrick]

Hello Keith,
On my few trips aboard the Needles She collected ore from either Bone (Annaba) in Algeria 0r Tunis in Tunisia. And on return to UK delivered either to Barrow-in-Furness, or to Port Talbot, Where I think at the time she was the largest ship to enter the lock gates, it took ages to get through. (Maybe someone on this site could confirm or disprove this )
The other destination was Middlesbrough.....My Memory flashback as follows.....
First trip on Needles as Catering boy with low pay just enough to send money home, fags, bottle of drink and odd drink ashore. Docked Middlesbrough stayed in cabin fell asleep. About midnight banging on door and “Lady of the night” stumbled in wanting work and carrying a big holdall. Sorry I said, broke no money at all. Oh she said any fags or drink? There is half bottle whisky and 40 fags if you want them said I. Oh you poor little sod is that all you F....... got? With that she pulled from her holdall, two beers a pack of 200 sigs a lighter, and a pair of knickers. before falling out the door and onto the next cabin. Nice thing to do, (Bye the way, the knickers went out the porthole)

John (R694652)