Harry Tait (Chief Engineer)

[Keith Tait]

Now there's a place I've not heard mentioned for many years...The Jungle, I was never there myself but am aware of where it was (now posh flats I think) down the bank near the North Shields ferry landing, my excuse for not going would have to be I'm too young !!!

[j.sabourn]

Correct name the Northumberland Arms, as you say now expensive apartments at Yuppie prices I imagine. Think the pub over the road The Golden Fleece is still there though. Cheers John Sabourn

[David Williams]

Hi Keith.
Just to welcome you aboard.Find yourself a
cpmefortable berth and settle in.If you have
any questions that need answering,I can
assure you that there will be someone out
here that will have the answer.
Dave Williams

[Harold Stephenson]

Hello,
I am new to this sort of thing so I hope I am not breaking any rules. I have been researching family history and trying to build a profile on my late Grandfathers career, he was chief engineer on merchant ships (his early career unknown but believed to be at sea) from the early 1930's up until an accident on the Pennyworth (owned by RS Dalgliesh) on 12th August 1965, I understand there was an engine room explosion off Newfoundland in which he was badly burnt along with about 6 other crew members (information from newspaper 13/8/1965) can anyone recall being on the Pennyworth who can maybe throw some light on what went so badly wrong, the newspaper report named crew members who were in their early 20's so I live in hope somebody will remember the incident.
If anyone can recall my Grandfather on the Pennyworth or indeed any other ship I would love to hear from you.
Keith

Hi Keith,
My friend Alex Barnes was 2nd Engineer on the M.V. Pennyworth when it had the crankcase explosion, ironically I was on the S.S Rathlin Head just 100 miles apart when the explosion occurred. I believe the ship was afloat with no engine power for two days before the engineers could get it up and running again, before docking in St John where they all had a medical check up.
Sadly my friend Alex Barnes died at sea on another ship, a few years ago. If anybody reads this and knew Alex I would be glad to hear from them.
Harold Stephenson ex Head Line and Harrison (Clyde) Glasgow

[gray_marian]

#14, Hi Harold welcome to the site.
Keith Tait has not been on here since his last post in October 2012. Best to send a private message via this forum which will alert his email address.

[John Albert Evans]

Keith,
In case you havent got a photograph of the MV Pennyworth

Pennyworth-02.jpg

John Albert Evans.

[Jim Brady]

I did two trips on the Pennyworth John the most miserable ship I ever sailed on.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[j.sabourn]

#14.... An Extremely very belated sorry for not seeing at the time and just now seeing of the death of Alex Barnes, I don't obviously read all the posts as I should, and very sorry to hear of Alexs death. I remember him from the days of my being with Dalgliesh, when he had his wife and son on the ship in I think it was Cardiff. I also had the wife and daughter at time she must have been about 3. She was terrified of Alexs boy as he spoke with the broad Belfast accent and was the spitting image of his dad as well. I am sure if I had seen this post before I would have answered before now, maybe I did and it was erased when the site was invaded long ago, but I have no recollection. I assume you will have known Norman Hutchison as well being another Belfast man, must have been all of 50 years ago. Incidentally Alexs son who must have been about 4 or 5 at the time swore like a trooper, and imitated his Dad in every way. Just looking at your post again see it is recent, so after all it may be the only one referring to his death. Cheers JS

[j.sabourn]

Keith coming back to your original request. I must have met your Grandfather as joining the Pennyworth at Middlesborough he must have been the Chief there at the time. Candiotis must have relieved him as chief, My time thereafter on the Pennyworth Candiotis was Chief. I then went on to the Warkworth and the Ravensworth a Port Talbot runner then as was built for that port as was the restriction to ship size etc. and had to be locked in and out. On the Ravensworth all the names you quote were put on the same ship, and Barnes must then have been promoted to chief engineer. The electrician had the worst visible burns that I recollect especially his hands and arms, the others obvious burns where they weren't visible. Think Dalgliesh kept them together so as to be available for any insurance claims etc. they must have received some monetary gain somewhere for disfigurement alone, is this not a line of enquiry to pursue for your relation. Also there must have been a line of enquiry into the cause of the explosion. It would probably have gone through the P and I club there being no loss of life, for insurance claims. Cheers JS

[j.sabourn]

The P and I club at that time believe was called the North East Coast Ship Owners Society. JS