12-11-2016, 05:46 PM
It was not cold onboard, because we had a steam radiator system that was kept hot by a coal stove, one for the crew at the after end, and one for the officers in the centre of the ship. But after we had been loaded up north, we were usually shoved into the middle of the river and moored to a buoy for a week. As soon as we were moored, they all cleared off home, as they lived locally, leaving me (from Preston) to amuse myself for a week without any power or food. I could go ashore if I wanted, but it involved hailing a passing boat from one of the other colliers, and also depending on them to get back again which, in winter, was not much fun. We had a gas-powered fridge aboard, that they always locked when they went home, and a gas cooker. The radio officer from another collier showed me how to force the fridge open without damaging it, in order to get some grub. Over Christmas 1962/63, we were alongside for a change in Wearmouth and it was snow and ice all the time. The 2nd mate took me home for Christmas lunch, and the chief mate also took me home for lunch on another day, but for the most part, I was left to myself. It was all pretty miserable, and I was glad to get off. Looking back, I am glad I served in two colliers, and when two years later, I joined my first big passenger liner, a few of my fellow officers tried taking the mick out of my Lancashire accent, believing me to be a first voyager, but having served in two colliers sailing out of Clyde and Tyne, two ancient cargo liners and two iron ore carriers, I was more than able by that time to put them in their place, confident that I had as much, if not more right to be there as they did! 
Ten years later, when as 2nd radio officer on the mighty RMS Windsor Castle, sailing out of Southampton, I was on the bridge having just dealt with a small problem on the main radar, I noticed that we were ovetaking a small flatiron, that turned out to be the sister ship of Wandsworth. I was looking at it intently when Commodore Wright joined me and said "How would you like to sail in that then, Mr. Wilson!" "I don't know about that, Sir," I replied, "I have already done my time in two of them in 1962!" He was delighted, and told me that he started his sea career in "Hungry Hogarths" tramp steamers, and most of the "Mail Boat" men on here had no idea how the other half lived!
I sailed in 19 ships altogether, and remember every one of them in detail. I came to love being at sea, and memories of the old ships always added a tinge of pride to the fact that I had ended up aboard the very best that the Merchant Navy possessed. Here I am repairing the main radar aboard Windsor Castle in 1973. - A far cry from the old "flatiron!"
And the Windsor Castle leaving Southampton photographed when I was serving aboard the beautiful Reina del Mar, another fine passenger liner.
Bob
Ten years later, when as 2nd radio officer on the mighty RMS Windsor Castle, sailing out of Southampton, I was on the bridge having just dealt with a small problem on the main radar, I noticed that we were ovetaking a small flatiron, that turned out to be the sister ship of Wandsworth. I was looking at it intently when Commodore Wright joined me and said "How would you like to sail in that then, Mr. Wilson!" "I don't know about that, Sir," I replied, "I have already done my time in two of them in 1962!" He was delighted, and told me that he started his sea career in "Hungry Hogarths" tramp steamers, and most of the "Mail Boat" men on here had no idea how the other half lived!
I sailed in 19 ships altogether, and remember every one of them in detail. I came to love being at sea, and memories of the old ships always added a tinge of pride to the fact that I had ended up aboard the very best that the Merchant Navy possessed. Here I am repairing the main radar aboard Windsor Castle in 1973. - A far cry from the old "flatiron!"
And the Windsor Castle leaving Southampton photographed when I was serving aboard the beautiful Reina del Mar, another fine passenger liner. Bob
