New Westminster City (3)

Comments from the forum - 2

Engine problems. John Towning, Chief Eng. and I as 2/e joined in Baltimore 30/3/68, paid off 17/11/68. Willie Cross was master and I think Tony Crowther was mate. I can't remember any of the others.
We were somewhere off Norfolk I think when the engine stopped, I think it was about 10.00 am.
The C/E got a message from the engine room that the crank shaft was broken, on arrival in the engine room much to our relief it was only a broken camshaft.
Fortunately we had a J/E who had served his time as a welder he welded together the break and we fitted three straps to further hold the shaft together.
Much to our relief all went well and we were met by tugs at the Norfolk pilot station.
I believe this was John Townings first trip as Chief. Robbie Bell. Posted on the forum 2nd February 2010.

I have just read your post regarding the camshaft problem and believe I was the J/E who welded the camshaft. It was nice to read it after all those years. Keith Bartlett. Posted on the forum 24 November 2012.

Yes Keith you were the J/E that wellded the camshaft, i made the keys or bars for you to weld as i did all the machining, we had left Norfolk after a service on the engine and the shore crew had not allowed enough clearance for the timeing chain, they had tightened it up to much, and the sheft shered,
so i was led to believe why it happened, Don from Stornaway was the other junior, Tom from Dublin was the 4th and Ian from Scotland was the 3rd. not sure of there second names, We went back into Norfolk for repairs after a scary time of drifting very close to the shore before we were picked up by a tug. Dave Newman. Posted on the forum 24 December 2012.

40 years on. It is forty years tomorrow since my 21st birthday (16th August 1971) which I celebrated while sailing as leckie on the New Westminster City, its last voyage under RSL ownership before hand over to new Greek owners in Rotterdam September 1971.
While at sea I was servicing the floodlights between holds 2 & 3 when the Old Man Capt.Griffith-Jones signaled from the bridge wing that I call up to the bridge and see him.
On my arrival he congratulated me on reaching my 21st birthday and presented me with a bottle of whiskey.
I met him again at the 2005 Reunion and reminded him of this event which still seems like yesterday.
Dave Yool from Monifief in Scotland was C/Eng and L.B.(Les)Surrey from New Zealand was the C/Steward. John Gardiner. Posted on the forum 15 August 2010.

I first joined RSL in 1964 as 2nd Elect. My first ship was the NWC at Avonmouth docks on the 18th Sept 64. The voyage was from Liverpool to Norfolk VA, the following list of those onboard.
Capt: Mark Higgins, C/O: E Tickner, 2/0: T Lawson, 3/0: unknown, Apps: T Jones, D Williams, S Barnish, R/O: G Thomas, C/E: Trevor Griffiths, 2/E: Willie Munroe, 3/E: W Parry, 4/E: A Taylor, J/Es John Walls, J Sherman, T James (?), 1st/Elect: T Willoboughby, CH/Stwd: Jack Peebles. Has anybody any info on the above? Tom Cullen. Posted on the forum 17 March 2011.

Commodore Mark Higgins-long retired and celebrated his 94th b'day last week.
Ernie Tickner-ex Watts Watts-I sailed with him on the old "Houston City". Understand he retired from seagoing and subsequently worked at Heathrow.
Tim Lawson- ended up in the Office for a while and then set up his own recruitment agency in Newport.adly, died young.
John Wheaton- became Eng.Supt, but again, died young.
Afraid though some of the other names are not familiar to me, I had no contact with them. John Cann. Posted on the forum 18 March 2011.

I find the forum very interesting, a walk down memory lane.
I made a mistake with the names I quoted, the C/E on that voyage (voyage 15) was Trevor Griffiths who I believe retired shortly after but returned later on when I did a trip on the Leeds city with him, a really nice old chap. I had heard about Syd Wheaton and Tim Lawson, very sad as they were young men. It is nice to know that Capt Higgins or jolly Joe as we called him is still to the fore, he was quite a character in his day and no doubt still is. I was at the reunion in 04? where I met up with Peter Bloomfield, (Noddy)and still keep in touch with and Graham Thomas a good friend since 64. I will dig out a photo of the three of us at the reunion and send it to the forum. Calum Turner. Posted on the forum 18 March 2011.

The Reunions were 2002 and 2005 and I think the one you came to was the latter. I certainly remember meeting up with you: your e-mail address is still in my address book! Please send your pics to either Eric or myself, and it would be great if you could post up those other officer lists that you have, plus any detail of the voyages concerned.
Bloomers really pulled the stops out and came to both Reunions. We haven't heard from him of late. Tony Crowther gives us an update on his whereabouts whenever he can. Mike Jones. Posted on the forum 19 March 2011.

Disclaimer: The statements on this page are the views of the person who posted them on the forum. The events took place many years ago and in most cases rely on those people's memories, and so we cannot guarantee the accuracy although every effort is made to check it.

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