Mike Bellamy
After leaving Cardiff Ship Management in 1995 (I think) i did a year with Coldwells of HK then a year with the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia on tier big Ro-Ro's, after that Graigs started recruiting for their new building heavylift ships and I was with them for 6 years mainly on the Dutch owned ones belonging to BigLift shipping. Spliethoff then took over Biglift and replaced us with thier own Dutch officers in 2003. Since then I spent 2.5 years working on the Wightlink ferries and Hispeed craft between Portsmouth and the IOW. For the last 2 years I have been with Red Funnel on the hi speed craft between Southampton and Cowes, which is nearer to home. For the last year I have been winding down into retirement job sharing with an ex Bank Line guy, doing 2 weeks on/off 4-5 days a week which works well. Worked with 2 other ex Smith's guys when with Wightlink but names escape me at the moment!
Golf and walking fill in my off times and holidays are concentrated on backpacking through the interiors of European countries after having seen virtually every coastline in the world! The last thing I want to do is owning a boat and sailing! Have just returned from a 10 day trip backpacking along the high level route through the Haute Pyrenees.
My eldest daughter Lucy is married with 2 sons and Jacqui just got married in May. 3rd July 2009.