Colin Swindells
I came upon this fabulous web site while in a hospital waiting area. Fortunately as a volunteer driver rather than a patient. I was and am impressed by the resources and information available and cannot understand how I have not found it before. I have often made efforts to find out about my past acquaintances, without success up to now. In just a few minutes I came across many familiar names. John Cann, Mike Bellamy, Mike Smith, Tex Graham-Russel, Bill Wood to name a few.
I was offered a. Apprenticeship with Reardon Smiths in 1972. (I believe Jeff Birrel was in charge of Cadet recruitment at that time?) The intake included Alan (Geordie) Thomson, MJ Clarke and Tony Field.
We were destined to study at Plymouth, not Cardiff and commenced the 2 week pre sea training in September.
I joined my first ship, “Welsh City” in Durban on 8th October 1972, 3 days after my 18th birthday. I was a late starter and the journey was my first time out of the UK and my first flights. On the trip between Johannesburg and Durban, Tex said I turned green.
Also joining, P J Burroughs, Captain, WD Jones, Mate. Mike Bellamy 2/O. Phil Matthews 3/O. Dave Short R/O, T Graham Russel 2/E (Eddie Morgan joined as C/E some time later). Frank E Robinson + Wife 3/E, Mike Jellyman 4/E, R Worgan, R Quay, D Eames, Jim Kelly as Electrican and Paul Akers as Chief Steward. Steve Burley was Senior Cadet and MJ Clarke was another first tripper.
I left RSL like a rat leaving a sinking ship in February 1985 from Port Said to attend my brothers wedding. I was by then C/O on the Tacoma City.
Fortunately a job came up when Townsend Thoresen took over P&O Normandy Ferries and I worked out of Dover for the next 33 years.
I would love to “chew the cudd” over all the adventures and friendships between 1972 and 1985. I keep in touch with Tom MacNulty, Dave Cooke and have recently met up with Phil Deschamps. Hopefully, this introduction will be the beginning of some refreshed acquaintances.
January 2019.