P & O Ships of the line

19/09/2022

19/09/2022

19/09/2022

Culture Club now.

Joining Culture Club.

10/10/2021

28/07/2021

Received this morning from 'Nobby' Clark, ex P&O QM, who now lives in NZ:-

"Himalaya leaving Tilbury with Watkins tugs, I first started my sea time as a cabin boy for Watkins, my school mate his father was the captain of the Empire Winnie my first ship. we towed in many ports in the Medi. and South America. I was just 14"

William Watkins Ltd was one of the first tugboat owning companies in the world, was founded by John Rogers Watkins in 1833.

15/06/2021

02/04/2021

Received today via my Guestbook:-

Dear fellow adventurers, I joined the P & O line S.S. Himalaya in 1964 : Australia and back to U.K. As a musician in a four member band that catered for all tastes.
Made many friends and had a great time. But I haven't any photographs of us playing and entertaining the passengers.
my reminiscences are very strong but there is nothing like a good photo for going back in time. If anyone can help we left London docks around the Middle of September 1964.
I would be pleased to pay for any pictures of us actually entertaining.
Best Regards. RON
[email protected]

10/03/2021

Lovers, letters and a liner (P&O's MOREA) all feature in an extraordinary 'stranger than fiction' 1922 murder trial - grippingly retold and analysed by Dr Jo Stanley in her blog http://genderedseas.blogspot.com/2021/03/to-marseille-and-beyond-avec-amour-and.html. Grab your deck chair and cup of tea and prepare to be fascinated...

01/03/2021

26/01/2021

Happy ! 90 years ago ORMONDE was the flagship for the Anniversary Regatta held in Sydney in 1931. Moored off Cremorne Point, ORMONDE and Orient Line officials played host to the great and the good, including the Lord Mayor of Sydney.

26/01/2021

"I wish to thank Nick Messinger and all old P&O folk with your lovely pictures and messages which have helped this old sailor get through these difficult times. I have a feeling I am probably the oldest of the group, when I joined the P&O in 1948 we only wore our rank on one shoulder and the Strathnaver still had 3 funnels and was still in wartime grey!! Bless you all for keeping me sane ( the wife is not so sure.
Best wishes to you all - Tony Pickering."

Today I received the very sad news that dear Tony has 'crossed the bar'. He died last week, after a short illness - he was just ninety years of age.
Educated at Millfield School and Pangbourne College, Tony joined the P&O, as a Deck Officer Cadet, in 1948.