AROUND THE STOVE
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PHOTOGRAPHS
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HOWEVER
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MESSAGES
Message posted 21-8-2011
Spent hours on the site found by mistyping in a search engine
Does anybody remember the name Norman Weller who worked originally for JP Knight then Gasellee, Ship Towage, London Tugs etc.
I vividly remember the days (and nights ) out when I was sneaked into work boarding at Millwall in a row boat out to the hulk where visited and stayed on different
occasions Tayra, Rana, Agama and the recent Fossa & Culex etc.
As time progressed this moved on to the Vanquisher and Sun XXV1 his last vessel
and various reliefs in the Hibernia, Dhulia, Avenger etc and remember the stories of the Cap San Antonio incident.
Alas, on leaving school in the mid sixties as witnessed and read most of the steamers were put to bed and employment prospects long term not looking good, so I opted to go the other side of the sea wall working at Shellhaven. Occasionally through refinery demand a fire tug was used available to connect to our internal fire mains to boost supplies if ever needed, I remember as we had maintenance on our diesel fire pumps powered by a 6cyl Mirrlees identical to that of the Sun XXV1 supplying the stand by until work completed. Now retired with the skyline gone this has provided hours of enjoymen
John Weller (yougest son)
If any of the old hands remember Norman Weller please contact this site. John has also provided some pictures which will appear in the crew photos and memorabilia sections of this site over the next few days.
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Message posted 14-7-2011
My father William (Billy)Scrace worked on the Tug Fossa for a number of years and was wondering if anybody remembers working on the river with him.
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Message posted 14-7-2011
Dear Sir,
I am working on the recruitment of interesting, historic boats for the Queens Jubilee Pageant (June 3rd 2012) and it's rehearsal, the Thames Festival Parade which will take place on Saturday 10th September at 14.30 from Batterssea Rail Bridge to Tower Bridge and beyond.
Since Tugs and lighters are central to the hoistory of the Thames we would very much like boats from your Association to take part. With respect to the September event it's drawing close so time is of the essence!
As you may suspect, places for the Diamond Jubilee Pageant will be oversubscribed and one of the ways we will be able to choose participants to that event is to give priority to vessels who have taken part in one of the rehearsal events. We will already be confident that they have the experience and skills to take part in what will be the biggest gathering of boats on the thames for many hundreds of years.
Were you already aware of the Thames Festival Parade? If so do you think your members would be interested in taking part?
As a quick pointer boats will need to be able to maintain 6knots over ground (i.e. including tide) and have an airdraft no greater than 5.5m. Tugs with air draft restrictions may still be able to take part as part of static dispalys moored along the route.
We can send you something to circulate to your members and they can contact us directly to enter.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Ian Welsh
07711 069 544
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Message posted 18-4-2011
Walter John William Kilsby was my grandad who was a tug captain for Corys between 1930s-1960s if there is any information you have to help would be much appreciated.
Alan Kilsby.
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Message posted 6-4-2011
Hi Richard
I remember "Jim" Clements from when I was Greaser Boy on one of the first Diesel Tugs owned by Clements Knowling and Jim lived in the big house on ferry wharf Brentford. "What was the Company like?" I worked there for about 16 years as engineer and they were happiest years of my life. What was Jim like? I remember all the greaser boys got together at Brentford one day, all about 16 and 17 years old and plucked up the courage to ask for a pay rise. He glared at us for a minute then laughed, ok you ’ you have got your rise all backed to work. We were so happy, what a great bloke.
John Luffrum
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Message posted 3-3-2011
Hi. I was interested to find this site. I have recently started researching my husband's family history. His grandfather was John Edward Lawrence Macey (Jack). We understood that he skippered or may have owned a tug called the Cricket in the 1920s and 30s. Unfortunately he and other members of the family were killed by enemy action on Glosterwood Road in 1944; the house was also destroyed so we know very little. The 1911 census suggests that John Macey worked for a Company called White and Foxwell, but this is scored out and "General Lightermen" is inscribed underneath in a different hand. Do you have any information on the company or on the Cricket? Much obliged for any leads you can provide. Regards, Betty Macey
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Message posted 3-2-2011
My Great, Great Grandfather was "Jim" Clements of Clements, Knowling & Co. What was the company like to work for and what was he like as a person? I would like to hear from anyone who was or, whose family were, involved with Clements, Knowling.
Richard Baxter.
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Mesaage posted 13-1-2011
My father, Edward (Ted) Carter was the stoker on the Pamela Alice for about 20 years, and was made redundant when diesel tugs were introduced, and the Pamela Alice was broken up. Family legend has it I was named Pamela after the tug. The skipper was Fred Winter. I used to have days out on the tug with my father. Additionally, Dad's brother, Jim Carter, was the stoker on the Scorcher and came out of retirement to take her down the breakers yard when she was broken up.
Both tugs were moored at the wharf at Kingston upon Thames by the bridge. We lived in the pub, the Outrigger, opposite the river and we could see the tugs from the pub. I also remember the Cress and the Vixen - I was born in 1942.
I have at least one photo of the Pamela Alice.
Pam Pilbury
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Message posted 6-7-2010
My father Fred Gobbett started FG Towage on the thames in the early fifties selling out to Gaselees in the early sixties due to ill health. As a young boy i remember my mother launching the tug boat Efgee at Appledore in 1959. Any information etc from that period would be very much appreciated.
Peter Birch.
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Message posted 6-7-2010
I was on Blue Circle tug Concrete on the day Hawkstone was lost. We passed Hawkstone in Sea Reach. The weather was very bad, high winds heavy swell and a snow storm. We had water on the decks, Hawkstone was taking water over the wheelhouse.
Robert.
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Message posted 17-1-2010
Ref the Hawkstone incident: I was working on the River for Clements's and remember the incident. The 4 crew members and 2 Lightermen were found in the wheelhouse of the Tug when it was salvaged. The Hawkstone was in company with the Swiftstone. The weather was very bad. The Swiftstone turned back but the Hawkstone carried on. The rest we know.
There was a massive collection for the families and I personally gave 10 shillings (a lot of money then especially when I only earned £2.10s!!!!)
Hope this helps you.
Ramsey Barber
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Message posted 11-1-2010
Anyone remember my father Horace Kidd - called Horry who was engineer on Gaselee tugs all his working life. He was a great story teller and used to entertain me with exciting happenings on the Thames particularly during war years.
Angela Kidd.
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