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Monday 02/06/2012 06:13:18 UTC
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Total Records:45
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Name Comments
45 Dennis Cleak
chrisjohnston79@hotmail.co.uk
Location: London
IP: 82.4.179.40<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [82.4.179.40]

Thursday 12/22/2011 19:14:23 UTC
My name is Dennis Cleak and I am aged 77. I started working on the Thames when I was 15 with Sargeants Watering the boss being Harry Sargeant out of Charlton. I would be interested in seeing any old photographs of the tugs I worked on. I first worked on the "Tom Jay" Thames Steam Tug as a boy and then on other lighterage as I developed. I did a stinnt between 1953 -55 doing National Service and went to the Suez Canal. In 1960 I left the river. I would be interested in any names who worked during that time with me
44 John McSweeney
j.mcsweeney@laird-plc.com
Location: Bexley
IP: 217.207.86.42<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [217.207.86.42]

Wednesday 11/23/2011 07:09:04 UTC
What great memories for me. I was apprenticed in 1961 by my dad, also John but commonly known as Jack. I got taken on by Thames Steam Tug and spent some great years. I was boy on the MT Robertsbridge with Wally King as skipper and Pete Murray as mate during my apprenteciship . All my dads brothers and most of his nephews were also lighterman. Thanks
43 Tina Thorpe
tinathorpe@live.co.uk
Location: Norfolk
IP: 86.159.194.237<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [86.159.194.237]

Tuesday 10/04/2011 20:36:54 UTC
I am trying to trace my family tree, i have just found out that my great great uncle was the owner of W G Marriott and Sons. i am trying to find out more information about him.
42 daren pattenden
dejavue1@live.co.uk
Location: isle of sheppey
IP: 88.108.209.138<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [88.108.209.138]

Friday 07/08/2011 13:29:19 UTC
FANTASTIC SITE...My uncle worked out of tilbury docks his name was eddie martin did anybody remember him. i remember going to work with him one sunny morning way back in late 1970`s maybe early 80`s. we left home in leytonstone and travelled by train to the tilburydocks very early in the morning,upon arrival i wondered why we had no ticket to travel and was told to do as everyone else was doing...lol pay the man on arrival. we first pulled the cover back of a barge then went for breakfast (traditional english) and then i watched him play cards and then more cards and then recovered the barge and went home...not bad for a living back then.

I went on to become a postman some years later in 1987, the work wasnt as easy as i had seen years earlier with my uncle on the docks, but the memories will be with me for a lifetime.
41 Katie Hawks
katiehawks@yahoo.co.uk
Location: London
IP: 217.169.2.7

Friday 07/01/2011 09:22:05 UTC
If anyone's got memories of working on or by Orchard Place (Trinity Buoy Wharf, Union Lighter etc), I'd love to have them for a history project on the place. Thanks
40 Margaret Mackintosh
mapmackintosh@waitrose.com
Location: Devon
IP: 80.189.60.217

Tuesday 03/08/2011 14:20:26 UTC
4 generations of Thames Lightermen, 2 x Edward Charles Powell then 2x Walter Syndey Powell aa well as George Richard Sandwell and Richard George Powell. Older Walter S was Master of tug Mary Ann, off Gravesend at time of 1891 census and younger Walter S worked for Vokins & Co Ltd until 1940.

Any information about people or Vokins very welsome.
39 Patrick Fisher
patfisher2@hotmail.co.uk
Location: Chelmondiston, Suffolk.
IP: 89.243.155.49

Monday 02/21/2011 16:16:12 UTC
I was skipper of MV Katharine Mitchell for about five years in the ammo work.Remember Bob Bishop,John Fry(engineer)Cyril Mitchell(skipper H.R.M )Went with tug as pilot to tow Geoffrey Stanley back to Gravesend from Brightlingsea loaded with ammo!Really miss the River and the lads, Happy days!
38 John Deane
johndeane@mac.com
Location: Bromley, Kent
IP: 178.108.168.206

Saturday 02/12/2011 17:04:32 UTC
Great site. Found whilst idly researching into history of my Great Grandfather Jim Clements of Clements Knowling & Co. If anyone knows anything about him or his business I am keen to hear from them. What happened to the business?

Any Photos or documents etc. Anything and everything welcome!



Thanks
37 maurice brown
mauricebrown49@hotmail.co.uk
Location: eltham london
IP: 2.122.114.53

Monday 01/31/2011 21:14:07 UTC
my grandfather was skipper of a tug called the gnat.morris charles brown he was indentured to his father walter brown got his freedom 13 dec 1898.not sure when he became skipper of the gnat .trying to find out more
36 Ray Newton
raynewton939@btinternet.com
Location: Cheltenham Glos
IP: 86.146.186.150

Tuesday 01/25/2011 15:44:35 UTC
This is my first enquiry of the London Lighterage Tugs website and is my first step in trying to trace information about my Dads working life as a Lighterman on the Thames, and who was, I believe, awarded the honour of Freeman of the River Thames.

His name was Albert [Nobby or Pip] Newton who worked from 1925, I estimate, to 1963 when he died at work; from a coronary thrombosis. I expect that most of his work colleagues have also now passed on.

Regrettably there arent any papers or diaries surviving his death.

He was employed by Charrington, Gardner and Lockett.

It is possible that he had two brothers also working as Lightermen but I do not have any contact details for them.

I would appreciate any information from your contacts or pointers as to where might be better to ask.

Thank you

Ray Newton

raynewton939@btinternet.com

25th January 2011
35 John MAY
tudormay@aol.com
Location: Essex
IP: 78.147.89.228

Saturday 01/22/2011 18:09:19 UTC
I would like to say hello to anyone from Union Lighterage. I was apprenticed in February 1950 with Peter Mack, Johnny Case, Harry White, Dave Liddermore, Eric Robinson, Charlie Hockley and others. I was a boy on the Rio with Windy Hammock; and worked in the West India, Albert, King George, Poplar, Surrey and Victoria Docks. My master was Alf Upton, he also apprenticed my cousin Peter Upton. I worked on the Thames until 1970, mostly in the West India Docks. Wouldn't know it now! I now live in Clacton, Essex, a few lightermen live down this way. Found this site interesting, if anyone out there remembers me and would like to get in touch please do so would love to hear from you.
34 Pete Hills
peter.hills145@btinternet.com
Location: Kent
IP: 86.148.198.143

Friday 01/21/2011 18:10:07 UTC
Apprentice 1949,started as boy in the tug "Flanchford" Humpfrey Grey. When out of my time I kicked about on the Pool NDLB for a while eventually being picked-up for Silvertown Services

where I spent 10 of the most happiest years of my working life.I have often said that on most occasions I would arrive home with the guts ache! through the antics and laughter of the day, although we earnt our pay. For quite some time I* was in the shifters! there being 4 of us we were engaged in shifting the craft on and off the berths at Thames Refinery.our record was 72 barges shifted ashore or afloat on one tide. Sadly it all came to an end. Now retired I look out onto the river and it is like a Sunday every day, a playground!
33 Mike Adams
miked.adams@btopenworld.com
Location: Surrey
IP: 81.157.76.34

Monday 01/10/2011 20:20:55 UTC
What a fantastic site!I have always been interested in Thames Tugs and other craft. My grandfather was working with a horse towing timber barges from Teddington to Kingston just after the war.I owned the Silverlit and converted it in the 1980's and it is now in France on the Saone. I can send some pictures of the Silverlit working if requested.

I now own the Grand Union Canal Tug 'White Heather'which is on the National Historic Ships list.

Kind Regards

Mike Adams
32 MAC eyre
dean.eyre@sky.com
Location: essex
IP: 92.40.148.116

Friday 12/31/2010 23:01:28 UTC
calling all lighterman / waterman /freeman working between 1958 to 1984 working with dolly fisher, o dell, thames and general, cory, my name is malcolm eyre you would know me as MAC eyre



looking for old pals or any info or good web sites or videos relating to the thames lighterman.



i remember georgie blackmore johnny humphries micky hitchcock johnny mcgraph and bert medhurst joe blaine please contact me on my e mail or through this web site look forward to hearing from you great site lots of memories
31 Michael Blackmore
michael.blackmore1@btinternet.com
Location: North Norfolk
IP: 86.132.77.216

Wednesday 12/22/2010 17:56:19 UTC
Fantastic site and really brings back some memories for me. My dad George Blackmore was the last of many generations of Lighterman Blackmores on the Thames.

He worked for Fishers and ended his time on the river with Everards. I spent some of my summer days on the SA and RA.



Thanks for bringing back many memories. I'm going to show my dad the site and I expect it will be a very pleasurable few hours.
30 Robin West
robin.west74@yahoo.co.uk
Location: South Ockendon, Essex
IP: 92.237.117.35

Tuesday 12/07/2010 17:40:46 UTC
I find this site very interesting, I have no connection with Tugs or Lighters, I merely am a Photographer who has been fascinated over the last 20 yrs of Tugs and other ships etc. Gr8 site
29 Paul Hicks
paulhicks29@btopenworld.com
Location: London
IP: 89.206.236.174

Wednesday 12/01/2010 13:52:04 UTC
I am very interested in anything to do with lightering as I come from the largest and in fact the oldest Lighterage family on the Thames. My grandfather was one of seven brothers apprenticed to his father (who was Foreman Swan Upper for the Worshipful Co., of Dyers)Grandfather was Labourmaster for the Union Lighterage, younger brother Labourmaster for James Cook and their elder brother Labourmaster for Cory lighterage.
28 Michael Stuart/nee Stunt.
stockbury966@btinternet.com
Location: Stockbury, Kent.
IP: 86.139.128.176

Wednesday 10/20/2010 22:52:11 UTC
When I was a boy I lived in Greenhithe. My father (Charles Stunt) was the engineer on the F.T. Everard - steam tug. I spent many a happy hour on her - I can still smell the distinctive sweet aroma of the steam engine. For years I have been trying to find a photograph of her - with no luck. I did get photostat of her when she was called Tolbenny from the Ship Society. Horace Soder was the skipper. Does anyone know of a photo I could copy for old times sake?
27 LJ "Polly" Beard
zara.bear@bigpond.com
Location: Blue Mountains, Australia
IP: 124.183.134.79

Tuesday 10/19/2010 06:30:38 UTC
Re: The "Ich Dien". We believe worked out of Poplar Dock from late 1800s. Our grandfather may

have worked on her and we are trying to find out

more information about him. His name was:

Charles Percival FAUL from Poplar, E14 London. If you have any info pls

email to: zara.bear@bigpond.com

Many thanks
26 Edwin Bishop
eddiebish@hotmail.co.uk
Location: Canvey Island
IP: 91.107.34.66

Monday 10/04/2010 21:18:53 UTC
Love this cite my farther was Bob Bishop worked for H R Mitchell & sons ltd , I spent many happy days on the river when i was young .

 

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