Robin reminds me of my first trip on a collier out from Portishead in 1946. Capt Davis (Dockmaster) put me aboard S.S.Sneyd built 1911 for a day trip over the Bristol Channel to Newport Mon. I was aged just ten(10) on an open bridge coal fired vessel. After leaving the Lock the vessel stopped in the tide off Battery Point. The Skipper asked me to go down into the Engine Room and ask the Ch. Engineer if we could have more steam. Down I went to find an old man skaking his linked arms in time with gauge on the Boiler Pressure . This arm was jumping from 25-to to 5-to as each shot of steam went into the HP Cylinder. He had painted a red line against the 15-to marker as he had no trust in his boiler. He was not going to alow the pressure needle to reach the 12 marker at the top of his gauge! "Tell the Master with my compliments that he has got all he is going to get". So Sneyd stopped for two hours until the flood tide dropped it's rate, and we crossed over the sand banks to Newport! My first trip to sea, so it has been from School Boy to Master in Steam as my first command was S.S.Dunkerton -- A Bristol Sand & Gravel coal fired sand dredger --That was from AB to Master with a Master's F.G. Cert.. Then later on with Shieldhall, Waverley and Balmoral. after leaving Weymouth as Port Manager and Harbour Master. I am also a retired Commander RD* RNR. Happy Days.
Tony Bird
Viktorija Syvyte
Peter Harvey
Not sure if this is still open to the public as I have been told that the boat is moving to another location in the docks. The office associated with the boat is still in place, about 100 mtrs along the quay but in recent months I have not seen it open. It would be well worth while trying to phone to find out is open to the public or not.
The office associated with the boat is still in place, about 100 mtrs along the quay but in recent months I have not seen it open.
It would be well worth while trying to phone to find out is open to the public or not.