Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
24 November 2009
19:1533819On Sunday, 26th September 1954, the B.B.C., by arrangement with British Railways, televised a programme from this cross channel ferry, the first time a programme was transmitted from a moving ship at sea. Anybody got any other info` on this historic occasion? Couple of pictures to follow.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
24 November 2009
19:1733820i never knew that colin, another bit of dover history then?
that looks like the vessel that tony hancock's sculpture fell off of in that film.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
24 November 2009
19:1833822On the bridge, is my father and Captain Walker, the other member of crew unidentified.
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Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
24 November 2009
19:1933823That was the Invicta Howard. Nice shots of Dover on that weren`t there.
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Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
24 November 2009
19:5933829Colin I first wife dad worked on the the Lord Warden in the engine room Mr Stan Bidgood he was the donkey man.Also my mate was the purser Mr John Hopkins
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
24 November 2009
20:0333830Very interesting that Vic, on both counts, as I also haven`t heard the name donkeyman for many years. I assume he did anything?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
24 November 2009
20:3533831You are right there colin,if I am thinking right is that the ship that went down when longside in the westen docks and they had to pump her out.I think it was because that night John came in the pub very upset he had just had a new carpet put down in his cabin and when it went down his cabin got flooded.
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
24 November 2009
20:3533832I assumed that he looked after the donkey engine Colin.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
24 November 2009
22:2433838This was my first ship to sail on as asst Steward in 1963 from eastern dock. I graduated to the shepperton ferry the next year
D
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
24 November 2009
22:3933841From the Lord Warden section on Dover Ferry Photos:
September 26th 1954: A rough voyage from Boulogne to Dover was televised, the first time that a television programme was relayed direct from a ship at sea. During the course of the journey the late Richard Dimbleby, commenting on the bridge, was nearly drowned by a huge wave bursting over him.
http://www.doverferryphotos.co.uk/pastandpresent/lordwarden.htm
Think I have posted these before. My brother-in-law rescued a bench from the Lord Warden when she finished, together with the nameplates from the lifeboats, and has it in his back garden in Dover. Also another one from the Normannia. Plus he has half the Canberra in his garage.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
25 November 2009
18:5233891Many thanks for all your info on above. One other item, the Lord Warden was shown in the British Transport film, `LINKSPAN`, made in 1956.
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Alec Sheldon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
25 November 2009
18:5933892Ed, knowing Tony he has probably got the ships bells as well.
Has he retired yet ?. I saw him a few months ago and he said he was thinking about it.
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
26 November 2009
01:2633908Hi Alec. Yes, he could build his own ship with all the wood and bits he has preserved in his garage from old ships that have gone for scrap. Still going strong, he has been on the European Seaway for the last couple of years and rejoined yesterday.
Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
26 November 2009
12:1333928Happy days - I loved the Lord Warden.
Our dad was a purser on the Warden and our grandad the chief steward (aka catering officer, in newer money).
Andy
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
26 November 2009
15:5833932British Railways picture. The `Lord Warden`.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
26 November 2009
16:0133933My dad was on the Lord Warden in the 50s and 60s Andy. Must have known your dad. Pity it couldn`t have been preserved in the Granville dock or something. All gone.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
26 November 2009
23:1533964Great posts about a great ship thank you .
Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
27 November 2009
10:0233973Hi Colin,
Yes, I don't doubt for a minute that your dad knew my dad and grandad. My dad was Gerry Stevens and my grandad Percy Stevens.
What's your father's name? I'll ask my mum, who I'm sure will remember the name.
Cheers,
Andy
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
27 November 2009
10:0833975Please also aske if she know John Hopkins also purser and ended up head purser of Sealink,and Stan Bidgood thank you.
27 November 2009
10:4333976My father was Louis Hannent ( Lou) and he and Len Hopkins were workmates - I did one year on the Warden before we three moved to the train ferries. That would have been in 1963. Be interested if anyone knew my father who was tiger on the train ferries and had been there many years when i joined.
D
