Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
27 November 2009
12:3333981John Hopkins was one of my dad's best friends; I still see John in Deal from time to time - you can normally find him at lunchtimes in the Hole In The Roof pub!
Len Hopkins was my mum's neighbour in Chevalier Road in the 1940s.
My dad and grandad served on the Warden under Captain Walker.
Cheers,
Andy
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
27 November 2009
15:4033984Vic and Andy. My dad`s name was Reg, he was quarter master and bosun. My mum didn`t know of many names on the ferries. I have pleasant memories of him taking me to work with him one day, around 1964, and doing 2 trips on the Lord Warden to Boulogne. I think I spent most of the time on deck, enjoying the choppy sea. Later, he took me to meet the purser who had granted the permission to travel on the ship. May even have been your dad Andy! I used to walk round the docks alot at weekends while at school, and I well remember seeing the Lord Warden tied up in the Granville dock with her new BR livery. Always loved seeing that ship. Interesting to read Ed`s info, but sad to see it broken up in Pakistan.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
29 November 2009
17:5734088Great, all that internet info from Ed on this fine ship. I`ve got a set of 10 pics here to show the damage sustained on that foggy day in 1956.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
29 November 2009
20:1534093Just great posts and photos thank you so much,also i have seen john in Deal but not of late I do hope he is well we were great mates and John could drink as well we would all meet up in the Alma in folkstone Rd and let me tell you that was some pub then I lived in it when my first wife got rid of me.but that was over 25years ago.
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
2 December 2009
10:0934216One for David H. Postcard of the Shepperton Ferry which I have just received. Always enjoy these artistic renditions of ships. Blue Funnel used to do beautiful postcards of their cargoships out in the Far East. I picked up several when I was in India Buildings in Liverpool on one occasion when I was working for them. The clerk said jokingly "We usually only send these out to schoolboys." I said "I know, I was one of them!"
Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
2 December 2009
12:3934223Great postcard of the Shepperton Ferry, Ed.
My Dad served on the Shepperton, and its sister the Hampton Ferry, while the other sister, the Twickenham Ferry, had a French crew, I believe.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
2 December 2009
16:0334227My Dad was on the Shepperton and Hampton as well Andrew. Never heard the Twickenham mentioned, possibly because as what you said about the French crewing. Yes, nice colour picture Ed.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
2 December 2009
20:0634241Thanks Ed.
In the final years I wqs chief cook - cos I could write the menus...
The galley had an oil fired stove and the cast iron top glowed red. With the toaster behind us in the summer the heat was terrific.
worst of all it had no windows so we opened the fanlight above which was between the funnels - foggy days were deafening.
but I survived and came out managing to make cakes with 24 eggs and slice bacon so thin that you could see thru it!
happy days - well when you look back they were but after 12 hours on and 24 off all week my sleep patterns were shot!
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
1 February 2010
21:4139372David: Intriguing and colourful stuff. You could write a book. I remember a similar post you made re the Shepperton Ferry on one of the old Dover Forums.
Now eat your hearts out, everybody. My sister-in-law Annette has just arrived from Toronto and has given me a super present, the "Lord Warden" nameplate off one of the lifeboats, see below. She was given it by her brother Tony many years ago. She and her husband have moved from a big house in the suburbs to a condominium overlooking Lake Toronto and are looking for a good home for a lot of their possessions that won't fit in.
Incidentally, Annette (maiden name Black) was born and raised in Dover and when I showed her this thread she said "I remember Colin Pritchard!"
1 February 2010
21:5139374Don't stop there Ed, spill the beans mate. We're all waiting anxiously for the gossip.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
1 February 2010
22:1039378colin seems to have gone into hiding.
either that or in deep discussions with his legal team.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
1 February 2010
22:1339380no seen him eating backed beans on the foredeck of the rodin this evening.
1 February 2010
22:2639383Ed
Having already published 3 best sellers my next is in preparation for next year with the working title of scandals and mischief behind the scenes of a popular local Town. Fiction of course.
my time deep sea was in those halcyon days which look better from a distance....
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
2 February 2010
13:1939418What a superb plate Ed, and what I or others wouldn`t give for that. Unlike a steam loco nameplate though, I couldn`t reckon a price on it. Any plans for getting it displayed in the museum on a short term lone maybe? Regarding Annette, I do know one in Alaska, but not Toronto, and I`m unsure from years ago. Sorry Howard, no gutter Sunday paper material here, though of course they can soon alter that.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
message received from roger pierce.
"I remember Reg Pritchard well, my Dad was the Bosun, Bill Pierce. They were friends for many years. Other crew members were Ernie Dixon, Johnny Beecham, Chippy Warren, Ruddy Wickenden, Ben Gammon."
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
I vividly remember a crossing on the LW in about 1960 when I would have been seven. One of the few times I was horribly seasick.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
John Hopkins officer. Stan Bidgood E/Room
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Colin was a great forum member we always had his photos up on the forum and we would meet up in a café and talk about the oldtimes we both lived in Westbury rd,he is sadly missed by his family and mates.
Ian Handley
- Location: Norfolk UK
- Registered: 30 Oct 2013
- Posts: 412
Nice to hear that Roger Pierce is still about, I used to drink with him and John Hopkins in the Golden Lion during the late '60s - '70s.
My uncles, Jack Handley & Fred (Bisto) Pilcher both served on the Lord Warden, Invicta, Maid of Kent and many more - many happy memories!
ian
Ian Handley
Former Operations Controller DHB Terminal Control (1978-1995)
Dover born (1946) & bred, Moved from area in 1999 - family still living in Dover
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
I remember John Hopkins very well I think he had an interesting job when he retired.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
