Joined RMS Southampton Castle in Southampton.

Several trips to Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London , Durban. Plus St Helena, Ascension Island and Las Palmas.

Took shore leave working by. Southampton dock strike occurred so took about 4 ships to Antwerp to unload and reload before returning to Southampton for passengers etc before sailing back to Cape.

Got married in March 1976, after one trip on the RMS Windsor Castle, and then flew to Japan to join the King William sailing between NW Australia and Japan with coal one way and iron ore the other.

Smashed my knee during trip, (still suffer with it even now on odd occasions), before flying to Rotterdam to join King George as Sen Mech for four and a half months during which time my daughter was born.

Looked in B&C register the other night to see many familiar names, of Masters, Chief, First and Second Engineers I’ve sailed with.

Brought back many happy (and one or two not so happy) memories.

I have loads of pictures of my time with the company, and I will post them in the fullness of time

Kind regards

Bill Baker