Service Record:

•     Joined: 6th September 1965
•     Left: 6th October 1969
•     Final Position: Junior Second Engineer
•     Last Ship: Hector Heron

I started on the Roslin Castle in the Thames Estuary, spending three weeks at anchor. As the junior 6th engineer, I was at the bottom of the hierarchy—always on call for everyone’s requests. There were hundreds of temperatures to take and record; anyone who’s done it will understand exactly what I mean. We visited Antwerp, Liverpool, and the River Blackwater to lay up the ship, marking the end of that voyage.

From then on, I sailed deep sea. I completed three voyages on the King George, followed by two trips on the Clan Robertson. After some leave, I joined the Clan Macdonald—which was a tough time as I developed a stomach ulcer and had to be taken off the ship (a relief, really).

Once recovered, I joined the Clan Ramsay and completed six or seven trips before taking more leave. Later, I joined the Hector Heron in Singapore as Junior Second Engineer. Eventually, I left the sea to get married.

I have to say, I loved every minute of my time at sea. The company was fantastic and treated all their people exceptionally well.