Windsor Castle (3)

WINDSOR CASTLE (3) was built in 1960 by Cammell Laird & Co. (Shipbuilders & Engineers) Ltd at Birkenhead with a tonnage of 37640grt, a length of 783ft 1in, a beam of 92ft 7in and a service speed of 22.5 knots.

She was the largest ship owned by the company, Cammell Laird’s first building for Union-Castle and the largest liner built in England.

Replacing the Winchester Castle she completed her maiden voyage to Cape Town in 14.5 days. That voyage time would be decreased to 11.5 days in 1965 with the accelerated mail schedule.

On 12th August 1977 she made her 124th and final sailing for Union-Castle and left Southampton with much ceremony which included an RAF fly past.

On her return she had been sold to John Latsis of Piraeus and renamed Margarita L.

She proceeded to Greece where she was converted for use as a static luxury accommodation ship at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

There, she was deployed as an office and leisure centre for the Petrola International S.A. construction company replacing the Marianna IV.

A special jetty was built two miles north of Jeddah with car parks, swimming pools and other sports facilities and the ship was equipped with a helicopter pad on the fore deck.

In 1983 she was overhauled in Bahrain before returning to Jeddah where she remained until June 1991 when she returned to Piraeus to be laid up.

In 2003 an abortive effort was made to save the vessel and use her as a hotel/conference centre. The effort was cursed by monumentally inept leadership by a town planner from Liverpool who resented any involvement by ex Union-Castle staff. The height of his incompetence is exemplified by his choice of sponsor. Instead of approaching any luminary with significant maritime connections his selection was none other than the actress Prunella Scales. I still gasp in amazement!!!!!!!!!! The only connection I can see between this fool, Prunella Scales and Windsor Castle is that none of them had any connection with the others. I still have a copy of the “master plan”. If anyone would like to see it then please let me know.

Windsor Castle (3)

Master	From	To
G E Mayhew	8/1960	10/1960
J F Oakley	10/1960	11/1962
A G V Patey	5/1961	7/1961
A G V Patey	12/1962	1/1965
A J Hort	1/1965	8/1970
R M Wright	6/1968	8/1968
A A Freer	6/1969	7/1969
R M Wright	8/1970	2/1973
H Dryden	4/1971	6/1971
P St Q Beadon	7/1972	8/1972
H Charnley	3/1973	7/1975
R J Miller	9/1973	2/1974
P St Q Beadon	8/1975	9/1977
R Royan	5/1976	7/1976
J Catterall	3/1977	4/1977

Sea Trials - 1960

Leaving Cammell Laird bound for Southampton and the Mail Service

Leaving Birkenhead for Southampton

Windsor Castle Left Southampton 24 May For South Africa
Master	H Charnley
Staff Commander	W McCarthy
Chief Officer	F Yeulett
Second Officer	N Smith
Extra Second Officer	R Wadham
Cadets	A Cox K James S Milnes
Bosun	H Gerrard
Jnr Master-at-Arms	I Leal
First Radio Officer	S Harden
Second Radio Officer	J Tomlinson
Third Radio Officer	J Cardownie
Fourth Radio Officer	L Bloyle
Surgeon	J Latham
Nursing Sister	H Tinker
Physiotherapist	J Hogg
Chief Engineer	S Harron
First Engineer	D Hill
Second Engineer	G Blakey
Extra Second Engineer	K Fielder
Jnr Second Engineer	T Norris
Int Third Engineer	M Stevenson
Jnr Third Engineer	D Tomlinson
Int Fourth Engineer	D Norman
Jnr Fourth Engineer	T Maunders
Junior Engineer	R Tickner I Bowman J Stewart D Daley V White
Chief Frig Engineer	W Falconer
First Electrician	G Forrester
Third Electrician	L Darcy
Senior Mechanic	P Grigg
ER Storekeeper	D Woodford
ER Leading Hand	G Lothian
Chief Purser	J Dimmock
Purser	C Dellar
Purser Catering	D Padmore
Second Purser	M Fletcher
Second Purser Catering	W Burgess
Third Pursers	A Whetung P Robertson J Tickner
Third Purser Catering	D Merrell
Junior Pursers	M Boyle A Read K Pledger A May
Junior Purser Catering	C Smith
Children’s Hostess	S Lampkin
Chief Barman	L Farrow
Linen Steward	K Finch
Head Waiter (1st Class)	W Miller
First Tourist Steward	R Skevington
Band Leader	J Skene
Chef	H Laight
Baker	J Leslie
Butcher	A Kickham

Centenary Voyage - 1974

Make ‘em Laugh - 1975

She was bought by John S. Latsis, the Greek oil and shipping tycoon, and sailed from Southampton on October 3, 1977 for Greece.

Renamed MARGARITA L (after one of Latsis' two daughters), her new livery called for an all-white hull and a buff funnel in lieu of UCL's colors of lavender and red, respectively. MARGARITA L was converted at Piraeus for use as an 852 berth luxury accommodation ship at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (port city for Mecca).

She was then used as an office and leisure centre for Latsis-owned Petrola Int. S.A. Construction Company at Rabegh.

In Feb 1979 she replaced MARIANNA VI (ex-AUREOL) at a special jetty two miles north of Jeddah as the center of a complex with car parks, swimming pools and sports facilities.

A helicopter pad was added aft of the former first class Promenade Deck pool area. In 1983 she was dry docked, overhauled and returned for the same use.

After 1990 she was removed and towed to Eleusis, Greece and laid up, and occasionally used as private quarters by Mr. Latsis during his visits to Greece.

What was most remarkable about the MARGARITA L was how original all of her fittings and appointments remained all the way to the end. Union-Castle silver, crockery, and linens were still used and all the furniture and artwork were left intact.

Life after Union-Castle Line

As Margarita L in Eleusis Bay

With Mr. Latsis in declining health, the MARGARITA L and three other former British built passenger vessels in his fleet were offered for sale in 1998.

Finally, with Latsis deceased and his family left with a deterioriating liner languishing off Petrola, she was sold for scrap.

Given the name RITA, she raised steam for the first time in over fifteen years and headed slowly to Alang for demolition in April of 2005.

Enroute, she broke down and went adrift in the Indian Ocean off Dwarka. The old steam tug sent to her rescue also broke down, but finally mustered enough power to drag the reluctant RITA to the beach, where she arrived on July 20, 2005.

Still intact but ashore at Alang

Billboard for Cape Argus

August 2005

Her destruction now well underway

A sad end for a magnificent ship

Clansman - January 1977

Atlantic Rescue - 1976

Windsor Castle Left Southampton 22 October For South Africa
Master	P St Q Beadon
Staff Commander	W Pritchard
Chief Officer	B Walgate
Second Officer	D Reid
Third Officer	F Mack
Fourth Officer	C Turner
Extra Fourth Officers	P Hooper
Carpenter	P Walker
Bosun	T Collett
Snr Master-at-Arms	G Leach
Jnr Master-at-Arms	W Bridger
First Radio Officer	F Sharp
Second Radio Officer	G Walker
Third Radio Officer	A Campbell
Fourth Radio Officer	S Brett
Surgeon	J Latham
Nursing Sister	A Raho
Physiotherapist	C Nowacki
Chief Engineer	S Harron
First Engineer	D Hill
Second Engineer	D Warren
Jnr Second Engineer	K Austin J Tomlinson
Snr Third Engineer	J Oakman
Int Third Engineer	I Hutton
Jnr Third Engineer	J Jarvis
Snr Fourth Engineer	T Hobday
Int Fourth Engineer	M Fishlock
Jnr Fourth Engineer	B Payne
Junior Engineer	J Coppock W Moule I Walker D Shaylor R Thompson
Chief Frig Engineer	W Falconer
First Electrician	G Forrester
Second Electrician	M Scrivens
Third Electrician	S Peacock
Senior Mechanic	A Miller
Plumber	A Wootten
ER Storekeeper	G Wan
ER Leading Hand	K Le Gallais
Chief Purser	J Dimmock
Cruise Purser	C Rutt
Purser	K Underwood
Purser Catering	K Hanson
Second Purser	D Mason
Second Purser Catering	C Murray
Third Pursers	A Whitehouse M Warner P Batt M Fletcher D Hamilton B Lewis
Third Purser Catering	K Dixon
Junior Pursers	C Pringle
Children’s Hostess	C Amis
Chief Barman	P Beech
Storekeeper	J Paglia
Linen Steward	K Finch
Head Waiter (1st Class)	W Miller
Head Waiter (Tourist)	R Skevington
Band Leader	J Skene
Laundryman	J Sumpton
Chef	D Heard
Baker	J Leslie
Butcher	H Shearman
Shopkeeper	J Meehan D Ward C Jeffries

Review - February 1968

From Peter Lane:

I was on the Northern Star at that time.

As a friend and I were just heading back on board we could see smoke bellowing out of the passenger lounge.

e ran along the Passenger gangway and into the passenger Lounge area. My mate put on the old breathing gear and I started pumping by foot the air line.

The supposed plan was to get in the Lounge armed with a fire extinguisher and see where the fire was. Once the Lounge doors were open it was just thick smoke everywhere. I could not breath nor pump the air line, so we quickly abandoned that idea.

Shortly the shore side fire crews arrived plus a fire tug.

It appears the fire started a few decks down in a Stewards locker. I'm sure that had we been at sea she would have burnt right out and gone down.

But that wasn't the end of things to happen that trip. Leaving Tahiti we ran aground, The small tug that was trying to pull us off from the after end broke its towing line which then smash into the Tugs bridge and I believe it killed the Skipper.

It was the Captains last trip and I think he was due to retire .*What a way to go*

We did manage to get through the Panama without damage.

Fire aboard Northern Star in Durban - 1967

Windsor Castle Left Southampton 27 October For South Africa
Master	A Hort
Staff Commander	M Banbury
Chief Officer	R Milne
Second Officer	J Kemp
Extra Second Officer	J Jones
Third Officer	J Wignall
Fourth Officer	T Blake
Cadets	W Salm
Carpenter	F Tizard
Bosun	W Taylor
Master-at-Arms	R Carson H Clarke
First Radio Officer	R Hough
Second Radio Officer	J Walker
Third Radio Officer	R Wilson
Fourth Radio Officer	J Turbefield
Surgeon	J Clarke
Nursing Sister	P Day
Physiotherapist	C Nowacki
Chief Engineer	E Tuck
First Engineer	P Lovell
Second Engineer	J Lester
Int Second Engineer	K Talbot R East
Jnr Second Engineer	J Anderson F Balshaw
Snr Third Engineer	T Martin
Int Third Engineer	A McKinnon
Jnr Third Engineer	T Brown
Snr Fourth Engineer	B Williams
Jnr Fourth Engineer	G Burbidge
Junior Engineer	D Smith F Gawn R Wood A Hickman P Ferrigan A Thomson
Chief Frig Engineer	W Forde
Second Frig Engineer	W Turver
First Electrician	H Gregson
Second Electrician	T Philps
Third Electrician	R Oxenham
Fourth Electrician	M Jones S Sim
ER Storekeeper	E Wallace
ER Leading Hand	C Benson
Chief Purser	T Hood
Purser	A Connelly
Purser Catering	J Spearey
Second Purser	D MacMillan
Second Purser Catering	W MacMillan
Third Purser Catering	N Paterson
Asst Pursers	D Mason J Hughes P Barkley
Purser’s Clerks	D Howden P Hoffman S Williamson J Litchfield
Jnr Purser Catering	M Lukas
Children’s Hostess	G Rees
Hostess	M Hamilton
Chief Barman	L Farrow
Storekeeper	A Rawlings
Linen Steward	L Parker
Head Waiter (1st Class)	W Miller
First Tourist Steward	C Fielding
Head Waiter (Tourist Class)	W Eady
Band Leader	J Skene
Laundryman	R Humphries
Chef	H Laight
Baker	J Wood
Butcher	L Newman
Shopkeeper	W Morgans J Meehan
Housekeeper	M McKeogh

Review - December 1967

This photograph was contributed by John Davies

The launching ceremony of RMS Windsor Castle at Cammel Laird shipyard in 1960, being presented to the Queen Mother.

The Arrowed person is my father’s youngest brother Ronald Davies

Employed by Union-Castle he was a Naval Architect and the Building Superintendent of RMS Windsor Castle.

Launch of Windsor Castle - 23 June 1959

Commodore J F Oakley Retires - November 1962

The Pursers on The Maiden Voyage

In Southampton Water bound for The Cape on her Maiden Voyage

Windsor Castle Left Southampton 18 August For South Africa
Master	G Mayhew
Staff Captain	D Sowden
Chief Officer	H Dryden
First Officer	P Carter
Second Officer	R Bamlett
Third Officer	R Toye
Fourth Officer	P Robson
Ex Fourth Officer	D Bell
Jnr Fourth Officer	M Wilkie
Surgeon	S Laing
Purser	R Thomson
Second Purser	O Gilbert
Asst Pursers	M Hackett J Deardon
Purser’s Clerks	B Davis C Lloyd Miss M Hamilton Miss A Morgan
First Radio Officer	E Pitt
Second Radio Officer	R Hough
Third Radio Officer	J Cagney
Fourth Radio Officer	M Ilott
Nursing Sister	Miss E MacKintosh
Physiotherapist	Miss R Kelly
Children’s Hostess	Miss M Hill
Band Leader	J Skene
Carpenter	F Tizard
Bosun	N Taylor
Painter	P Turtle
Chief Engineer	D Abercromby
First Engineer	R Tozer
Second Engineer	R Baker
Int Second Engineer	E Edwards
Jnr Second Engineer	M Greef
Snr Third Engineer	D Wayman
Int Third Engineer	A Gurd
Jnr Third Engineer	M Donaldson
Snr Fourth Engineer	T Puleston
Int Fourth Engineer	J Lomas
Jnr Fourth Engineer	R Hitchings
Snr Fifth Engineer	C Lockhart
Int Fifth Engineer	J Deighton
Jnr Fifth Engineer	D Siddle
Snr Sixth Engineer	R Pearson
Int Sixth Engineer	R Marks
Jnr Sixth Engineer	R MacAskill
Seventh Engineer	T Grighton W Edwards
First Frig Engineer	G McGregor
Second Frig Engineer	W Forde
First Electrician	H Gregson
Second Electrician	A Diaper
Third Electrician	D Tuck
ER Storekeeper	C Pyne
ER Leading Hand	H Wannerton
Chief Catering Officer	T Brown
Second Cat Officer	G Gibson
Chief Barman	W Meyer
Storekeeper	P Nash
Head Waiter (1st Class)	W Miller
First Tourist Steward	A Harding
Head Waiter (Tourist Class)	A Barkhuysen
Laundryman	A Fabian
Chef	C Alves
Baker	S Tilsed
Butcher	H Shearman

The Maiden Voyage - 1960

In May 1967 the RMS Windsor Castle was involved in a dramatic race from Cape Town to Southampton against a motor car.

It began after Union-Castle Line claimed sea travel was the fastest means of travel from South Africa after air.

The Ford Motor Company disputed this and threw down the gauntlet for the ship to race one of their cars from Cape Town back to England.

So the RMS Windsor Castle took up the challenge and in May 1967 raced home against a Halewood built Ford Corsair 2000E in a dramatic and nail biting race between these two Merseyside built machines.

Sadly despite the high profile nature of this race sadly press coverage was muted.

The ship and the car (with rally drivers Ken Chambers and Eric Chapman), left simultaneously from Cape Town dockside to a great send off bound for Southampton.

The liner’s 7,000 mile sea voyage was pitched against the 9,700 road journey. Chambers and Chapman had many adventures along the way. Including a moment when the Corsair fell into a 6ft, water filled pothole and had to be rescued by 30 locals and 200ft of rope.

Other challenges included petrol shortages (nuns once gave them beer as a substitute!), armed Congolese soldiers forcing frequent stops (their support team and plane were locked up for several days), plus 24 tyre changes and 37 puncture repairs.

Even, just before reaching Southampton, they were pulled over by West Sussex Police and cautioned for having a dirty number plate!

Accounting for the driver’s air travel, the race was declared a draw, although the Corsair arrived the evening before the ship sailed in.

It must be remembered that Windsor Castle could not actually “race” as she was bound by a strict timetable.

It’s a pity that Ford did not challenge one of the mini mails !

The start at A Berth in Cape Town

Dockside in Southampton with Captain Alex Hort

Race with Ford Corsair - 1967

Mail Service	Windsor Castle Left Southampton 14 April For South Africa
Master	A Hort
Staff Commander	R Miller
Chief Officer	K Barry
Second Officer	B Bougourd
Extra Second Officer	J Kemp
Third Officer	D Pike
Fourth Officer	R Clarke-Halifax
Cadets	A Foggo
Carpenter	F Tizard
Bosun	W Taylor
Master-at-Arms	R Carson A Siney
First Radio Officer	J Walker
Second Radio Officer	I McKinnon
Third Radio Officer	D White
Fourth Radio Officer	R Wilson
Surgeon	J Clarke
Nursing Sister	Miss J Adams
Physiotherapist	C Nowacki
Chief Engineer	E Tuck
First Engineer	J Gauld
Second Engineer	J Murphy
Int Second Engineer	E Perry
Jnr Second Engineer	C Murcott G Donovan J Anderson
Snr Third Engineer	C Lewis
Int Third Engineer	H Armstrong
Jnr Third Engineer	J Carruthers
Snr Fourth Engineer	J Dryden
Jnr Fourth Engineer	B Williams
Junior Engineer	J Cowan G Falconer R Hampson B Low B McClure W Lauchlan
Chief Frig Engineer	W Forde
Second Frig Engineer	J Morris
First Electrician	H Gregson
Second Electrician	T Philps
Third Electrician	K Wylie
Fourth Electrician	T Robson L Watson
ER Storekeeper	E Wallace
ER Leading Hand	C Benson
Chief Purser	J Dimmock
Purser	O Parry-Williams
Purser Catering	A Jenner
Second Purser	R Funnell
Second Purser Catering	R Ledbury
Third Purser Catering	N Paterson
Asst Pursers	D Mason J Hughes R Gascoyne
Purser’s Clerks	A Woodgate M Lukas Miss P Fellows Miss Litchfield
Hostess	Miss M Hamilton
Children’s Hostess	Miss G Rees
Chief Barman	L Farrow
Storekeeper	A Rawlings
Linen Steward	L Parker
Head Waiter (1st Class)	W Miller
First Tourist Steward	C Lawrence
Head Waiter (Tourist Class)	W Eady
Band Leader	J Skene
Laundryman	R Humphries
Chef	H Laight
Baker	J Wood
Butcher	H Shearman
Shopkeeper	W Morgans J Meehan
Housekeeper	Miss M McKeogh

Arrival at Southampton - Windsor Castle can be see approaching her berth.

Welcome Home

Tanker Incident - A Rescue at Night - 1972

Windsor Castle Left Southampton 11 February For South Africa
Master	R Wright
Staff Commander	J Brackenridge
Chief Officer	J Wilcock
Second Officer	J Simpson
Extra Second Officer	T Nixon
Cadets	J Forbes-Simpson G Koch A Theunissen
Carpenter	D Perry
Bosun	L Walker
Snr Master-at-Arms	M Gleeson
Jnr Master-at-Arms	J Kitcher
First Radio Officer	S Harden
Second Radio Officer	R Wilson
Third Radio Officer	J Foley
Fourth Radio Officer	R Lee-Smith
Surgeon	M MacNamara
Nursing Sister	P Williams
Physiotherapist	C Nowacki
Chief Engineer	S Harron
First Engineer	D Hill
Second Engineer	J Robinson
Extra Second Engineer	K Challice
Jnr Second Engineer	D Cox T Patterson
Snr Third Engineer	M Davies
Int Third Engineer	P Miller
Jnr Third Engineer	C Field
Snr Fourth Engineer	S Harris
Int Fourth Engineer	R Smith
Jnr Fourth Engineer	S Back
Junior Engineer	C Jones D Carver R Maunder L Edwards R Missen A Marriner
Chief Frig Engineer	D Laycock
Second Frig Engineer	A Shaw
First Electrician	H Gregson
Third Electrician	A Smith
Jnr Electrician	P Hill A Boswell
Senior Mechanic	M Kelly
Plumber	H Martin
ER Storekeeper	B Alford
ER Leading Hand	C Benson
Chief Purser	J Dimmock
Purser	K Underwood
Purser Catering	W McGrady
Second Purser	M Fletcher A Charlesworth
Second Purser Catering	W Burgess
Third Pursers	J Tickner
Third Purser Catering	C Murray P Fealey
Junior Pursers	J Peck C John G Gallogly J Fitzroy
Hostess	M Hamilton
Children’s Hostess	S Lampkin
Chief Barman	L Farrow
Storekeeper	A Haymes
Linen Steward	A Secker
Head Waiter (1st Class)	W Miller
First Tourist Steward	M Bridgeman
Head Waiter (Tourist)	M Stokes
Band Leader	J Skene
Laundryman	W Cronin
Chef	H Laight
Baker	J Leslie
Butcher	L Newman
Shopkeeper	J Meehan
Housekeeper	M McKeogh

Clansman - April 1972

The Pursers on The Final Voyage

From the left: Andy Whitehouse, Mike Fletcher, Derek Mason, Robbie Rutt, Annie Lewis and John Wootton.

Dressed overall, Windsor Castle moves away from A Berth and out of Duncan Dock for the last time

6th September 1977

The Final Voyage - 1977

The same departure but viewed by Andy Skarstein from the bridge wing of Clan MacIlwraith

The veteran tug Danie Hugo in the forground

Windsor Castle Final Voyage Principal Officers
Master	P St Q Beadon
Staff Commander	A Wigham
Chief Officer	P Brown
Second Officer	D Reid
Extra Second Officer	I Ross
First Radio Officer	L Whittaker
Second Radio Officer	G Walker
Surgeon	J Latham
Chief Engineer	S Harron
First Engineer	A Garside
Second Engineer	D Warren
Extra Second Engineer	J Tomlinson
Junior Second Engineer	M Davies
Junior Second Engineer	C Field
Chief Frig Engineer	W Falconer
First Electrician	T Stallard
Second Electrician	J Towler
Chief Purser	J E Dimmock
Cruise Purser	C Rutt
Purser	K N Underwood
Purser Catering	D Padmore
Second Purser	D Mason
Second Purser Catering	C Murray
Children’s Hostess	Carol Amis
Chef	D Heard
Baker	J Leslie