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)

GVTG

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 Deller

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

Cape Times 7 September 1977

Design & Construction

A model designed to give an impression of her design, some similarities if you imaging the bridge moved forward.

Above: The laying of her keel in 1957


Right: Windsor Castle under construction

Clansman - Autumn 1956

Vessel

Built

Service

Tonnage

Windsor Castle (3)

1960

1960 Deployed to The Cape Mail Service replacing Winchester Castle

1977 The last Union-Castle passenger mail sailing

1977 Sold to J Latsis

37640

Official Number

Ship Builder

Engine Builder

Engine Type

HP

Screws

301167

Cammell Laird

Birkenhead

Cammell Laird

Birkenhead

4 x Steam turbines

49000 SHP

2

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