Below you'll find a list of all posts from November, 2026
VICTORIA: Twenty members attended the October branch meeting where the guest speaker was Capt. Tim Wilson who gave a graphic account of his career in tankers and on the Port Phillip bunkering tankers. It was agreed at the meeting to make a grant of $2,000 to the Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network to assist in the production of a documentary entitled …
TYNESIDE: Branch Secretary Paul Hood gave a presentation based on a selection of photographs collected by the late Bob Spinks who’s main interest was Sunderland built Ships. We started off with a selection of Naval Vessels, Tankers and Bulk Carriers before heading off to Yokohama and the saga of the CHRISTER SALEN. The CHRISTER SALEN was built at Gothenborg in …
SOUTHAMPTON: On the evening of Tuesday 13th October 8 members of the Southampton Branch enjoyed a talk by the Branch Chairman Neil Richardson. A digital presentation of material from the late branch member John Havers collection based on the ship visits he had undertaken independently, with the WSS Branch and with his partner Pat. From visiting the Normandie in the …
SOUTH COAST: On our 22nd October meeting held at Southwick Community Centre, Southwick, we were unfortunately unable to proceed with the programmed show “Pound’s Shipbreakers Portsmouth” due to an unforeseen illness affecting our speaker Richard Holme. We wish him a speedy recovery. Not to disappoint, we were able to bring forward a presentation originally scheduled for June 2026 – South …
MID ESSEX: At our September meeting there was a problem with the intended speaker, but instead we looked at an old show of Ian Wells photos featuring black and white photos of ships, mainly taken on the Thames. We had fun working out what the ships were and sharing information about them. One particular old favourite was the paddle steamer …
MERSEYSIDE: For our October Meeting we welcomed back our old friend Alan Moorhouse, of the Bedford Branch and Cruise News Editor of Marine News. Alan’s Presentation was entitled ‘Voyages Across the Seas 2026’ and Alan certainly took us across the seas, to many ports viewing many ships. Ports visited included Southampton, Barcelona, Kiel, Friedrichshafen, Hirtshals, Ipswich, Tilbury and Gravesend, Rhodes, …
HAVEN PORTS: At our October meeting we held our branch AGM. All officers were re-elected unopposed and amongst things discussed was the branch’s viability. It was decided to carry on with meetings for another year as we are solvent with ample funds for room hire. After the AGM Mick Warrick showed some slides so we dusted off the projector! Derek …
FIRTH OF CLYDE: Fishing Boats Worldwide was Maurice Napier’s topic in October. A Naval Architect, he began his career at Caledon Shipbuilding and Engineering in Dundee before branching out, setting up his own company. He has inspected fishing vessels for owners in all 5 continents of the world; drifters, scallop dredgers, gill netters, junks, and purse seiners, just to name …
DORSET: The Dorset Branch of WSS enjoyed a presentation on 10th October by the distinguished maritime author David Hutchins entitled “Mauretania – Truly the Most Beautiful”. David has written two major books about Mauretania and gave a compelling presentation on the ships’ long and distinguished career. He showed us photographs rarely seen before and took us through the ships long …
COBH: Our Guest speaker, Mr. Liam O’Riordan delivered a fascinating, illustrated talk on Q Ships. He outlined the origin of the concept of these vessels to counteract the threat of German submarines during the First World War. They were ordinary merchant vessels that were refitted in secrecy with armaments such as 3-inch cannons. The crews were usually Royal Navy personnel …
