Guestbook Volume 2

There are currently 166 messages.
There have been 12094 visits since 2008-09-05
This page was last accessed on 2024-04-14

Message Number: 166 - Sun, Dec 24, 2023 06:15:22
[IP = 78.153.199.248] -
Posted From: ireland

Name:	Dawn Galletly
Country:	England (currently on Isle of Man)

Comments:

Thanks for the Erskine Childers information.

Message Number: 165 - Sat, Aug 12, 2023 01:41:07
[IP = 58.167.139.121] -
Posted From: australia

Name:	Ross Muir
Country:	Australia

Comments:

Hello Ian,

Thoroughly enjoyed reading your website. I'm a tad puzzled with the history of 'MacHam' as from 1981 to 1993, I worked as the Financial Controller for Dodwell & Co. Australlia P/L and reported to MacHam in Sydney. It was then managed by Ion Macarthur-Onslow with John Sedgewick overseeing finance. To the best of my recollection, MacHam operated at 333 George Street, Sydney until around 1990.

Message Number: 164 - Tue, Aug 16, 2022 14:15:46
[IP = 90.29.25.189] -
Posted From: france

Name:	Gerard
Country:	FRANCE

Comments:

Thank you Michael

for this wonderful website full of historical informations!

I enjoyed going through your collection. Many thanks for your help in my research on the demonstration of British Power Boat Company's PV70 prototype Motor Torpedo Boat in speed and sea handling crossing Southampton to Cherbourg in 1939.

Kindest Regards

Gérard

Message Number: 163 - Tue, Apr 26, 2022 20:29:46
[IP = 121.99.45.1] -
Posted From: new zealand

Name:	Toni Daly
Country:	New Zealand

Comments:

I reached out to Michael because for years I had the sense that the ship I was on returning to the UK from Melbourne Australia (1965) had hit the quay in Singapore but until now, I couldn't find any evidence. All I knew for sure (as I was 5 at the time), was that there was a huge storm and swarms of us kids ate all the knickerbocker glories as the adults were mostly sick, the ship hitting the dock and later getting measles and being holed up in the hospital - oh and that we crossed the equator on the 27th March 1965 because although I do not have the certificate, that much I remembered. I didn't even know for sure the name of the boat but he confirms it was the Fairsea.

I am so grateful that he was able to confirm most of what I recall apart from the measles. I certainly wasn't the only one, there was an older boy involved with me pinching some biscuits in the hospital, my brother got sick after me and was hidden rather than have him in hospital. I am hoping that someone somewhere can fill in more gaps.

I haven't found either a manifest for the Fairsea, or evidence of return to the UK. I have a manifest for entry to Australia on the Fairstar 20th August 1964 but we didn't last and my parents had to repay the fare out.

I would love if anyone who can help with information on either trip, I now live in NZ, we left the night that Michael Fish said there wasn't a hurricane coming...which is another whole story!

Toni :)

Message Number: 162 - Wed, Nov 10, 2021 02:09:22
[IP = 78.21.66.234] -
Posted From: belgium

Name:	Yoeri Van Langenhove
Country:	Belgium

Comments:

Dear Sir,

I accidentally came across your website while searching for information about a particular boat type made in your country. Namely the RAF seaplane tender ST200 series, in the museum of the RAF you can admire a restored version (ST206) (done by Phil Clabburn). I already contacted Phil but regarding the info I'm looking for (the building plans) he couldn't help me any further. The intention is to make a large model first before making the boat full-sized (and working). I also went to look at several model making companies but the plans they have are not the original plans and more intended to just serve as a static or an RC model.

Message Number: 161 - Thu, Jul 1, 2021 01:10:53
[IP = 150.143.142.70] -
Posted From: united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland

Name:	Graham Clarke
Country:	GB

Comments:

Hello, Michael - what a wonderful experience, visiting your many fascinating pages. Thank you for all the effort you have put in, to creating and maintaining it.

Lymington born and bred, I am now the Hon Historian of the RLymYC and would much appreciate a chat with you about some of the items on your website.

Our paths have crossed, or been parallel, in a number of ways, which makes it all the more interesting. Most grateful if we could be in touch.

GJC.

Message Number: 160 - Fri, Apr 2, 2021 04:09:39
[IP = 86.164.158.65] -
Posted From: united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland

Name:	Su
Country:	England

Comments:

I would like to send you two photos of a baggage ticket please. It says Orient Line Pleasure Cruises and a crest on one side, Orient Line to Australia and a drawing of a two mast ship on the other side. I would be interested if you might know the approximate age of it.

Thank you

Message Number: 159 - Sunday, February 21, 2021 21:17:45 GMT
[IP = 146.66.50.29] -
Posted From: united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland

Name:	Chris Glover
Country:	England

Comments:

I found your genealogy pages while researching my own family tree. My maiden name was Byard and I am also descended from the Byards of Strensham/Newent/Gloucestershire. My grandfather was born in Bristol and I have traced the family tree right back through the Cheshire records - not everything is yet confirmed, but it seems about right so far, especially when taking into account the stories from my father and grandfather about tracing the line back to the Norman invasion in 1066! Many of the people you mention on your first page of the genealogy are also in my family tree. So it was really interesting to find your site - thank you!

Message Number: 158 - Wednesday, February 10, 2021 17:22:57 GMT
[IP = 124.176.178.211] -
Posted From: australia

Name:	Darren Gardiner
Country:	Australia

Comments:

My father Robert (Bob) started at Hamilton MacDonald in the late 1940s and worked at P&O and its offshoots until he retired in the 1990s.

Thanks for the photo of him in the Cricket Team.

Thanks for the web-site which I stumbled upon - it is excellent!!

Message Number: 157 - Tuesday, February 9, 2021 15:05:17 GMT
[IP = 90.201.113.18] -
Posted From: united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland

Name:	Lee Desty
Country:	UK

Comments:

Hi Michael

My visit to your wonderful web site was pure joy . I am Southampton born and bred and spent my youth watching so many passenger liners come and go to all corners of the world.

My father worked as a painter and decorator for Harland and Wolff and always saw "the Mary" and "the Lizzie" as the best ships he'd worked on. He specialised in gold leaf work.

I was 11 when I watched the Queen Mary sail out of Southampton for the last time. What a day and sight that was. The SS United States, SS France ( later the Norway) , Canberra, the Shaw Savill liners to Australia and the Union Castle ships to South Africa tied up to 2 or 3 abreast.

What years they were.

I'm retired after 41 years of working as a journalist , 26 of those as a BBC TV News Editor and these days I spent my time with family, walking a dog in the New Forest and songwriting.

Best regards

Lee Desty