Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Reunion for Seafarers stranded in the Suez Canal 1967 – 1975

SIX DAY WAR CREW SOUGHT

Merseyside Museum commemorates Suez Canal anniversary:
Merseyside Maritime Museum is looking for former seafarers who were on a stranded ship on the Suez Canal between June 1967 and June 1975 to attend a special 50th anniversary reunion at Merseyside Maritime Museum on Thursday 1 June 2017.

14 merchant ships were stranded in the Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal at the start of the Six-Day War between Israel and Egypt in 1967. They were trapped there for eight years until Egypt reopened the canal in 1975. Four of the ships were British flagged, including three from Liverpool shipping lines: MS Melampus and MS Agapenor from Blue Funnel Line, and MS Scottish Star from Blue Star Line. The fourth British ship was MS Port Invercargill of the London-based Port Line.

Though the original trapped crews were replaced after a couple of months, over the years around 3,000 seafarers served on the ships, helping to maintain them and their precious cargos, right in the middle of a war zone. The period was the height of the Cold War, the ships may have come from both sides of the Iron Curtain, but as Ben Whittaker, Curator of Maritime History and Technology explains, it didn’t stop them forming their own ‘United Nations’.

“The ships were going nowhere, over time camaraderie grew between the crews irrespective of their country of origin. Inspired by the part of the Suez Canal they were stuck in, they established what was to become a unique community; the Great Bitter Lake Association”.
“They shared supplies and equipment, as well as created a full programme of sports fixtures and other social activities. The seafarers even produced their own hand-made stamps, which are now sought after collectors’ items”. The move to appeal for ex-crew was inspired by author Cath Senker, whose forthcoming book on the subject features material from the Blue Funnel Line Archive which is held at the Museum, as well as images of objects from the museum collections related to the Great Bitter Lake Association. These include a commemorative plate and home-made trophies that were awarded to the winners of the competitions held on board the ships during the 8 year long saga. Ben says; “We want former crew to get in touch and join us on 1 June to share their stories and reminisce. Many members remember their time in the Suez Canal as one of the most significant of their entire lives. Through the internet, many of them have now renewed contact with each other, and interest in this unusual story has been revived. With Liverpool ships and men part of the story, Merseyside Maritime Museum is the right place to hold the reunion”.
If you or a family member were on one of the stranded ships on the Great Bitter Lake during the Six Day War and want to share your story and be part of the reunion, contact Ben Whittaker. Telephone 0151 478 4401 or email <ben.whittaker@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk>.

 

 

Indefatigable Old Boys Association (IOBA): Secretary & Archives

©www.indeoba.com 2017

Indefatigable OBA Members celebrate the restoration of a significant object in Liverpool’s maritime history.

IOBA Members attended the Merseyside Maritime Museum for the special unveiling of the newly restored Indefatigable figurehead on Wednesday 2nd November 2016, 2:30-4:30pm.

The figurehead has been restored by world renowned figurehead conservator Richard Hunter, thanks to a donation of £2,500 to fund the project from the Indefatigable Old Boys Association (IOBA). Janet Dugdale Director Maritime Museum and Museum of Liverpool said: ‘We are delighted to be able to unveil King Billy and thank the IOBA for their kind generosity’.

Names of those present;
Sir Michael Bibby Bt (M.D. Bibby Line Group): IOBA President.
Andrew Butler (77/78): IOBA Chairman.
Martyn Hunt (82/85): IOBA Vice Chairman & Karen Hunt.
Tom Keyes (63/64) IOBA Treasurer & Membership Secretary.
Malcolm Williams (75/76): IOBA Merchandise & Angie Williams.
John Aspinall (59/60): IOBA Standard Bearer & Val Aspinall.
Marc Hardman (1961): IOBA Standard Bearer.
Ian Parr (74/75) & Deborah Parr: IOBA Members.
Brian & Norma Croxton: IOBA Members.
Steve Humphries (75/76): IOBA General Secretary & Archives.
John Wilson: CEO Liverpool Seafarers Centre.
Richard Hunter: Figurehead Historian & Restorer of King Billy.
Ian Murphy: Deputy Director Maritime Museum and Museum of Liverpool.
Ben Whittaker: Curator of Maritime History Maritime Museum and Museum of Liverpool.

See the project yourself at;

Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, Liverpool. L3 4AQ / Tel: 0151 478 4401
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/index.aspx

    

    

    

    

         

    

 

Indefatigable Old Boys Association (IOBA): General Secretary & Archives.

©www.indeoba.com 2016

 

Indefatigable Figurehead refurbishment 2014: The condition of King Billy has been one of great concern for many years. Therefore unless we the IOBA intervened it would deteriorate further.  As for ownership of ‘King Billy’, the Merseyside Maritime Museum – Liverpool (MMM) have full rights over ownership as the IOBA gifted King Billy to them in 1998.

Inde Figure Head 1930 aboard Phaeton in the Mersey.

HRH visit 1964.

Indefatigable Figurehead as most of OBs will remember him.

IOBA Committee handover King Billy to MMM 1998.

King Billy until work started September 2016.

Agreed at the 2014 AGM, the IOBA commissioned ‘Richard Hunter, Figurehead Historian’ to carry out a full report on the condition of King Billy. A full inspection was carried out by Richard on 11^th November 2014, with the IOBA in attendance. We received the full written report on 20^th November, which concluded urgent restoration was needed to reverse the decline.  So members of the IOBA set the ball rolling for any forthcoming sponsors, including the MMM.  The cost of the report was £160 as agreed at the 2014 AGM.

The report concluded that full restoration would cost £2,500 made up of two payments of 50%. Full details are within the report and is available on request from Steve Humphries (available to fully paid members of the IOBA).

On the 13^th May 2015 the ‘Curator of Maritime History and Technology (MMM)’ reported that the MMM was unable to allocate any funds from the current or next years financial year towards the ’King Billy Figurehead restoration project. The Museum stated that the figurehead was in a stable condition, but obviously in need of work, therefore the decision of the IOBA was whether to wait to see if the museum could allocate funds from future budgets, or whether the IOBA felt the work needed to be undertaken, meaning the full cost being met by IOBA.’

The Museum spent some time looking at grants but alas none fitted this type of object or which the MMM is eligible to apply for.

Indefatigable Figurehead refurbishment 2015: Richard Hunter planned to work on King Billy towards late summer 2015, then the Museum had been instructed that our monies had to go direct via them rather straight to Richard Hunter, and so the money £2.5k was given to the MMM.  All funds we donated to the MMM remained ring-fenced for this project, and the ‘Curator‘ continued to liaise with Richard.

Indefatigable Figurehead refurbishment 2016: Work on the figurehead first phase started on 5th September, and a Photo Diary will be updated here with;

Refurbisment Phase One

    

 

 

 

We would like to personally thank all those members of the IOBA for the incredible generosity for raising £2.500 needed for the project, and £1,000 from an IOBA member who wishes to remain anonymous.  Our thanks also goes to Richard Hunter, Figurehead Historian and Ben Whittaker – Curator of Maritime History and Technology. 

See the project yourself at;

Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, Liverpool. L3 4AQ  / Tel: 0151 478 4401

http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/index.aspx

 ©www.indeoba.com 2016

IOBA attends Merchant Navy Day 2016 – Liverpool

IOBA members present; Mrs P A Brown MBE MStJ JP DL MNM : Hon IOBA Member, Revd Canon. (Bob) Evans : Hon IOBA Member, Martyn Hunt 82/85 IOBA Vice Chairman, Tom Keyes 63/64: IOBA Treasurer & Membership, Pat Moran: Hon IOBA Member, John Farrell 49/50, Russell Jones 55/56, John & Val Aspinall 59/60 & Steve Humphries 75/76: IOBA General Secretary & Archives.

Merchant Navy Service and parade from Church of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas to the Pier Head memorial, Liverpool.

The annual National Merchant Navy Day celebrations took place in Liverpool on Sunday 4th September.

A service took place at Liverpool Parish Church in Chapel Street and was followed by a short march to the Pier Head memorials, where wreaths were laid.

Among the civic dignitaries attending was the Lord Mayor of Liverpool , Cllr Roz Gladden.

Merchant Navy Day is the annual celebration of the British Merchant Navy, with the memorial service held for the 36,000 seafarers who died at sea in the Second World War.

The service was attended by diplomatic representatives of Britain’s allies during the war, who paid homage to their own considerable losses of merchant seafarers serving in British ships.

Wreaths were laid by, among others, the Indefatigable Old Boys Association (IOBA), Merchant Navy veterans, High Commissioners and naval attaches from many countries linked with the Port of Liverpool, including the Canadian Navy.

 ©www.indeoba.com 2016