My old man worked on the 30's Ark as well, he liked pointing out the bow plates he worked on when he saw photos of it. Sat in Claughto Rd with the rest of our school to watch the Queen Mother (or the Queen as she was then) go past to launch the 50s Ark. There used to be a Birkenhead lad, Kenny Dignam, who served on it in the 60s. I stayed on the small stuff.
the 3 ships have have recently been consined to the scrap heap where NOT BUILT AS ACTUAL AIRCRAFT CARRIERS. During the 70s when these ships where origanaly been ordered the LABOUR PARTY where in power and there doctorine would not allow aircraft carriers to be built so these ships where desighned and built as THROUGH DECK CRUISERS. This was to keep the LEFT WING of the Labour party happy.
Last edited by jimbob; 11th Dec 20118:45pm.
Ships that pass in the night, seldom seen and soon forgoten
we got invited on board for dinner with the crew when we were working on the docks in Hamburg. we had no money and were starving. the crew and officers were on deck doing that Bosuns Whistle thing and all were standing to attention when something crashed into it. there was sailors going all over the place and action stations were called but no one seedmed to know what was happening,cheers j.c.
Did you know any of my brothers who worked there at this time? Angus (Gus Goodall) - a spark (his nickname was 'The switch board King) , Also my brothers Dennie, Roy (Engineer) , Donnie and Gordon (Engineer and Draughtsman)
I am now retired - and 78, living in France. I am trying to write up some family history and our lives in Huskisson Street area for my daughters
Any info you can give me would be appreciated - as I left 'home' over fifty years ago! I have just found the great site and busy working through various sections
thanks
Alan
PS do you have any photos? During my student holidays, I also worked on a Cable ship with Angus in the early 60's - I was a 'runner' You will know well what that very important job was!!!
PPS re the mass exit at 5pm - and the early morning start especially - I love to listen to a rack on Alan Price's record "Between Today and Yesterday" About Newcastle yards but the same sentiment "Oh its up in the morning and over the bridge, Darkness still over the day... It brings tears to my eyes!
Got a friend who is building a model of Ark Roayl 2, from the 1950's [as his brother served on it, just as the Harrier jump jets were coming out, they were called Kestrals then its] about 7 foot long and all scratched built just an awsome model, so far its taken him nearly twenty years in between building other models, and still not finshed it!
Did you know any of my brothers who worked there at this time? Angus (Gus Goodall) - a spark (his nickname was 'The switch board King) , Also my brothers Dennie, Roy (Engineer) , Donnie and Gordon (Engineer and Draughtsman)
I am now retired - and 78, living in France. I am trying to write up some family history and our lives in Huskisson Street area for my daughters
Any info you can give me would be appreciated - as I left 'home' over fifty years ago! I have just found the great site and busy working through various sections
thanks
Alan
PS do you have any photos? During my student holidays, I also worked on a Cable ship with Angus in the early 60's - I was a 'runner' You will know well what that very important job was!!!
PPS re the mass exit at 5pm - and the early morning start especially - I love to listen to a rack on Alan Price's record "Between Today and Yesterday" About Newcastle yards but the same sentiment "Oh its up in the morning and over the bridge, Darkness still over the day... It brings tears to my eyes!
Hi Alan,
Private Message sent : (That's a flashing light to open under My Stuff,then Messages )
Last edited by granny; 1st Jul 201712:01pm.
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ~Chief Seattle
