[janmike]

First trip to sea was on the British Holly from January 1955, sailed from Isle of Grain with a cargo of black oil to a couple of ports in the Baltic which in that year were ice bound. An adventure for a very green first trip apprentice. Sailed back to the Tyne for drydock at Middle Dock South Shields. Transfered to British Ardour sailed out to Texas, loaded for a load of Medy ports on through Suez to Persian Gulf on to India and Australia eventually back to Falmouth for drydock, paying off five days before Christmas 1955. I know I grew up very quickly and felt very much at home.