Vague and various details of forthcoming 2005 activities are now posted on our Meetings page - MAJB

The Ozzies are online and on time. See here- MAJB

Hey chaps... Terry Connell has sent the picture(s) below of Madang in 1960. He knows that the ship in the background is the Soochow; but can anyone name the one in front, please? He's doing some research and would much appreciate an answer - MAJB

We're now accepting ads: see the Rogues Gallery - MAJB

Aha, that's two votes, then. Terry had a message from Leo MacGowan, who lives in NZ, who thought that it might be the Chekiang. He had served as 1st Mate in her. Below, find a piccie of the 'Chekiang' and a snap of the cover of the 1960 B&S bible from which it was taken, just so that you can remember what Hong Kong looked like before the builders arrived - MAJB

Terry further writes: "I have attached a photo of the Soochow at Rabaul, indisputably. Comparing the steepness of the hillside near to the wharf,there can be little doubt that the photos were taken at different ports and as the Madang picture is in the sequence of other Madang pics, I am certain of my description. Barry Gant was Second Engineer". Well, it's clear that Barry wasn't sailing Chief, for sure; his boiler suit is dirty - MAJB

Tony has been kind enough to send us this picture from his archives which he advises is of Bob Steer's first ship. The picture is entitled "Bob Steer coming out of the engine room":



Tony is no stranger to celebrity himself, as he was featured in our March 2005 Calendar in a vain bid to get him to pay a sub. Here's a link for those who missed it: Radio Ravenhill - MAJB

Investors rallied to the SMA flotation this year- MAJB

"Potato Lifting", by Roman Kochanowski (Poland), oil on cardboard, 9 x 13 cm, private collection

"Couch Potatoes Lifting", Anon., oil and water, The Aldermaston Gallery

Keen, enthusiastic devotees of this web site (both of you) may have noticed that recently we have been plagued by 'spam' entries from various nefarious gambling promoters and purveyors of preposterous pharmaceutical prescriptions. Contrary to popular opinion, this is not the HK Jockey Club trying to get its own back on Swire supporting only membership of the RHKYC and RHKGC; these are spammers of the worst kind, and we're not talking luncheon meat. We will be, however, if I ever get hold of them. Sorry; we clear entries as we find them - MAJB

Ah yes, the Wanch ....



Although many found this particular street to have certain charm ....

A certain member from Piabla, Qld. has sent in a corrected version of the Wanchai photograph above, which is now below ...



And in answer to Bob Steer's Korean shipbuilding query, he is also able to provide a picture of the ship to which Bob refers ....

Many of you know Kelvin Troughton. His daughter Davinia Troughton reports as follows, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina:

Although the situation at home right now due to this damning hurricane is beyond believable and worsening by the day, my father is safe in Alabama with my sister. My mom is still in England but has to reroute her flight to Alabama as well.

After a nervous couple of days of very little communication and not knowing exactly where my father was, we learned he had run out of gas and was stranded along the interstate in Mississippi. The entire area had been badly damaged and they had blocked off most of the exits due to dangerous flooding conditions and downed power lines and trees. With that said, no gas stations were in operation either and he had little choice but to sit it out on the side of the road and sleep in the car in very hot weather. Thankfully, a trucker stopped for him and he was able to hitch-hike across the state of Mississippi. Unfortunately, it took them nearly 10 hours to travel what would have normally taken them less than 2 hours by car. They saw many desperate people along the way who were suffering in the heat, sitting in their cars for hours at a time waiting for the National Guard bulldozers to clear the roads.

He and his trucker friend (a nice guy named David from Texas) finally arrived in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, shortly after midnight where my dad tried to sleep outside on a Wal-Mart park bench. The next morning, when he regained cell phone service he was able to contact my sister who drove about 3 hours to scoop him up. They found him slightly disheveled, very fatigued, and a little out-of-sorts since he hadn't slept in a proper bed or bathed in about 4 days. But he is safe and healthy.

We have no idea about the status of our home or the condition of our neighborhood. We’re hoping we were spared the devastating floods but fallen trees and blasted windows are also a big concern.

Isn’t it amazing that just a few weeks ago we were in full celebration mode and carefree? But keep those in the Greater New Orleans Area and Gulf Coast in your thoughts because there is so much suffering right now.

See the "full celebration mode" in the SMA Rogues' Gallery

What, no reports of drunkenness and debauchery from York, yet? No one got a laptop? CNN not there?

Now that we're world famous, might someone do me the favour of sending me updates for our CNCo and SPO pages, please? SPO was updated last year, at least, but CNCo was updated about the same year that Dave Mitchell last bought a round, some decades ago. Note that we'd always be pleased to have your rare pictures and input for our CNCo fleet list, too; Ian G., I have yours, thanks, but have not updated the site yet having lost your disk in a pile of papers! It'll surface - MAJB

The SMA Christmas card is now available. Click on the image for more news of this exciting new offer to members - MAJB

The mind boggles, does it not. Hey, though ... maybe this might be a good scam for Stu to get involved in, to be sure of those subscriptions:

To Whom It May Concern

My name is Stuart Molongo Shields, Secretary of the Nigerian branch of the Swire Marinated Association. Forgive me for writing to you so bluntly, but my situation requires that I immediately find someone I can trust, such as your good self. Your name was given to me by a mutual friend as someone who will understand the requirements of international banking having screwed up your Provident Fund so royally, and are likely to be able to help me in my quest. My long lost aunt, Madelina Palaver Shields, was married to the Financial Controller of the Upper Nigerian Mining and Irrigation Consortium. Into his hands was entrusted the sum of four hundred million nineteen hundred dollars and thirty six cents. The gentleman has since popped his cloggos (Nigerian for clogs) and his wife requires that the money be kept safely in an account that cannot be tainted by corruption or graft. You being a clever kind of bloke, and not drinking so much these days, Mrs. Shields has asked me to contact you accordingly. For arranging this transaction, your share of the proceeds will be one hundred million dollars and loose change, since I can't be bothered to work out the math. Please forward your banking details promptly if you are able to accommodate this request. The sum of fifteen pounds sterling (interestingly, equivalent to one year's subscription to the SMA) will be necessary in advance to facilitate matters with the Nigerian authorities. I look forward to hearing from you. This matter is best kept confidential between us at this juncture. Yours faithfully, Stuart Molongo "Mugu" Shields, DFC, OBE, LBW, BEER with Bar."

Slob out, Maurice. It's the look these days. If you wear either of the others, people will think either you've lost your wedding party or your ship and in either case, your granddaughter will disown you. No, purple Oxford bags, worn around the hips and dragging on the floor; flak jacket with ornaments; baseball cap worn sideways. That'll do it. Anyway, 'scuse me; I'm just on the 'phone to Jarrod arranging my Extra Master's - MAJB

P.S. Everyone looking forward to Christmas? It's started already in the US, of course. Thought you'd all enjoy this picture of my daughter standing next to our neighbour's latest Crimbo decoration. The snow flurries, with a fan in the base propelling it around the globe, and this delightful addition to any home is lit up at night. Isn't it just charming?



Our Christmas Calendar is now online - MAJB

The 2005 DAG Memorial Curry is memorialised - MAJB

Bye bye 2005. May 2006 be more peaceful in the world. Doubt it, though.