Childhood memories (1960s) travelling on the old car ferries across to South Shields. I remember we used to pass a line of the tugs at their moorings in the river.
Fantastic old documentary and great to see the Ironsider and brief shot of Alnmouth before she too was sold off...both built by Richard Dunstan in Hessle. I spent many a weekend as a boy on Alnmouth with my Dad who was her engineer from new. Fond memories and hard working tugboatmen..
I remember the frans Fenwick Thomas batey company well before custom house .The wearmouth and the bemish and the alnwiick the George the fifth and the joffre Also hector Stewart a very old name amongst the Tyne tugs .I'm in my late eighteen and was there and seen it all so was my father and grandfather before.
Tugmen all share that ability to carp and moan but never miss a tide and that round the UK. The numbers decline but everyone proud men and few plucky lass's.
Childhood memories (1960s) travelling on the old car ferries across to South Shields. I remember we used to pass a line of the tugs at their moorings in the river.
Fantastic old documentary and great to see the Ironsider and brief shot of Alnmouth before she too was sold off...both built by Richard Dunstan in Hessle. I spent many a weekend as a boy on Alnmouth with my Dad who was her engineer from new. Fond memories and hard working tugboatmen..
My Dad worked on the tugs for many years, as a "Stoker" and Deckhand. We heard many tales of the "Joffre".
I remember the frans Fenwick Thomas batey company well before custom house .The wearmouth and the bemish and the alnwiick the George the fifth and the joffre Also hector Stewart a very old name amongst the Tyne tugs .I'm in my late eighteen and was there and seen it all so was my father and grandfather before.
Sold papers on the ferry landing 68 / 71 Wallsend when the tug went past it was like being on the big dipper
how on the tyne is all mine all mine. how on the tyne is all mine man.
how.
Tugmen all share that ability to carp and moan but never miss a tide and that round the UK. The numbers decline but everyone proud men and few plucky lass's.