by Captain Sandy Kinghorn

Leaving the schoolship H.M.S Conway Easter 1951 I had already been accepted as a cadet by the London company Blue Star Line and had been told I would have to wait as the company was still pulling itself together after the war. Not only had their head London office in St Mary axe been bombed – they had lost 29 ships out of a pre-war 35. Pre-war trades were now being resumed.

Then, on 16th May the long awaited telegram arrived:-

“JOIN COLUMBIA STAR WITH ALL SEAGOING EFFECTS AM 18th 24, ROYAL ALBERT DOCK, LONDON FOR VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA”

Wow!