From: "Richard Hemingway" <>
To: <mnc
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2000 5:10 PM
Subject: old boy


> Hello friend,
>   My name is Richard Hemingway and I attended the Merchant Navy College 
> Greenhithe on the "Worcester"
> I enrolled for the induction course in 1973, as a cadet with BP tankers. I 
> then returned for phase 1 but went down with gladular fever and had to miss 
> that course. I returned after a further trip at sea to redo phase 1.
> I remember seeing the shore side college being built, being torn down, being 
> rebuilt and finally residing in the newly built college for my phase 3.
> I was the student representative on the board of governers for our lot at 
> the time that the college was officially opened by HRH prince Philip. I 
> attended the gathering in the principles office for a glass of sherry and a 
> chat.
> 
> Unfortunately I failed my ONC Nautical Science and as BP were not employing 
> uncert 3rds anymore, had to find employment elsewhere. I guess I hit the 
> start of the decline in British shipping. 1977.
> Signing on the pool, I got a job with J & C Harrisons of London. They put me 
> through my ticket again at Greenhithe, whilst signed on as third mate. 
> Harrisons folded up so I went to Silver Line, working on their managed 
> ships, the 'Carlantic', Carchester and 'Amsterdam'. They had to make 
> redundancies, so as last in, I was first out.
> 
> By this time 1981 I was married, with a family on the way, so looked for a 
> coastal job to be close to home. I found a dredging company called 'British 
> Dredging Sand and Gravel co.ltd.' Liked the job and employment package and 
> been with them ever since, through two name changes and mergers. 'East Coast 
> Aggregates' who are now merged with 'South Coast Shipping' all under the 
> parent company of 'Ready Mixed Concrete'.
> I did my command endorsement in 1985, at 'Lowestoft college of further 
> education', I tried to get in at Greenhithe but was told on the phone that 
> it was closing. I remember naively asking when it was opening again, not 
> beleiving that it was curtains. sigh.....
> 
> I have been Master on the coast since 1985 and I am now at Warsash college, 
> doing my combined class 2/1. South Coast shipping are building larger 
> dredgers and my old command endorsement would not cover me for them.
> I could go on at length, but will wait to hear from you, I could bore for 
> England. LOL.
> Kind regards
> Richard (The all electric balancing bear)Hemingway