From: "Paul Bird" <pa_birdhotmail.com>
To: <>
Cc: <pbirdntlworld.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2001 10:19 AM
Subject: Re: The Merchant Navy College


> >From: "Steve Smedley" <>
> >To: <mnc.mailcwcom.net>
> >Subject: The Merchant Navy College
> >Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 15:03:15 -0500
> >
> >Hello.
> >
> >I'm a bit bemused.  I transferred from The Training Ship "Mercury" (which 
> >had closed down) to The Merchant Navy College in September, 1968.  HMS 
> >"Worcester" was no more - we were not considered to be Worcesters, nor are 
> >we now Old Worcesters..
> 
> Please tell me more about the Mercury (where it was moored and during which 
> years).
> 
> Yes I knew the Worcester had become the MNC but wasn't aware that you were 
> no longer known as "Old Worcesters".
> 
> 
> >Captain E.K. Ballard was in charge;  we wore the ILEA cap badge, instead of 
> >the RN badge formerly worn by the Worcesters.
> 
> Thanks for that information.
> 
> 
> >Deck Cadets from various companies (Esso and BP leap in to mind) were also 
> >in attendance then (or in early 1969).  In fact, I was sufficiently 
> >impressed by Cadet Stuart Cummings' account of life at sea with Esso that I 
> >subsequently joined them.
> >
> >All this is to say that I am perplexed by your web-site's assertion that 
> >the Merchant Navy College was established in 1975.
> >
> >Clarification, please.
> 
> 
> The clarification has come from you by the sound of it.
> My website was created for the contact between people who had attended the 
> building on Ingress Park.  I have only come to know of the Merchant Navy 
> College being established on the Worcester more recently.
> 
> Your information is invaluable to me since it marks a major step in my 
> understanding of the history.
> 
> With more information from you I will be happy to update the home page of 
> the site to clarify matters.
> 
> Please remember that those of us who attended the building as electronic 
> students after the departure of the Worcester (1976) regarded the buildings 
> as the college and not the old ship which had gone.
> 
> I look forward to further communication with you in order to clarify the 
> history and many thanks for your email.
> 
> Best Wishes
> Paul Bird
> MNC 1980-83