« Reply #99 on: Saturday 25 July 15 19:24 BST (UK) »
Hi Seaweed,
Mention of the Empire Orwell brings back a vivid memory of one New Year when I sat with others on a stretcher group in the Foyer by the Purser's Office.
I wonder if you could check for me whether that would have been New Year 1953 or New Year 1954 - when she was in Aden? I think it must have been the night of 1952/1953 as I don't recalling a feeling of 'I'll be going home soon' which wasn't until I embarked on the Georgic around Feb/March 1954.
We didn't have to manipulate a stretcher that night. It was much more serious. We had gone on board to carry Oxygen Bottles for a Blue Baby which we took off the ship and up to RAF Hospital, Aden. We had a long wait and it was rather a sombre mood as everyone was thinking about the babe and whether it would survive. We must have been there an hour or more when suddenly all ships in the Harbour sounded their horns to herald in the New Year. I think someone remarked, Never mind we can celebrate New Year in the UK in three hours time. The Ambulance had to be stopped half way up the mountainside road to the hospital while the Medical Officer revived the child's heart which had stopped. I think the family were on their way home from Hong Kong and often wonder if it survived to live a long life.
Malcolm
Hutton: Eccleshill,Queensbury
Grant: Babworth,Chinley
Draffan: Lesmahagow,Douglas,Coylton, Consett
Oliver: Tanfield, Sunderland, Consett
Proudlock: Northumberland
Turnbull:Northumberland, Durham
Robson:Sunderland, Northumberland
Dent: Dufton, Arkengarthdale, Hunstanworth
Currie: Coylton
Morris and Hurst: East Retford, Blyth, Worksop
Elliot: Castleton, Hunstanworth, Consett
Tassie, Greenshields