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All Hands 2020-1 (UK Spring) P a g e 3
commitments. The solution to this dilemma is for your Executive Committee to take a fresh look at how All Hands
can be produced in the future and we are looking at all possible avenues. Ideally we would like a suitable volunteer
from the membership to step forward to take it over. All Hands has always been regarded as the Jewel in the
Crown and no stone will be left unturned in our search for an alternative to the present model. It may be that we
will have to get used to receiving rather fewer editions each year in the future but sadly, without someone willing
to step forward to take it on, the ‘good ship’ All Hands may be coming to the end of its voyage.
There are many interesting articles in this edition as always but of particular interest for me is the section covering
Bibby Line. In the 1970s, Bibby and P&O had a number of fully refrigerated LPG carriers of similar size which
meant that we were constantly in competition with each other. The LPG traders who controlled much of the LPG
shipping market in those days, understood this very well and the two fleets were constantly being played off
against each other until of course the market turned in the favour of the ship owner and we made hay whilst the
sun shone. I had the pleasure of meeting Sir Derek Bibby in New York on one occasion. He was slightly eccentric
and something of an inventor – always looking to try new ideas. Floating prisons were one of his brainwaves and
I believe that they did quite well for a time to relieve the pressure on overcrowded prisons.
Turning back to Association matters and the fallout from the Coronavirus pandemic, we have had to reconsider
our thoughts for a UK social event and the timing of the 2020 AGM. No doubt the same applies to our three
Branches. Whatever is decided will inevitably be a rather last-minute affair and indeed we may only be able to
organise an AGM with possibly a lunch preceding it. Once we know what we are allowed to do concerning social
interaction later in the year, we will be able to make some quick decisions.
Since I last wrote to you, we have had a highly successful Christmas lunch at the Royal Naval and Royal Albert
Yacht Club in Southsea although we were down on numbers. Three Officer Cadets who were guests of the
Association spoke with great confidence about their experiences under training. Their personal histories covered
elsewhere in this edition make for very interesting reading. Everyone I spoke to at the lunch agreed with me that
we have some highly intelligent and dedicated young people pursuing their careers in the shipping industry. It will
be very sad if the current global economic situation creates a difficult platform for them in their search for
employment at the end of their cadetships.
Until recently, one would have thought that the cruise industry was the best sector to focus upon but after the
events of recent weeks, things have changed dramatically. I suspect that it will take some time for the cruise
industry to get itself back on an even keel and encourage the general public to go cruising en masse once again.
We will continue to try to help any former WMA Officer Cadet who is having difficulty finding employment but
usually the best that we can offer is support and encouragement. If you, the reader, can help in any way, please
make yourself known to a member of the Executive Committee.
I sincerely hope for all our sakes, that 2020 starts to look a little more encouraging as the weeks roll by and that
coronavirus will recede into the back of our minds like a bad dream! Stay safe, follow the instructions you have
been given by your government administrations and my best wishes to everyone.
With best wishes, Roger Holt, Chairman HoltR64
wachair@warsashassociation.net
1.2 President’s – John Millican (MillicanJ75)
Regarding contributions to All Hands from post-1970 ex-cadets: Mostly, articles are submitted by ex-cadets
prior to 1970 which of course is a reflection of the make-up of our membership. There are plenty of books about
the Merchant Navy of yesteryear, and specialist websites for individual companies. It's easy to find out what
happened to the ships. What I would like to know is what happened to the people I sailed with and was at college
with. My generation was caught up in the end of the general cargo ship era, so many of us had to change careers
and we lost touch with each other.
I wonder if we could get one member a month to tell their own personal story along the following lines?
a) Why I went to sea;
b) What it was like at sea in my era and at Warsash;
c) Why I came ashore when I did (if relevant);
d) What I did subsequently.