Handsome steam ship had an ability to roll
NO need to explain who holds the picture, our MP kindly visited the Lifeboat Fete on Saturday, June 3, 2006, during a Fish Festival.
The Fish Festival concluding on the next day. As was usual our museum had two of the special containers of large laminated pictures on display for public appreciation, and so they ferret through them hoping to find the impossible, three loaded containers in two sections are continually on display at the museum and are much appreciated.
Be it not forgotten, that the clocks have now been changed and we will only be open from 2pm to 4pm at weekend afternoons until the spring.
Now our distinguished visitor just grasped a picture little realising it was probably the only one of the collection that did not involve a town of his constituency – it is Dieppe.
This Days of Steam shot, features our one time Queen of the Service the SS Brighton (6) (1950 to 1966). The prefix of SS informs that she was propelled by steam and was a ship.
What couldn't be told in the prefix, was that she was most handsome.
For such she surely was. By now coal was out of fashion and her furnaces were fired by oil and in this picture she has straightened up to lead straight out to sea, heading of course for her home port, Newhaven.
Once out at sea, things would settle and smoke reduce.
Her single funnel was oval and quite narrow, with the top rim of black, higher at the front and slimming to the rear, in itself giving an impression of speed, which would be 24 to 25 knots.
This was about the average for the Newhaven-Dieppe boats, which were usually faster to compensate for the greater distance than Dover and Folkstone. Ours is the most direct, but we have longer at sea, but the most direct to Paris.
The interior of the Brighton was beautifully fitted out with a lot of homely furniture, but I'm afraid this couldn't compensate for her ability to roll. Let's be fair, when she was built a terrible world war had not that long been finished, there had been a story that she and the Royal Yacht were being built at about the same time and that there was only one set of stabilisers available, so guess who got them?
Maybe this is just a tale to hide her rolling ability, but see the beautiful makers model of her at the museum and, even if you have no feelings for any vessel, you will appreciate her likable design.
Like thousands of others, I made the return crossing on her being a guest of Captain English. An extra pleasure, she certainly was fitted out beautifully and photos in the museums albums would substantiate this.
At the time of this picture at Dieppe, the quay, Henri IVth, came right up to the town, ten minutes after leaving the ferry one was ambling down the Grande Rue, wondering where to spend these things called Francs and which was the best smell coming from the numerous restaurants. Those were wonderful times and we were fortunate to live in or near the opposing port.
So it seems goodbye to one day return crossings, no set times and freight the master. Then so be it. Please just keep the crossing going.
Picture No 2: Yes, this is Newhaven in the 1960s/70s. Three large freighters at the East Quay, one of the French twins, Villandry or Valencay, 1964/5 to 1984 is just pulling out from the ferry berth. Fine basic vehicle ferries, despite stretching them. They had to be replaced by larger vessels.
Note here not only the size of the freighters, but the fact there are people gathering at the pier side, just to watch the ferry leave, this and seeing them return, was an attraction for locals and visitors.
Of course, one knew when they were likely to pass because they were usually on time, but should rough seas have made this unlikely, then all the more good reason to be there and wait.
For some people the appearance of a vessel in near distress is an excitement, but to most of us, a relief that we hadn't chosen to make the crossing that day.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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