RMS Transvaal Castle

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RMS Transvaal Castle

I found the following articles in the loft of my late father. I have no knowledge of specifically what he was doing on the ship, except for the fact that he was working for the ship's builders - John Browns, Clydebank - at the time.

Dad's Menus & Ship's Newspapaper from December 12th - 14th 1961

What I find fascinating about this, is that he was on board during the Eichmann Trials.

Donald Stongroom

Don contacted me in April 2002 and then again in September 2004. He had read the above in astonishment, because he was on board the ship at the same time! He told me that the ship was undergoing Sea Trials on the above dates, so my dad must have been helping with them. His emails and some fascinating photos are below.

Hi Rob
I was intrigued to find those menu's on your website, in fact they came as quite a surprise. When you say 'Dad's menus' I guess by the dates that he must have been on the "Transvaal Castle" for sea trials?

My background to all this is that I joined the "Transvaal" in October 1961 whilst she was being fitted out and subsequently sail in her for two years as Junior Second Engineer Officer. She was a truly wonderful, happy, and trouble free ship. I have lots of memorabilia of that ship including paper cuttings of her at John Browns. I have attached a copy of a menu dated Sunday 17th December 1961, just a couple of days after your Dad's which I thought you might be interested in.

Rob,

Thanks for coming back to me so soon.

Of course the irony of all this is that I probably met your Dad whilst I was at John Browns. The ships Engineers often had meetings with John Browns Engineers, discussing progress, procedures, etc. but alas I don’t remember who was who.

Your Dad’s involvement with the QE2 must have been a very exciting time as indeed the opportunity you had to have a trip on her, and at 35 knots too, that is going some.

I can understand your sentiment, going back to the QE2 would probably not be the same. On a number of occasions I have considered revisiting the Transvaal, but I know the various cruise lines that owned her over the years extensively altered her – she just would not be that great ship that sailed from the Clyde so many years ago.

I was 26 when I joined the Transvaal at John Browns and spent 10 wonderful years of my life at sea. I managed to get a 1st Class Engineering Certificate and became a Member of the Institute of Marine Engineers and subsequently became charted.

I retired a couple of years ago and now doing all the things I have always wanted to do, albeit a little slower than in the past! One of my projects is to put together a scarp book of my sea career, at least when I finally pass on my sons will have a record of what I was up to at sea – well most of it anyway!!!

I wished I had asked my Dad lots of questions as I’m sure you had wished you had yours, hence I am determined to leave my mark.

I and attaching 3 scans, 2 are of paper cuttings (not sure of the quality) of the period, and one is of the Transvaal leaving Cape Town for home on her maiden voyage. the one with Pat McManus is dated October 18 1961 and was in the Daily Herald, I guess your Dad must have known Pat?

Sorry if I have been rambling on a bit, feel free to use any of the material on your website,

Kind regard

Don

From: Donald E Stangroom [mailto:ds@stangroom.co.uk ]
Sent: 01 September 2004 23:29
To: rob @ roblightbody.com.
Subject: Transvaal Castle

Hi Rob

Its me again, the “Transvaal Castle” man! I though you might like a couple more Pictures of the “Transvaal Castle” for your archives. The black and white one was taken during her sea trials in the Firth of Clyde in 1961; your Dad could well have been on her at that time? The photographers were Ralston of Glasgow C.2, I wonder if they are still in existence?

The other is self-explanatory showing what was a magnificent ship at the end of her life awaiting breaking up at Alang India. (August 2003).

Kind regards,
Don