CELEBRATIONS Shipmates reunite for 60th

A GROUP of men who met as teenage deck apprentices in the Merchant Navy have reunited to celebrate 60 years of friendship.

Andy Taylor, Clive Davies, John Goble, Mike Kemp, Neil Drummond and Tony Allen met at the Vale Resort in Hensol on Tuesday to celebrate the anniversary of when they met on the MV Rakaia ship on September 4, 1958.

They were joined by friends Chris Baugh and David Holmes who contacted the group by Skype call from New Zealand and Australia.

Clive Davies, was born in Trealaw, Rhondda, and spent the first 11 years of his life in the area.

Now 77-year-old Clive, who spent a few decades living in Australia before moving back to Hensol six years ago, said he was looking forward to indulging in nostalgia with his former shipmates.

The group of eight met as 17-yearold deck apprentices on the MV Rakaia of the New Zealand Shipping Company.

The vessel principally sailed between the UK, New Zealand, Australia and the USA – with Newport and Swansea being among their first ports of call.

General cargo was exported out on their ship, including manufactured goods and steel, while meat, butter, cheese, wool and other produce was brought back.

Tony Allen, 77, said: “This was a training ship with the deck crew being us cadets where we carried out a full range of jobs from scrubbing floors, painting the ship inside and out – all seamanship tasks – through to steering, navigation and studying for our Second Mates Certificate of Competency.

“Of course, we had time to enjoy ourselves around the ports of New Zealand and Australia, including rowing our whaler boat against all comers and winning.”

The group gathered at the Vale Resort for a catch-up dinner which was rounded off with a vintage 1958 bottle of port.

Tony said: “It was very special. If you think about it we weren’t together that long, it’s not like being in the forces but you do bond very closely.

“When you get together turning back the clock.” it’s like