Harry, I remember Frank Mitchinson very well, his passion was his roll as a part time Gamekeeper at Wynyard an area he knew like the back of his hand. Unfortunately he passed away last year, a ‘character’ if ever there was one.
Hi Peter, I was on the last voyage of the Duke of Mistra when she paid off in Galveston before changing flags in late 1965. I was 2nd Mate. You’re right about Capt. Findlay, a great guy.
The suggestion that the tall chimney, in the background of the ICI vista /North Tees Power Stations picture, belongs to Casebourne’s Cement Works seems resonable. This picture shows a closer view with boats being ready to pick up cement from the Casebourne’s jetty.
I joined the Duke of Mistra for her maiden voyage as fourth engineer in January 1960, expecting to be back in UK within six weeks but did not return until September 1961. Simply tramped around the world. Was planning to get married which was delayed all that time, we are still together. In the summer I used to work as a guide climbing in the Alps and missed two alpine seasons. Cannot say I enjoyed the experience, was only at sea as part of national service and had been with the Blue Funnel Line previously.
Thanks to this site I have made contact with Neil Hurst and Robin Paterson who I sailed with all those years ago. Neil; and I are in regular touch and Robin has been to visit.I am writing a journal of life in the MN in the mid fifties. Any body like a copy I will be willing to email. Tony Homden
I sailed on the Duchess Of Sparta in 1953 it was my first ship after my stay at the Vindicatrix. I was Officers cabin boy, our trip lasted eight months, David
I was a Trent Maritime deck apprentice in 1954 to 1958 and sailed with Tony Homden on the Duke of Athens. Nice to see that you are still around, Tony. The ship was on charter to Palm Line for the first couple of years and wore the Palm Line funnel, then went tramping all over the world. I was un-certificated Third Mate for the last year before getting my Second Mates then joined Port Line – quite a difference I can tell you! After I got my Masters in 1962, I got married, had two children and decided to “swallow the anchor”. I emigrated to Australia and joined the Australian Army. I retired as Lt-Col in 1986 bought a small property and learned to be a grazier. I finally retired properly this last year. Tony if you read this please contact me on yarrowfell@geocities.com
I served from 1956 to 1960 as a deck apprentice with Trent Maritime. My first ship was the 1939 Doxford built Duke of Athens, I transferred to the new Duke of Sparta on her second voyage. She was a wonderful ship and was I believe fitted with an owners stateroom. She was state of the art for the time and I had a great time aboard her. I believe she was transferred to the Panamanian flag and renamed Atlantic Baron. The Company had four ships when I joined in 1956, The Duke of Athens, The Duke of Sparta which were dry cargo and the Duchess of Athens and the Duchess of Sparta which were tankers.
Many thanks Peter for memories shared and for putting me straight regarding my confusion over DUKE and DUCHESS. One has to be so careful these days and one is never too sure which one may be which!! But I could have sworn— Ah! Never mind, I hope that some of we antiques can be forgiven a couple of lapses now and then. I was sorry to read the belated news of Cliff Wittering”s passing. I remember him well as one of the good ones and a pleasant companion.These days my only contact from our years is with Stan Bassett now living in Lincoln. He sailed for years with Blue Star Line and later as Second with London Overseas Freighters, eventually becoming a Marine Boiler Insurance Surveyor. Has a few Heart problems these days. Of interest; to me anyway, was a posting by Bob Harbron regarding 266 Squadron ATC, with a photograph of the Norton Flight with a couple of our contemporaries from Furness days, Frank Mitchinson who did one voyage with Brocklebanks and then sold me his uniform. The other old chum was Ian Stewart with whom I was particularly friendly, losing touch with him when he sailed with New Zealand Shipping Co.
Harry Rhodes- Does this photo look familiar? It was slipway No 8 which bordored on to Casebournes Cement works, and was the farthest point from the fitting shop. The Duke of Sparta was launched from this berth in May 1958, the Duke of Mistra (no Duchesses) was also launched from this berth in June 1959. Strangely the first ship of the trio the Duke of Athens was not built until 1962 from No 5 berth, and was not named until she was fitting out. The ships were owned by Trent Maritime Co Ltd which was the British end of the large Greek company Livanos. Mr Livanos had two well known sons-in-law, one being Aristotle Onnasis and the other Stavros Niarchos, both large fleet owners in their own right. A fellow apprentice of ours, Cliff Wittering, while on leave in 1959 paid a visit to the shipyard one day, and was offered the 3rd Engineers position on the Duke of Mistra, which he accepted, that maiden voyage lasted 15 months. Cliff died early 1990.
My apologies to Ron Mapplebeck for my omission in crediting him with the organisation of an excellent Shipping Information Website from which I have found some interesting details of Ships on which I have served. My remarks re; DUCHESS OF SPARTA were intended for Ron, but somewhere along the line I forgot to give him an honourable mention. Please consider this omission rectified. I believe that you also had the site Tees Ships, which I used to consult before my old “Pooter” colourfully and spectacularly departed for Cyber Heaven taking with it several years of information. Just can”t trust the things!!!
As a former employee of Furness Shipbuilding Co. I was quite excited to see the names of some of the vessels on which I worked. I seem to remember that the DUKE OF SPARTA was in fact the DUCHESS OF SPARTA. This was obviously a slip of the fingers on your part, as I consulted your website with it”s list of vessels constructed at Furness Yard and you have named it “DUCHESS”. I still have an interest in ships (check walls of my den) and being former Merchant Navy I look forward to seeing further postings and information on this shamefully neglected Service.
This view shows one of three sister ships built by Furness for Trent Maritime Co. Ltd. DUKE OF SPARTA was launched 2 May 1958; DUKE OF MISTRA on 22 June 1959. The ships carries a name on her stern so is one of these two as the third in the series, which was eventually named DUKE OF ATHENS, was launched 18 April 1962 without a name visible.
Picture Stockton Archive 
It was not the dutchess of Sparta, it was the Duke of Sparta I was an apprentice on her my first ship
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Harry, I remember Frank Mitchinson very well, his passion was his roll as a part time Gamekeeper at Wynyard an area he knew like the back of his hand. Unfortunately he passed away last year, a ‘character’ if ever there was one.
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Sailed on the Duke of Mistra for nine months in 1965, best trip I ever had, under the command of Captain.A.Findlay. A pleasure to serve with.
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Hi Peter, I was on the last voyage of the Duke of Mistra when she paid off in Galveston before changing flags in late 1965. I was 2nd Mate. You’re right about Capt. Findlay, a great guy.
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The suggestion that the tall chimney, in the background of the ICI vista /North Tees Power Stations picture, belongs to Casebourne’s Cement Works seems resonable. This picture shows a closer view with boats being ready to pick up cement from the Casebourne’s jetty.
LikeLike
I joined the Duke of Mistra for her maiden voyage as fourth engineer in January 1960, expecting to be back in UK within six weeks but did not return until September 1961. Simply tramped around the world. Was planning to get married which was delayed all that time, we are still together. In the summer I used to work as a guide climbing in the Alps and missed two alpine seasons. Cannot say I enjoyed the experience, was only at sea as part of national service and had been with the Blue Funnel Line previously.
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Please could Harry Rhodes of Hoppers Crossing Australia, contact the Picture Stockton Team with reference to a message regarding Stan Bassett.
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Thanks to this site I have made contact with Neil Hurst and Robin Paterson who I sailed with all those years ago. Neil; and I are in regular touch and Robin has been to visit.I am writing a journal of life in the MN in the mid fifties. Any body like a copy I will be willing to email. Tony Homden
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Hi Tony. If the journal is still available, I’d love a copy. Cheers. Paul Howell
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I sailed on the Duchess Of Sparta in 1953 it was my first ship after my stay at the Vindicatrix. I was Officers cabin boy, our trip lasted eight months, David
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I was a Trent Maritime deck apprentice in 1954 to 1958 and sailed with Tony Homden on the Duke of Athens. Nice to see that you are still around, Tony. The ship was on charter to Palm Line for the first couple of years and wore the Palm Line funnel, then went tramping all over the world. I was un-certificated Third Mate for the last year before getting my Second Mates then joined Port Line – quite a difference I can tell you! After I got my Masters in 1962, I got married, had two children and decided to “swallow the anchor”. I emigrated to Australia and joined the Australian Army. I retired as Lt-Col in 1986 bought a small property and learned to be a grazier. I finally retired properly this last year. Tony if you read this please contact me on yarrowfell@geocities.com
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I served from 1956 to 1960 as a deck apprentice with Trent Maritime. My first ship was the 1939 Doxford built Duke of Athens, I transferred to the new Duke of Sparta on her second voyage. She was a wonderful ship and was I believe fitted with an owners stateroom. She was state of the art for the time and I had a great time aboard her. I believe she was transferred to the Panamanian flag and renamed Atlantic Baron. The Company had four ships when I joined in 1956, The Duke of Athens, The Duke of Sparta which were dry cargo and the Duchess of Athens and the Duchess of Sparta which were tankers.
LikeLike
Many thanks Peter for memories shared and for putting me straight regarding my confusion over DUKE and DUCHESS. One has to be so careful these days and one is never too sure which one may be which!! But I could have sworn— Ah! Never mind, I hope that some of we antiques can be forgiven a couple of lapses now and then. I was sorry to read the belated news of Cliff Wittering”s passing. I remember him well as one of the good ones and a pleasant companion.These days my only contact from our years is with Stan Bassett now living in Lincoln. He sailed for years with Blue Star Line and later as Second with London Overseas Freighters, eventually becoming a Marine Boiler Insurance Surveyor. Has a few Heart problems these days. Of interest; to me anyway, was a posting by Bob Harbron regarding 266 Squadron ATC, with a photograph of the Norton Flight with a couple of our contemporaries from Furness days, Frank Mitchinson who did one voyage with Brocklebanks and then sold me his uniform. The other old chum was Ian Stewart with whom I was particularly friendly, losing touch with him when he sailed with New Zealand Shipping Co.
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Harry Rhodes- Does this photo look familiar? It was slipway No 8 which bordored on to Casebournes Cement works, and was the farthest point from the fitting shop. The Duke of Sparta was launched from this berth in May 1958, the Duke of Mistra (no Duchesses) was also launched from this berth in June 1959. Strangely the first ship of the trio the Duke of Athens was not built until 1962 from No 5 berth, and was not named until she was fitting out. The ships were owned by Trent Maritime Co Ltd which was the British end of the large Greek company Livanos. Mr Livanos had two well known sons-in-law, one being Aristotle Onnasis and the other Stavros Niarchos, both large fleet owners in their own right. A fellow apprentice of ours, Cliff Wittering, while on leave in 1959 paid a visit to the shipyard one day, and was offered the 3rd Engineers position on the Duke of Mistra, which he accepted, that maiden voyage lasted 15 months. Cliff died early 1990.
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My apologies to Ron Mapplebeck for my omission in crediting him with the organisation of an excellent Shipping Information Website from which I have found some interesting details of Ships on which I have served. My remarks re; DUCHESS OF SPARTA were intended for Ron, but somewhere along the line I forgot to give him an honourable mention. Please consider this omission rectified. I believe that you also had the site Tees Ships, which I used to consult before my old “Pooter” colourfully and spectacularly departed for Cyber Heaven taking with it several years of information. Just can”t trust the things!!!
LikeLike
As a former employee of Furness Shipbuilding Co. I was quite excited to see the names of some of the vessels on which I worked. I seem to remember that the DUKE OF SPARTA was in fact the DUCHESS OF SPARTA. This was obviously a slip of the fingers on your part, as I consulted your website with it”s list of vessels constructed at Furness Yard and you have named it “DUCHESS”. I still have an interest in ships (check walls of my den) and being former Merchant Navy I look forward to seeing further postings and information on this shamefully neglected Service.
LikeLike
This view shows one of three sister ships built by Furness for Trent Maritime Co. Ltd. DUKE OF SPARTA was launched 2 May 1958; DUKE OF MISTRA on 22 June 1959. The ships carries a name on her stern so is one of these two as the third in the series, which was eventually named DUKE OF ATHENS, was launched 18 April 1962 without a name visible.
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