When I was 14 years old I attended Port Glasgow High School, and they took us on a cruise on the Dunera. We sailed from Greenock to Lisbon, Portugal then Vigo, Spain and finally Madeira. We slept in bunk beds in dormitories. It was very rough travelling through the Bay of Biscay and the catering staff used to laugh at me as I never missed a single meal, whereas most of the kids didn’t always turn up for meals as they were too seasick to eat!
It was a wonderful trip and instilled a lifelong love of travel in me. It was a great experience, and when I told friends about it recently they said I must have attended a posh school, but that was far from the truth. My wonderful Dad even sold his beloved motorbike to fund my cruise. I was born in 1952 so the trip would have been in 1966. I still have fond memories of the trip, the beautiful destinations and the wonderful friends I made.
Sarah Gray
More letters
In memory of Anthony (Tony) Fell
In memory of Anthony (Tony) Fell, a former Council member and a Union member since 1963 who was dedicated to furthering the development of radio officers.
SED should be extended to all those at sea for over six months a year
Given the changes in the operation of UK-flagged vessels, is it not time for the rules around claiming Seafarers' Earnings Deduction to be reviewed?
Scarlett Barnett-Smith: the maritime woman my mother wanted to be
I was very pleased to read in the last edition of the Telegraph about the success of recently-qualified officer Scarlett Barnett-Smith, whom I first met during her time at the Port of London Authority (PLA)