Bedford & District

May 2024

Michael Galley gave an insight into the world of international shipbreaking  at his presentation  for the May meeting. Staring with an overview of the history world shipbreaking  then concentration on the main sites currently breaking up ships. In India and Pakistan  ships are run ashore on gently sloping sand tidal beaches at high tide so that they can be accessed for disassembly with it seems  little thought to contamination to the environment. The dangers of process were illustrated  by excellent photos. The one photo I still have in my mind was an Indian lady who at first glance appeared to be preparing food . The correct description for  the photo was that she was processing asbestos teasing out the fibres without wearing any form of Personal Protective Equipment. Michael finished with new working practices that have been introduced by the Basel Convention and Hong Kong convention stating that getting these agreed has been a slow process. A thoroughly enjoyable presentation, looking at another aspect of the shipping industry.

April 2024

The April meeting evening was devoted to members DVD’s. We started with the Snowbow  DVD Ships to Manchester. This port  was once  the nation’s fourth biggest port and in its heyday would have been  full of ships. This was made possible by the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal which was completed in 1894 to enable ships from all over the world to sail right into the heart of industrial Briton. The DVD  was  a  collection of films showed ship movements of the period and was  a real maritime treat. The film  enabled  the meeting to  watch  ship after  ship  sailing  to  and  from  Manchester.  But  as  an extra, the film also followed some of the ships on their voyages after leaving the canal. These were ships  that  were  once  operated  by   shipping   companies   such as   Harrison   Line,   Manchester Liners, Clan Line and Furness Withy. The second DVD was the Port of London Waters of Time which was filmed in 1951 and showing  shipping of the period and followed the arrival of  the Highland Princess into the port and her eventual departure after being worked in the dock.

February 2024

Many thanks to Alan Pepper for stepping in at short notice when the intended February presentation was not available. Alan’s presentation was a draft of a  show intended  for a non-ship enthusiast audience, in this case a local church. It aims to remind the audience that merchant ships still exist and the important role they play. Container ships, bulk carriers, oil and LNG tankers, car carriers and cruise ships were shown to illustrate the changes that have taken place in our lifetime. The Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth transatlantic liners were included as these ships would be known to most in the prospective audience. We are often asked to speak general audiences and the feedback from branch members was most useful.

January 2024

The branch started 2024 off by showing 2 DVD’s about the Port of London. The first DVD was based on period News Reals. First images being taken in 1919 of the concrete constructed coaster ARMISTICE also completed in 1919, seen at East India Docks. The DVD took us through the history of the port showing the changing methods of working and equipment in the dock ending with the demise of majority of the London Dock and the Opening of the London City Airport in 1987. Along the way several spectacular fires in the dockside warehouses were seen along the magnificent views of the Cunard liner MAURENTIA entering the Royal Docks in August 1939. The second film was a Museum of London film showing more recent history of the docks and views of handling of bulk goods within the docks. Also seen were the failed proposed plans for the Maplin Seaport Development including an airport.