Dorset Branch

The Dorset Branch of the World Ship Society meets on the second Saturday afternoon of the month between September and May at The Centre – Ferndown in East Dorset (BH22 8XH),

2.15pm for a 2.30pm start. All meetings are “hybrid” sharing our Dorset venue event with a wider member community via Zoom giving local members the choice between getting together or enjoying the event at home. .


Our nine meetings per year have been widely acknowledged as informative and well presented, attracting popular and respected speakers from the local, national and international ships, shipping and maritime history scene. Visitors to our branch are always welcome ~ in person or via Zoom ~ please get in touch. Initial invitations come with no obligation, and we hope you enjoy the afternoon. Ongoing participants are encouraged to become Branch Members ~ for only £20 a year. For details of our future events programme please see www.shipsdorset.org/events … and do contact us. Hybrid meetings now allow us to welcome you wherever you are in the world! Email us via info@shipsdorset.org or to find out more see www.shipsdorset.org


Dorset Branch Secretary – Steve Pink … Email – steve@telecommerce.co.uk … Tel. – 07831 111589    

WSS DORSET 2023/24 MEETING PROGRAMME 

9th September 2023

 ~ Stories of British India ships in the Gulf ~

 ~ with Kevin Patience ~

Kevin’s links to British India’s Mulbera, Dwarka and Dara – all uncovered from passenger to diver!

~ ~ ~

14th October 2023

 ~ Krispen’s Travels: Coming to America ~

with Krispen Atkinson ~

Krispen takes us to the United States and Canada – another exciting array of ships for us to enjoy

~ ~ ~

11th November 2023

~ Bosphorus ferries and passenger ships seen in Istanbul ~

 ~ with Bill Mayes ~ 

Ferries through history – many UK built – and enjoy a bonus collection of other passenger ships

~ ~ ~

9th December 2023

 ~ British Liners of the 1950s & ‘60s ~

~ with Bill Miller ~

Bill takes us back to the decades when Britain had the biggest passenger ship fleet in the world.

~ ~ ~

13th January 2024

 ~ The Merchant Navy in the Second World War ~

 ~ with David Parsons ~

An island nation at war with a near neighbour was critically dependant on it’s merchant shipping.

~ ~ ~

10th February 2024

Sunset Falls on the Intercontinental Ocean-liner ~ 

~ with Ted Scull ~

Ted recalls ships that carried passengers across the world’s oceans & memories of voyages

~ ~ ~

9th March 2024

 ~ An overview of the Haven Ports ~

~ with Derek Sands ~

Locations, facilities, shipping and cargoes passing through this network of East Anglian ports

~ ~ ~

13th April 2024

 ~ Birger Jarl & Mariefred ~

 ~ with David Trevor-Jones ~

A 1950s Sweden-Finland ferry and a 1900s Stockholm coastal ferry – enjoy two classic ships

~ ~ ~

11th May 2024

 ~ Seven years at Sea in the Seventies ~

with Steve Pink ~

A brief seagoing career – sixteen ships – times of seismic changes in passenger & cargo shipping

~ ~ ~

Branch Notes