Last revised 16 December 2003
TEESSHIPS
A FAVOURITE SHIP
CULLERCOATS
One of my favourite earliest photographs which has reproduced reasonably well despite the major shortcomings of the camera I was then using is this shot of the Tyne tug CULLERCOATS, 181 gt, taken on 23 August 1961.
The print has always appealed to me, but that is enhanced by the fact that memories of just one ship can now be said to embrace three centuries. The first was the century of her birth with her being completed by Rennoldson of South Shields, just across the river from where my photo was taken, in March 1898, but as the CYCLOP for Amsterdam owners.
The second century was the 20th during which in September 1926 she was purchased by France Fenwick Tyne & Wear Co. Ltd., and renamed CULLERCOATS. For more than the next 30 years she would bear their attractive blue and white with anchor funnel colours. She was re-engined in July 1956 using the engine from the former French trawler BEARN.
In January 1959 she was chartered to Tyne Tugs Ltd., and it is their colours she sports above. In May 1968 after a long active life of 70 years she moved upriver to be broken up at Dunston.
The third of those centuries is the one we have recently entered in which by virtue of having this photograph images dating back to the 19th century can be evoked.
Details from 150 YEARS OF THE MALTESE CROSS by John Proud.
And Albert Weller took this very similar (but better quality) shot.
3.9.02: I suppose if you twist my arm hard enough I might just be persuaded to include a view submitted by Ron Henderson showing in the CULLERCOATS in France, Fenwick, Tyne & Wear colours?!
Ron's own description: the CULLERCOATS in original Fenwick livery towing Titan II alongside a Union Castle Ore Carrier.
.... and justification! I looked up in my 1963 Observers
Book of Ships and the section in there on flags and funnels states names
ending in Castle were Union Castle Line, so there you are. Unless you know
more !!! Unfortunately I couldn't hang around waiting for them to paint
the funnel which is lurking about suspended in mid air. When I next passed
the funnel had a fleur de lys on it. Must have been chartered to some French
company or something. You see, you learn something everyday.
Maybe I should start charging for this sort of valuable info.
(Now who's being sarcastic and facetious? - there's
plenty of people who would give you this for free!)
And, OK, before I get accused of misleading my public, both us Ron's do know the BAMBURGH CASTLE, 11894gt, was completed by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in June 1959 for the Bamburgh Shipping Co. Ltd., of W.A. Souter & Co. Ltd., Newcastle.
16.12.03:
Among a spate of interesting photos showing on Riversea International (George
Robinson) [see LINKS page] is this magnificent view of the CULLERCOATS from
the Richard Cox postcard collection.
