Marine memoirs signing at Mill

The co-author of an important new maritime book, "Voices from the Bridge", is signing copies of the book at Audlem Mill today, Saturday 1st May and also tomorrow on Sunday. The signing sessions will be from 2.00 – 4.00pm each day.

Once, up to half the world's cargoes were carried by British merchant ships, but with the growth of air travel, containerisation and flags of convenience, British merchant shipping was already in decline by the 1960s.

The liners, tramp ships, tankers and coasters described in this book have now all but gone, and the Red Ensign is now flown on at most one per cent of the world's shipping.

This book is based on interviews and written accounts from over fifty contributors who were deck officers, from pre-sea training, through cadetship, and up to the achievement of a Master's authority. There are also accounts of careers ashore after retiring from the sea, and the reminiscences of wives, some of who travelled with their husbands.

"Voices from the Bridge" is a living archive of a seagoing way of life that has all but disappeared.

Author John Johnson-Allen MA was an officer on BP tankers in the 1960s. His co-author, Professor David Smith, unfortunately passed away just after the book was passed to the publisher.

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