My second term at College was much more congenial. There was (obviously) a new intake of juniors and I was now JLC of a cabin*. Everything ran pretty smoothly and, again, I finished with a very high average.
The third and final term was significantly more pressured as I not only had the final examinations to prepare for, but during that time I had to find a shipping company to take me on as Navigation Officer Apprentice.
By this time, I had developed a very good relationship with an Officer (The Lt. Commander of the local mine-sweeper fleet) and he had a history with Blue Star Line. Blue Star Line was a very popular choice among the cadets because not only did they handle “clean” cargoes (refrigerated meat), but their ships also carried a small number of passengers so conditions on board were generally extremely good. It was suggested to me that I really should apply to Blue Star Line, especially as I was averaging over 80% in my previous examinations. I do not know whether that Officer got involved or not but, after going to London for an interview (1st Class train seating and at Blue Star Line’s expense), they welcomed me to their company, subject to satisfactory final examination results and a routine medical. Everything was looking good!
During the year, I had got to know many of my colleagues and, being a College with an International intake, many countries were represented. There were cadets from Iraq, Mauritius, Nigeria, Kenya, and no doubt various other countries.
Below is a photo of me with colleagues Nwoko (Nigeria) and Fernandes (Kenya). We were wearing our “day to day work uniform”!
I finished that program in early December with a 2nd. Class Honors Certificate (Over 80% average), and returned home to await instructions from Blue Star Line.
*See Post “Dear Diary – Page 57” October 6, 2015
A New Direction Perhaps? 
I dont know if you know this, I actually am a Nigerian. It was nice to see a fellow Nigerian was part of your life 😁.
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No I didn’t know! The other Nigerian at College was called Umo. They were both on some Government scholarship and I believe both were destined to work out of Lagos. Whereas some of the International “characters” were challenging, Umo and Nwoko were the nicest guys. 🙂
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This is a very important part of you story life and thank you for sharing this here. You are such a very handsome fellow there! hehehe … Do you still keep the uniform?
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Hi Sherrie – It was an extremely important part of my life, but for reasons that you probably cannot imagine. That uniform disappeared many years ago.
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Oh my … that is a pity.
I remembered well that I lost one of my mother’s precious dress before she died.
It makes me unhappy and somehow for some reasons no one can find that particular dress anywhere in the house. It is simply odd that something like a dress disappeared simply in a small house that has not many things inside. I looked up everywhere and more than fifteen years later, it was never to be found …
I bet you felt sad about it that you lost those uniform. Do you still have some other things apart from that lost uniform?
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Stay tuned! All will be revealed in time. 🙂
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Now I’m intrigued about what happened to the uniform!
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Patience Nena. Patience. 🙂
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🙂
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That adds information to my time line, as it must then have been December 64 / January 65 that I last met you in person.
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Hi Roy – I cannot help you with that timing but my family left Peterborough late 1964 so either it would have been in between terms at College (April or July 1964) or no earlier than July 1965 (as you will understand if you stay tuned!). 🙂
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