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I'm sure it was Greg (bones) I flew out to Tampa with to join La Costa in October 1978. Ian McKidd was the master, Jim Brennan the mate. All was going well until Captain Blair joined then it was down hill all the way!!!
I left the sea in 1999 and am now a train driver.
Best wishes to all I sailed with.
Steve woodhouse

1962 to 1966 La Chacra, La Maria & La Estancia galley boy to 2nd steward love to chat to anyone I might know!

Great website. Will look at in more depth later and fill in some details. I served with BM from 1958 to 1963 starting as a Navigating Apprentice (deck cadet in modern speak?) in August 1958. Joined La Colina in Port Talbot. Captain was George Towill. And finished as 3rd Mate in 1963 -again with Capt Towill and again on the La Colina. Sailed on La Cordillera, La Orilla, La Hacienda etc. Did a short trip on the mv Peterland before Christmas in 1962 and we went to Archangel and back then the Baltic. Top speed 8kn.

good to have found site. sailed with BM from 73_85... on chemis and gearbulk was bosun for last seven years with company

Hi Dave,
Trying to contact any crew from Norman Lady 1st Voyage-Singapore 1973-74
I don't have my own computer e-mail address is my girlfriends. Any contact would be great. I really want to visit the ship again sometime if possible. I currently live in Newquay, Cornwall, UK

Many thanks,
Jerry

Hi Dave,
great to see that someone cares enough to keep a web site going with crew links as well as photos etc. Lets hope more of the old gang get to hear about the site...maybe a reunion??? I remember the one a few of us ex La Cumbrie chemmies had in barry at my place in 83!!! tehn I was back on Gearbulk...lack of platelettes or something...
Kepp in touch

Best wishes
Dave
(2 kids house amd mortgage...Son about to join the RFA/MN as an ETO Cadet...hopefully .. any links with HR managers ???)

excellent ,brought back many memories

just haveing a wee look again ,,love your site david ,hope alls well over at home ,,slan anios mo charra

Just to let you know that I met up with Joe Lambe a few months back when he popped over to the UK from New Zealand to visit some friends that had meant a lot to him.

We had coffee in a cafe near Oxford. He told me about his life working on fishing boats in NZ, I showed him some old photos, we swapped yarns and the years rolled back.

We still keep in touch, as I do with Ernest Fletcher, and all thanks to this great site. Thanks Dave, it means a lot to a lot of people.

I left Buries, foolishly, in 1970. Had an interesting career since then and now retired. I ended my seafring career on ferries. A story there. Along with an AB, Ralph Horsman (I think), I got washed down the deck of the La Sierra in the Pacific, when I'd been sent onto the deck to see how the rigging of the lifeline was progressing. I was Second Mate at the time. The water was amazingly warm, and I remember wondering whether I was still on the ship or in the oggin. Soon found out when I ripped the arse out of my trousers and bashed my ankles on a saddle tank lid. Poor old Ralph came off worse with 2 nasty gashes on his head which my then wife (ex nurse) stitched up for him. When i was chatting to him one day, while he was laid up in the ship's hospital, he expressed a not unnatural desire to swallow the anchor. I asked him if he'd ever considered ferries and he spent some time explaining how he'd tried the Newhaven - Dieppe ferry but found his colleagues so set in their petty ways that he'd never do that again. Well i tried Dover ferries in1972, but soon got fed up with that for similar reasons and returned to my previous Baltic trade. Towards the end of my career, I tried ferries again having been touched by the sight of my youngest in tears as I left for sea one day. Funny, no sooner does that happen than the kids disappear to uni leaving dad stuck on a sodding ferry.

BTW Ralph was put ashore in Singapore and we continued to Chittagong with our cargo of US grain from Seattle and Tacoma. We discharged the grain into 'Sam' boats off Chittagong as we were too big to get into the port. I was previously there on the La Laguna loading general for UK/Continent on a Clan Line charter.

Better stop there.

Excellent work & a worthy award winner. Keep the 'Flag' flyin' Dave.
Regards
Brian
http://flags.co.nr

sorry i shoud av said i was on the la cordillera then

served on the said boat frm jan 83 for four and a half mths as deck boy. It was my first trip an the best i ever had i,m still at sea on a ferrie now bt noyhing will ever beat that first trip deep sea.i can remember a EDH called nigel ivermee. a cat boy called davy douglas and a cat boy day sutherland

Fantastic site David! I served with Buries as a deck cadet from 1987 till the end in 1989.I was i believe their last ever serving cadet as i was onboard the MV Rhein the last vessel handed over when Buries folded. I have a few photos and bits and pieces from the last years of Buries Markes which i will forward to you once i return home on leave. Once again thanks for a great site...

Debbie,
I remember your Dad Frank very well as I served with him on the La Cordillera when I was Assistant Steward. I am so sorry to hear that he has passed away and if you can send me his details (I run this site) I will add with your permission his name to the BM Remembers Page.
David

Does anyone remember my dad, Frank Buckley,Chief steward? I remember him being on the La Pampa and la Cordellera! He is sadly no longer with us but we listened to his many stories with Buries markes!

Great site to bring back memories. I sailed as Junior then 4th Engineer on the Montcalm 63/64 during the Laconia disaster, then home for a few weeks then off to join La Primavera as 4th/3rd Engineer for a double trip of 18 months. Finally back to the trans Atlantic as 3rd on the La Chacra finishing with Buries in '67. Looking back there is a book full of real life stories that no one today would ever believe but for better or worse we sure as hell lived them.

Looking forward to keeping in touch from New Zealand. Cheers, John.

Very interesting site of BM & all associated with good memories, sailed as engineer from 1974 to 81 before migrating, will add to lists shortly.
I. Steward, Western Australia

Hi Dave
The site gets better and better will send you on my info when I find the time, keep up the good work.

hi great site. i sailed on la estancia and la chacra 74/76 as junior engineer. were any of your members on la chacra 75/76 in beirut when civil war started?

Brilliant site. I was an engineering cadet with BM from 71 to 75 sailing on the La Pampa and the La Chacra. Later served as 4th Engineer on La Chacra and 3rd on La Ensenada. Great times!!

Brilliant site, brings back the A1 memories of BM days. I did 6 years (R/O) on La Loma with my then wife Hazel, and maiden voyages on La Cordilleria and La Primavera. Good days all. Be good to catch up with anyone who rememebrs me.
Les Edgecumbe.

great site keep up the good work davie

Hi i sailed on the La Loma as a catering Boy back in Dec 77 and Payed Off in Dry Dock In Setubal Portugal in Sep 1978. Look forward to hearing from some one.

Steve

Sailed on the LA Estancia in 1970. Holland to Monrovia. Remember Peter Lockhart and Ron Duncan.

I sailed with B.M. from 1956 to 1960 as apprentice on the La Cumbre La Pampa three consecutive trips on the La Chacra covering over two years finishing off on the Montclair round Spain and Portugal. Remember Denis Howes and also worked with his brother onshore.

Congrats on a wonderful ansd informative site.

An excellent site, well done. I joined Buries Markes as a deck cadet in 1978. My first ship was La Costa. Left the sea in 1999 and now work on the railway as a driver covering all the routes in Norfolk/Suffolk and to London. How time flies. Ive managed to obtain photos of all the ships i was on except the Dashwood. She was so big i couldnt get far enough away to get a decent shot. I met some great people at sea and very much the same on the railway.

Good job well done. Will enjoy perusing it. Incidentally we had a teriffic welcome from all at the Liverpool meet up last year.The full Scouse welcome.You'll know what that means. Thanks again for the travel info you sent me at the time.It was very helpful.

Well done with the new site, easy to navigate, my father was an engineer on the La Hacienda and you forwarded me a great photo of her, he was delighted all the best for the future. Rob

Congratulations from a La Cumbre galley boy (18-3-55 - 22-1-56) .

South Carolina, U.S.A..

All the best from Christchurch NZ, Have made contact with Peter Riley from La Loma 1865/66. But no contacts yet from La Loma 1972. Great crews on both ships. We did not realize at the time that we were living the best times. Sailed in merch for 15 years mostly out of Dock[prescot]street and KG5.

All the best from Christchurch NZ, Have made contact with Peter Riley from La Loma 1865/66. But no contacts yet from La Loma 1972. Great crews on both ships. We did not realize at the time that we were living the best times. Sailed in merch for 15 years mostly out of Dock[prescot]street and KG5.

Like the new site a lot Dave, and the photos are really good - congratulations on a fine collection. By and large it is clear that you missed your vocation! Will be in touch, meantime keep up the good work - you are really meeting a clear need for a contact point for all ex BM people.

Ted Little 27.08.10 1130
My first visit to new site. I served in BM from 1957-1989 Apprentice to Master. Very easy layout and navigation on new site. Look forward to more in future.
Regards Ted

Hi Dave, Like the new website, only just received your e-mail so this is my first visit to the new site.

Hi Dave, thanks for your update re your new site. It is looking very good, and its obvious you are putting in a lot of work. Well done. I will be calling back later to check on things. Regards from New Zealand

Hi Dave,never let it be said that you missed your watch,you really have been busy and the results are just great and the new site is easier to navigate,congratulations,Im sure you have made many "old" salts very happy.
Regards and Thanks
Brian Young

Good to see your back on deck again,keep up the good work.
Your photos brought back memories of my days at sea. Thats all changed now.
One thing though A shipmate is a friend forever right?
regards Bill Jones

Well done David. Another great site and I like the way the Crew Lists are linked to the ships by date.
Will you be adding the Mont ships to your list?
As you know I was on the Montrose in 54-55.
Best wishes.
Tom

Hi Dave,
The new site is excellent and easy to use. Keep up the good work.
Ernest

Very nice site Dave, easy to navigate and full of interest - Well done!
Brian.