Ken Griffiths
"The British Rail shipyard employed about 1,000 people at one time, making ships that went over to Ireland, France and beyond. When I started there were 24 apprentice fitters, lots more in the boiler shop, the copper shop and then the carpenters, plumbers, electricians...
I used to get paid £1.33 a week, an out of that I'd have to buy my overalls, wet weather gear, tools and books for tech."
Elinor Jones
"My husband, William Glyn Jones, used to be a boiler fitter at the yard. When it closed, I remember him coming home and feeling terrible. He poured his heart into a poem, The End of an Era, which is on display in the Maritime Museum.
He talks about all the craftsmen that used to work there - the carpenters, boiler fitters, electricians - and the long hours they used to work to get the ships ready. They used to be really busy and did great work."
Ken Gray
"They built The Cambria after the Roman name for Wales, the Hibernia after Ireland, the Scotia after Scotland and the Anglia after England."
More from Ken Griffiths
"During the war, the Government took charge of the Hibernia, and renamed it HMS Tara - which was the name for Ireland before the Romans named it Hibernia.
It was on duty in the Mediterranean when it was hit by a German submarine and the crew were captured as POWs. They were mostly boys from Holyhead. They were held for 33 days in the Arabian desert without food or drink, forced to eat insects and bugs and whatever they could find.
They were rescued in the end by the Duke of Westminster when he drove the Rolls Royce armoured vehicle across the desert - the first time it had been used in action."
your comments
Rani Chana from London UK
I wonder if you can help me, I am looking for any scrap part of the ship especially any part used on the outside of the ship which contains copper. Can you please let me know if this is possible?
Thu Dec 27 11:03:40 2007
Dafydd
Does anyone know which year the Marine yard opened, and when it was finally closed?
Wed Oct 24 10:32:54 2007
Justin Merrigan
Photos of the old Marine Workshops and Dr Dock can be found on line at www.sealink-holyhead.com
Fri May 5 15:56:58 2006
Robin Dunn, Cambridgshire
Ken, I just wondered if you could recall anything about some of the smaller boats built at Holyhead in the 1960s. I have one of the smaller ferry support vessels/harbour launches reputed to have been built around the early 1960s. I understand this was one of possibly three named Trident, 'The Dublin Boat' and one other.
She carries on her stern deck beam a number. Could any of this ring any bells at all? Regards, Robin
Thu Apr 20 09:39:30 2006
Robin Dunn, Cambridgeshire
On the subject of harbour launch 'Pot Luck' I have been totally stumped by the apparent lack of information around about the boat. Emma gave me a tantalising start and some information I collected from the people who were loading her has given me some more. Since then -nothing!
Would anyone be able to confirm if in 1963 British Rail would have painted her green or maroon? Both colours are to be found under the white and black.
My other main question is to try and establish when she came out of duty for British Rail and took up her role as a fishing boat.
All help greatly appreciated. I really am very attached to her already. Many thanks, Robin.
Mon Oct 24 16:06:30 2005
Robin Dunn, Cambridge
Emma Doughty, can you give me anymore information about 'Pot Luck' please such as when she was built and who actually built her? Indeed anything at all. I would really love to try and find a picture of her when she was in service. Do you have any idea what her number related to? Was it a fishing registration or a harbour mark?
Thu Sep 22 09:28:33 2005
Emma Doughty from Holyhead
'Pot Luck' as the name suggests wasn't built for lasting it was meant for a challenge to see who were brave enough to sail over to Ireland in it. However when seniors at the port heard of this they stopped the planned sailing and the craft was rebuilt as a harbour boat.
Tue Sep 20 15:19:07 2005
Robin from Cambridge
Hi, I have just bought the harbour work boat 'Pot Luck' number B12758 and wondered if anyone new anything about her? I understand she was built in 1963 by the Port Apprentices.
Any other information about? I am about to start to refurbish her.
Sun Sep 18 20:53:09 2005
Davey Wyn
My Daid, Will Hughes, was a shipwright in the yard who had many a tale to tell of the characters who worked in the 'marine'. These were highly skilled, intelligent men who were the heart and soul of the town he told me. My Daid had many apprentices, and was well known for his hot temper! When he passed away, his funeral was attended by literally hundreds of men from the yard, and I remember feeling so proud of my Daid and what he was part of. I am glad I remember the way Holyhead was when it was still open.
Fri Jul 15 12:31:14 2005
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