This Website is Dedicated to Alan "Gunner" Sugden

Introduction

In the ` About Me ' section of the website I spoke briefly about why I am interested in shipping, especially ferries. This is in part due to a special man who is no longer with us. That person is Alan Donald Sugden, my late stepfather.

Here is a brief insight into his life and the inspiration behind this website.

The Beginning of a Career, Watts, Watts and Company Limited

Alan Donald Sugden was born in Shipley, Yorkshire in 1933. From here he grew up to follow a career at Sea which took him all over the world and eventually to my home town of Dover.

In 1950 at the age of 17 Alan was awarded an apprenticeship as a deck cadet with Watts, Watts and Company Limited of London. He left Yorkshire and moved to the Marine School in South Shields on Tyneside, from 10/01/1950 until 31/10/1950. From here he joined his first ship the MV Willesden at South Shields on the 3/11/1950. His apprenticeship was to last 41 months and 6 days, on two vessels, the MV Willesden and MV Windsor.                                           

After completing his apprenticeship with Watts, Watts and Company Alan stayed with the company until 12th August 1959, during this time he was to earn his certificates of competency as second mate in 1955, then first mate in 1958.

Time Away, a Family and Then Back to Sea

After his time with Watt, Watt and Company Ltd, Alan took some time away from the sea and settled down in South Shields where he met his first wife Maureen.

They eventually had a daughter, Anita (My step sister, but she is more like a big sister to me). They then moved down to the South Coast (Fairlight nr Hastings) where Alan resumed his sea going career with Townsend Thoresen at Dover on the 4/3/1975.

As he now had a steady job on the ferries the family moved to St Margaret's nr Dover. Alan always being a fit and healthy man used to cycle from St Margaret's to Dover, no mean feet when you consider some of the gradients involved, Dover is not exactly flat! I was told it  was even harder when there was a stiff South Westerly blowing in your face.

Townsend Thoresen and the "Gunner" Connection

So it was in 1975 that Alan returned to sea with Townsend Thoresen, doing his first trip as 2nd mate.  It was during his early career with TTF that Alan was given the nickname "Gunner".

During the mid 70's there was a popular BBC Television comedy programme called `It ain't half hot mum'.

One of the main characters of this series was Gunner `Lofty' Sugden (played by Don Estelle), as this character was short and his name was Sugden (Alan was only 5"5') Alan's colleagues thought the name fitted the face. So "Gunner" Sugden was born.

During the early 1980's tragedy strikes Alan's Family when his first wife Maureen dies of Cancer.

During his early career with TTF Alan worked on all the local ships, from the venerable FE I right through to the FE VIII, always in the position of 2nd mate.

Enter Me and my Family

During the early 80's Alan started talking to my mum on the CB Radio (I suppose it was the text messaging of the day), and from a friendship a relationship grew which eventually ended up in them getting married in 1983. It meant that me my older sister, Karen, moved in with Alan and my step sister Anita. My sister and I were adopted into the family as if we were his own children.

I don't remember the wedding that well as I was only four years old, all I know is that I had inherited one of the biggest step families in world history (well to a four year old it seemed that way!) All I remember was this dashing bloke in an officers uniform who had the best job in the world, he drove ferries!  It is thanks to my step sister Anita getting me my first camera that I developed an interest in photography and it is thanks to Alan that I adopted maritime photography as my subject.

Once the honeymoon was over things were back to normal with my new family. Alan was working mainly on the Zeebrugge freight ships European Clearway, European Trader and European Enterprise by this time, however he did do some cover on the new spirit class ships.

Anchor Watch

Being just a small boy at the time I couldn't understand it when Alan had to go to work on Christmas day to do anchor watch. I thought it a little strange that a group of officers would be standing around starring at an anchor! When it was explained to me that he would have to go on board just in case the wind got up and they may have to put to sea. Now that made more sense to me! What it was to be four years old and innocent!

The Hotel SOFE

One of the my favourite stories from Alan (and believe me there were many!) was the story of the hotel SOFE. During a cover period when Alan was working on the Spirit of Free Enterprise he went with the ship to dry dock for refit. During this time it was company policy to pay for the officers to stay in a local hotel. Well a Yorkshire man being a Yorkshire man came up with a plan, which involved money. The officers would stay on board ship and pocket the money. It was a good idea but TT head office needed invoices to pay out the money. So fake invoices were made up on board ship for the hotel SOFE (Spirit Of Free Enterprise) and were presented to TT head Office who duly paid out the money.

Health Worries

As if being operated on for Cataracts in both of his eyes wasn't bad enough Alan went on to have a heart attack in 1984. After a period of R&R Alan made a full recovery and returned to Sea on his mainstay, the European Class freighters.

Things Change

It was during these intervening years that the ferry industry started to change. It started on the 6th of March 1987 when the Herald of Free Enterprise capsized off the port of Zeebrugge with the loss of 193 souls. Alan was not working that night and I can recall the first television bulletin on TVS. It was shortly after this that the phone started ringing with family and friends making sure that it wasn't Alan's boat. We were lucky, for there were another 193 families who were not.

My First Ferry Trip!

My first trip was in 1987 on the European Enterprise. Its funny it may be a long time ago but I can still remember that trip as if it were yesterday. I remember the day starting at stupid o'clock in the morning (well to a six year old it was!) and heading for the Eastern Docks.

We boarded the European Enterprise via the main Car Deck shortly after her arrival at the Camber B Pontoon berth at the Eastern Docks. I remember thinking this ship was huge (nothing compared to today's super ferries though) as the bright orange stern door opened with all these claxons blaring to reveal a whole car deck of equally huge lorries belching exhaust fumes all over the place.

I remember climbing the stairs and entering the main lounge, it was quiet comfortable with a TV. I remember being really impressed with this, a colour TV on a ferry which must have been twice the size of the one awe had at home.

Our next trip was to the Bridge to watch the departure from the starboard bridge wing. I remember this part really well as it was the most exciting thing I had ever done up to that point. I remember the vibration as the twin engines were started up and thick black smoked spewed out of her twin funnels. The next major surprise was when the bow thrust kicked in and the ship seemed to shake wildly. As the thrusters came off it seemed really quiet as we slipped our moorings and headed out of the camber. It was at this point I was given the honour of sounding the ships horn! That really made my day.

We now settled in for our four and half hour crossing, four and a half hours that's an eternity to a six year old. After leaving the bridge we had some breakfast brought to us by a stewardess and the television was switched on. Boy how did us kids love the TV!

Eventually the TV was switched off as we had lost reception. Then the guided tour started, Alan took us everywhere on that ship, from the engine room to the inside of the port funnel. After the tour I was deposited on the bridge as my sister was feeling seasick and was taken to Alan's cabin for a lie down. Well I think I managed about an hour until I was as green as my sister!

So with both of us now in Alan's cabin it was time to get some sleep. Funnily enough once we were in the shelter of the French/Belgium coast we both made a miraculous recovery, well enough to eat chocolate ice cream at 9:00 in the morning. Soon we were back in the lounge watching Belgium TV! I remember thinking it was funny watching a Flemish children's programme.

All too soon we were back on the bridge for our Zeebrugge arrival, my one remaining memory of this is the wind turbines along the harbour walls, I had never seen them before, strange how they are common place nowadays around our coast.

Well what a day to arrive at Zeebrugee, the port workers were on strike so we had to unload on a small single level link span. We had to wait for about 45 mins whilst one of the small FE ships (think it was the VIII) finished loading and backed off the berth. We eventually made fast our moorings and it was back to the main car deck to disembark.

We were picked up from the ferry berth by a minibus and taken to the terminal to go through customs and immigration. After leaving the terminal we took a tram down the coast to Blackenburg (sorry if the spelling is not correct) where we had a lovely day by the seaside. I remember this part especially well as my sister stepped on a jelly fish!

After a lovely day in Blackenburg it was back to Zeebrugge for our return home. For our return journey we were to be on one of the stretched FE boats. By this time the berthing situation had be resolved as the Dockers had called off there strike and she was berthed next to one of the Felixstowe boats (Nordic or Baltic Ferry).

Compared to the Enterprise this ship seemed huge! Again the departure was watched from the bridge. the only thing I remember about the bridge on this ship was the radar, it was brilliant. On the Enterprise there was a cone like thing to look down to see the display and I was too short! On the FE it was a bright clear computer monitor that I could see. After a nice meal cooked for us in the ships mess it was off to an empty cabin to have some sleep. I don't remember anything else from the return journey apart from the bus from the port. One of Townsend's Buses literally took us all the way home. Watching a Leyland National bus getting into our street is no mean feat, watching it back all the way back down the hill was even more impressive (our driver was also a tug master driver, that explained a lot). That's service for you, they really were the "Fleet you can't beat".

The end of Townsend Thoresen, the End of a Career at Sea

So it was at the beginning of 1988 that P&O European Ferries came into being after there takeover of Townsend Thoresen.

Alan's regular vessel was renamed the European Endeavour and repainted in the dark blue livery with the P&O house flag flying proudly on her twin funnels. According to P&O Ferries personnel records, Alan actually made relief master  of the European Endeavour (even though I can't find any record of this in his discharge books).

It was shortly after the takeover that the strike started and everything came to a stop. Alan's vessel was sent to layup in Vlissingen, Holland and was joined by the European Clearway and the European Trader. The locals referred to the dock where the ships were laid up as "The P&O Garden of Rest and Rememberance"

It was at this time Alan's Sea going career came to an end. With all the bad feeling's surfacing during the strike Alan took medical severance from P&O and retired on the top of his game. As a P&O employee Alan enjoyed the staff concession and as a part of his severance this continued, which we made good use of over the following years.

During his time with Townsend Thoresen and P&O, Alan had clocked up 13 years service and had moved between ships 25 times. Not bad for a young man from Yorkshire.

Once a Seaman Always a Seaman, the Folk Connection

After leaving the ferries Alan had a short office job with Sealink and a job as a courier.

It was after these two short jobs that Alan settled into his new job at the White Cliffs Experience as a visitor host, and it wasn't by accident that his Role was to be `Captain Crusty', a retired sea captain who entertained the visitors before entering the time and tide theatre.

A short TV career followed with Alan being used in the television advertising campaign for the attraction, which caused much embarrassment for my sister and I who were at Secondary School at the time. Even until this day some of my oldest school friends still refer to Alan as `Captain Crusty'.

Alan has always been a keen musician, playing the guitar and singing folk music. It was with his folk music that me made many friends at the Deal Folk Club, The Deal Folk festival, The Hythe Folk Club and later on with the Shanty Crew at the Crabble Corn Mill in River nr Dover. Singing even gave him two `gigs' in Dresden, Germany, rock star! (Well not quiet).

The YMCA

After leaving the White Cliffs Experience Alan had a new challenge, he became the manager of the YMCA in Dover. It was under Alan that the YMCA went on to purchase the Prince of Wales House (The former Prince of Wales Sea Training School) in York Street for conversion into a Youth Hostel and drop in centre. After many months of fund raising the building was purchased. It was at this point Alan decided to retire. It was during this time that I celebrated my 18th Birthday and my step sister brought me a camera (Pentax Me Super) and taught me how to use it. It was from this point that I started my photography.

Unfortunately Alan's YMCA dream was never to see fruition as the project collapsed and the local YMCA went under.

Retirement

Even though Alan had retired he didn't remain idle. Alan was still an active person continuing his Folk singing, cycling and church related activities with the London Road Methodist Church. During this time Alan was seen frequently on the ferries, doing his monthly `fag runs' for my himself and my mum. I often accompanied him, complete with Camera. We even went further a field on his concession ticket. We managed to do eight mini cruise's on P&O's Pride of Bilbao, and with a company ID card Alan managed to get us on the bridge on more than one occasion.

It was at this time that Alan started getting into computers. He brought himself a laptop, did a course at the local adult education centre. For Christmas the family purchased him a Kodak Digital Camera and it was from this point that Alan would often join me in photographing ships and the countryside around our home town.

More Health Worries

Alan's health took another knock during this time when he was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. It was a hard time for the whole family. After an operation Alan made a full recovery.

It was on an early summers morning that my mum awoke and found a letter from Alan saying he had gone a boat trip, he always liked the early morning crossings, it was a good opportunity to sin and have a full English breakfast.

A few hours latter my mum received a phone call from P&O Stena Line's duty manager to say Alan had been taken ill on the POSL Dover and had been taken to Calais Town Hospital. It transpired that Alan had a heart attack. If it hadn't of been for the crews quick actions and the help of a passenger (who happened to be a Cardiac Doctor) we would have lost Alan that day.

It's slightly ironic that due to the medical emergency on board the POSL Dover made slight contact with the berth at Calais and thus had to miss two crossings whilst repairs were made. Fancy a P&O Shareholder damaging one of his own ships! We did have a laugh about that one.

Alan was very ill and spent a few weeks in Calais hospital where he made a partial recovery before returning back to the UK to recuperate. Within a few months he was back to his old self.

The End

Alan lived for another year before he suffered a massive heart attack at home and died with his wife at his side. To us, his family, it was a massive wrench after overcoming so much in his life. Alan was such a character that he left a hole in many a life in Dover.

A funeral service was held at Barham crematorium with full Merchant Navy Honours. The coffin was draped in the Red Duster and Alan's officer's cap sat on top with a simple wreath from the family and one from P&O Ferries. Alan's ashes returned home with us.

As for the family we slowly started to rebuild our lives, we buried ourselves into arranging a service at Alan's church. A memorial service didn't seem right, as to all the people who knew Alan he was still fresh in our hearts.

So we decided to have a celebration of his Life with Folk Songs and funny stories from the people who knew him. It was a strange day, I don't think I have ever heard laughter in a church before.

The Final Voyage

It seemed fitting that Alan should be laid to rest at sea as the sea and been such a major aspect of his life.

With the help of P&O Ferries we held a funeral service on board the M.V. Pride of Kent, P&O's newest ship at the time and Alan's ashes were scattered.

So it was on the 29th July 2003 at 12:16 (BST) the Pride of Kent was stopped mid channel on her way back from Calais at position 51°025N 01°359E and Senior master Captain David Miller (who Alan had served with on the Enterprise) carried out the service and Alan was duly returned to his second home, the sea.

After an official entry in the ships log it seemed quite fitting that we were invited to the captains cabin for afternoon tea followed by a visit to the bridge for our arrival back in Dover.

It seemed quiet fitting to be able to use the Pride of Kent, as Alan may have been born a Yorkshire man but by the time of his death he truly was a "Man of Kent".

We would like to thank Peter Ambrose (P&O Ferries), Captain Miller, his officers and the crew of  the Pride of Kent for making the day a fitting tribute to Alan, you did him proud, you did us all proud and we will never forget that.

So Here is to Alan

I would like to finish this page with a quote from Alan's Folk Song book, Old Baldy's Book of Bawdy Ballads.

The Parting Glass

"Of all the money I have spent, I have spent in good company. Of all the harm I have ever done, alas it was to none but me. But all I've done for want of wit, to memory now I can't recall. So lift with me the parting glass. Goodnight and joy be with you all. If I had money enough to spend, and leisure time to sit awhile. There is a maiden in this town who sorely has my heart beguiled. Her rosy cheeks, her ruby lips, they surely have my heart enthralled. So lift with me the parting glass. Goodnight and joy be with you all. Of all the friends I have ever had, they are sorry for my going away. Of all the girls I ever knew, they would wish me one more day to stay but since it falls unto my lot that I should rise and you should not. Then lift with me the parting glass. Goodnight and joy be with you all."

Alan Donald "Gunner" Sugden

1933-2003

God speed mate. May your course always be steady and true.