1960/61 Class
Personal Histories
Engineering Cadets
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John Harry Driver Bothie Number: E 42
History:
1962 - 1970 - Apprentice Millwright and later draughtsman with S.A.R. & H. in Koedoespoort and Germiston.
Design draughtsman with Dorman Long Africa Ltd. Later technical assistant to rolling stock manager.
1970 - Took over late father’s photo studios.
1971 - Joined police reserve rising to senior superintendent.
Currently - Still in the Photographic business in Davyton and living in Benoni.
Medals:
10 year long service award
Police 75th anniversary
S.A. Police Star for Faithful service
20 years S.A. Police Services star for 30 years service
I am still an active reservist.
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Edward Sydney Fenwick Bothie Number: E 43
No image available.
History:
1998 - In Portnet container at terminal Cape Town.
2003 - Left S.A. Port Operations.
2003 - Retired from Portnet (Containers) as the MIS (Manager Information Services after 41 years of service with Transnet.
2003 - present - Contracted to NPA in IT Department.
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Desmond Frylinck Bothie Number: E 44
History:
Qualified as Millwright with S.A.R. & H.
Promoted to examiner in artisan’s special duties.
2004 - Retired lives in Plumstead Cape.
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Ian Christopher Hunt Bothie Number: E 45
History:
1961 - 1965 - Apprentice with S.A.R. & H.
1965 - m/v RSA.
1966 - 1968 - Safmarine.
1970 - 1975 - China Navigation Company as 2nd Engineer.
1975 - Rejoined S.A.R. & H as Chief Engineer on tugs in Cape Town.
1994 - Promoted to Marine Technical Manager.
2002 - Retired from NPA and am working as a contractor to Smit Amandla. Living in Cape Town.
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Barry Milroy Johnson Bothie Number: E 46
History:
1965 - Fitter & Turner PE Municipality.
2 Years draughtsman Ford Motor Co.
2 Years Safmarine (SA Letaba & SA Weltevreden).
Relocated to Johannesburg, worked as Sales Engineer, promoted to General Sales Manager in industry.
1983 - 2001 - Established own business. Sold out in 2001 and went into semi retirement in De Kelder, Gansbaai.
Presently my wife, Gayle and I are running a sea front restaurant, Coffee on the Rocks, from our home in De Kelder.
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Derrick Johnson Bothie Number: E 47
History:
1962 - 1964 - Engineering and banking.
1965-1996 - Lochead
1969 - 2009 - Grindrod/Unicorn as Container Depot Manager and Export Manager.
I was also theVice Chairman of the Sea Cadet Executive, the Chairman of the Royal Naval Association in Port Elizabeth and a Lt Cdr in the S.A. Navy.
Passed away on 24/04/2009.
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Danny John Meyer Bothie Number: E 50
History:
1963 -1966 - Apprentice Fitter & Turner on the Virginia Gold Mine at Virginia, OFS.
1966 -1974 - Joined Safmarine as a Junior Engineer and promoted to Chief Engineer. in 1974.
1974 - 1989 - Joined the S.A.Navy as Engineer Officer. Volunteered for Submarine service and stayed with the submarine flotilla for the greater part of my naval career.
1983 - Promoted to Commander in the S.A. Navy.
1989 - Resigned from the S.A.. Navy.
1989 - 1996 - Had own engineering company in Brackenfell, Cape Town.
1996 - 2002 - Returned to sea and served with various foreign-going lines.
2002 – Present - Chief Engineer Officer serving on off-shore vessels in Angola and S.A.
Currently living in Parow, Cape Town, with my lovely wife, Anna.
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Robert James Ridler Bothie Number: E 52
History:
After General Botha, I completed my engineering training and entered the aircraft industry specializing in cabin equipment.
Worked at Boeing and Airbus.
I later joining an Italian company near Rome, manufacturing aircraft equipment. The company later set up a factory in Cape Town producing components for SAA and I was tasked with setting up the factory and staff training.
I spent 15 years with the company reaching the post of Group Engineering Director working on military and related contracts.
I left the Company in 1984 to form my own engineering company manufacturing naval radar antennas for export to German shipyards.
Currently living in Somerset West.
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Alfred William Robinson Bothie Number: E 53
History:
1998 - Dry-dock Master with Portnet, Cape Town.
Retired and living in Cape Town.
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Marthinus Bernardus Roelofse Bothie Number: E 54
No image available
History:
Still at large but could not be located.
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Paul Semark Bothie Number: E55
History:
1962 - 1967 - Apprentice Fitter & Turner in power stations in Port Elizabeth (sharing this training, initial engineering studies, and all the joys and difficulties of early adulthood with Barry Johnson).
Two and half years in power station operations.
1968 - 1971 - Studied for B.Sc in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cape Town on an ESKOM bursary.
1972 -1993 - Long career with ESKOM in many posts. I gained a Government Certificate of Competency and Professional Registration and became Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
We lived in France for two years while studying Nuclear Engineering.
I have traveled extensively on international business and served on several international bodies concerned with energy during my career.
I also gaining a BA degree in Economics and Sociology and studied management at Harvard University.
I have served as Chairman and Director.
I retired early as an Executive Director on the ESKOM board.
1994 - 1999 - I was a full-time senior lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand Business School and gained a Master’s degree in Management and started to work in consultancy.
2000 - Present - Part-time and visiting lecturer for the Wits Business School, and private consultant.
Currently living in Melkbosch Strand, Cape Town.
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Alan Hilton Smith Bothie Number: E 56
History:
I spent 32 years in pipe construction business around the world.
I set up an international consultancy to assist pipe liners to handle QA/QC work that needs to be done on their contracts.
I am now retired and we live in Napier, Cape.
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Petrus Benjamin Vorster Bothie Number: E 57
History:
After General Botha and apprenticeship I went to sea with Dept. of Environment and then Safmarine.
After a few years I came ashore and worked in sales and later started a service station and garage with Alex Smith's parents.
I later married a girl whose parents owned an amusement park. The marriage did not last but this lead to a career in the amusement park industry.
At present I am still operating a nation wide amusement park. My wife and I also own and operate a Guest House in The Wilderness, Cape.
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1960/61 Engineer Cadets – Passed over the side
Dudley Danny Buys Bothy Number E41
Derrick Johnson Bothy Number E47
Christian Oeloff Kriederman Bothy Number E48
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Deck Cadets
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Arie Baartman Bothie Number: 2166
History:
1962 - 1968 Cadet, 3/0 and 2/0 with Safmarine
1968 - 1971 - 2/0, C/O and Master with Rennies Coasters
1971 - 1982 - Mate & Master Tugs SAR&H Cape Town Having done relief duties in Saldanha, Port Nolloth, Luderitz and M.V. Johan Hugo.
1982 - 1987 - Pilot Walvis Bay
1987 - Pilot East London
2006 - Retired and living in Cape Town.
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Trevor Barnardo Bothie Number: 2167
History:
1962 - Royal Interocean Lines Inward & Outward freight department.
1965 - Huski Group as Manager of the Time & Motion & Planning Departments.
1966 - World Libraries as Sales Manager.
1967 - Burroughs Acc. Machines as Senior Sales Rep. including programming & installation. Envirotech as Business Analyst installing computer programs, sales and accounting and inventory control in HO, branches and agents.
1973 - Married Barbara from Brighton, England.
1974 - Shoe Corp of S.A. as Business Analyst and Computerised Warehousing System.Girlock as Business Analyst and Computerised Sales, Costing,Inventory Control & Production Planning.
1979 - ICL Computer Bureau as Systems Analyst & Sales.
1981 - Olkleen Chemicals as Partner in Industrial Chemicals.
1989 - Present - I set up my own company, Barchem Chemicals & Co. supplying Industrial Chemicals to Eskom, Municipalities, Johannesburg Water and other private companies.
1989 - I became a Born Again Christian.
1992 – I took over the running of a shelter Christian Life Haven (CLH) for homeless families and children with my wife Barbara as a fellow Director. Established Jehovah Jireh Ministries (JJM) and started a Church and ministry to MES Aksie Buildings (shelters & subsidised housing) in central JHB.
2007 - Present - Joined MES Aksie the NG Kerk outreach and the largest shelter organisation in Jhb. They have taken over running of the CLH Shelter. The JJM and CLH shelter are now part of their Organisation.I have 6 Pastors working for me and ministering in 6 MES Aksie buildings.
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Michael Gerard Brown Bothie Number: 1268
History:
1996 - National Operations Manager for Polaris Shipping based in Durban.
2003 - Relocated to Saldanha Bay.
2006 - Sailing our yacht overseas.
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Keith Howard Burchell Bothie Number: 2169
History:
1961 - 1969 - Joined Safmarine as a Cadet. Sailed on various ships a studied for and obtained my masters certificate in 1969.
1969 - 1970 - Started two businesses in Cape Town – Diving Bell and Marine & Industrial Ship Cleaning - sold in 1970.
1970 - Joined S.A.R. & H. (later SATS and Portnet). Served as master, pilot, harbour master and port captain in various ports around SA and Namibia.
1991 - 1998 - Served as Manager Marine Operations and Lighthouses, Johannesburg. During this time served on various International Maritime bodies and as IALA Councilor.
1970 - 1998 - Station Commander & Director NSRI.
1993 - 1998 - Also served as CEO of Marine Data Systems (Pty) Ltd (MDS).
1998 - 2001 - Served as Commercial Director on secondment to MDS.
2001 - Retired from Portnet.
2001 - 2004 - Contracted to MDS as Commercial & Operations Director, JHB.
2004 - Retrenched from MDS and started Burport Marine Consultancy Africa (Pty) Ltd.
2005 - My wife, Mary and I established a B&B “Greenville Lodge” in Cyrildene, JHB. 2010 - We relocated to Cape Town.
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Brian Allan Carver Bothie Number: 2170
History:
After General Botha, joined T & J Harrison Line as a cadet.
1963 - Joined Thesen’s Coasters as uncertificated officer between Cape Town and Walvis Bay.
1968 - Married to Barbara. We have three children and six grandchildren.
1969 - Graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BSc Mechanical Engineering Degree.
1970 - Joined the SAR and worked in various mechanical engineering posts in Pretoria, Durban, Bloemfontein and East London.
1980 - 1984 - Studied through UNISA part time graduating with a MBL.
1981 -1999 - Worked with various private and public companies dealing with manufacturing, operations and management of railways in South Africa.
1999 - I formed my own consulting and manufacturing companies dealing with the railway industry.
I am an avid 4X4 enthusiast and motor cyclist.
I am active in target rifle shooting and have been awarded Gauteng North colours.
At present we are building a house on a game farm for retirement whenever that happens.
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Peter Dwight Coetzee Bothie Number: 2171
History:
2003 - Warehouse Manager, Western Cape, for Safcor Panalpina.
2006 - Retired living in Meadowridge, Cape.
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Timothy John Cowley Bothie Number: 2172
History:
1962 - 1969 - After General Botha went to sea with Blue Star Line of London and later with Ellerman’s and then Safmarine.
1970 - 1973 - Joined the S.A. Navy as a Lieutenant.
1974 - Joined Land & Marine and salvage contractors as Master of the LM Gemsbok which foundered in Table Bay on 02/09/75. Thereafter in command of the company’s replacement tug/supply and salvage crafts before being promoted to Marine Superintendent and then Operations Director.
1984 - Transferred to London and set up a ship broking office for Land & Marine.
1986 - The company amalgamated with Safmarine Tug Division to form Pentow Marine and then the London office closed.
I elected to stay in the U.K. and founded Marine Offshore Services employing a team of specialist towage and salvage consultants and brokers.
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Ian Stewart Fishley Bothie Number: 2173
History:
1962 - 1969 - Cadet, Deck Officer Safmarine
1969 - 1970 - Chief Mate, Marine Diamond Corp (Tugs etc.)
1970 - 1974 - General Duties Officer SAN. Lieut., promoted Lt.Cdr 1973. Lectured Navigation to CF Midshipmen at Navcol,Gordons Bay. Then served on frigates, destroyers and minesweepers. Qualified as a Combat Officer 1973.
1974 - 1975 - Master coasting
1975 - 1976 - Ship surveyor (N) Dept. of Transport Marine Division, Durban.
1976 - 1981 - Marine Surveyor Richards Bay / Durban SGS/Hean and Robinson.
1982 - Present - Marine Surveyor, partner Capt. G.A. Chettle and Associates, Richards Bay, later Capt. G.A. Chettle Marine and Consulting CC, Flag State Surveyor, Lead Auditor ISO/ISM/ISPS.
I married Margie in 1975. We have two sons and live in Mtunzini, south of Richards Bay.
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Dan Botha Hayward Bothie Number: 2174
History:
1963 -1964 - Joined Safmarine.
1964 - Joined mv RSA.
1965 - 1971 - Joined African Coasters and traded to West Africa, SA. Coast and Indian Ocean Islands.
1971 - 2003 - Joined S.A.R. & H. and served as master of tugs, pilot and harbourmaster in various S.A. and Namibian ports.
2003 - Retired
Present - run workshop; “mechanical” fixing and proto typing what ever comes up. Compass repair, gun smith, hunting, fishing and a bit of sailing. I havejoined various clubs (shooting and hunting related).
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Jack Edwin Cherbourg Hewitt Bothie Number: 2175
History:
Apprenticed to Shell Tankers (UK).
Spent 5.5 years with Safmarine before returning to Shell (UK).
Returning to S.A., got married, and worked variously in the liquor trade then the Harbour Service (PE), Stevedoring (Rennies, Durban) and SA Container Depots at City Deep (Jhb).
Rejoined the liquor trade and eventually ended up owning a Hotel and several Bottle Stores in the Eastern Cape and Natal.
In 2003 sold up and immigrated to Tasmania, where we bought a coffee shop and florist. Sold them and am now a Government approved Compass Adjuster based in Hobart where we live.
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Roderick James Holloway Bothie Number: 2178
History:
1962 - 1970 - Sailed with Safmarine and Unicorn.
1970 - 2005 - Worked for NPA as Tug master, pilot and assistant port captain in various ports in S.A. and Namibia.
2005 - Retired and living on the Bluff, Durban.
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Jeremy William Hookins Bothie Number: 2177
History:
1961 - 1972 - At sea with various lines, Cadet to Master.
1972 - 1992 - with ships agency Mitchell Cotts Maritime to General Manager.
1992 - 2009 - Regional Representative Southern Africa for NYK Line.
2009 - Retired June and now Advisor to NYK-Hinode Line.
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Rob Hoykaas Bothie Number: 2178 
History:
1962 - 1967 - Joined Safmarine.
1967 - 1968 - Joined Durban Lines coasters.
1968 - Worked as stevedore foreman.
1968 - 3rd mate on S S Aldina an American tanker loaded with grain.
1970 - went back to Durban Lines.
1988 - 2005 Joined NPA as Master and pilot.
2006 - Retired but stayed on for a few more years.
Now living in Vryheid, Kwazulu Natal.
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Neil Carter Lawson Bothie Number: 2179 
History:
1962 - 1966 - British & Commonwealth Shipping Co. (Union Castle & Clan Line).
1966 - 1979 - Safmarine - 3/O; 2/0; C/O.
1974 - Married Gail, eventually had two sons.
1979 - 2001 - Safmarine - Master.
2001 - 2009 - Maersk - Master.
Now retired and living in Bergvliet, Cape Town.
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Keith William Lindsay Bothie Number: 2180
History:
1962 - 1966 - Cadet & 3/O with Ellerman & Bucknall.
Joined Unicorn Lines as C/O for 3 years.
Served a dogwatch with the S.A.R. & H., before attending U.C.T to read Economics and Psychology.
1974 - 1978 - Joined the S.A.M.N.S General Botha as Nautical Lecturer and taught Meteorology and Shipmaster’s business.
Relocated to Liverpool as Senior Lecturer in the Department of Maritime Studies and taught shipping business and worked in the Marine Operations Research Unit with Alan Bole (1949/50).
Afterwards achieved Doctor of Philosophy Degree for a thesis entitled “Secondary Radar, Collision avoidance and ship to ship communication”.
1989 - Transferred to the Liverpool Business School of John Moore’s University as Principle lecturer in Operations Management.
1997 - 2005 - Assistant Director for Undergraduate Programmes.
2005 - September retired and living in Birkenhead.
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Iain Eldred Peddle Bothie Number: 2184
History:
1994 - In March I became a Cape Town Harbour Pilot
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Derek Keith Russell Bothie Number: 2185
History:
Joined Union Castle and served on various Castle, Clan Line and King Line ships.
Transferred to Mail Ships.
1968 - Swallowed the anchor and settled in Cape Town.
After a short spell in sales, which was not for me I moved on to retail management and later joined the Foschini Group, and finally the Moregrow Group.
1971 - Married Meryl and has a son Brent (Engineer and now a Vicar) and a daughter Tandi (an IT boff ). They have made us proud Grandparents of three boys and a girl.
1999 - Retired in June and became a nomad spending three months or so each year traveling by road in Africa. The rest of the time I am a handy man and general factotum.
My sports are cycling (13 Argus Tours) and sailing, both of which I do less of the older I get.
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Roger Bruce Shearer Bothie Number: 2186
History:
1994 - In March I became a Cape Town Harbour Pilot
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Douglas Alexander Smith Bothie Number: 2187
History:
Completed time with SHELL and relocated to Australia in 1966.
Became a Master on coastal tankers before becoming a Contract Pilot in the Timor Sea for Faso’s and in Oilfields.
Retired due to ill health still runs a small commercial fishing boat.
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Grenville Roy Stevens Bothie Number: 2189
History:
1982 - 1985 - Settled in Australia. First worked for Nedlloyd and then with Freight Forwarders, Rohlig & Bax Global.
1986 - 2008 - Appointed General Manager of Marinair Holland, a Dutch Airline operating at the time DC 10 Freighters Amsterdam to Sydney and later twice weekly 747 freighters.
2008 - 2009 - Ceased Australian operations.
2009 - Started as New South Wales & Queensland General Manager for ACP worldwide (UK based) selling cargo capacity on number of carriers – one being SAA (we act as the Australian/New Zealand Cargo sales division of the airline).
We also represent United Airlines, Air Mauritius, Asiana(Korea), Saudi Airlines, Marinair, Volga Dnieper.
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George Richard Stibbe Bothie Number: 2190
History:
1962 - 1970 - Cadet on S.A. Victory (Safmarine) and then Second and First Officer with Thesens Coasters.
One year as ships agent for Coryman George before joining Marine Diamonds.
1970 - 1973 - Moved to U.K. for 3 years and ran youth clubs for YMCA near London.
1974 - Returned to S.A. and ran a ship and fishing boat at Kalk Bay.
1978 - 1979 - Studied at Westlake and Simon’s Town dockyard and qualified as a Diesel Mechanic.
1980 - Returned to sea with Unicorn Lines.
1986 - Obtained the Master’s Certificate and served as Master on the Atlantic Isle.
1990 - 1995 - Returned to fishing at Kalk Bay and built my own fishing boat in 1990 and another in another in 1994.
1996 - 2000 - Fishing from Kalk Bay and writing articles for an Eco-Tourism Magazine.
2001 - Relocated to the U.K.
2006 - Present - Living on board a boat on the French waterways.
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Alistair Edgar Cross Struthers Bothie Number: 2191
History:
1962 - 1967 - Ellerman Lines, Apprentice & 3rd Mate.
1967 - 1970 - London & Overseas Freighter, 3rd and 2nd Mate.
1970 - 1972 - Safmarine and Unicorn.
1973 - 1974 - Extra Masters Certificate of Competency and optained the highest marks for the examination of 1974.
1974 - 1977 - Unicorn Lines Chief Officer & Master.
1977 - 2006 - United Kingdom Department of Transport-Marine Safety Agency-Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) London as Nautical Surveyor, Examiner of Masters and Mates and later Principal Nautical Surveyor.
Moved to Aberdeen and retired as regional Operational Manager – Surveys & Inspections for Scotland & Northern Ireland.
Lives between Aberdeen and Cape Town.
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Francis Wesley Thompson Bothie Number: 2192
History:
Lives in East London
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Robert Marcus van den Berg Bothie Number: 2194
History:
After General Botha I messed about for a few years with Barclays bank in Durban and Lever Brothers.
1964 - I discovered I had an aptitude for computers and worked as a computer programmer until 1974.
1974 - I then changed direction again and entered the design and fashion industry.
1979 - I became General Manager of Truworth’s Man Shops for the The Wool/Tru Group.
1983 - after making them a great deal of money, I decided to work for myself and started my present business, Robins Nest Interiors based in George. (www.robinsnest.co.za).
My wife Madri and I live in Mossel Bay overlooking Santos beach.
I did not forsake all my Bothy training as we own and sail a Beneteau 35’ keel boat named Moon Shadow.
I would like to retire but…
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Philip John Wade Bothie Number: 2196
History:
After leaving General Botha, I joined Safmarine and then later Unicorn Shipping and received a Chief Officers Certificate.
After 7 years in the Merchant Navy that career came to an abrupt end.
I then moved ashore into ships agency in Durban.
Three years later a passing yacht asked me to join them to sail to Rio. I subsequently did quite a lot of sailing races including the Whitbread Round the World Race on “Drum” in 1984.
I then went into commercial fishing in Alaska for a while.
My wife Anne and I are currently running a 45 meter sailing super yacht for an American family and have taken them to many exotic destinations. We have been with the same employer for the past 19 years and have been instrumental in building 3 yachts for them in that time.
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1960/61 Deck Cadets – Passed over the Side:
Paul Morgan Bothy Number 2181
John St Clair Nezar Bothy Number 2182
Dick Ophorst Bothy Number 2183
Mike Steven-Jennings Bothy Number 2183
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