Liverpool Pilots Retire. Another End of Era

September 10th, 2009 by JCB
Posted in Articles, Coastlines | 18 Comments »

Liverpool’s “Class of 1960”

May and June of this year saw the retirement of the last three serving pilots of the 1960 Liverpool intake of apprentices or “Boathands,” which was the legal, ‘Bye-Law’ term for trainee pilots.

The three retired on their sixty-fifth birthdays. with John Curry retiring on 26^th May, Stuart Wood on 20^th June and Geoff Rafferty on 27^th June..

There were six successful candidates from that 1960 Autumn interview and of the other three, David Temple sadly died at an early age in 1991, Simon Fearnett transferred to the Humber in 1988 (from where he has since retired) and Alan Green retired from Liverpool in 2005

The interviews were held at the purpose-built Pilot Office on Canning Pier Head to the South of the Liverpool Landing Stage on the famous waterfront and the interview panel consisted of Master Mariners, Pilots, the Superintendent of Pilotage, not to mention the ‘Marine Surveyor and Water Bailiff!’  How daunting was that illustrious gathering to a sixteen year old!

A White Star Liner, M.V. “Britannic” was making a flood-way approach to the Landing Stage when an excited John Curry rang his parents to inform them that he had been accepted into the service.

After medicals, enrolments and other interviews, which we all seem to remember we attended as a group, we were placed as cadet-officers with shipping companies to gain sea –time prior to being called into the Service.  John sailed with Clan Line to India and Australia, Stuart sailed with Brocklebanks to India and Geoff with Elder-Dempsters to the West Coast of Africa.

A young John Curry plots his future course

Within the following year we were called to commence training as apprentice pilots who crewed the four pilot vessels, which ran an efficient but costly Pilot Service for the Port of Liverpool.  The apprentices were cheap labour on the very low wages, which they were paid. Eventually, this four vessel system became too expensive, being less efficient than a fast launch service which eventually replaced it.

The Class of 1960 then worked their way up through the system to become Third Class licensed pilots during 1968 and 1969.  All six progressed to become First Class pilots five years later.  These six licences provided extras to cope with the busy trade, and brought the numbers of Liverpool Pilots to 185.  Sadly, the trade-bubble burst in the early seventies with the advent of the ever-increasing size of tankers, and the advent of containerisation the latter for which Liverpool was ill prepared.

The six quitted themselves manfully through both good times and extremely bad ones. During the over-manned years of the late seventies and early eighties, four, went off to “pilot in the sand” as we used to call piloting out in Saudi and other foreign parts, thus proving to many, that piloting is first and foremost having the ability, skills and knowledge required to be a ship-handler.  Geoff and John stayed on in Liverpool.

With the1988 Pilotage Act, we faced another new era.  An era of ‘employment,’ a state, which Liverpool Pilots resented from day one and vowed to fight their way out of.  This was eventually achieved in the summer of 1997.

This period also involved the necessity of “appropriation” (choice pilots) for the depleted numbers in the Service since an ever-increasing number of companies wished to avail themselves of this facility. The ‘big one’ of a number of appropriations which Stuart was to hold being Shell, and for Geoff and John, the ‘big one’ being Atlantic Container Line.

We also involved ourselves in the politics of pilotage.  Stuart becoming a Representative during the “Battle Years” when Liverpool fought its way back to self- employment and John served as Chairman of the pilots’ committee during the twelve  troubled years of employment.

Liverpool Tugs salute Stuart Wood on his retirement pilotage act on the MT “AQUA”

All three also involved themselves in many activities outside pilotage.  Stuart, amongst other activities, with sailing and sail-training.  He also gained a pilot’s flying licence for light-aircraft and has become involved with local radio.  Geoff amongst his other activities has become a fount of knowledge on animal husbandry and is also a very competent furniture restorer.  John has a Joint-Honours degree in French and German and has taught at the University of Liverpool.  At present, he is the Lifeboat Operation’s Manager at the Hoylake All-Weather Lifeboat Station.

The last of the Class of 1960, mourn the loss of their dear friend and colleague David Temple.  They themselves hope, however to enjoy long and happy retirements enjoying life after having served in a job, which brought each of them a tremendous amount of heartache, a whole lot of unbelievable fun, but above all, a great sense of job satisfaction for a job well done.

Stuart Wood (left) and Geoff Rafferty on board Geoff’s last ship, Helga Spirit

John Curry ‘signs off ‘from the V.T.S. and his career, outward-bound, clearing the main-channel aboard M.V. “Atlantic Compass,” which he and his wife, (who was on board with him), left in New York.

We wish all our serving colleagues, quite simply:  “Good Ships and many of Them!”

John Curry.  Liverpool Pilot, RTD.

Stuart Wood’s retirement was also covered by the Liverpool Daily Post in an article published on 8th June 2009 at the following link:

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-life-features/liverpool-special-features/2009/06/08/senior-liverpool-pilot-retires-after-40-years-of-great-change-on-the-mersey-says-peter-elson-92534-23812311/

Stuart Wood on his last pilotage passage

LtoR: Second Pilot, Adrian McLoughlin, SDW, Captain Soyalp.

Stuart receives a signed H flag from Captain Soyalp