MEECHING TUG 1961/62

I can give you a pretty accurate date for this, Laurie, and it's earlier than you thought.

First, the buff colour of the bulwarks and the red deck prompted me to run it through Photoshop to get the correct colours. My suspicions were confirmed, as she has a black hull, buff funnels and mast, and there's no white line between the hull and the dark red boot topping (the paint at the waterline). It's only the second colour photo I've ever seen of her in her original British Railways livery. She was repainted in the new British Rail blue colours at the end of the summer of 1965.

Second, at the stern, she has her original rope fender. This didn't last long - it's already nearly gone at the port side -and was replaced with a wood and metal one.

Third, judging by his height, the man standing to the left of the wheelhouse door and looking towards the camera is my Dad, Capt. Frank Gilbert. He joined her full time in 1964.

So the picture is either 1964 or early 1965.

One of the two men at the stern looks like John Watkins but I'm not sure who the other one is.

Are you any relation to (Bob?) Stonehouse (not sure of his first name) who also worked on her, by any chance?

Hope you don't mind if I add this to a 'Meeching life history' project I'm doing for the Newhaven Museum.

Regards
Andy Gilbert

Hello Andy. Yes my dad was Bob Stonehouse who worked on the Meeching. I have another picture which may interest you, and I will add it to the site shortly.

I Have a copy of the same photograph because my dad is on it standing in the stern and the man he is talking to is Steve Payne. Dad had written on the back of the photo " Me talking to Steve Payne " therefore I know it's correct.