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With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian, Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer & Author

RMS Windsor Castle

Later: SS Margarita L / Rita

Page Three

Ships electrician - Jack Towler

Jack Towler lives in Aberdeen Scotland and currently works on North Sea oilrigs. However, Jack a Chief Electrician with Union Castle Line for 22 years. He was privileged to be able to sail on both the last voyage from South Africa to Southampton as well as the delivery voyage of the Margarita L to her new owners in? Piraeus Greece. Omega Replica Watches

Jack seen in his younger years days

Jack (centre) and crew aboard RMS Windsor Castle in 1970

Windsor Castle’s Farewell Voyage

By Jack Towler

My farewell voyage from Table Bay Harbour on the beautiful Windsor Castle was a sad one for me and all Officers and Crew. For even as a young lad of 16 when first starting my apprenticeship as an electrician in a shipyard, my thoughts and dreams were to serve on a passenger ship. Glad to say all my ‘ships’ came in for me. On the return of the Windsor Castle to the UK, a few Officers were asked to attend a meeting with a view to assisting the Windsor Castle to her new owner, Mr. John Latsis in Piraeus. I was allowed to bring my wife Lynne along on the delivery voyage, upon docking in Piraeus we were taken to a five star hotel in Athens where Mr Latsis gave us a memorable 10-day holiday, which more than showed his gratitude. Perhaps in the near future we will see the return of the Windsor Castle to the UK where she belongs, for many should be able to take in the beauty of this fine ship and enjoy the Windsor Castle once more.

The Windsor Castle farewell envelope seen below has the following inscription on the back:

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R.M.S. Windsor Castle

Was launched in perfect weather on the twenty-third day of June nineteen hundred and fifty-nine by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, before a crowd of fifty thousand people and watched by millions more on television. The Queen broke a bottle of South African sparkling wine on the bows of the ship as she spoke the traditional words: “I name this ship Windsor Castle. May God bless her and all who sail in her.”

Last Voyage cover

Above: Jacks Boarding Pass for the Windsor Castle’s final voyage

Jack (left) having a farewell drink during the voyage

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INDEX

Page One …??????????? Ships history

Page Two …??????????? Ships Interiors

Page Three …????????? Jack Towler - The final voyage from Africa & Southampton to Greece

Page Four …?????????? Margarita L / Rita at Eleusis Bay Greece

Page Five …??????????? Rita beached at Alang India

Page Six ... ??????????? A model built by Andrew White

All images on this page have been provided by Jack Towler.

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Commenced in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960

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Photographs on ssmaritime and associate pages are by the author or from the author’s private collection. In addition there are some images that have been provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are some photographs provided to me without details regarding the photographer/owner concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me (my email address may be found on www.ssmaritime.com only), in order that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet these individuals either refuse to provide credit or remove them when asked, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show these charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due!

This notice covers all pages, although, and I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page is updated!

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