Memories

I was on the same sailing as Monica Sweetman although we never met. I was in H. Cabin, B. Deck on the SS Scythia, a single funnelled vessel well past her better days.

Within a few hours of leaving Liverpool, the sea roughened up and we hit an almighty storm which tossed us about like a cork. In those days there were no stabilisers and our plight was made worse by the fact that one engine failed and we had to limp to Belfast for repairs to be made.

Orders given over the tannoy instructed us to stay in our berths until we had reached Belfast where repairs were made. I think almost everyone was seasick, including many of the crew.

We were in Belfast for two days and finally reached Halifax on March 1, 1946.

Like Monica Sweetman, I can still remember ice floes shining and sparkling in

Halifax harbour and white wooden churches with coloured steeples standing out against the brilliant blue sky.

I formed a friendship with Rita Cole, who came from Brighton, and went on to Toronto while I went west. My journey took 16 days and fifty years on, it's completed in a matter of hours. That's progress I guess.

Sadly, like so many others, my marriage failed, but I shall never forget my journey to Canada.

-Name and address supplied