SHIPS MAIL

BLUE FUNNEL’S P CLASS

letter of the month

I enjoyed Mike Dovey’s article (SM, Apr), as I have always admired Blue Funnel and Glen Line ships, although I thought the P class were somewhat dated when they first appeared. After HMS Conway, I joined my first ship, P&O’s Perim, at No.9 berth King George 5th Dock in September 1962. The next two berths were occupied by wonderful old Glen Line ships. That area is now all part of London City Airport.

I was pleased to see the stylish combi liner Centaur entering Singapore, the last Blue Funnel passenger ship. She was a smart-looking ship designed to carry passengers, livestock and general cargo from Western Australia to Singapore and what is now Malaysia. But I am not sure if she was a great commercial success. I also saw Perseus alongside the Kowloon Wharves