Publisher: John Donald Publishers Ltd. £ 15.00
Here we have an erudite, very readable and fascinating log of one professional seaman’s life, both in war and peace. Captain Dickson’s seagoing adventures started in 1936 as a Cadet on a passenger liner and completed, after retirement, as a Commissioner for Northern Lighthouses.
The outbreak of war found him as a midshipman in the Rodney and later involved on the attack on the French Fleet at Oran. This is not a dull catalogue of events, but enlivened with anecdotes that make enthralling reading; for example, the taking of a prize ship whose Captain had a complete set of gold teeth. The Admiralty instructions for taking a Prize of War required all valuables to be listed and taken in charge – particular mention being made of gold, so the Captain's teeth were included.
Some of the Navy antics in ship handling are a comfort to the cruising yachtsman. Who has let go of a mooring buoy with no working engine? - the Navy has! After the war Captain Dickson became a senior executive with the Shell Group of companies where he was concerned with the seagoing and docking problems of large tankers. These ranged in size from 30,000 tonnes dead weight in his early years up to 200,000 tonnes before he retired – with suggestions of vessels up to 600,000 tonnes. Heaven protect us! He was much concerned with the problems of Routing and Separation Lanes in the English Channel including the hazards of explosion, stranding and pollution.
A fascinating career and something new for the cross channel yachtsman to think about as a tanker looms up on a collision course. - MJ
Page prepared 26 June 2000