Ships have played a very important role in British industry and the history behind them is intriguing.
Craftsman, turned author, Ron Neish knows his ships, having spent a lifetime working in the industry, on a design and consultancy basis.
He has written several books on the acclaimed Leith-built ships and his latest, volume 4, follows the construction of Lloydsman number 495 to SA Wolraad Woltemade 535 from 1965 until the eventual closure of the yard in 1984.
Both were the two most powerful ocean-going salvage tubs and built by Robb Caledon and played their parts in the Falklands War.
Many of the working ships took their crews safely around the world, with most surviving. Ron’s book features all of them.
Stories such as the Lloydsman, which fought in the Icelandic “cod wars”, with her crew using tomato sauce bottles for ammunition to the hospital ship, HMS Herald, which played a vital role in The Falklands War, along with another four ships built in Leith.
The Robb-built ships were mostly one-off specialised units, which were complex to construct, requiring much skill, which the Leith workers had in abundance.
Ron not only tells the history, but also has firsthand accounts from men and women who sailed or served on the ships and the book is a fascinating read.
With quotes from ex skippers to those who toiled for hours to create the special ships, marine enthusiasts will be delighted with the insight.
Ferries also played an important role in the yard, with Scottish islanders relying on them for transport, with one converted vessel used to carry out much needed rescue work in West Africa.
The book finishes Ron’s series on commercial ships built in the Scottish yard and includes photographs which bring to life the exciting times had when the work was at full steam.
Published: 30th August 2024
ISBN: 978-184995-578-2
UK Price: £18.99
Format: 240 x 170mm, Paperback
Pages: 162 with c.130 photographs in both black & white and colour
Leith-Built Ships, Volume 4 – Robb Caledon (Leith Division) 1965-1984
By Ron Neish
Published by Whittles Publishing
Leith-Built Ships, Volume 4 is available to buy via the Whittles Publishing website and from Blackwell’s, Waterstones and on Amazon.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
Photograph and book cover image courtesy of Whittles Publishing
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