IT HAS BEEN DRAWN TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE 'CONTACT' BUTTONS ON SITE DO NOT NOW OPEN ALL VISITORS E-MAIL PROGRAMS AND THEY ARE THEREFORE UNABLE TO CONTACT ME OR SEND PHOTOGRAPHS.

!F THE CONTACT BUTTON STILL WORKS FOR YOU OR YOU ALREADY HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS FOR ME PLEASE CARRY ON AS BEFORE.

IF THE BUTTON DOES NOT WORK FOR YOU OR YOU WISH TO ASK A RESEARCH QUESTION PLEASE CLICK ON THE 'CONTACT OR ENQUIRY' BUTTON ON THE MAIN MENU AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE. PLEASE THEN FILL IN THE FORM DISPLAYED AND SUBMIT IT. I WILL THEN GET BACK TO YOU WITH INFORMATION ON HOW TO CONTACT ME. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WILL NOT BE PUBLICLY DISPLAYED ON THIS SITE. YOU MAY FIND THIS METHOD USEFUL IF YOU WANT TO ASK ME TO RESEARCH VESSELS RATHER THAN USING THE GUESTBOOK.

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PLEASE NOTE

MANY MORE PHOTOGRAPHS INCLUDING CREW PHOTO's, TOWS, ETC., CAN BE VIEWED IN THE THAMES TUGS PHOTO GALLERIES.

GO TO PHOTO GALLERIES

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LATEST NEWS

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LATEST PHOTO'S

Paddle tug VIGILANT. Photo RGR Colln

ARCADIA as CHICHESTER in WW1.

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HELP WANTED!!!!!

LATEST RESEARCH ENQUIRIES

DO ANY OF THE OLD HANDS REMEMBER THE ORIGINAL COAL HULK ARTEMIS AT GRAVESEND? THIS WAS NOT THE EX GENERAL STEAM NAVIGATION VESSEL WHICH WAS PUT IN PLACE IN 1955, BUT A CONVERTED EX GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY PADDLE STEAMER PREVIOUSLY NAMED LADY TYLER WHICH EXISTED UP UNTIL 1955 WHEN SCRAPPED BY WARDS AT GRAYS. OWNERSHIP ORIGINALLY [EARLY 1900s] SHOWN BY GEORGE SANDFORD, BUT IN LATER YEARS MANAGING OWNERS WERE JOHN PAGE JNR AND HARRY G PAGE. IF YOU DO REMEMBER HER OR COALED THERE PLEASE CONTACT ME.

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DOES ANYBODY OUT THERE HAVE ANY RECOLLECTION OR RECORDS OF THE FOLLOWING TWO GUYS WORKING ON THE TUGS.

[1] LEONARD VICTOR CHURCH, BORN GRAVESEND 1917 AND BELIEVED TO HAVE WORKED ON TUGS PRIOR TO WW2;

[2] SYDNEY CHURCH, BORN GRAVESEND 1949.

ANY REPLIES TO ME PLEASE AND I WILL PASS THE MESSAGES ON TO THE YOUNG LADY MAKING THE ENQUIRY.

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George Albert Mills.
Any information on the working life of George Albert Mills, born 25-1-1885 Gravesend, died 8-1-1968 Gravesend.
1911 a mariner on the Customs Revenue Cutter.
On retirement in 1950 was Skipper of revenue cutter from Gravesend.
Material needed for book.
Yours sincerely Margaret Somers [Australia]

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Pamplin family on Sun Tugs. [See message in Mess Room]

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Dear Sir
John Frederick William Murphy - 1930 - 1979 - I am researching my family history and I believe my late Dad worked on the tugs at Gravesend in Kent. He may have also worked on the TSS Edith. I know he was working for the GPO on the 15 September 1957 and I know he worked on the water before this. Can you please tell me anything aobut his time on the river?
Thanking you
Kindest regards from
Karen

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HAS ANYONE ANY KNOWLEDGE OR INFORMATION ABOUT CAPTAIN ARTHUR LOWE. IT IS BELIEVED HE DIED ABOARD MURIA. IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE CONTACT ME. THANKS. TUG.

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Captain Harry Arnold [R]. No idea who the guy leaning out of the wheelhouse is but I know somebody out there will know his name!. Photo T Green colln.

15-3-2010:- I am pretty sure that the picture of Harry Arnold, captain of the Sun II, is talking to Captain Harry Lane. He was ex Gaselee and skipper of London relief crew No 2 serving Watercock, Burma, Culex, Rana and, Fossa out of the North Woolwich Pier. I sem to remember doing holiday relief for the tug based down at Ridham dock the Vespa. Kind regards
Frank Cable

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SUN XVI crew 1956. L-R Wally Bridges, Charlie Gibson, Wally Morgan, unknown, Dennis Wise, Lew LLewellyn,, Capt George Turner, Pat Flynn, Fred Money,. Photo Wally Morgan colln via Nolly Harvey.

Come on you old hands, somebody MUST know who the guy in white overalls is?

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FORMIDABLE: Crew in bridge off Margate whilst waiting for a storm to clear. Somebody will also know all these faces! Photo P Waters colln.

9-9-2009 Dave Sutherland suggests: L/R Peter Weiss, Peter Waters, Chris Street, Ron Blake(chief eng) Paul Ashby, Bob(the dog) Davy (master).

From Frank Cable who identifies Centre, Capt. Bill Simmons and Right, the Mate, his father Frank Cable Snr, but who is the guy on the left, presumably the Chief Engineer? Knowing the name of the tug would be a bonus. [Possibly Tamesa/Cervia [1]].

2-12-2009:- First of all I must say how pleased I am to have found your website. Whilst looking at some of the photos I found myself looking at a picture of my father. I have a copy of the picture submitted by Frank Cable of his father with Capt. Bill Simmons. The person in the centre of this picture is not Bill Simmons, but my father Capt. Walter Jones who was captain of the Java prior to and during the Dunkirk evacuation. Before his death in 1962 he was master of the Contest, where I presume this picture was taken.
Once again, congratulations on a very interesting website.
Kind regards,

Glyn Jones

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Can any of the old hands name this guy? Believed connected with Sun Tugs and photo possibly taken at Gravesend. Photo RGR colln.

15-11-2008 John Grainger thinks this could be Sid Lockyer based at KGV.

18-4-2009; Eddie Bridgland suggests either George Beattie or Charles Baxter, both based at Gravesend for Alexanders.

From Mick Holloway collection and he suggests there may be some connection with the Arnold family. Input, as ever, most welcome.

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A tug company dinner being held at Gravesend, date unknown but I would guess at late 50's or early 60's. Any information gratefully received especially identification of any individuals. Photo from STL collection.

6-2-2009: The photograph you showed was probably taken at The Clarendon in Oct.1952. Seated at the table second from bottom facing are from left Johnny (Zero) and Sheila Allen, Betty and Gordon Williams. Backs to camera from left Nobby and Nell Haydon and Fred and Peggy Pattison.

Regards, K J Haydon.

14-3-2009; lovely site the photo of the dinner we think the man in the backround to
the right is my father in law frank cable my wife agrees i used to go on
the hibernia with him in the late 60s before i married his daugther sandra
as did my dad who was boat crazy he was from newcastle on the fishing
boats before the war. love your site.

roger knott.

28-6-2009: I have been asked to get in touch with you and give you a few more names for the Tug company dinner photo on your site. Sitting to Fred Pattisons right is a gentleman (blond haired man) called Chunkie. Man behind Fred Pattison is Johnny Watts and his wife. and we think that top left of Mr & Mrs Watts is Charlie Gwalter & Audrey his wife, (I believe he drowned on the river, when a towing cable snapped and knocked him into the river) and sitting next to Audrey is Bill Money.
My father (Mr George East) was on the river too but he was Customs but knew a lot of the tuggies when he was alive

Regards Tricia Filley.

27-8-2009: the lady in white sitting bottom right of picture is mrs mason capt tom masons wife &
the young lady opposite is her daughter pauline. my aunt & cousin by the way.
ken .chick hills.

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Two pics from early WW2. The lower pic would appear to be the ill-fated Sun VII complete with grey funnel and may be taken at Southend Pier. The upper picture is also beleived to be a Sun Tug Crew. A long shot I know but grateful for any names or other details. Both photos from Alan Hughes colln.

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IN AN EFFORT TO CUT DOWN ON THE TIME I SPEND EDITING THE SITE THE DATE A PARTICULAR PAGE HAS BEEN MODIFIED IS NOW SHOWN AT THE TOP OF THAT PAGE. ANY MAJOR UPDATE, FOR EXAMPLE A NEW PAGE WILL NOW BE ANNOUNCED UNDER LATEST NEWS HEADING. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT HARDLY A DAY PASSES WITHOUT THE SITE CONTENT BEING UPDATED IN SOME WAY.

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