![The 1970 intake of engineer cadets from Plymouth School of Maritime Studies, meeting up again at what turned out to be their 52-year reunion CREDIT: Mark Wilding Image:The 1970 intake of engineer cadets from Plymouth School of Maritime Studies, meeting up again at what turned out to be their 52-year reunion CREDIT: Mark Wilding](/contentassets/86ccb0509ae342e3b1aec2286e1325ed/plymouth_reunion_photo_web.jpg)
What started as a 50-year reunion of the 1970 Plymouth School of Maritime Studies intake of Phase I engineer cadets, twice cancelled due to Covid, eventually came to fruition as a 1972 leaving Plymouth reunion
We eventually contacted 30 from 65 known names, of which 24 plus partners attended the weekend, some flying in from around the world.
The weekend started, on the Friday evening, visiting old haunts around Plymouth and culminating with an evening buffet at the Roundabout bar to reminisce.
Saturday morning we enjoyed a boat trip from the Barbican round Plymouth Sound, with the afternoon free to visit the many attractions of Plymouth.
In the evening we had dinner, followed with entertainment from the sea shanty band The Stowes at the Copthorne Hotel, where we attempted the Doxford Song and Dance. The performance and hilarity broke down all inhibitions and made the evening a great success, with everybody staying till the bar closed.
Sunday morning we met at the MN memorial on the Hoe where a wreath was laid in memory to colleagues that have gone before us.
The weekend was deemed a success, much to the relief of our organiser Jim Halligan and myself, his backer, who could now pass the mantle on to somebody else to organise the next event for those that were unable to attend this one.
Mark Wilding
More letters
Help us remember MN veterans of D-Day in North Wales
The 6 June ceremonies in Portsmouth and Ver-sur-Mer commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Normandy Landings made little or no mention of the huge sacrifice and contribution made by the Fourth Service, the Merchant Navy. We intend to put this right in a ceremony in North Wales.
Corrupt port officials: what we all do to get by
Your article 'Corruption at ports endangering seafarers' in the May-June 2024 Telegraph covers a matter never discussed before I believe. I served as master worldwide for 25 years, and found demands of this kind frequently in Central and South America, and always at the Suez Canal.
P&O pirates
I don’t remember anyone saying that the crew members of the P&O ferries were signed off Articles by the shipping master prior to their removal from the vessels.