I was on SS Gothic on 18 November 1966 playing double bass in a small group at a New Zealand Lodge dinner dance.
Sadly, I cannot say we were the ship's orchestra as we were just there for that one night. The drummer Colin and I normally played in a four-piece modern jazz group together. Colin and his father Joe had a connection with Shaw Saville, which was how we ended up with the gig on the Gothic. At the dinner dance, Joe played dance band music on the keyboard and we attempted to follow. Those New Zealand ladies knew how to party, and I think it was a success.
For Colin and me the magic was that the New Zealand opera singer Inia Te Wiata was a guest and we accompanied him on several songs towards the end of the evening.
Terry Sole
Pages from the programme for the November 1966 musical dinner onboard the one-time royal yacht Gothic. Images: Terry Sole
More letters
In memory of Anthony (Tony) Fell
In memory of Anthony (Tony) Fell, a former Council member and a Union member since 1963 who was dedicated to furthering the development of radio officers.
SED should be extended to all those at sea for over six months a year
Given the changes in the operation of UK-flagged vessels, is it not time for the rules around claiming Seafarers' Earnings Deduction to be reviewed?
Scarlett Barnett-Smith: the maritime woman my mother wanted to be
I was very pleased to read in the last edition of the Telegraph about the success of recently-qualified officer Scarlett Barnett-Smith, whom I first met during her time at the Port of London Authority (PLA)