Reminiscent marine bell

Press, 26 December 1979, Page 10

Reminiscent marine bell

By KEN COATES, London The bell from the first twin-screw motor ship Port Dunedin, built for the Port Line for the Australasian trade has bern hung in a home for retired marine engineers at Littlehampton, Sussex , It commemorates the service of a well known engineer. Mr Robert Cromarty, who died in London earlier this year. The bell has been inscribed with the names of Mr Cromarty and Mr Richard Strachan, another

marine engineer. It was unveiled in the Guildhouse, run by the Institute of Marine Engineers, at a ceremony attended by Mr Cromarty’s widow, formerlv Miss Doreen Watkins, of New' Plymouth. She says it will be rung on the birthdays of the residents, and at Christmas. Easter, and other special occasions. Mrs Cromarty said her husband served in the old Cort hjuon, but the bell from that ship went to

iluonville. Tasmania. As rhe Port Dunedin, a sister ship, w’as also being scrapped in 1962, he was given that ship's bell. For years it has lain in the Cromartys’ garage, at East Grinstead, Sussex, but has finally been hung where its former owner is well remembered. Mr Cromarty, a keen genealogist, was well known in New Zealand and two years ago organised a family reunion of descendants of the Watkins family at Akaroa.