9th May 2026 ~ Ferry Tales of the Eighties ~ with Steve Pink ~
From Thoresen’s Vikings to P&O’s Prides … over 20 south coast ferries …
After an early career at sea, Steve spent ten years in port operations and sales & marketing with Thoresen Car Ferries and its successors. From Thoresen's Viking I and Townsend's Free Enterprise II to P&O Ferries' Pride of Dover ... via freight ferries, the end of Southampton ferry services, requisitioning ferries for the Falklands, the P&O takeover, traumatic strikes and more ... all these stories provide a backdrop as Steve takes a look at over 20 south coast ferries.
Steve Pink is branch secretary and events organiser at WSS Dorset and a member of the Ocean Liner Society. A Nautical Studies graduate with a background in cargo-passenger shipping, ferries and cruising - Steve also acts as editor & promoter for ~Ships~Dorset~ facebook group and website content.
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12th September 2026 ~ The Lavender Hull Mob !! ~ with Robin Plumley ~
A personal perspective of Union-Castle Line
A selection of images, digitised from old slides and prints, and scans from various media provide a sample of Robin's time at sea with B&C in general and Union-Castle in particular.
Robin Plumley - Robin’s career at sea began in the seventies with British & Commonwealth Group – owners of Union Castle Line and he retired from a senior position with the UK Government research fleet. Robin was awarded the Polar Medal in 1993 for outstanding contribution to Antarctic science and made a MBE in 2015 for services to marine science. A past Captain of the Southampton Master Mariners’ Club, Robin continues to serve the club as their Honorary Secretary.
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10th October 2026 ~ Mauretania – Truly the Most Beautiful … ~ with David Hutchings ~
… Mauretania - Truly the Most Beautiful …
Built to compete against record-breaking German behemoths, the Mauretania of 1907 was not only one of the first major ships to be turbine-driven or have four propellers - not just built for luxury - she was the largest moving structure created by man at that time. Soon she became the fastest as well. When war was declared in 1914, Mauretania was pressed into service as a troop ship and hospital ship. David has published two books on Mauretania … now he shares the ship’s life story and images with us.
Growing up on the Isle of Wight, David Hutchings had a good view of ocean liners as they passed to and from Southampton. Joining the Royal Dockyard in Portsmouth, a Shipwright apprenticeship led to roles as a Draughtsmen and in the Design Office. David finally ended his shipbuilding career when he retired as Technical Librarian from Vosper Thornycroft’s successor. In addition to authoring over a dozen books (including “book of the month” twice in Ships Monthly), David has been involved with the Royal Institute of Naval Architecture, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology and taken guest speaker roles with cruise lines. A lifetime love of ships all comes as part of the package - welcome David!
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14th November 2026 ~ An Asian Almanac ~ with Steve Pink ~
A 2026 cruise in the Far East … twenty or so ships spotted … from pilot boats and coastal cargo ships to an ocean liner ...
In Vietnam a loaded bulk carrier with over 11m freeboard … in Taiwan - a modern ferry serving off-shore islands … in Yokohama - a 1930s Japanese-built ocean liner … and in Shanghai - a 2020s Chinese-built cruise ship with 5,000+ passengers.
Steve Pink is branch secretary and events organiser at WSS Dorset and a member of the Ocean Liner Society. A Nautical Studies graduate with a background in cargo-passenger shipping, ferries and cruising - Steve also acts as editor & promoter for ~Ships~Dorset~ facebook group and website content.
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12th December 2026 ~ Winter Shipping in the Baltic ~ with Des Upcraft ~
Des’ experience of icebreaking in the Northern Baltic during the early 2000s plus ship photography. maps and ice charts will all contribute to an intriguing afternoon.
Des Upcraft is Secretary of the Thames Ship Society and a keen ship enthusiast who has participated in several ship photography excursions since joining the Society in 2016. These include the Thames, Solent and Orwell Estuary in the UK, the Kiel Canal and Hamburg, Gibraltar, Rotterdam and a ten-day trip to the Panama Canal.
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9th January 2027 ~ A trip on Stettin plus Suur Toll and more ~ with David Trevor-Jones ~
… David sails on Hamburg’s coal-fired steam icebreaker and visits two more preserved Baltic icebreakers in Tallin and Stockholm …
David Trevor-Jonesis talks organiser & director at the Ocean Liner Society – and a long-standing branch member, friend and speaker at WSS Dorset. David’s shipping research and photography ranges from classic liners including the Russian “Author” class, via Swedish excursion steamers and preserved steam ships to “re-borne” cruise ships of lines such as CMV and Ambassador.
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13th February 2027 ~ Port of Southampton - Evolution and Revolution ~with Derek Dubber ~
… We will discover development of the port from Roman origins to the present day with a focus on the period from 1960’s based on personal experience as a ship enthusiast and a lifetime career in port marketing and operations …
Geography – ideal location for major world-wide trade routes to and from Northern Europe … sheltered harbour in the centre of the South Coast of United Kingdom. History – from the Roman settlement of Clausentum through Mediterranean trades, Pilgrim Fathers, early liner trades, railway developments, ferry, cargo and passenger liners through to the present day. Ships – a selection of key and interesting vessels associated with the port following the evolution and revolution in passenger and freight business.
Derek Dubber - Following teenage years riding round the port of Southampton taking photos on a small Brownie camera, Derek’s career in the port began in the early sixties. Working with British Transport Commission, British Transport Docks Board and Associated British Ports in publicity and marketing roles allowed Derek to compile a substantial collection of slides and digital images as well as printed material. Further career development with Southampton Container Terminals supporting terminal operations systems and freight logistics combined with all these years as a ship and shipping enthusiast results in this talk - enjoy!
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13th March 2027 ~ Out of the Comfort Zone ~ with Bill Mayes ~
… Trips on unusual ships or in challenging locations …
Bill Mayes is well known as the Chairman of the Ocean Liner Society, a director of The World Ship Society and a regular contributor to Sea Lines and Ships Monthly. He has amassed a huge “back catalogue” of voyages worldwide and a wealth of knowledge specialising in cruise ships and ferries. A good and longstanding friend of WSS Dorset.
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10th April 2027 ~ 30 years on the Scheldt ~ with Krispen Atkinson ~
The Scheldt River and its estuary are important for ocean-going shipping up to the Port of Antwerp … and for inland navigation - cargo transhipment & recreational. Every year, tens of thousands of ships visit the ports of Antwerp, Gent, Vlissingen, and Terneuzen. Krispen’s frequent visits to the Scheldt over the years forms an intriguing array of ships - take it away Krispen!
Krispen Atkinson is a maritime consultant, director of The World Ship Society and regular contributor to Ship’s Monthly & Marine News with a passion for modern merchant shipping. As author of an annual “Maritime Review” series, Krispen is a WSS speaker in demand.
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8th May 2027 ~ First Class Cargo: combination cargo-passenger ships ~ with Bill Miller ~
The combination cargo-passenger ship is an oddity now all but relegated to the past - an unusual blend of cargo freight, holiday-making passengers and government officials. In their heyday, ships such as Fyffes Line’s Golfito would stop at Caribbean ports to load bananas, whilst passengers would make the most of the exotic setting. Carrying between 50 and 100 passengers with anything up to 10,000 tons of cargo, these ships were both working freighters as well as elegant cruise-like ships, renowned for their intimate, yacht-like atmosphere. Bill brings these ships to life.
Bill Miller is an international authority on ocean liners & cruise ships. This includes great ships of the past, those “floating palaces,” as well as the current generation of cruise ships, the “floating resorts”. An international speaker, known as “Mr. Ocean Liner,” Bill has authored over 100 books on subjects from early steamers, immigrant ships and liners at war to passenger ships of today.
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