The Training Ship

[Sandy]

Got a couple of stories from my Dad and one was about 'The Training Ship' anchored on the Tyne, way back in the 1920's. Apparently, if your kids became unruly and completely out of hand you sent them to live on this ship where they had strict handling, learning sea-faring at the same time. He said these kids were upwards from 10 years old!!! Can this really be true?

So whenever my Dad was naughty, my Gran would say, 'Behave, or we'll send you to The Training Ship'.

[Alice]

Hey Sandy that sounds a good idea for now, mind you the ship would sink with all the unruly kids about these days.

[brian c]

These days it would have to be the size of a supertanker!

[urfa]

Hi every one, i remember a ship that was all covered in, sloping roof and all, moored beside Brigham and Cowans towards the the direct ferry to North Shields, can't think of the name of it though, this was a training ship for the naval Cadets, it was there until the early 1950s regards, urfa.

[Jim_in_France]

I wonder if it is related to the "Wellesley Nautical School"? I think thats the spelling? It is a shore based school on the coast at Whitley Bay. That was for unrully kids. I did read about it somewhere, that it was a real ship in days gone bye. I'm not sure if the one in Whitley Bay is still going either.

[jimmywizz]

this may be the ship in question

http://www.southshields-sanddancers.co. ... g_ship.htm

[mune10366]

I wonder if it is related to the "Wellesley Nautical School"? I think thats the spelling? It is a shore based school on the coast at Whitley Bay. That was for unrully kids. I did read about it somewhere, that it was a real ship in days gone bye. I'm not sure if the one in Whitley Bay is still going either.

Hi I can cinfirm that there was a ship on the tyne for bad boys That ship was burnt down and the school was moved to BLTH and it was still called the Wellesley I know this as I was there in 1947/1948/1949

From there the boys went to sea My first ship when I left there was a Whaling ship for a compant called Savelsen and we went down to the whaling station called south georga I dont think there are many of us left
iFF there is I hope they get in touch WILFRED UNWIN

[Jim_in_France]

That's it!.....Blyth. I had a friends brother there in the late 70s whom I used to visit.

[mune10366]

That's it!.....Blyth. I had a friends brother there in the late 70s whom I used to visit.

When the boys had don there time at the wllesly we had to go to a house on the lawe top to wait for our first vship vThe house was called NICKS The school is still at blyth and it is for bad boys that the social takes care of The records are still there I know because I have been back and got photo coppies of them .This is for anyoun who wants to know
W unwin

[denis]

yes it used to be moored near BRIGHAM and COWANS ,I was a plumber there

[ralph]

yes it used to be moored near BRIGHAM and COWANS ,I was a plumber there

The one near Brigham's would have been the old 'Satellite', used as an HQ by the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve.

[Pilot]

These cutting s are old and done when scanners were not so good but hope it gives some insight.

[fuzzzboxx]

I was one of the "unruly" lads who enjoyed a year and a half stay at Wellesley Nautical School around 1980-81 and the age of the lads was around 15 upwards. Some of the staff still wore the original Uniforms ...Mr Fluke, Mr Fahay, Mr Liddy spring to mind and the place wasnt really that bad. I still see a few lads who live locally , Terry Stones & Ian Tully and we still go on about the "Death Sllides and the Chicken run which was basically abseiling but facing downwards instead of backwards...we used to do sea canoeing and mountain climbing along at Seaton Sluice as well as Survival at Colorhuf (not sure of spelling) and pike fishing at Lock Ken up in Scotland and down at Howard castle. I was in the Horticuylture dept with Mr Dunkin and was one of the first to dig the plots along the side of links road bottom of field at back of admirals house....Used to have clubs at night time where I used to go running with Mr Day or fishing with Mr Mills (Millsy) who always wore a deer stalker hat and also took Art......All in all you would pay a fortune to do all these sort of out of doors exploits and after I settler in and tired of bunking off I worked my way through the gradings from three up to three plus, two minus right up to RA (responsible adult) which gave ya leave each weekend and 1 night out of the site unescorted....I was real proud of that and was soon allowed home but that didnt turn out very well with my abusive dad still there....wouldnt change a thing as I am now happily married with a daughhter and a good job in the computer business.
I would love to hear from any of the lads I used to be there with.....there was big Steve Dance (DANCER)...Lenny from chester le street....rodham who was my baccy partner or Wacker..Nigel preston...Milburn or any other lads...my email is ayre01@gmail.