The corridor lounge on the port side of the Captain Cook.
The Captain Cook brought assisted immigrants to New Zealand via the Panama Canal from 1952 to 1960. See community contributions below for more information.
We arrived in 1957 hoping for some info from anybody
My father was 3rd mate on the TSS Captain Cook on her last two voyages in 1959 to New Zealand. I have a newspaper cutting of her leaving Glasgow on her final voyage and also a menu from the captains table. Also the ship stamp and details of the departures in my father's merchant navy discharge books. Jazz musician Campbell Burnap emigrated to New Zealand on the Captain Cook and years later my father got talking to him in the Hundred club in London. Campbell said he recognised my father and my father said it wasn't the first time in the venue, but as they chatted it transpired that he had recognised my father from the lifeboat drill on board the Captain Cook.Dad was a big jazz fan so this was quite something for him. He has written may stories of his seafaring days and I used to love listening to them. Dad is no longer with us, but his stories remain.
I was brought out to NZ by my late parents, I have been lead to believe on the Captain Cook in 1953. Can anyone tell me how I can obtain a copy of the passenger list so I can confirm my past to my grandchildren? (My parents names are Leon and Doreen Kennedy)
My wife was a young child who sailed on HMS Captain Cook from Jakarta to Amsterdam from December 1957 til January 1958 when the Dutch we're driven out of Indonesia. Does anyone remember that event? Please email me.
I came out on the Captain Cook arriving in Wellington Jan.1953 now living in Whangarei Heads and in retirement have taken up painting in watercolour after a career in professional design. would anyone care for a copy of my painting! if so please get in touch with me at the above email address.I have offered the original painting to the Maritime Museum in Auckland for possible inclusion in their immigrant exhibit at the museum pending their acceptance.
What date did the ship TSS Captain Cook arrive in Wellington having left Glasgow 21 Feb 1956?
Hi I had sent earlier message and realized some of my details could have been confusing with the mention of Hawick. (My reference for Hawick was for a town in the Borderlands of Scotland, not the town of Hawick - pronounced differently - in New Zealand.) Just wanted to get that right as it can make a big difference. Thank you
My Dad David Scott, came out to NZ in 1956 on the TSS Captain Cook, leaving 21st Feb 1956 he said he left the quay. Arriving Wellington end of March. I have 4 detailed letters he wrote home while on the boat and about 100 in total of his letter back to home of his life, friends family in NZ and 6 small photos of the bridge the Dutch Bank at Curacao, looking towards the entrance of Curacao Harbour (the Pontoon Bridge), also 2 postcards sent of Curacao's floating market(dated 5-3-56) and Pitcairn Island dated 19-3-1956 and there is a photo of Joe Tomlinson on the Bridge, one of his friends Fred Phillips, John, Jim, and Ronnie. Other names are Albert Sheath a Piper from Hawick (same place as my Dad), Fred Phillips(about 25yrs old) was in the next cabin. Dad says he shared a cabin with the Pipe-major, a motor car body builder and a sheppard. Also the Telfer family are mentioned. On the back of another photo of a family it has the Clarke family and Joe. He speaks of some going to the North Island, he caught the ferry to the south - to Christchurch. Dad was in a knitting place in Hawick and worked at Lane Walker Rudkin in Christchurch making suits, knitwear etc. Sam Barton from Hawick is also also mentioned and Rob Thomson of Gala(this was when he was in Christchurch).There is so much detail and probably more names, I am typing these letters up for a book for my family.Wanted to note there is also a King Neptune sea shanty they receive re the equator.
My parents Charlie and Pat and my sister Lesley left Glasgow and sailed via Curacao and Panama to arrive in Wellington in November 1958. We travelled north to Frankton Junction and then bussed down to Rotorua Where we settled with my grandparents. After marrying a lovely Kiwi girl and two children later we moved south to Taupo, where we still live.
I also remember the crew being all Scottish and also that a large number of the passengers were Shetland Islanders.
I read on this same page that a Thomas Anderson on the same voyage also ended up in Taupo. It would be great to meet up and talk about our shared history.
Thanks Ken Thackeray
Arrived in N.Z. June 1959., age 2yrs old. Parents name was Mathew Borland and mother Doreen June Borland. Settled in Dunedin, is any one on the same voyage????
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