In May 1959 my mother was sadly killed in a road accident. At the time Pat was one of my best school friends. Her father was connected with a merchant shipping company and

organised for Pat and I to go on a merchant ship up around the north cost of Britain. We were the only  ‘girls’ on board and had great treatment from all the crew. I remember laughing with Pat at the sight of the Captain on the bridge in uniform - and carpet slippers!

Margaret Ford