The Attendees’ commemorative attendance list and menu card.
2026 REUNION
A very enjoyable and certainly the best attended reunion of the now, in many cases, somewhat elderly ex-employees of Palm Line, together with a number of wives, partners and children, was held on 3rd June, once again at the Leonardo Hotel in Liverpool. In total there were 63 guests. This is now the 7th reunion in a row where the attendance has increased. For this we must thank Alan Weekes who once again organised the event as superbly as we have now come to take for granted. The reality is, of course, that a tremendous amount of work is involved in managing such an event and this starts immediately following each year’s event. Because of the numbers involved it is now necessary to book a venue a year in advance and this means signing contracts with the hotel concerned. Getting confirmation of attendance from the potential guests is always somewhat fraught and this is usually simply down to actual and potential health issues. Those who attend see at first-hand how much thought and work go into the preparation of the room and the tables.
Sets of flags on each table
The table seating plans
At the last minute, Ian & Ann Hillier and Anne Rayson had to pull out and Steve Gross was able to attend.
Boarding passes
One of this year’s innovations was a very successful raffle. Many thanks to Mike Kelly and Lily Jenkins for selling all those tickets. It has to be pointed out that each of them has accused the other of using somewhat dubious tactics but, whatever, it certainly worked. It has been decided that holding a raffle will be repeated next year, this time with genuine prizes consisting of donations from the attending guests. We have already been promised some very generous prizes. Please let us know if you have anything you would like to contribute. Email: palmship@aol.com
The get together took the now standard format of a pre-dinner reception with drinks being served from 5.00 p.m. followed by a three-course dinner with wine starting at 7.00 p.m.
The reunion was again very generously sponsored by the Carmet Tug Company and its Chairman, Brett Metcalfe to whom we are very grateful. We hope that Brett will be able to attend next year.
Once again, we are very grateful to our now official photographer, Susan Gillone, for the photographs taken at the event, many of which are shown below. We were able to present Susan with a small token of our appreciation after the dinner.
Finally, next year’s reunion has provisionally been booked for the 2nd June, 2027, again at the Liverpool Leonardo Hotel, subject to enough attending. Please watch this site or the Palm Line Facebook page for confirmation in the coming weeks. If you have not previously attended and think you might like to, please let us know via email – palmship@aol.com
THE SEAFARERS
Seated (L to R): Bob Rankin, David Fleming-Miller, Jeff Friar, Jerry Batte, Brian Kenny, Alistair Gillone, Malcolm Cranfield, David Coombes
Standing (L to R): Richard Smith, Pete Winsor, Steve Holloway, Bob Ellsmoor, Ian Rayson, Seth Holden, Jimmy Hughes, Steve Gross, Mike Kelly, Ian Haffenden, Peter Perry, Alan Peden, Mike Jennings, Gary Woollam, Neil Jenkins, Andy Dixon, Gerald Foord, Alan Weekes, Harri Williams
MAINLY THE PARTNERS & CHILDREN
Seated (L to R): Angela Gatt, Victoria Miller, Victoria Coombes, Ethne Coombes, Julie Haffenden, Marion Williams, Elaine Hobbins, Denise Weekes
Standing (L to R): Sue Rankin, June Foord, Fiona Clayton, Carolann Woollam, Lily Jenkins, Sally Barton, Ann Jennings, Tony Gatt, June Kenny, Margaret Cranfield, Anne Batte, Graham Hobbins, Rachael Thompson
THE TABLES
Table 1 – Matadi Palm - Honorary Captain Peter Perry
Front to back (L to R): Steve Gross, Peter Perry, Alan Peden, Ian Haffenden, Julie Haffenden, Kathryn Peden, Jill Perry
Table 2 – Andoni Palm - Honorary Captain Andy Dixon
Front to back (L to R): Ann Jennings, Mike Jennings, Lily Jenkins, Neil Jenkins, Andy Dixon, Sally Barton, Alistair Gillone
(Missing: Susan Gillone as she was the photographer)
Table 3 – Akassa Palm - Honorary Captain Brian Kenny
Front to back (L to R): June Foord, Andrena Thompson, Rachael Thompson, Ted Thompson, Jerry Batte, Anne Batte, Brian Kenny, June Kenny, Gerald Foord
Table 4 – Ilesha Palm - Honorary Captain Malcolm Cranfield
Front to back (L to R): Elaine Hobbins, Graham Hobbins, Malcolm Cranfield, Margaret Cranfield, Alan Weekes, Harri Williams, Marion Williams
(Absent without leave: Denise Weekes)
Table 5 – Bamenda Palm - Honorary Commodore Captain David Fleming-Miller
Front to back (L to R): Victoria & Alistair Miller, Ian Miller, Commodore David Fleming-Miller, Bob Ellsmoor, Angela & Tony Gatt, Christine Miller
Table 6 – Lobito Palm - Honorary Captain Jeff Friar
Front to back (L to R): Jeff Friar, Gary Woollam, Ian Rayson (part hidden), Carolann Woollam, Roy Clayton, Richard Smith, Fiona Clayton
Table 7 – Elmina Palm - Honorary Captain Mike Kelly
Front to back (L to R): Karen Brand, Patricia Hatton, Ian Hurley, Steve Holloway, Sue Rankin, Bob Rankin, Mike Kelly, Tony Brand
Table 8 – Ilorin Palm - Honorary Captain David Coombes
Front to back (L to R): James Coombes, David Coombes, Victoria Coombes, Jimmy Hughes, Seth Holden, Ethne Coombes, Peter Winsor, Mike Winter
MASTER OF CEREMONIES AND THE OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER
Bob Ellsmoor and Sue Gillone
THE RECEPTION
Honorary Commodore Captain David Fleming-Miller & family, Alistair, Victoria, Christine & Ian
L to R: Jill Perry, Graham Hobbins, Kathryn & Alan Peden
L to R: Alistair Gillone, Ian Rayson and Richard Smith
L to R: Lily Jenkins, Sally Barton, Ann Jennings
Bob & Sue Rankin
L to R: Jerry Batte, Steve Holloway, Mike Jennings, Neil Jenkins, Andy Dixon
L to R:Andy Dixon, Mike Jennings, Mike Kelly, Neil Jenkins
L to R: Ian Haffenden, Steve Gross, Julie Haffenden, Steve Holloway
L to R: Malcolm Cranfield, Alan Weekes, David Coombes, Mike Winter, Angela Gatt, Tony Gatt, James Coombes
Elaine & Graham Hobbins
Seth Holden & Jimmy Hughes
L to R: Marion Williams, Elaine Hobbins, Bob Ellsmoor, Harri Williams
L to R: The South Coast engineers, Andy Dixon, Neil Jenkins & Mike Jennings
L to R: Anne Batte, Ted Thompson, Brian Kenny, Peter Winsor & Jeff Friar
L to R: Peter Perry & Gary Woollam, Richard Smith looking on
Too complex to list!
The Memorabilia Tables
Since its introduction in 2024, the memorabilia table has proved to be a very popular feature. Each year now the attendees are encouraged to bring their items of memorabilia to put on display, provoking discussions and evoking memories. So it really does what it says on the tin!
This year thanks go to Bob Ellsmoor, Carolann Woollam, Sue Rankin, Malcolm Cranfield and, especially, Roy Clayton for his amazing contribution of items, some of which were duplicates that he generously let people take away.
