HMS Worcester, moored on the River Thames by John Cooper

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Early 1970's	John Victor Cooper

HMS Worcester, moored on the River Thames

River Thames view map

I took this photo believing this ship to be the TS Arethusa.
I have been told by many people that it is the HMS Worcester.

Zenit E

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Arku		27-Jul-2023 01:00
Worchester I was a on her in July 1969 to July 1970

Brian Bursnall		17-Mar-2022 14:39
ps Captain Le Mare's daughter was named Petra, his wfe was Dutch (some Schoolboy fantasies there!)

Brian Bursnall		17-Mar-2022 14:39
ps Captain Le Mare's daughter was named Petra, his wfe was Dutch (some Schoolboy fantasies there!)

Brian Bursnall		17-Mar-2022 14:33
I was on the"ARE" (definitely not her) Summrer '63 -April'65 Top Starboard 97 Brian (Buzzer) Bursnall. Loads of memories especially "Pinkie" the PTI as said "Can't Swim"! off the top board in the deep end of the pool and reach for the oar "Let go"! you can swim, yes everyone had to Box and cross country up to the sports field and in the pool at the finish. "Fergie" morse code and signals the rumour was he was ex SOE. "Shacks" the Gunnery Instructor drill, shooting and Bugler's Sunset every night walking round with a cane and heaven help you if you weren't in your hammock before the last note sounded!!I did manage to get up to the top yardarm but not the Button, NO FEAR!! One week every term "Working Ship", my first was the Laundry then Officers Pantry, Sick Bay (very cushy) watching the Cricket Test matches "Freddie Trueman" & "Geoff Boycott", Galley & washing all the big mess tins!(Not So), "Chippie's Mate" caulking & re-pitching the upperdeck. "Nats", "Slicky's" and Saturday lunch was always Peaches, Neopolitan ice cream & synthetic whipped cream. I too travelled up to Charring Cross and underground to Kings Cross when going home on my own, remember being woken at about 6am, Breakfast was a mug of tea an Orange and a Kit Kat. I qualified for Seamanship, was "Nightboat" coxswain when detailed and I ended my days on the top table as PO Boy for Fo'castle Port. Took some getting used to especially when you had no visitors and saw all those going "Ashore", only made it once, long way to come just for a couple of days in the 60's.

Allan Thurbon		15-May-2021 15:18
Absolutely the Worcester. Was a Cadet on her. Had a working relationship with her whilst on staff at MN College,1975/76 between end of seagoing career and moving to Personnel at Rowbotham Tankships

Rick Scholtens		04-May-2020 17:17
My grandfather Harold Keagan was a cadet on the HMS Worchester in the beginning of the 19th century. Much later he once took me to London and told me all about the life on board and showed me the ship on its moors on the Thames (probably in the sixties).

Brian francis		30-Mar-2014 08:02
The picture is the Worcester . my grand father was third officer on the Worcester.his name was Patrick woods.I use to go on board the ship myself.

P.collins		11-Apr-2013 15:18
Hi all you lads, Phil Collins is the name, joined the Harry 63/65 division top starboard No 155 commander le,mare was captain and he did have a daughter, any of you unlucky ones like me how had to sake for the key for the drying room, befor I was able to stoe my hammock. Always collected it with the cockcroches. Did not enjoy at the time, but regret that now. Ex submariner Jumper

Colin Thurlow		09-Jan-2013 10:12
Apart from the ship being HMS Worcester the picture is the wrong way around and needs to be "mirrored" Colin Thurlow

Lynn thompson		07-Nov-2012 15:31
My dad was on the Are t s from 1949 to 1952 his number was 109 Trevor Brett. Does anyone rember him. He joined with FRank Dyer on september 14 they were the only 2 that day. If you rember him contact me. Thanks.

Guest		02-Oct-2012 15:18
Have you thought about scanning them all and putting them on a web site so all can see them.

Guest		23-Sep-2012 07:27
I'm WillieWeightman's daughter. I grew up on TS Arethusa, and this is definitely not her, nor HMS Arethusa. I wonder if she is Vindicatrix, who was a training ship at Sharpness at the same time. TS AArethusa:Peking is a steel ship, a four masted barque. This is a wooden ship, and probably a square rigger. The paint pattern is wrong, the hull shape is wrong. No-one could ever confuse this with Arethusa:Peking. I lived ther throughout the 1960s, in fact from 1947 onwards. I never saw this ship there at any time. I have hundreds of photos of Arethusa, taken from 1947 until the day she left. Some of these are poscards on Zazzle.com, where you can search for Arethusa and find a whole host of my father's images uded on mugs etc.

stevemac		30-Jul-2012 20:13
This is definitely not the Arethusa. Regards. Stephen McDonough.

Guest		19-Jun-2012 12:15
I was on the Arethusa from the summer of 1967 to the summer of 1969.I left at the same time that commander M.H. LeMare retired.Being on the Arethusa was 2 of the best years of my life.I can tell you that the above photo is 100% not the Arethusa that served on which was moored at Upnor,rochester,Kent.my number was 34 mass

Stan Pike		10-Jun-2012 06:53
Ijoined Arethusa May 1939#217 there was no causway to the ship at that time. In November 39 we were all evacuated to our homes to await until we were 15 when we could join R.N. I did go to HMS St George and at 16 got shipped to Alexandra I beleive the youngest boy in eastern fleet, and one of the lucky ones to survive. at 14 what do you know

john d mclarens		30-Mar-2012 15:57
my name is john mclarens and i was aboard arethusa 1960 and i can tell you that is not arethusa.ilive in canada now and have seen what has happened to her.she is tied up in a maritime museam at 3rd. ave in new york city.she is just sitting there,no one wants her and city is trying to sell her off.as she was not part of american history she is not worth fixing up(so they say)

STUART PATCHETT		05-Mar-2012 11:24
ps.. that was the good times. i recall if you were unable to swim,you were given around a week in the shallow end,after that,off the top board at the deep end,seen some lads nearly DROWN reaching for the oar in desperation,if you didnt like boxing hard luck !!! caught talking in lessons,or didnt know your times tables,or caught going to the toilet at night..the CANE,or ferdie's piece of rubber tubing,and that did HURT best thing,i met a fantastic girl on open day,Elizebeth Heard from maidstone. oh almost forgot set cross country record,got me fit for the great escape..2 times. defaulters..sand and canvass on your knees scrubbing the decks in the summer,IN THE RED HOT SUN,or below decks polishng floors.MISS THOSE HAPPY TIMES..NOT!!!!!!!!!!

stuart patchett		04-Mar-2012 20:03
i was on her 1965..66,it was hard at first getting to grips with. alot of lads could not hack it and go awol or do a runner. myself i had 18 cuts of the cane in a week,my backside was a bruised and bloody mess. worked in the galley for a week alone,potato's carrots,,for 250+people..NIGHTMARE. GOOD TIMES AND SOME HORRORS,ie bullying etc my no 117 top starboard.my name patchett..friends fred kryczak from poland. keith watkinson,charlie tamms.atterich,they both did a runner haha

GORDON byast		05-Feb-2012 08:33
Hi my father joined the ARETHUSA as near as i can work out in 1939 at the age of 14 he later join the Royal Navy serving on minsweepers he does not talk about this time much at all i can remember him taking me to upnor to see her in app 1963 His name is Robert Godfrey Byast three brother all in the R N Frank ,William and Gordon WILLIAM was killed at dieppe i would like to know more about those times with regard to shaftsbury homes his parent lived in rainham Kent ant info please gbyast@hotmail.com dad is nearly 90 now Thank You gbyast

Gary Vaughan		01-Feb-2012 15:40
This ship is TS Worcester and is moored off Greenhithe in the River Thames. Built at Barrow-in-Furness she was launched in 1905 as TS Exmouth. Her original station was off Grays, Essex where she stayed until WWII. During the war she was towed to Scotland (I can't remember where) to serve as a depot ship. After the war she was no longer required by her owners and was acquired by The Incorporated Thames Nautical Training College, renamed Worcester and began her new life as TS HMS Worcester. She stayed at Greenhithe until towed away for breaking in the mid 1970's. Incidently the original TS Arethusa also began her training career off Greenhithe. I have plenty of pictures of the original Arethusa on my website www.garyvaughanpostcards.co.uk

sandra Bowing		12-Oct-2011 10:58
Looking for somebody who served with my Dad john bowing #51, from 1948-1950, please email me, Sandra Bowing at sannysorare@hotmail.com

Alec Prior		26-Jul-2011 06:15
Definatlly not the "Are" I was on 1950 to 52, no75 7 mess. I agree it was a hard couple of years for a young lads, but it did me no harm and now I have been gone for over 50 years, I am a specialist speaker for Probus clubs (Retired Rotarians) on this subject. One lady a University professor said that it was most interesting as she had never met anybody before that had lived in"Dickenson times" Two quwstions, one does anybody recall "Rick" (possibly 63) of that mess secondly dose anybody know what happened to Emma the only village maiden of Upnor at that time that had a fan club of 240 boys!

BOB		11-Nov-2010 19:43
THIS WAS IN THE THAMES GRAVESEND THE ARETHUSA HAD FOUR MAST ..NOT SURE OF NAME THIS WAS MERCHANT NAVY TRAINING SHIP NORTHFLEET AS MY UNCLE LIVED NEAR IT MIGHT BE THE WORCEST OR SOWETHING SIMILAR

maithai		23-Oct-2010 03:27
This picture is of the T.S. Worcester, formerly the 'Exmouth'. I seem to recall that the bell for the 'Exmouth' carried the date 1908 - I polished it often enough! Never a seagoing vessel, I do believe that she was in Scapa for part of the war as a depot ship. Sold off to Belgium and scapped about 1970.

neil pittock		30-May-2010 17:49
Once again this is NOT the Arethusa that served as a training ship until 1975, and was formerly the PEKING.Now in the USA.

Guest		19-May-2010 22:28
That could possbily be the 'ARE' just prior to her departure for the USA. TS Arethusa was not HMS Arethusa, she was the 'PEKING' built in HAMBURG in early 1900's and used as a tea clipper, she did hold the record at one time for the Tea Route. Then bought by the Shaftesbury Homes. I boarded on her at Stroud Kent from 1963/4 till April 1966 when I joined the Royal Navy as a Communicator, Good old 'Fergy' our communications officer. Maurice Withyman No 38

neil pittock		21-Apr-2010 15:34
Hi stewart you can contact me at neil.pittock@nats.co.uk. (Yes thats the NATS that has been on the news lately regarding the volcano and aircraft) would be nice to chat and catch up.

stewart melrose		10-Apr-2010 10:25
Neil, I was leading boy on 14 mess Top Port around 1960,ships number 114, at which time you must have been a nozzer.I often stood in as division petty officer and as such always made sure that nozzers were trated right and fed, (you may remember your days athe bottom of the mess when there was little or nothing left to eat by the time the trays got down to you) so you may remember me If you do, get in touch, I was beginning to think that all of my era were dead.

Three-oh		09-Apr-2010 10:54
The guest contributor of 1 June 2008 has got it exactly right. TS Arethusa, formerly HMS Arethusa was a 50 gun auxiliary frigate purchased by The Shaftesbury Homes & Arethusa in 1874. All of her guns were 32 pdrs and her main battery was only 28 in number and thus she was a much smaller ship than HMS Worcester. She was scrapped in 1934 and her replacement was the Flying "P" four masted barque 'Peking'. "Peking' was selected because she was built for her owners F. Laeisz of Hamburg as a training and trading vessel and had extensive accommodation for cadets. Following her acquisition, she was renamed 'Arethusa' without a II suffix. In 1975 she was sold out of service and following a dry-docking and survey at Messrs Green and Siley Weir, Blackwall, was towed to New York City where her new owners restored her original 1911 name of 'Peking'. The local history archives of Medway Regional Council have a great amount of information about The Shaftesbury Homes & Arethusa, although at the time of writing, it may not be accessible as their offices are currently being demolished for re-development.

neil pittock		07-Feb-2010 19:53
This is not the Arethusa that was moored at UPNOR until the 1970'S. My name is Neil PITTOCK I served aboard The Arethusa from 1962-64 L/Boy 12 mess Top Port.

MANNEY		06-Feb-2010 19:03
HI SHE WOS AT GREENHITHE IN THE 70S 80S I WOS A SEAMEN AND SEE HER EVRY TIME WE HIT HOME

Guest		09-Dec-2009 17:31
Sorry meant Mr. Wood,not Cook - must be getting old!

Guest		09-Dec-2009 17:23
Sorry Mr. Wood - must be getting old.

Guest		09-Dec-2009 17:22
Worcester it is then, thought it might possibly have been the 'Unicorn' - another TS created from a frigate in ordinary. Happy days! Mr. Cook, you should write your memoirs unless the Royal are still chasing you !!!

Guest		08-Dec-2009 23:39
I was on Foudroyant and this is not her, lines are all different, decks also.

A J WRIGHT		03-Nov-2009 21:38
AS OLD CREW THIS IS NOT ARETHUSA ANYONE THAT CLIMED THOSE MAST NO THATS NOT THEM I HAVE HAD AND SO MUCH JOY READING ABOUT ARETHUSA DID NOT NO IT EXISTED DONT SEE ANYONE MENTION THE SAND AND CANVAS ON DECKS AND SCRUBING DECKS WITH COLD SEA WATER EARLY IN MORNING DRESSING SHIP WHEN COMMANDER OF THE NORE CAME PAST WHALER RACES AND SKIFF AND DRESS SHIP CLIMING MAST AND LINE OUT YARDARMS IHAVE STILL GOT REPORT NOT 100% GOOD I USED TO LOSE A LOT OF CUTERLY COULD GO ON FOR EVER GOD BLESS YOU ALL NO98 MESS 10 A J WRIGHT

Brian Aspinall		14-Feb-2009 09:40
That ship is the WORCESTER, anchored off Greenwich.It was scrapped a few years ago. It was never a sea going ship, it was built to replace a previous WORCESTER and never went to sea.

stewart melrose		26-Dec-2008 17:12
Stewart melrose (ex 114) come on guys I refuse to accept that there are not dozens of ex "ARE" boys out there who would like to reminisce about Nozers and Slickys etc if you would like to contact me direct you can on either melrosesw@aol.com or stewartmelrose@scotwaste.com or check us out on scotwaste.com

rob watts		15-Oct-2008 20:10
Could be the "Conway" moored on the Thames, the dates are right...

Peter Wescombe		10-Oct-2008 18:33
This is not the "Are". The bridge deck never went that far forward. I was an "Are" boy May 46/Nov 47,and still have in my bookcase a book I bought from Alfie Frost! Also the "Jottings for Young Sailors" which I must have bought for some unknown reason.

moffatt		16-Sep-2008 11:28
to geoff wood sorry you had a bad time but youre comments did make me laugh keep well martin moffatt

number 10 mess2		30-Jul-2008 13:06
This is definatly not the arethusa from upnor was on board from jan1965 to 1968 good but hard times the arry as it was known was 4 masted and had a lady as a figure head, the ex peking became the arry ahoy mate plenty of info about if you search, any old shipmates read this good luck too you

jane MartinNIE Levey		28-Jul-2008 13:51
HI my name is Jane Levey my father was aboeard the <arethusa after the war. and loved it he was friends with the lad that fell of the top of the mast. now beried in Upnor church yard. he loved Upnor so much when I was 8 we moved there I lived in Upper Upnor and used to deliver the paper to the arethusa in the mornings on my paper round. would love to here from anyone who new my father Name Keneth Peter Levey.

Guest		11-Jun-2008 10:58
Hello i found this site by chance, my grandfather was on the TS Arethusa from the 29th Jan 1903 he signed up for 12 years. I have been looking for info on this ship for ages. Someone told me that there is a model in a museum in Weston Super Mare. but on looking couldnt find it. his naval number was 209406 portsmouth rating... if anyone wants to contact me. please do so. at Celbro9532@aol.com.uk

Guest		01-Jun-2008 10:55
As previously reported this is the Thames Nautical Training College training ship HMS WORCESTER - an ex RN wooden wall - which was moored on the Thames at Greenithe from 1862 until 1968 when the college moved to premises ashore close-by and changed its name to the Merchant Navy College.

Barry Warfield		04-Apr-2008 18:28
I was on the T.S. Arethusa 1958-60 which if memories serve me right she was a threemasted tea clipper yes we used to sleep in hammocks the captain at the time had a young duaghter was used to stay onbroad during her school hoildays I was one of the choosen few who used to be invited for dinner some time, there was a chap name Best there at the same time got picked to go & play rugby with the United service run crosscountry in the snow it was hard at times but fun at the same time, I left & joined the R.Navy for 91/2 yrs so it served me well it would be good to hear from anyone that was on there around that time.

David		12-Feb-2008 14:08
Hi there,MY name is DAve and I was on the Arthusa in the seventies,before joining the Royal Marines down at Deal.The Arethusa had Four Masts and also had a female spithead on the bow of her.She was not derigged as at 530 am in the morning we had reveille and used to climb the rigging.Summer visits from my family were a big occasion as we all use to climb up the yard arms and all over the rigging for the families to take pictures.I was 12 years old when I had to travel down from my home town of Lowestoft in Suffolk,thriugh London and onto Strood in Kent on my own.It certainly did,nt do me any harm.

Bob Scott		12-Dec-2007 17:29
I rather think your photograph is of the "Worcester", on the Thames at Greenhithe

Guest		11-Dec-2007 08:45
HI to all of you. I now have been contacted by many ex Arethusa boys,and have been out to New York and put a few things right with the maritime museum people, they had many facts wrong. If anyone wants more info contact me on melrosesw@aol.com or stewartmelrose@scotwaste.com Stewart Melrose ex 114 early 60,s

Guest		12-Nov-2007 01:52
Guest from 12/11/07 at 0105Z. Checked some other places and links. This is a port side view, probably at an earlier date, of TS Exmouth at Grays. You can find more at www.ts2000.royalnavy.co.uk/exmouth.htm or www.trainingships.royalnavy.co.uk.

Guest		12-Nov-2007 01:05
This ship is NOT TS Arethusa of Upnor on mud fame. It resembles TS Foudroyant, now restored and docked afloat in Hartlepool under her original name of HMS Trincomalee. However, a more likely candidate, from the shore background and the deck housings,is TS Vindicatrix,at Gravesend. I'd really rather not recall my time on the Arethusa, thanks, it took me twenty years to live down the nickname, and I still want to kick concrete. For the record, the Arethusa is/was indeed the SS Peking, a four masted steel barque of 3000 tons. She was built by Blohm and Voss in Hamburg in 1911, for the Flying P Line. The mast heights are (feet) 180, 180, 185, 145. Her normal route was Hamburg to Valparaiso on the nitrate trade route, and there is film from her 1931 voyage taken from the foremast crosstrees as she rounded the Horn in a hurricane. The cameraman survived. . . The Heller plastic kit of Passat is nearly identical, and for the 'real thing' look at the Russian tall ship Khruzenstern. She was formerly SS Padua, a sister in the Flying P line. She is now berthed at the South Street Seaport Museum, NY.

Des Hoskin 105 (1959 - 1963)		10-Nov-2007 18:09
D.A.Hoskin 105 starboard mess. Can't remember the table. Deffinately NOT the Arethusa I was on. It was moored off Upnor, Rochester, Kent on the Medway during my time 1959 thriough 1963 when I joined the RN from her. ThE Arethusa I served on as a boy was a 4 masted steel barque built by Blom and Voss of Germany in 1912. She was captured during the first world war and offered back in 1918 but was refused. Given to a Naval charity, she was run as a schooling ship for boys aged 11 to 15 who had designs on joining the RN. Hope this helps you. Getting old now at 60 and my memories are fading somewhat. There are some distinct similarities. Was she perhaps changed rigging wise? The masts during my time had at least 3 yard arms and I am sure some had 4.

Guest		16-Oct-2007 18:27
It looks Like the TS Exmouth

John		20-Jul-2007 09:26
The bow is all wrong to be the Arethusa, however around that time there was another training ship called the Indifatigable, I recall something like this moored in Portsmouth harbour

Graham Brayshaw		20-Jun-2007 15:50
Sorry Should have been 178 Mess 18 QUARTERDECK port

Graham Brayshaw2		20-Jun-2007 11:10
I was also on teh Are 63 / 65 178 Top Port 18 mess. This is also not teh ship I remember. Went on to join teh RN (March 65) as a stoker and eventually left teh mob in 90 as a MAA. The 2 years on teh Arethusa, although hard, certainly did me no harm.

Guest		03-Jun-2007 10:41
Hi Dave from Devon, I Have just left a message for Alf Frost Regarding my serch for Bruce Matthews, would you also be good enough to contact me as you might be able to help. email or Telephone 01793 728206 (SWINDON Area) Best Regards & Take Care Jim Semple (aged 73)

Guest		03-Jun-2007 10:35
To ALF Frost, Hi Alf, I am trying to help a lady trying to trace a Bruce Matthews who was on the ship just after the war,and I think you might be able to help. Would you be kind enough to email; me at or telepone me on 01793 728206 (SWINDON Number) Best Regards Jim Semple

phil		30-May-2007 18:58
hmmmm, well this is a conundrum, i was also on the ARE around 63/65 (164) port mess, I have forgotten which table,but I also would have said this was not her, but i seem to remember that she was derigged for safety reasons after my time, I know that the yardarms shown are not the ones I climbed out one by one, up one side over the top and down the other, the one shown are smaller. not long after I did my bit, she changed from a training ship to the royal and merchant navy to a school on a ship, I have two younger brothers who also went there, and the younger copped the school on a ship.

David Wols		26-Mar-2007 11:09
I too had my experiences in 69, not good, still have nightmares but I am particularly good at deck scrubbing even to this day. I indeed contributed to that News of the World expose, I had photos using what was then a very costly Minolta 110 film format, pocket instamatic, anyone remember those? I actually think Kodak registered the name 'Instamatic' in 68 so how Minolta got away with that I don't know. Anyway, bygones as they say, I may be mentally scarred but sane enough to know this is not the ship! Not even close.What is that ship? Incidentally my stay on board resulted in my successful career as a tabloid photographer.

Geoff Wood		26-Mar-2007 08:41
I was on the Arethusa in 1969, I don't know what you lot were on but I was sent there and hated it, slept in hammocks, got up at dawn, scrubbed decks, had officers that were psyhcopathic and if I ran into them again I'd give them some of what they gave me. I ran away twice and got caught, second time I bribed the Bosun and slipped over the side into the freezing water at 4am, it was December and snowing. In fact the year I left they ran an expose in the News of the World about what a disgusting place it was. Nice ship though, but this one isn't it.

Alf Frost		06-Feb-2007 12:31
This picture is not the Arethusa that I was on. Ijoined the 'Are' on 24 Jan. 1946 shortly after the war, there were 84 boys on board at the time having recently joined the ship from Salcombe in Devon.She was in Chatham dockyard during the war. My no, was 129. The Captain was Campbell.I was a Petty officer boy on 6 mess. I have many photographs of the Arethusa and of on board events.One of the boys manning the rigging for the Lord Mayor of London visit 1947.

Guest		04-Jan-2007 18:59
Hi Folks - that is definitely not the Arethusa that I was on in 1949 as the rake of the bow is nothing like the rake shown on the old Pekin in New York. The masts shown are just not the ones I used to climb etc... - my ships number 216 if I remember... Comms Officer Lt. Tiny Fuller and Capt. De la Mare.. As people say - bloody hard graft on board - sailing whalers, scrubbing the quarter deck with sandstone blocks and salt water (remember!) - having to climb up those rattlings with me legs shaking like jelly (hated heights, and still do at an old age of 71 (living in Devon)... used to be in the band playing (or trying to) play the Euphonium... Dave Bishop (Ex RN C/SSX 883349)

Hugh		05-Dec-2006 03:10
The picture is probably of the HMS Arathusa. Note the 'Tops' are old 'wooden wall' style. You can clearly see the tumble-home and rounded blunt bow of a wood ship. There are windows where the gun ports were. She has three masts, not the four which Peking has. Compare this with HMS Victory before she was restored back to the Nelsonian era.

Mick Colley		17-Nov-2006 21:29
Mick Colley 17-Nov-2006 21:21 The first picture is certainly not of the Arethusa (ex Peking). The TS Arethusa changed my life for the better even though it was tough going sometimes for boys from the ages of 13 to 15. I have some very fond memories of my life onboard the ship from 1960 to 1962 when she was moored on the river Medway. My number was 61 and I started on mess 7 but was promoted to Leading Hand on mess 22 (I think). I remember that particular mess because there was a boy on there who lost his eye which was replace by a false one. Some of you may remember 'Shaks' the 'Wizard' etc.

R Cullen		16-Nov-2006 12:15
Are you sure that this is not the original Arethusa - as the bow profile matches the old ship which was replaced by Peking rather than the latter.

Stewart Melrose		18-Oct-2006 19:10
I agree this photo is not the Arethusa that I served on 1960/62 I was leading seaman of 12 mess my number was 114 my name Stewart Melrose one of only two scots boys on board,I recently went to New York to the Arethusa and have to report that the museum also have been given lot of wrong info,which I promised the curator I would put right. I am told that for many years after my departure my escapade was talked about, after a rather unfortunate incident with Cmd De la Mare the captain I "borrowed" a ships boat one night and sailed away never to return,The shaftsbury homes refused even to reconise the fact that I existed and therefore I was refused entry into the Royal Navy, this as it turns out was a good thing as it forced me out into the world where I have become a very succesful entrepreneur I now own several companies specialising in jobs that no one else wants to do all around the world, anyone out there who rembers me,(maybe even my mate ginger from liverpool) please try melrosesw@aol.com' or if I can give more info to anyone just contact me I know a lot about the ship and still have the orginal brochure.

John Cooper		16-Oct-2006 20:52
Richard, this is very interesting, I am making further enquiries. If you have any photos of Arethusa/Peking you would like displayed alongside this one I would be willing to do so, with full credits to you of course.

Guest		16-Oct-2006 15:58
John, ONE LAST COMMENT. It looks like I've given you a bit of a puzzle. I can promise you the picture is not the ship I was on at upnor. The Arethusa I was on in 1963/64 was moored at upnor and WAS the Peking as I can remember looking at the stern one day and seeing the raised metal 'Peking' name having been painted over. I have photos of the Arethusa which clearly show the name Arethusa on the bows, and this is from a far greater distance than your photo which does not show a name. One other point of interest, I believe that Shaftesbury Homes called her a training ship but never gave her the title of TS Arethusa. If I remember rightly I was told that this was because people would think the TS stood for Trojen Ship.The ships name on our Royal Navy style cap bands was simply ARETHUSA. John, I will not bother you any more, unless I can assist you in any way. Please let us know if you find an answer to this conundrum. Richard.

John Cooper		16-Oct-2006 09:55
I looked at the photo, there does appear to be some differences. Although the basic size is about right. However, I personally took this photo of this large ship, which had the name TS Arethusa on it, it was moored in the River Medway near Upnor. The photo was taken in the late 1960's. We passed it many times in our small boats. I would be grateful if anybody could tell me the name of this ship before it was renamed TS Arethusa. All the references I can find say it was the Peking.

Guest		16-Oct-2006 08:54
Sorry, regarding my last should have said 'type in HMS Arethusa not TS. I apologize.

Guest		16-Oct-2006 08:49
Further to my last. If you type in TS ARETHUSA, go to page 11, open Shaftesbury Nomes FAQ site, you will see a photo of TS ARETHUSA formerly PEKING.

Guest		16-Oct-2006 08:27
According to documents I have TS Arethusa formerly Peking started life in the Medway in 1932. The first ship was the Chichester which came into use in 1866, this was joined by the Frigate Arethusa (one of the last wooden warships) until 1932 when they were replaced by the 'Peking'. I can assure you that the photo displayed is not the Peking. I spent two years on the 'Peking' and can remember it as if it was yesterday. I also have photos to compare. There is no likeness. 'Peking only had yard arms on the foremast and only one white line along her sides. There are alot of other differences, to many to mention.

John Cooper		15-Oct-2006 22:07
Very interesting, I took this photo in the late 1960's, the ship was named TS Arethusa. I had no idea there was more than one Arethusa. I will immediately send an agent to New York to photograph the Peking for comparison. Photos will be here in about a week. Do you know how many Arethusa's there were ? Any information you have will be good.

Guest		15-Oct-2006 21:42
I was on the Arethusa formally Peking 1963/64 on the River Medway for two years. The picture displayed maybe a Arethusa but it's not the one that was formally the Peking.

Tasha		09-Oct-2006 09:47
Could you tell me where she is now based? My grandad was on this ship and he would like to know. Thank you

John Cooper		23-Sep-2006 23:06
Optical illusion.

Ian Dalgliesh		23-Sep-2006 23:02
Why was the sea that odd shade of pink?

Guest		22-May-2006 21:41
Stephen not Stepen.

Stepen Mcdonough		22-May-2006 21:40
I lived on this ship for 9 mths, i joined in 1971, i was 14yrs old. We used to sleep in hammocks. Fond memories even though it was tough at times.

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