In Memory of Ulf Larsson et al...


An obituary is a celebration of a life not a sad reflection - we remember all the things, mostly good, that made that life and sometimes say a prayer but mostly smile. This blog is in memory of Ulf Larsson, Boatswain, and others like him who sailed out on British, Scandinavian, and other European ships following the Second World War. They were real sailor men - "every hair spun yarn and every finger a marlin spike."

I met Ulf Larsson in September 1955 as we signed on the tramp ship "Fresno City" in Rotterdam. When I say 'we' I mean John Hopkins [then known as Hoppy], Titch Redcliffe, Fagy Vanner, and myself then known as Ginger Hogan. Apprentice lads aged 16 and 17 years. [It was a memorable year because I had met Tina that summer and we had fallen in love.]

The crew on the ship were from Cardiff, a tough town, and they were a motley bunch so inevitably it required a knowledgeable bosun and the burden often fell on us young men - you grew up quickly.

Ulf Larsson was from Sweden, and, as a young man, had sailed on Baltic topsail schooners carrying timber to the UK. He proudly boasted that he'd been to Exeter now long forgotten as a port up stream from Exmouth. He was like many of that generation - never happier than being at sea with fair winds and a good ship beneath their feet and good shipmates. It was their real home, their cabins were neat, clean, and decorated with marine artifacts such as canvas worked with the removal of of warp and weft to look like lace. He was the complete sailorman, familiar with sails and rigging, competent with the fid, the marline spike, the serving mallet, the sailmaker's palm and needle. He was versed with wire ropes, coir, sisal, manila, and cotton ropes and lines. Net making, boat work, and cargo handling were all in his competence [and all the others like him.]

Ulf had a Swedish accent like the mad cook in the Muppets - he called me Yinger! Life for him was punctuated with smiles and humour. He had been a POW with the Japanese but never spoke about those times and did not appear to hold a grudge. There is even an apocryphal story about him and Moji Mary, the lady who operated a bum boat off Shimoneski Suido in the Inland Sea, Japan. She sold tea sets and stores from a slop chest to seafarers from all nations. The story goes that she complained of a back ache and Ulf said he could fix it. The story says that he rubbed her back with mosquito repellent, gave her a salt tablet, and seduced her. I do not know if it is true but I can say Moji Mary was very cheerful and got on well with Ulf.

Ulf was ideal for us young lads learning to be seafarers - there are not any like him at sea now and I am glad we had that wonderful experience. When you read this say a small prayer for him and all the many sailors who made life a pleasure. I trust that there is a heaven for those men with a good Trade Wind, the sun shining, flying fish bursting from the bow and so on - a good thought.

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