Don’t Forget the Sea

Abstract

Sixty years ago Britain was a maritime nation. There was hardly a family in the land that did not have a father, uncle, nephew or son who owed a living to the sea. Hundreds of thousands were employed in shipbuilding, the docks swarmed with stevedores, the Red Ensign Navy was the biggest in the world, the White Ensign flew in every ocean, our smaller ports teemed with fishing vessels. Those who wished to travel to other lands had no other option but to go by sea. On long voyages they adopted the routine of shipboard life, experienced the magic of the sea and prided themselves on being of a seafaring race.