Memories of the SS Nevasa as it left Sunderland for a school trip voyage

A former Sunderland man has shared his memories of a ship that hundreds of Wearside school children will remember.
Parents watch from the shoreline as the SS Nevasa sets sail from Sunderland.Parents watch from the shoreline as the SS Nevasa sets sail from Sunderland.
Parents watch from the shoreline as the SS Nevasa sets sail from Sunderland.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of David Dunn embarking on a journey on the SS Nevasa from Sunderland.

Today, David kindly shared his memories of his journey to Tenerife, Casablanca, Madeira and Lisbon with Echo readers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

David, now 64, said: "I was 14 at the time and was with Barnes Senior School. My parents paid £60 as we got a discount with being from a large family.”

A recent picture of David Dunn.A recent picture of David Dunn.
A recent picture of David Dunn.

David remembered that he was sea sick through the Bay of Biscay and added: “A nurse offered me a bread bun and a tablet which seemed odd.”

He later found out that eating the bread bun and taking the tablet worked wonders. The finer details are best left unexplained!

David also recalled another incident which happened on the journey and it was a prank which was played on one of the teachers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The dormatory we were in played a prank on our teacher by placing a pail of water over the main door arch, so that when the door opened it would lead to a teacher being drenched.”

David pictured in the Pallion School football team in 1967. He is third left on the back row.David pictured in the Pallion School football team in 1967. He is third left on the back row.
David pictured in the Pallion School football team in 1967. He is third left on the back row.

The prank backfired though, as David explained.

“We were punished by the ship’s captain by being put in the storage locker.”

The chilly punishment saw the boys being sent back to their dorms ‘with second thoughts on our actions from then on’.

A big highlight for many of the boys was a tour of Benfica’s football stadium in Lisbon and David said: “At our age, it was a fantastic day out.”

David took this view of the SS Nevasa at one of the ports he visited.David took this view of the SS Nevasa at one of the ports he visited.
David took this view of the SS Nevasa at one of the ports he visited.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

David still remembers a visit to a local market in Casablanca and said: “I went to buy an orange and gave the stall holder the equivalent of about 10 pence which, at home, would have got you about two oranges.

"He started looking around for a carrier bag and when he found one, he filled it with about 20 oranges.”

He also remembered ‘having to keep our school blazers on so that we could be recognised and in Tenerife, we nearly melted with the heat.”

David’s memories also included a tour of Mount Teide which is a volcano on Tenerife.

Another voyage starts for the SS Nevasa.Another voyage starts for the SS Nevasa.
Another voyage starts for the SS Nevasa.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

What are your memories of school trips in Sunderland? Did you go on a trip on one of the educational ships or perhaps went to one of Sunderland’s summer camps?

Did you take video footage of your time away and would you like to share it with our readers? If so, we would love to hear from you.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Take a look and then get in touch with your own memories by emailing [email protected]

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

How to subscribe to the print edition

It’s easy to subscribe to your local newspaper. We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of. Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.

Related topics: