Who's Afraid of the Dark ?
ISBN: 1 873120 55 9
pp 176
Author: Tom Glassey
Price: £6.99
A donation from the proceeds from this publication are being donated by the author to St. Vincent's School for the Blind, Liverpool.
Published by: The Manx Experience, 45 Slieau Dhoo, Tromode Park, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 5LG
| "LAMENT FOR THE BEN-MY-CHREE" I'm lying here in Douglas, once again I did not sail, The island has no papers and Marksies bread's gone stale, I'm a brand new ship from Holland and Ben-My-Chree's my name. I'm the slowest ship they ever built and I've other claims to fame. I watch my little sister, The Lady pass me by. She's on her way to Liverpool, so why the hell can't I? She's 25 years my senior and only half my size, But I mustn't go out there today, for fear I might capsize. I see the yachts out in the bay, with their sails unfurled, My chairman's told my passengers I can sail throughout the world. To Tokyo or to Sydney or even Santa Fe, But Liverpool or Heysham are just too far away. I lie here in the harbour, feeling so uneasy, My sailing's have been cancelled because it is too breezy. I'm storm bound here in Douglas and on my berth I lie, It really is embarrassing as a canoe goes paddling by. I've got another sister, she's called a SuperCat, She takes day-trippers to Liverpool, but does not bring them back. The Lady comes to the rescue, she always is on call, I avoid these situations by not leaving port at all! Now we've got a little system, it really is unique, It protects us from the elements when the weather is too bleak, My captain lights a cancel and hangs it from my railings, And if the wind doth blow it out he cancels all my sailings! |
A little more than two years ago the "Lament for the Ben-My-Chree", reproduced opposite, arrived in my email from a M&ISS contributor who had been shown a copy whilst on board a steam packet vessel. The Lament was included in the next Mersey & Irish Sea Ships update and attributed to an unknown author.
Although the "Lament" raised and still raises a good laugh, at the time I felt somewhat annoyed that someone should have the nerve to criticise the BEN-MY-CHREE a ship I hold in equal esteem to the LADY OF MANN. At the time I felt I was the only shipping enthusiast who actually liked the vessel!
A few weeks ago I was away on holiday when a copy of the "Who's Afraid of The Dark" was delivered to my address by the author. On my return reading the enclosed note, I soon discovered the identity of the composer of the "Lament for the Ben-My-Chree" - Tom Glassey.
Tom, is a maritime enthusiast as are most visitors to the M&ISS web site. To the majority of us the hobby is a very much a visual one, often centering around photography, the various visual details of a particular vessel, books and the enjoyment of the seascape whilst on board ship. This mainly visual experience is complemented by sound, smell and touch.
However, Tom Glassey has never had the benefit of the visual experience that we take for granted. He has been completely blind since the age of two as a consequence of retinal cancer.
Tom's autobiography gives us a different perspective on the Maritime Hobby and how his interest in the sea has developed along with the other strands of his life, education, family, work.
Castletown, Isle of Man is Tom Glassey's home town. Born in 1953 Tom, spent his school days in at St. Vincent's School, West Derby, Liverpool. St.
Vincent's School remains a leading school for blind and partially sighted children. However, with Tom living on the Isle of Man he had to overcome the trauma of boarding away from his beloved island something which he admits he never became used to and which finally led him to abandon an engineering course at a college in the English midlands.
Reading "Who's Afraid of the Dark" one readily appreciates the feelings of young Tom as he has to get to grips with his new surroundings, the separation from his parents and brothers. friends and island.
However, having to commute to Liverpool half termly [sometimes termly depending on family finances] led Tom to develop an interest in the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. This interest being nurtured by Captain Jack Ronan who even took the time to visit Tom at school when his ship was in Liverpool and allow the author and his school fiends to visit the ships on days out from school when much of the IoMSPCo fleet would spend the winter laid up in Birkenhead.
Dennis Glassey, Tom's father, was employed at Castletown Gas Works as a stoker during Tom's school days. However, as well as working in the gas works itself, Dennis Glassey's job would also involve unloading the Ramsey Steamship Company "Ben Boats" which brought imports of coal to the works. Tom would often accompany his father to Castletown Harbour during school holidays when the coal boats required discharging and taken on board the ships during tea-breaks.
In addition to Castletown Harbour, and the Ships of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, the author's love of the sea was further developed as a teenager assisting local fisherman Michael Quine who fished for Lobsters out of nearby Derbyhaven.
Probably the most important event in recent years was Tom's marraige to Barbara and his introduction by his wife to computers.
Computer technology has certainly changed Tom's life. The latest technology being able to convert printed text and output it to a braille display
Tom now works for the Royal Bank of Scotland and has even fulfilled his ambition to own his own boat.
In summary this is an excellent book, perhaps not one which you would at first expect to see reproduced on a shipping web site, but an excellent read and with a good maritime feel running through it.
"Who's Afraid of the Dark?" is also very inspiring book with ample helpings of sadness, affection and good humour but never bitterness.
Read the passage below and think of how it compares with our visually orientated voyage reports:
"I would always make sure I was out on deck for the leaving of Liverpool, standing on the Landing Stage side of the vessel with both hands clasped to the rail. Five minutes before sailing came the blast of the ship's whilst a truly magical sound ..... chains would now be clinking, heavy steel doors were being closed and bolted. The last sound I would hear before leaving the landing stage would be the sounds of the chains that held the gangway in placing being removed and then the sound of steel scraping on steel as the gangway was lowered down to the stage. With the ropes now off, and the vibration under my feet the message was loud and clear, I was on my way home."
I would certainly recommend it to anyone as an enjoyable read, for the average maritime enthusiast who takes all their senses for granted it offers a different perspective.
John H. Luxton
May 13, 2001.
