Letter from Hilda Besse to Capt. AD Blair c 1950

DescriptionTo read more about Captain A.D. Blair's life, click here.

The Halal Shipping Company

ADEN January 10th

Dear Captain Blair

Yours is indeed a voice out of the past!

You will see from the letter heading how HSC has developed - we now have four ships, two built after we the little "Halal", of about 1000 tonnes each, and two delivered in 1949 and 1950 of 2400 T. We are now building a fifth of 1500 T. In addition, we have 14 dhours, of which six have a Crossley engine, all built, of course on our own stocks at Maala, as well as about 40 lightless (likewise built by us) and 5 tugs, also of our own construction. The Government have reclaimed ground at Maala and built a long wharf with enormous godowns entirely for us, and my husband's business has developed on the same fantastically successful lines as his shipping company. Two crown his life work, and in recognition of the great services he has rendered Aden, building schools etc. He has just been knighted a signal honor for a foreigner.

His eldest son, Andre, and our own two boys, are all working in the town, our oldest son Peter having gone into the shipping and mechanical side of the town's activities (we have a huge workshops which enables us to carry out major repairs not only on our own ships but also those for whom we act as agents) to say nothing of our own dry dock (floating). He has just completed a voyage top N. Japan as the engineer in order to gain deep sea experience after two years at London University. Our youngest son Tony, is today managing the firm with his step brother Andre.

Mr. Davies is still with us. He comes out every summer to work with Andre whilst one of them goes on leave or does a business tour. He is at present in London but will return here in a month or two. Mr Clueas (our London manager) is here of a short visit and Mr. Davies is looking after London in his absence.

So you can see that we have not been standing still these past 30 years! My husband still plays a very great part in the direction of his affairs, to great really, for he is nearly 74 and will not admit that he can no longer to what he did 20 years ago! He is truly a wonderful man...

Our oldest daughter is a hospital nurse. The second is married and the third is secretary to the Warden of the College my husband has foundered in Oxford. So we all fully occupied. We are glad to hear you are well and have a happy home with your married daughter.

Yours sincerely

Hilda Besse

Relates To

PeopleBlair, Andrew Dougall, 1872-1955Part of Publication CollectionTauranga Memories (2011-2021) - PublicationsOther Item(s)Blair, Andrew Dougall, 1872-1955

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Letter from Hilda Besse to Capt. AD Blair c 1950