John Witney
Ship name / Flight number: Fairsea
Arrival Date: 22/11/1956
Life’s Journey -England to Australia - John Witney BBM # 5741/56
Some highlights of the life made by John Witney Leaving England 1956 for Australia… the land of promise under the auspicious of the Big Brother Movement
Early life in England
John Witney, born at St Helier Hospital Carshalton, on the 27th of September 1938 and lived in Hackbridge, Surrey, United Kingdom, during his first seven (7) years. Then left for Australia in October 1956.
John was followed by brothers, William (Bill), Frederick (Fred) who make their own journey to Australia. Their sister, Georgina (Gina) later joining us via South Africa.
My story in the early years
I have never looked to other people to help or look after me due to my four years in Spurgeon’s Orphanage at Reigate, Surrey when I was seven (7) years old, through to 11 years of age. That is why I have never wanted to contact any local newspapers about my life. I have always looked after myself and kept independent. Basically, those early years in the Orphanage made me look out for myself and I grew up stronger for their Christian teachings and strict disciplines.
Life in the late 1950’s - The Application Form and Motivation
From when I was 11-15 years old, I attended Elmswood Secondary Modern School and in my last term, I was made a Prefect and the cricket and football Captain. After leaving school at 15 years of age, I started work as a cadet draughtsman with a central heating company on the Balham Highway.
As I road my push bike, some 15 miles each way to work in those early days and in all kinds of weather, I remember being somewhat dismayed about my life compared to some of my mates who earnt £8 per week working at London Airport as labourers. This being as much as my Dad, who worked as a bus driver out of the Sutton Depot.
This was all about the time of the Suez trouble with Nassor and Anthony Eden. And, to say the lease, not a very nice time for a young lad with no money to live. My starting wage, I might add, was a shilling per hour for a 44-hour week and half of this went to Mum, leaving me a Guiney a week to live on. Not much when you wanted a girlfriend and take her out to the flicks, or have to buy your fags and clothing … So of course, I was not enjoying my early teens so much. Not like my mates of whom were able to do all these things. It made me wonder if there wasn’t a better life and I remember discussing this with our Company Secretary (2IC) and asking his advice - for I wanted to either join the French Foreign Legion or go to Canada even wanting to join the Merchant Navy. I was told they were all not-on, as two of these ideas were not for young fellows, “as they would have me”! At the time it took me a while to get that message!
As it so happened I did a lot of delivery and pick up of documents for the Firm I worked for, travelling from Totting Bec to inner London on the underground. I recall walking up The Strand and coming across a building, Australia House with a sign inviting people to migrate to Australia. So, I ventured up to the 3rd floor and picked up an application form from a nice lady. Being adventurous and having itchy feet I must have thought this was a way to get out of depressing old England. It was perhaps the way to go!
I recall reading a book all about Canada. I was most impressed and fascinated with this faraway place, alas I was to find out my yearning to go there wasn’t possible for at that time, no assisted passage was available.
The Stand - London
So, to cut to the chase, I filled in the form. And one night at home, Dad had done his day shift and was sitting in front of the fire eating his pilchards on toast, so I ventured over to him and explained that I needed his signature (no turning back now) which after reading the form he signed it and saying…“You made your bed Son, you lie on it!”
Well, this was to make me more determined to leave home and my family of stepmum, Dad and two brothers. I don’t think I thought much about that at the time and that resolve stayed with me and strengthened my desire to emigrate to Australia.
I thank my father for his courage that day to sign my application form, he must have known my desire to have what I wanted – perhaps a better life far away – I’ve certainly got no regrets, even though my football career could have been different (Tooting and Micham FC wanted to sign me up).
The Big Decision and Preparation (1956)
Wallington & Carshalton Times Oct 11th, 1956 on my departure…
The form was dropped in to Australia House on my next trip to London and I think I was given some advice and details of what to pack and when to expect departure.
About six months after I submitted the application, I was told I'd be migrating to Australia. But, due to the Suez Crisis, my ship was delayed several times, and it wasn’t until October 1956 that I was finally given my departure details.
We were advised to take in advance our suitcases to Victoria Station. I remember dragging it along London Road to Hackbridge Rail Station—it was hard work and very heavy. Halfway along the way, the local milkman stopped his electric milk cart and gave me a lift to the station where my cases were either booked in or I took it to Victoria Station, I can’t quite remember.
So, the day arrived, 16th October 1956 where with my step-mum Rosie and I travel to Victoria Station to get onto the boat train that leaves for Southampton. I must say it was sad to leave my family, especially my step-mum, which I can still see waving to me as the train leaves.
We are met by our ‘big brother’, Murrey Tatlow and his wife who are a lovely young couple who will be our escort officers chaperoning us to a place far-far-away.
*John Witney is standing next to Murrey Tatlow in the photograph in the BBM Centennial book on page 97.
My last time, Dad and I spoke in person was at home that previous afternoon for he had night shift on the day of my leaving. His wonderful, if not funny words to me were:
When lighting your fag always remember to snap your match in half before throwing it away; and
If you can’t get a regular shower, rub yourself down with a stiff dry towel, it will help.
I thanked him for his advice and reflected later that he probably knew more about Australia than I did at the time.
MV Fairsea – The Voyage - Southampton Oct 1956 - Sydney Nov 1956
I just turned 18 years old when we sailed… I thought I was younger due to those shipping delays.
The Fairsea started as the American Freighter Rio-de-Plata. After war service as an escort aircraft carrier, then purchased by Sitmar as inaugurate migrant passenger ship to Australia. The sister ship Fairstar was where my wife Jan and I took our three kids on a 17-day holiday cruise in 2001 brought back fond memories of my 5 ½ week sailing as a young lad in 1956. It kind of looked so similar in so many ways.
Departure
We boarded the MV Fairsea at Southampton Dock having found our assigned cabin B41 on ‘D’ Deck, sharing a space with 11 other boys from the Big Brother Movement. ‘D’ Deck, was as low as you can go for passenger beds. We were not lucky having a 12-berth cabin that had no natural light or an operable port hole. You had to get used to the constant thumping of the engines and all the creaking noises!
I recall that evening at the wharf, it was dark, cold and little damp. Me and another little brother (Paul Douglas) were looking out over the handrail at the very busy dock yard and the many people and their luggage, remarking to each other “Where the hell are we going?”
I don’t think either of us had any idea of where we were going or what laid ahead. I certainly did not for I know a lot of Canada and New Zealand from our Geography teacher at school, but little of Australia for which my new life adventure only costing £5 was about to start. Not a ten-pound Pom!
It was a massive white ship to my teenage eyes. The seas were rough. Many boys and passengers got seasick on those first few days, I was lucky not too!
We were all assembled that first night on board and I am in a que of some hundreds of people (1471 total number on board) to get our first evening meal and just behind me a young family. The mother is very pregnant, and we have a nice chat about what’s in the future for us. I learn later that she dies in childbirth. It’s all I know, but it hurts to think about the sorrow of that poor family.
I know that there were several deaths on that voyage, as I witnessed a body being lowered into the sea one early morning. Why we were up so early that morning was since our Cabin on Deck ‘D’ had 12 of us I had been made in charge and when the two lads who had hit the sprinkler pillow fighting and causing it to leak would not own up and I wouldn’t dob them-in. We were all blamed and had to do penance. On the Ships Pursor’s orders we had to get up at 5am and run round the ship for 3 to 4 laps. A thing I dreaded, particularly on a duty free ship.
Despite all that, the voyage had its bright spots. I met some wonderful people from all over Great Britain with ascents so different to mine and those wonderful and funny Italian waiters and crew. Also, a long-standing girlfriend who ended up in Brisbane with her parents. Alas, even though we kept in touch, she returned with her family to England after a few years and married a soccer player. She was fun and it made with a lot of other people on board a wonderful experience to be at sea. I remember sunbathing on deck, swimming, and nightly entertainment like quiz nights and dancing.
An exciting 5 ½ week trip through Suez Canal, ours was the last boat through, which was even more exciting, what with our Italian crew and Mexican Captain if we had not got through! Stuck in Suez for two years, would have been fun! When we passed through Gibraltar, Port Said, the Suez Canal, and the Red Sea. We watched traders on bum boats try to sell their goods to passengers. One lad traded his jacket for worthless trinkets. In Aden, beggars and cripples crowded our anchored boat— it left a lasting impression of those poor mid-Eastern people.
We crossed the Equator and took part in the traditional King Neptune ceremony. It was also quite an experience, what with the pillow fight on a greasy pole, spanning the pool. I fell off after winning!
Arriving in Perth, Australia (November 15th, 1956)
We arrive in Fremantle, what a dump in those days at first impression!
Luckily, we were then taken to the WA University in Perth and are treated by the ladies CWA to a wonderful afternoon tea. My first experience of passionfruit. I may add, I have never even to this day… swallowed the pips in fear of causing blockage to my appendix (my family still think I’m weird).
Via Adelaide, I remember the Cathedral quite well, but not much else.
Then onto Melbourne to tour the city. Making the local news when we boys had to push our coach bus up Bourke Street in peak hour traffic. That evening we watched Gordon Pirre, Chris Bannister and other Olympic runners through the chain wire fencing at the training oval.
Finally, on to Sydney, sailing through the Bass Straight (Tassie) known for rough seas, I was standing at the swimming Pool Bar, when the ship and its swimming pool lurched to port side with all the bar falling on top of me, quite exciting because I saved all the glasses and bottles from falling and being broken. The barman was most impressed and I can still see his face, he was most amazed!
Losing my sunglasses in Sydney Harbour the morning of arrival. The magic of the scenery that first morning was spectacular to say the least. Going through customs, I smuggled a Sitmar teaspoon off the ship—I still have it!
We docked at Pier 13, Walsh Bay, and were processed through customs. Like all the 30 odd ‘little brothers’ on this trip we broke-up into two groups. Homebush hostel group and Fairfield Farm. We congregated into like-minded groups and moved into many boarding houses and B&B’s over the next 6-8 months.
I joined the North Sydney Soccer Football Club, playing at Chatswood Oval. The team comprised many nationalities. Our Under 21’s were the best in the district, but our all age perhaps the worst!
Reminiscences
1. "My big brother" family contact was a Sydney Palmolive Executive.
2. Citizenship (a long time to accept).
3. Not joining the armed services in Australia. Excluded, due to me being an Apprentice Draughtsman at Sears Heating and Ventilating (H&V) at Arncliffe.
4. Gunning House – Homebush – I remember being sunburnt after body surfing at Coogee beach (blistered back) then celebrating my first Xmas in Australia at the Enmore Pub.
5. One nasty lad stealing cheques from Commonwealth Bank Australia, Martin Place. Was deported.
6. A greengrocer in Arncliffe saved me fainting from heat exhaustion (gave me a glass of water).
First Impressions and Getting Settled (1956–1957)
It was scorching hot. I got sunburnt almost immediately. Flies were everywhere. I missed the BBC and familiar accents. People mocked my British accent, and I remember getting into an argument with a fellow who told me to "get used to it or bugger off to Pommyland."
Blazing and uncomfortable heat, getting sunburnt so easily, the potholes, the many extra public holidays and thousands of flies. Missing a radio and the BBC news. The sometimes terrible language and strange voices on the commercial radio stations. Being told I had a funny accent, when I thought they had the funny accent!
Realising chocolate was half the price but clothing and shoes double the price of England.
Listening to my cousin, Peter Hall talk down just about everything Australian – he got my goat until one day I seriously reprimanded him, “you live here so get used to it or bugger off back to Pommyland!” He got the message and hadn’t realised it upset me. But, I eventually found myself doing the same thing with other people. I'll always be a Pom, I guess.
I suffered homesickness for at least 6 months and missed my parents and brothers and also my girlfriend Jean Carter who I spent most of my money on buying an engagement ring. I was silly because it was never going to work, call it puppy love and being so lonely – time heals. Perhaps as they say, I was ‘growing up’.
Working in Australia
Australia House in Macquarie Place Park, within a week of arrival, on 29th November 1956, I am introduced to the pink pages phone book and Mr. Frank Mansel gets me an interview with Email Westinghouse at Rosebery. They don’t need a draughtsman at this time and forwarded me on to Sears Heating & Ventilation at Arncliffe. I started work at 18 years of age, as an endorsed 3rd year apprentice in their small mechanical services plumbing division. My starting wage was £8-11-6 per week. It’s great and the bosses look after me. I do all the things a young fellow does in these early years, join North Shore under 21 soccer team. Win a final at the showground 3-1. Go to Tech to complete my Mechanical Engineering Certificate. Run our plumbing company, tendering, design, wages, supervision… all prior to my 20th birthday. I’m settled in and enjoying this non-stop but rewarding life here in Australia.
My kin follow
There are records of letters during early days to Mum, Dad and Brothers.
My glowing letters sent home of stories of life in Sydney influencing my brothers, Bill and ‘ever ready’ Fred to also migrate here and so starts the evolution of the ‘Witney’s from my early start to what it is today.
As my brothers said, “I was the forward scout to pioneer there coming over the next few years.” Bill Orontes 5th February 1958, Fred travelling from England on 22nd December and arriving 19th January 1960. Also, my sister Georgina coming to Australia via South Africa sometime later when we are all settled. We are all very proud to be Australian of British heritage.
Being appointed guardian to younger brother Fred by Australian Government, was a worry for me at the time because he was a bit of a rebel in those days, what with hot rod American V8 cars and having no responsibility for doing his share in our flat at Sans Souci. Fred had no respect for me and Bill at that time and really hated the fact that his elder brother was his appointed Guardian here in Australia.
The Passing of Dad who was thinking of coming to Australia. Also, our Rosie passing was terrible news and a great shock.
Attachments
Thoughts and Questions:
Past reunions for my 1956 group on voyage did not result in finding any of the 27 ex ‘little brothers’ (LB’s) from the group.
I would like to find out if any still exist or have left a footprint with Big Brother Movement?
The Ship - Facts
I was BBM ID: #5741/56 with BBM ‘Little Brother’.
Also No. 1461 on passenger list arriving 15th November 1956 in Fremantle
Total number of passengers on Fairsea was 1471.
Voyage length: 5½ weeks (16th October ‘til 22 November (38 days, say 5 ½ weeks)
Some of the highlights of living in Australia
Personal Achievements
What I am most proud of in my life’s achievements is meeting a lovely Australian woman from Campsie. I married Jan and brought up three wonderful children within the Sutherland Shire in Sylvania. I designed and built our family home of 36 years, moving into it in the Christmas of 1966. My wife and I got confirmed at St Andrews Cathedral in 1967.
I was involved as President of the First East Miranda (Scottish) Scout Group for a number of years whilst my son David was in the group.
Work Achievements
After completing my apprenticeship mid 1959 at Sears H&V Company, I then headed-up a mechanical and plumbing firm in Caringbah and gained my Mechanical Engineering Certificate at St George Technical College in 1965. My Air Conditioning career culminated as the Construction Manager at Thos Clark & Son, Bankstown, working there for 23 years.
Full member of the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) in June 1981. Actively engaged in the Standards of Australia sub-committee ME/62/1 – Fire Precautions for the upgrading of the new AS1668 – Part 1. Also assisting in comments and structuring of the Fire Damper Codes AS1682 – Parts 1 & 2. I represented the Australian Mechanical Contractors (AMCA) as their delegate on the above sub-committee.
Following this, in 1989 specialising in mechanical services and construction works I branched out into my own business, ‘Witney Engineering Services’ for 10 years before retiring to the Southern Highlands of NSW. Registered as propriety Limited Company on 1 July 1994.
Sporting achievements
Since moving to Australia, I have continued my passion for sports throughout.
First with soccer, playing for the North Shore Soccer FC in my early adult life. I remember scoring one of the goals from the halfway line playing in the final of the Northern Sydney District Grand Final winning 3-1 at the Moore Park Sportsground. Managing the local Kogarah Waratahs Football Team in the St George all age comp after playing for Ansett Transport Industries (ATI) representative team and North Shore SFC and eventually promoting and managing a team into the Sydney Amateur competition.
I played and coached cricket for the Sylvania Heights Youth Club whilst my children were growing up. Coaching the cricket team and winning the competition in 1992.
In later years, in Bundanoon, and after a few championships under my belt, President of the Club for two years, I now play social lawn bowls and enjoy the occasional game of golf. Only regret is for never having scored a hole in one at golf or a century at cricket. I did, however, have an opening partnership scoring a century with the future Coach of the Australian Soccer Team, Graham Arnold when he was 15 - 16 years of age. Out of the century partnership, I scored only a fraction of it!!!
I received the honour of being made a Life Member of the Bundanoon Bowling Club in 2018.
Summary
Amongst the semi-rural environment of the Southern Highlands over the last 25 years, I have really enjoyed getting to know our five grandchildren and in the last six years the joy of our six great grandchildren (so far)!
This, my life story, is only a small glimpse of my life contribution as an immigrant which has given me a unique prospective of having dual nationalities. This has caused many debates with friends, family and my wife of 62+ years, particularly in the sporting rivalry between England and Australia.
It has all been quite enjoyable and on reflection it has been a great life here down under!
And, I thank the BBM for helping to make it all possible.