A life (or ten days) on the ocean wave
Aileen Torrance’s maritime memories of a school trip with a difference
In 1973, a series of events resulted in my taking to the high seas on the SS Uganda, my first ever trip abroad. First and most importantly, the summer school cruise was to sail from our local port of Greenock. Next, it transpired that one of my mum’s friends, a teacher, was supervising the Cowal school party, thus ensuring that an eye could be kept on me. Then, my younger brother handed me the gift of an ‘it’s not fair’ argument by being selected to take part in a German football tournament. And finally, there was an element of blackmail - my best friend Rebecca was going, but only if I was too.
The Clyde-built Uganda entered service in 1952 as a passenger and cargo liner on the route between London and East Africa. When demand for the route dried up, she was converted into an educational cruise ship with space for the original number of 300 paying passengers and an additional 900 pupils. The cargo holds became dormitories and class rooms, and the upper deck was extended to accommodate, amongst other things, a very small swimming pool, an enormous addition to the overall tonnage, which gave the ship a somewhat lumbering gait. It was a bit like being on board a hippopotamus.
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