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Aldgate (London) landmark disappears - Marine Broker demolished Saturday 21 June 2008

We reported 10 months ago that the ex-PONL 'watering hole', the Marine Broker wine bar, had been closed following Lou Sidoli's retirement (see 18/08/2007 news item below). This facility, immediately opposite Beagle House (now Maersk House) on the corner of Leman Street and Buckle Street had been a popular venue for entertaining visitors to the PONL head office, and was the location used for many retirement and farewell parties.

It's a sad site, but the PONL Heritage Group thanks Mark Barrett for the photo right. Demolition of the building took place earlier this month.

Google Maps link - Beagle House/Marine Broker

Mike Chapman

The history of Overseas Containers Limited to be the subject of a book Sunday 2 September 2007

Alan Bott, a Director of Overseas Containers Limited from 1976-1996, has sent the following letter out through the SCARA (former OCL, POCL and PONL staff association) network. It is copied here as it is expected to be of interest to others!

PROSPECTUS: A HISTORY OF OCL (Overseas Containers Ltd)

It was at the Memorial Service for Sir Kerry St. Johnston at St. Paul’s Knightsbridge in January 2007 that some of resolved that the time was now right to set down the history of OCL. Kerry was last of the founding pioneers to survive. I had suggested to him a decade ago that we should write OCL’s history. He declined, believing, I think, that he was too close for objectivity – although he did record his recollections. Fortunately, through the initiative of Sir Ronald Swayne, Colonel Pat Tobin, a director, collected and recorded the writings and reminiscences of the founding fathers of OCL and those most intimately involved in its genesis. These papers which were completed in 1980 and run to a MS more than an inch thick, form the basis of the present memoir. We are only too aware of its shortcomings: some will regret the omission of treasured memories. It will be the verdict of future historians perhaps, to focus on the significance of OCL in a different manner.

We have gathered together a good representation of the various strands in OCL including Michael Graham (Economist), Guy Cheeseman (Company Secretary), Michael Read (Finance), John Newton (Technical), Rogan McLellan ( Far East Trade), John Roberts (R&D) David Baker (OCAL) and Stephen Rabson (P&O Archivist). Sales/Marketing is represented by Bob Bowen and Ian Thornton both officers of SCARA and John Dawes McKinnon McKensie/John Swire Hong Kong, who are prepared to attend to the administration of the project. I am to be the Editor.

We have in mind a book of about 50,000 words with about 40 illustrations including up to 20 devoted to personalities. As most of the contributors to the book are in their seventies (and two are octogenarians) we propose a short period of gestation with publication in the Spring of 2008.

We have set a budget of £15,000 for the project. The Maersk Company, as the “residual legatee” of OCL, has consented to put up £10,000 towards the venture. It is proposed that any proceeds from the publication will go to SCARA. Meanwhile in an endeavour to make up the £5000 difference we would be grateful for any benefactor to offer help or we can accept donations however small from any member of SCARA. Also the offer of any written or pictorial contribution relating to this project, particularly appertaining to the Far East Trade and any other trades that OCL served.

In the meantime any contributions, historical, written or financial should be directed to Ian E Thornton convenor of SCARA at 57 Oakfield Road Southgate   London N14 6LT.

For local UK donations of anything interesting could be collected or brought to our next gathering if too big to post. Ian’s phone no is 020 8372 0744 to arrange.

Alan Bott,
Director OCL 1976/1996

July 2007

Mike Chapman

East London Advertiser (370 Kb PDF)
Important (ex)P&O Nedlloyd 'facility' closes after 73 years of business in London's East End Saturday 18 August 2007

If you worked in Beagle House, or visited the London head office during your time with OCL, P&O Containers, or P&O Nedlloyd, then the chances are that you visited Sidoli's Cafe or the next door Marine Broker at least once... The cafe and wine bar were located just across the road from Beagle House near the entrance to the Aldgate East underground station subway.

The Sidoli families' two food and drink outlets were extremely popular for many years for staff wanting tea/coffee and toast for breakfast, a sandwich at midday, a working lunch or a venue for a staff party in the evening (the Marine Broker hosting many retirement and farewell parties).

What many of us who have used the cafe and wine bar may not have appreciated is how long the Sidoli family business had been running on this corner of Leman Street, or how inter-twined they have been with the history of the area since they started up in 1934. The article on the right from the East London Advertiser (kindly sent in by Joan Chapman, ex-Company Secretary's Office) tells the story in detail. As the article makes clear, the real reason for closure has nothing whatsover to do with the drop of business since A.P.Moller-Maersk took over P&O Nedlloyd and Beagle House became Maersk House!

It seems unlikely that the Sidoli family (Lou, Margaret, and Mario) and staff will read this, but if they should ever find www.ponlheritage.com then on behalf of all of us who have been very satisfied customers, thank you and best wishes for the future...

Mike Chapman (no relation to Joan!)

Ex-P&O Nedlloyd Chief Executive on BBC Radio Saturday 9 June 2007

Philip Green, now CEO at United Utilities is one of three panel members on the BBC Radio 4 business programme 'Bottom Line'. Philip talks about various subjects including his current work at the water, gas and electricity supply and services company.

To listen, click on The Bottom Line - bbc.co.uk - Nb1: Real Player or similar is needed to listen to this programme. Nb2: As this programme is made available on the BBC website, long term access can't be guaranteed.

Mike Chapman

OCL, P&O Containers and P&O Nedlloyd People gather to remember Sir Kerry... Friday 19 January 2007

The Thanksgiving Service for Sir Kerry St. Johnston, OBE took place at St. Paul's Knightsbridge on Wednesday 17 January. The church was packed with family and friends of the former P&O Containers and OCL Chairman. The large number of ex-directors, managers and other staff who attended the service of thanksgiving gave a good indication of the high regard which former colleagues had for Sir Kerry. He will be missed...

Mike Chapman

Thanksgiving Service for Sir Kerry... Wednesday 20 December 2006

The Thanksgiving Service for Sir Kerry St. Johnston, OBE will be held at 12 noon on Wednesday 17 January 2007 at St. Paul’s Knightsbridge, 32A Wilton Place, London SW1X 8SH (Google map>>>). Lady Charlotte has asked that as many people as possible attend the service.

Ian Thornton is sending out letters and emails to SCARA members, but ex-OCL/POCL/PONL staff in the UK who know of anyone else who may be interested in attending are asked to forward this news on.

Mike Chapman

(Obituary for Sir Kerry published in the UK Daily Telegraph newspaper)

Former P&O Containers Chairman dies... Monday 6 November 2006

For those of you with a history stretching back into P&O Containers and OCL, we regret to report that Sir Kerry St Johnson died last night. Sir Kerry will be remembered not just as one of the founding characters of containerisation, but as a very ‘human’ member of the early management team. Always pleasant and caring of the people who worked for him, he took a great and long lasting personal interest in all he met. Despite being very ill, he took immense pleasure in giving the address at the inaugural dinner of SCARA in October. SCARA really took on the job of bringing together past employees from the reunions that Sir Kerry had organised for many years in the UK. It is very fitting that one of his last public acts was to give the talk to the company and people he had cherished for so many years.

The funeral will be private but a memorial service will almost certainly be arranged in the near future. In the meantime SCARA is making a donation on behalf of former UK staff to the hospice which cared for him in the last couple of weeks.

David Charlesworth

(Sir Kerry was knighted in 1988. In addition to being chairman of Overseas Containers Limited (OCL) / P&O Containers, he had been chairman of Freightliner, president of the Chartered Institute of Transport, president of the Chamber of Shipping, and chairman of the Far Eastern Freight Conference. Shortly before leaving P&O Containers in 1989 he was appointed to the board of P&OSNCo. He spent the majority of his working life in the shipping business having started with Alfred Holt as a management trainee. He was involved in the start-up of OCL)

One year on... Tuesday 15 August 2006

Believe it or not, it’s a year this August since AP Moller Maersk competed the financial takeover of P&O Nedlloyd. A year in which we had to find new jobs and careers both within and outside the Maersk organisation. For some it brought early retirement. For those remaining within the new company its been a busy period since February learning the culture processes and systems of Maersk Line, but the dust is now settling and ex P&O Nedlloyd are beginning to make their mark or have decided to move on.

So what now for PONL Heritage? – its time we got on with our mission which is - ‘to preserve the history, memories and memorabilia of P&O Nedlloyd and to provide a platform whereby its former employees may stay in contact with each other’.

‘Historically’ what we have got at the moment is a large quantity of photos, training and news videos (ships, ports, people containers etc,) which we need to catalogue and make available over the web. We also want to make a virtual catalogue of material held in other locations which can also be made available for study or copying. We also have some history of the company.

‘People wise’ we also have ‘Linked In’ for staying personally in touch within the P&O Nedlloyd Group, the Message Board (which at the moment is not used very much) and the PONL Reunited site to post details about reunions.

Now we need volunteers to help make this all a bit more active. We need Council members to act as regional representatives for the following regions/roles – MESAF, Pune, Sea staff Beagle House & Willemswerf.

We also need some official historians to put the facts, memorabilia and stories together.

We could also do with some short human interest stories along the lines of ‘Do you remember …’, Guess who I met….’, and ‘Guess What I’m doing now…’.

So get in contact with us via the web site or use my email address on Linked In and we will get PONL Heritage a bit more active. Alternatively volunteer someone else!

David Charlesworth
Chairman

PONL Heritage Group receives funding from the Beagle House Sports & Social Club - Tuesday 9 May 2006

The PONL Heritage Group would like to thank the Beagle House Sports & Social Club (BHSSC) for their kind donation which will help to fund the initial start-up and running costs of this website and future group activities.

Anyone who has worked in the London office for P&O Nedlloyd (or before that P&O Containers or Overseas Containers Limited) will be familiar with the BHSSC which has organised social and sports events for staff over many years. It would seem fitting here to thank the people who have served on its committee, and those who have helped with similar organisations worldwide for their contribution to life in the company. The Values that were adopted in the last 18 months of P&O Nedlloyd's existance included TEAMWORK and FUN, and these staff associations played a major part in achieving both of those attributes.

Major milestones marked in London at the National Maritime Museum event - Thursday 27 April 2006

Former P&O Nedlloyd staff gathered together at a reception held in London yesterday, Wednesday 26 April, at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. The event which took place precisely a year and a day after the first approach to the P&O Nedlloyd board by A.P.Moller - Maersk, commemorated a new chapter in the history of shipping created by the joining together of Maersk Sealand and P&O Nedlloyd to form Maersk Line.

Artifacts relating to the history of P&O Nedlloyd and its forerunners were
given into the safekeeping of the National Maritime Museum. The material, which includes board minutes from the companies that formed P&O Nedlloyd, will now be accessible to everyone with an interest in shipping history. Much of the material is still being catalogued but one symbolic item had been brought down to the museum to be formally handed over. This item was the oldest item in the P&O Nedlloyd collection, the first minute book of Blue Star Line dating back to 1911.

Roy Clare, Director of the National Maritime Museum, accepted the minute book on behalf of the museum. He thanked Maersk Line for the donation of the P&O Nedlloyd collection which he said was the latest example of the long-standing support for the institution from both Maersk and P&O Nedlloyd.