Our River Stories: Lesley Hehir
Following up from the last story from Wendy Lowdon, this time it’s the turn of Lesley Hehir. “My father Thomas Mitchell lived on Tyneside and ran away to sea when he was just 14. He eventually ‘got his ticket’ and became a Master Mariner in the Merchant Navy. This was his occupation for the rest of his life until he died at 64 just before he was due to retire. He sailed on cargo ships and oil tankers and sometimes berthed on the Tyne when we could visit the ship”.
I can remember sailing with him and my mother from Holland to London when I was only two! This was an unusual thing to do as women on board were considered ‘unlucky’. I was told that during World War II his ship was one of the convoys that escorted Russian ships bringing supplies to the UK but he never spoke personally of this.”
Wow Lesley! He was sailing from 14 and you from only 2! Obviously it’s in the blood!
Thanks so much for sharing!
