CHARLIE CONDOU - No.660

MUTATED

Charliecondou: @JackPShepherd88 the mute button is seriously the best thing I've discovered all year. Even better than finding out all the closet gays

JackPShepherd88: @Charliecondou amazing isn't it.... I only saw this cos u added me in it.

Charliecondou: @JackPShepherd88 ha bastard

MORE RARE PICS FROM TOM'S VAULT

 Above: Maria (Samia Ghadie) and Marcus (Charlie Condou) on the set of Corrie in a scene where Maria thinks she has breast cancer.
Below: Marcus (Charlie Condou) and Eileen (Sue Cleaver) sharing a hug during filming back in 2007. This is probably the first time this picture has been shown to the public.

Below: Charlie in a more serious Corrie moment in a scene when he's telling Sean Tully (Antony Cotton) what he thinks about him.

SATURATION MARKETING BY 'OUT IN THE CITY' MAGAZINE - IT BEATS ANYTHING I COULD DO!

(Click to enlarge picture)

You'll find references to my coverage of Charlie's "Mr April" cover on a previous post. "Out In The City" are one of my followers and of course I help them out when I can.

A BIT OF TOM'S FAMILY HISTORY - IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT CHARLIE YOU KNOW! 

Captain George Phillips White was one of my ancestors who came to Australia from Sussex England in the 1870s and settled in Newcastle NSW. He came from a long line of sailing and maritime families. His brothers were Royal Naval officers, coastguards and lifeboat officers stationed around the shores of the UK. His parents were from distinguished sea-going families. His father James White was a coastguard who was born at Milford on Sea near Hurst Castle (opposite the Isle of White) and his mother was Elizabeth Phillips whose father Griffith Phillips was from a famous sea-going family of New Quay, Wales. The Phillips family were responsible for the development of the town and port at New Quay and there are many historical references to this family. 

Captain George Phillips White trained and worked on the HMS Warrior

stationed nowadays in Portsmouth England 

and as an officer he trained sailors on the HMS Trincomalee

 nowadays stationed in Hartlepool England. 

George Phillips White was married 1882 in Newcastle NSW Australia, and not surprisingly listed his then tug the SS Leo as his residence. He was "married to the sea" by all accounts and rarely ventured on-land. Although he did manage to find the time to produce a family of 9 children with his wife Charlotte (nee Ahern).

Above: George and Charlotte White and 8 of their 9 children - one son was absent with chickenpox.

 Below: George's retirement watch which was presented to him at age 50. George never really took retirement seriously and was on secondment to the Port of Newcastle when he died at age 54.

In 1902, one of the first Australian-built tugboats ST Burunda, was sent to Newcastle and my ancestor George was its captain for a few years prior to his untimely death at age 54. George died from pneumonia while on active service in 1909. After his passing, the tug Burunda was re-named ST Waratah. 

The Waratah worked in Newcastle up to the Second World War then sat derelict for a while before being lovingly restored by public donation by the Sydney Maritime Fleet on the foreshore of Darling Harbour. Nowadays George's old tug is a tourist attraction in Sydney and takes part in daily excursion around the harbour. 

The Burunda, launched on 21st May, 1902 is 108ft long, 20ft wide and weighs 165 tons. It is the oldest working steam tugboat in Australia. Below are some YouTube videos of her engines in action - I know a few steam enthusiasts who are drooling as we speak!

Confidential_CC: @nancycato1 Nancy I blogged an ancestor today!!

nancycato1: @Confidential_CC : That explains a great deal about you, Tom. ;0D

Confidential_CC: @nancycato1 it sure does Nancy.....I have a parrot on my shoulder as we speak!

nancycato1: @Confidential_CC : Let's hope he remains mute...both ends. LOL

Confidential_CC: @nancycato1 his name is Bertie btw and he's gone to sleep now. He's sensible for a bird.....