When Kate Met “Jim”
Kate Wilson writes…
Back in August 1964, I was a twenty year old student returning to New York from a summer in Europe
on a tour within a group of college students. About half of the “kids” opted to fly home to the
USA from France, but the rest of us (all female) had the pleasure of sailing back on the R.M.S. Caronia.
On our first day out, while a group of us were playing bridge in the lounge, a printed, embossed, card was dropped
on our table by a young man wearing pristine white overalls. (I was later to learn he was the “air conditioning
expert” who scouted out the “talent” on the ship).
The card invited us to a party that evening in the Wardroom, with the Engineer Officers. However, I had travelled
to Britain on the Queen Mary, and I'd met some of these “Engineer Officers”, so I was a bit skeptical
about showing up for this party.
We had a wonderful Stateroom Steward named Bill. I can't remember his last name, though he was from London and a
real sweetheart to us “girls”. Anyway he confirmed that it was okay for us to go that night,
and he assured us that he would have one of the Officers come down to “B” Deck
and escort us up to the Wardroom.
At the appointed time, a very handsome Scotsman, named “Jim”, arrived in our corridor. Bill opened the
door to my stateroom and out came twelve girls! Well, the look on that young man's face was priceless. He'd never
expected so many of us. One of the girls was a bit handicapped, so Jim offered to take a couple of us up via a shortcut.
We were escorted into the ship's Engine room, where a quick phone call was made. Unbeknown to us, it was up to
the Wardroom, asking for reinforcements! How anyone could work down there is beyond me. It was
so hot. But the evening up on Sun deck was fun…; drinks, music, dancing…
The sea was a bit rough that night and I remember the needle on the record player skating from side to side. (Does
anyone today remember record players and real records??) Most of my companions left early as they were getting ill.
Jim convinced me that it was better to be up top with fresh air, than down below in the cabin.
(What a wonderful liar he was!)
I tried hard to understand what he was saying, but his Scottish accent really had me stymied. Anyway, when it was
time for him to go back on his watch, he brought me back down to “B” Deck with a promise to meet the next day.
Well, to cut a long story short, we saw each other every day for the rest of the trip to New York. For three years
after that we wrote letters, postcards, letters, and more letters. I never missed writing to a port! We always saw
each other whenever Caronia was in New York. I also flew to Belfast in November of 1965 to visit Jim while the ship
was in dry-dock.
Finally, in 1967 Jim immigrated to the States, we were married in Wisconsin and moved to Seattle,
Washington. By October 2006 we will have been married 39 years. On the same night as I met Jim,
I also met Robin Chalmers (who was just as charming, but engaged) and Neil Clark (along
with several others on that crossing). After their visiting us in Seattle, we managed to convince
Robin and his wife to move there, which they did a long time ago. We have been close friends
for all these years.
My memories of that 1964 crossing are now a blur. After the first night the weather was good
and time went far too quickly. We have a photo of the two of us… Jim is in his white uniform
and I was dressed in my travelling suit as it was our last day together. The date on that photo
is August 25, 1964. Our oldest son was born twelve years later to the day! Talk about coincidence!
Thanks again for your wonderful Web site. It has brought back great memories. I only wish I'd been able to have some
souvenir from that lovely ship. I did find my name on the passenger list for that trip. Miss K. Keating. What a thrill.
Jim was with the Caronia from 1964 until 1966.
