Willie (William) Dunbar

[Ciaran Dunbar]

Dear all,

My name is Ciarán Dunbar, I am the grandson of Willie Dunbar of Newry, originally from Bootle Liverpool.

My grandfather was a 'deep sea merchant marine' with the Blue Star Line all his life.

He was born 21 Sept 1926 in Chestnut Grove, Bootle, Liverpool and died 5 Oct 1991 Newry.

His last ship was the California Star, he signed on for that ship at the Donkeyman in January 1976 but suffered a stroke soon afterwards which robbed him of his speech. http://www.bluestarline.org/crewlists.html.

Therefore I never really got to know him but I know that he was never truly happy on land and dream't of the sea to the day he died, his room full of picture of ships and he always sat in the window staring to the sea.

Now I know after 36 years the possibilities of anyone actually remembering him are slight but it is worth a try - he smoked a pipe relentlessly by the way.

Does anyone remember him or any details about him?

Does anyone remember the ships he served on?

What is a donkeyman!?

Was he ever in the Royal Navy - if so what ship?

Thanks very much for any help.

Ciarán Dunbar - ciarandunbar@outlook.com.

[gavinwmhorne]

HI Cairan there is a Facebook page called the Blue Star crew bar or Blue star line maybe someone there might have known him.