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1. About the Elder Dempster project

   The Homeward Bound: A Liverpool-West Africa Heritage Project documents the lives and memories of Elder Dempster’s seafaring and office staff. As part of the project, we recorded 25 oral testimonies.

2. New finds and related archives – Elder Dempster

   Read more about new finds for the Elder Dempster Lines - the largest UK shipping group between Western Europe and West Africa from the late-nineteenth century to the 1980s.

3. Derek Bailey interview – Elder Dempster

   Derek Bailey joined Elder Dempster Lines in 1957. In his interview, Derek recalls what it was like living on a ship with a wife and children at home. Derek also speaks about Elder Dempster Lines’ latter years.

4. Barry Groombridge interview – Elder Dempster

   Barry Groombridge joined Elder Dempster Lines aged 16. Barry’s first voyage was from London to the United States, via West Africa. The voyage lasted nine months. Listen to Barry’s interview to hear about the Christmas he spent with nuns in Madeira and what life was like as a purser at Elder Dempster Lines.

5. Alan Dean interview – Elder Dempster

   Alan Dean was a purser for Elder Dempster Lines. Listen to Alan's interview.

6. Alan Wigelsworth interview – Elder Dempster

   Alan Wigelsworth began working for Elder Dempster Lines aged 15. Alan joined the company as office boy. Listen to Alan's interview.

7. Jean Jones interview – Elder Dempster

   Jean was a Secretary for Elder Dempster Lines. Listen to Jean's interview.

8. Graham Austin interview – Elder Dempster

   As a Printer for Elder Dempster Lines, Graham Austin sometimes worked 18-hours a day and was responsible for printing the menus, programme of events and stationery for the ship’s various departments. Listen to Graham's interview.

9. Barry Fowler interview – Elder Dempster

   Barry Fowler joined King Edward the Seventh Nautical College, London in May 1952. Barry spent four years as an apprentice and eventually rose to the position of captain at Elder Dempster Lines.

10. About – Being Lean and Seen

    Find out the background and context of the Being Lean and Seen project - a project which aims to help advance project management knowledge.