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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. Timeline – Elder Dempster

   Browse through the dates on the Elder Dempster timeline to learn more about the history of the Elder Dempster Lines shipping company.

4. John Martin

   John Martin was a catering officer with Elder Dempster Lines. Read his account of his experiences with the shipping company.

5. Jim Forsey interview

   Jim was a Purser at Elder Dempster Lines. Listen to Jim's interview.

6. Ian Walker interview

   Ian Walker was a Fourth Engineer for Elder Dempster Lines. Listen to Ian Walker's interview.

7. 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.

8. David Anson interview – Elder Dempster

   As Second Engineer at Elder Dempster Lines, David was responsible for: the care and maintenance of machinery, the power generation, the pumping system, the refrigeration and other electrical items. Listen to David's interview.

9. 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.

10. Alan Dean interview – Elder Dempster

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