ps compton castle 24a

Hearsay 21

A room in the Hotel Kildare, booked by Messrs Wood and Baume for their 'Explosion Party,' is full of noise and smoke. It is Sunday 19th November, 1972, the television has just been switched on, and songs of Praise from Lichfield Cathedral is drawing to a close.

Harry has the guests attention for a moment.

"For them that don't know, James Onedin and his wife own a shipping company in Liverpool. It's when sail is still dominant. James's brother-in-law Albert Frazer is developing a steam boat for James to replace sail. That's about it and as much as I know."

Geoffrey Wheeler is introducing the last hymn from Lichfield.

"Come on folks, we best sit down now. Has everyone got a drink and can you all see and hear OK?".

Sam ignores the various responses and occupies one of the best seats as the Charlotte Rhodes, Onedin's boat, sails by, and the opening theme tune starts Sunday's episode. 'Beyond the Upper Sea' gets under way.

A small steamboat then comes into view and we see an engine.

"Is it Compton's engines?"

" No way; far too small. Give it a chance. Shut up and watch."

Mr Frazer is showing off his little Steamboat to an eastern gent. That can be gleaned by his appearance of which a fez forms part.

" Look, Tommy Cooper. Just like that." says Sam and laughs alone.

The man from Istanbul is likewise unimpressed and says the Ottoman Empire has developed better steamboats than the one he is now aboard. Mr Frazer looks hurt.
Mr Pasha, for we now know his name, offers to take Frazer to Istanbul to see their engines, "as my cherished guest."

James Onedin sees this trip as a desertion. He is not happy.

"And when do you plan to sail?" asks Onedin, and then somehow is able to go as well with his wife, but Frazer's wife stays at home.

They set sail from Liverpool.

"Bugger me I've not seen that part of Liverpool before," says one of the guests as they look at the ship setting off from Bayard's Cove in Dartmouth.

"They often use this shot. Nice to think of the Dartmouth connection isn't it?" says another.

"What did Onedin say?" asks Jean of Dominic, as the screen shows a small island viewed from a boat.

" They're en route to Istanbul. That's one of the Greek Islands. It's volcanic. Santorini. Onedin was saying it has a valuable resource; pumice powder, used in the cement to make it waterproof on the Suez Canal now being built.”

"Now?”

"No, not now now, then now!”

As Jean looked perplexed the scene changed to Istanbul.

Sulemein Pasha is welcoming his guests.

"My concubines will attend to all your needs."

"When's the explosion Harry?”

Leyla, assigned to Frazer, is going to give him a bath.

" I will undress you"

"Is this when the 'bang' happens?"

"Shut up you'll miss the story."

"I can take a bath by myself."

"No man should take a bath by himself," replies the concubine

"Did you hear that Alice," says Sam to his wife .

"Make sure you get him to unscrew his hook. You don't want it catching anything, Alice'"

By now interest was generally waning but Dominic remained intrigued in this East meets West tale.

"Where's this bloody explosion?" somone muttered.

"Bring out the food Alice, natives are getting restless," said Sam.

New scene, new face. Mr Fletcher is a man known to James.

" Don't load your cargo yet Mr Onedin.” It was to be Turkish tobacco.

"The island of Santorini has erupted. All those folks collecting the pumice have fled and the Suez builders have come to a standstill. They are willing to pay a fortune for further supplies of pumice. Mr Onedin, I know Santorini and the places to get the pumice from."

"You can't take sail to fire, man," said Mr Onedin's captain.

"Indeed not Mr Bains," said Onedin, "but you can take steam, and there's one lying at anchor at Port Said."

Dominic Robb seemed by now the only person present still with the story line, politely refusing the tray of sandwiches as they passed by.

The picture moves to a dockside and a steamboat.

"Watch this bit folks," shouts Dominic above the hubbub.

The room quietens to hear, "So that's the future Mr Bains,” spoken by Mrs Onedin onboard the boat and peering below.

A cheer erupts in the Hotel Kildare as Compton Castle's engines are seen ticking away in gleaming green. Dominic just catches Mr Bains's reply.

"But will the men like it? Clean fresh sea air perks the sailor Mrs Onedin, not grime.”

"Look," shouts Alice,” She's wearing the dress in the photo we took."

Then to the engine room and again a cheer goes up. Compton Castle's boiler is being stoked.

"Beautiful ain't she?" says Harry.

The pistons are moving back and forth and James is peering at them.

"Keep her clean, keep her well fed, and she'll always serve you," says the steamer's captain

"That's what I say about the wife," Sam comments.

Presently Compton Castle, is lying by the island of Santorini in the Aegean.

"I'll find if it's safe to bring her into the quay sir."

It was. Soon the crew are collecting pumice from the hillside and carrying it in baskets down to the quay when suddenly they hear a loud rumbling. There is an enormous explosion as the volcano erupts, and everyone in the room cheers again.

Meanwhile James has moved the Steamboat out to sea without the crew.

From on deck Anne looks to the island engulfed in smoke and flames.

"James. Those men?"

"There's a chance for them."

After the briefest of pauses, he utters grimly, " If we go back we'll all be lost."

Then the episode drew to a close . Compton Castle had been saved.

Dominic had enjoyed the tale, and Harry that his boat was not just a one-off star. She could now be called a character actor, from fish fingers in Devon to volcanoes in the Aegean. He was rightly proud of her. And everyone else had enjoyed each other's company. It had been a good night.