My Coming to Canada
We sailed across the Atlantic on the Empress of England from Liverpool to Montreal, first arriving in Quebec City on Oct 30, 1958. It makes me wonder if this photo is of that same voyage!! I would love to obtain a passenger list. My parents are now deceased and I would like to have it as a keepsake. Our family name is BOULOUX. My father was sick the whole trip. My favorite memory was in the playroom where they had this rocking horse. I was 5 years old and to me, this horse was huge. I was scared to get on it at first but then I would scream if I had to get off it to give another kid a turn. The horse was made of wood and was white and black. I also remember going up to the stern. The captain was there, dressed in white. We could see 2 whales in the water up ahead. Through this round window, they appeared so bold and beautiful and even at age 5, I appreciated their strength and beauty. Our cabin had 2 sets of bunk beds, my father slept on the top left as you came into the room. The room was quite small. The hallway was very narrow and as we edged along, we always had to hang on to the rails as the ship rocked from side to side. Up on deck, was cold and there were these wooden white deck chairs. I don't remember being out there long. It seems now a lifetime ago....... I have read the history of this great ship and am proud to have sailed on one of her journeys.
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RE: RE: my Coming to Canada
I also sailed on the 'Empress of England' with my mother, 5-year-old brother, and 6-months-old sister. We left Liverpool, my Mom's home town, to the waves and tears of her very big family. They joked that the Mersey went up a couple of inches that day with all their tears. I was 8 and my dad had come across earlier to find work. We sailed in April and my brother celebrated his 5th birthday on board. The first night out in the Irish Sea the stabilizers broke and it was very rough. I remember being sick a lot which was very unfortunate because the food was very good and there was lots of ice-cream. Our steward's name was Stanley and he was very kind to me. My Mom stayed in the cabin with my sister a lot and I was in charge of my brother who liked to climb. We also had a cabin with bunk beds and the ship was always rolling. The porthole always had this dark green water swishing back and forth. I think it was the 6th or 7th morning when word went around that Newfoundland was sighted so we all went up on deck to have a look. I didn't see any whales but did see flying fish. When we got to Montreal I actually saw my Dad come out on the loading dock. He was told he couldn't be there and when he turned to leave I went a little berserk because I thought he was leaving without us and I missed him so much. When we disembarked I went with him in the car to Toronto and the rest of the family went by train with the trunks. Wow, I'm becoming a little emotional writing this.
Comment from Jackie Kay on Monday, 5th December 2011.