Saturday 23 July 2011

BANGLAR ROBI - DOCKS - 1984

The jute industry was still going on in Dundee in the 80's, but it has to be said, it was nearing the end of its life.
Here was one vessel that was still supplying the foreign fibre back then - Banglar Robi.
This picture of the jute liner was taken on 24th December 1984 at King George V wharf.

Photo by Neale Elder.

9 comments:

  1. I wondered where the trails of single file Pakistanis going up Dens Rd had went, (no offence meant) they were a common site when a boat came in . wonder where they were heading ?

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  2. i worked on the banglar preeti in 1977, ultrasound testing a repaired sump, best cup of tea i ever had, and some braw wafer biscuits too.

    fanta

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  3. Bales of ´dope´ brought in with the raw jute, that´s why Dundee always had a thing for the blow. And still does !

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  4. Hi Jinki.
    If they were Indians, rather than Pakistanis, they were probably heading for the Hindu temple, next to the clinic at the bottom of Nelson Street.
    Not sure where the Muslim temple was years ago...

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  5. The Banglar boats were from Bangladesh. The "Indian Files" that were seen leaving the docks were heading for Dens Road Market . Their favourite items included sets of crockery,which was a bit of a status symbol back in their country.Bikes and beds were also salvaged,because if you saw the condition of some of the stuff they bought,you would not give it house room.

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  6. Does anybody else remember that all the crew members seemed to wear the same headgear? No matter what time of year, they all wore black plastic (imitation leather) hats with folding down earflaps. To be fair, I suppose that even in summer,Dundee must have felt chilly to them.

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  7. I think it most probably was the Dens Rd Market as i can remember them as far up as the old Craigour Bar. Can't remember seeing them past Arklay St tho , cheers .

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  8. Shipping lines wise, there was also the Scindia Steam Navigation Company which ran the 'Jala boats' - 'Jalamayur', 'Jalarajan', etc. My great uncle Sidney Chaplain served with them as a captain and, when he retired from the sea, took over the Fort Bar in the Ferry.

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  9. the pakistanis that got off the boats at dundee,used to walk in single file behind one another,but in aberdeen they walked in front of each other.haha with only one customs officer on duty at dundee im sure there was a lot more illegal stuff imported than cannabis.

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