Stanley George Leary was bosun on the Blythe Star, although no one ever called him Stanley it was either always ‘Tas’ or ‘George’. He had a moustache, silver-streaked hair and bushy dark eyebrows. Following the Blythe Star, Tas didn’t go back to sea for long and got a job on the docks.

His son Stephen, also known as ‘Tas’, would go down to the wharfs at night when Tas was on as a night watchman, and they would sit together and talk for hours. During these hours Tas would sometimes share things about what a tough time it was after the Blythe Star sank – usually when he had had a few drinks.

The death of John Sloan seemed to have a particular effect on Tas.

Tas made a massive A2 scrapbook of all the press clippings, letters, get well soon cards and official documents after the Blythe Star, which he carried with him through house moves over the decades.

He passed it on to Stephen when he died. During the tragedy he didn’t think he was coming home.