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Jim Varney Originally of Great Yarmouth. First ship Geordie Tramp 'Algonquin Park'. Sailed as J.O.S and S.O.S. Followed by Royal Mail 'Loch Garth', E.D.H, Quartermaster and Lampts. S.S Lines 'Persic' A.B and 'Delphic' Lamptrimmer 1951. Second Mates at King Edwards. Joined N.Z.S Co. through to C/Off. Gained Masters, Commissioned as Lt Dartmouth Training Squadron. 1960 transferred to Auckland Shore Staff as Assistant Cargo Supervisor. 1963 joined AHB as Tugmate/Master. 1964 Appointed Pilot for Auckland and Manakau Harbours. Eventually became the last HM and Chief Pilot appointed by the AHB. Became the first HM for Auckland Regional Council and the first Marine Manager for Ports Auckland. Twelve years on Exec. of IMPA (last four as President). Retired (?) in 1990 worked as Marine Consultant to present day, presently as a Senior Consultant with Swiftsure Maritime Services (www.marine-consultants.com). I would like to add a couple of photo's which may provoke some response at least from those still remaining on my watch. The first was taken in London at the Wardor Street Studio in the early part of 1945 at the premier showing of "Sailors do Care". This being a short feature film the other preview which I’m sure the rest of the audience enjoyed was "The Seven Veils", starring Ann Todd and James Mason who were next in line to be presented to Queen Mary after yours truly had done the honours with the flowers. This was my first visit to the big smoke; I was put up at Jack's palace in the East End for the night. The other was taken as I was being transferred from the newly acquired RNZN fleet tanker "Endeavour" to the Frigate Southland in the Hauraki Gulf in 1988. I was inveigled into doing this by the Commodore Auckland, we got on very well, and I enjoyed good relations with the navy during my time as Pilot and certainly HM. I agreed to this as long as they brought me back to the Endeavour for Lunch, which was where the VIP's were dining; there were perks as well as headaches in being HM in quite challenging times.
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