Sports and Entertainments Programmes
Who Are They?
These photographs were taken on board the Asturias in November 1948, by Pat Piggott. His wife Irene (Rene) and son Michael are pictured with other passengers. If you can identify them, please let us know.
A form of organised entertainment was provided on most days of the 4-5 week journey to Australia. Activities included cinema
screenings, whist drives, 'race meetings', concerts and fancy dress competitions. 'Sports tournaments' included deck tennis,
deck quoits, table tennis, darts, peg quoits and 'bull board'.
The programmes below have been kindly supplied by passengers.
July/August 1948
Sports and Entertainments Programme and Grand Concert Programme submitted by Mr Tony Mount
May 1949
Sports and Entertainments Programme submitted by Mr Alistair Trotter
November 1949
Statement announcing the miles run the previous day by the ship. It was apparently common for passengers to
have a guess at this statistic, and bets may have changed hands. (Thanks to Roger Cullingham, UK, for this information)
Click on images to enlarge
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Ship's Voyage Logs
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Statistics about the Ship
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April/May1948
Sports and Entertainments Programme submitted by
Mr Chris Watts, UK
December 1950
Christmas Concert Programme submitted by Mrs Audrey Sampson (nee May)
"My mother and I were on the voyage which
left Southampton 23rd Nov 1950 (my 11th birthday next day) and arrived in Sydney on Boxing Day 1950. (My father came out in
1950 ahead of us on the Ranchi)
I was in this ship's concert as Audrey May, my maiden name. I was 11.
The Captain
gave a cocktail party after the concert that night for all the actors etc. I think it was Barbara Purvis, Enid Sagar and I who
were considered too young to attend. Mrs Sagar protested and we received an invitation from Captain Whittle for afternoon tea
next day. It was a great thrill for us to be able to visit the bridge and his cabin adjoining the bridge! We were all rather
tongue-tied though! He gave us a box of chocolates each."
