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Mersey Pilot John Curry bring his maritime life to book

Jan 21 2013 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Echo

HOYLAKE Lifeboat Station operations manager and former Liverpool pilot John Curry has written his life story after a career spanning 49 years including seven years training.

John, from West Kirby, has published East A Half South, named after a magnetic compass course, after retiring three years ago.

A dedicated pilot for Atlantic Container Line, he officially retired 500 miles off the coast of Ireland aboard Atlantic Compass en-route to New York.

He was inspired to write the book while driving and idly recalling a dispute involving a ship called Zamboanga which was from the Philippines and carried fruit to Liverpool.

“I thought ‘wow, that’s something for the memoirs’. Pilots have the most amazing stories and I wanted to write some of them down,” he said.

John, whose father was also a Liverpool pilot, first became involved with the RNLI in Wirral in the 1970s when he helped with the launch of West Kirby lifeboat.

“I am pleased with the feedback I am getting from colleagues who would be my greatest critics. I wanted to share the excitement, adventure and danger of being a Liverpool pilot.”

East A Half South, published by Birkenhead Press, is £8.99 from bookshops. Or contact John Curry on 0774 070 4026 or email john.curry15@yahoo.co.uk