On this day in Yorkshire

January 29, 1948

Captain M. Frame brought his modern 9,000-ton cargo liner, La Cordillera into Hull yesterday and tied up in King George Dock. The crew of 51 included 14 women.

Captain Frame, of South Shields, had defied the ways of the sea and of ships. He had proved to not-so-modern vessels alongside that the 14 women in his crew, several of whom are in their early 20s, could victual his ship and cater successfully for crew and 12 passengers during a voyage with ports of call as distant as Montreal, Alexandria and Sydney.

Today, as elevators were taking ashore La Cordillera’s cargo of Australian wheat, the chief steward, Mrs Margaretta Godefoy, was working in her cabin with provision charts and typewriter. Her experience as a catering officer in the WRNS qualifies her for her key position the ship’s life

Her staff of 13, all of whom served in the WRNS, were preparing lunch and crossing the steel decks with laden trays.

Yorkshire’s representative in the department is 20-year-old Enid Riley, of Chalford Oaks, Acklam, Middlesbrough. She has held her post since Cordillera first put to sea nearly a year ago. Two of the original staff have left the ship to become housewives.

The voyage which has ended in Hull began in Liverpool, and included calls at Montreal, Haifa, Alexandria, Colombo and Sydney. Brazil is La Cordillera’s next destination.

Captain Frame considers the innovation a complete success. The women, in his opinion, are better than their male counterparts in other ships.

“They may be seasick,” he added. “but they don’t lie up. They keep to their job. I hope the scheme has come stay.”