PHOTOS FROM JOHN HENDY 5

More harbour scenes from the well-known photographer and author.

By Andy Gilbert

The French 'V twins' Villandry and Valencay, arrived in 1965 and served the Newhaven-Dieppe route well for many years. Solid, reliable workhorses, they were perhaps a little spartan and the thud from their twin Pielstick diesel engines could easily be felt on board - and heard from miles away on a calm day!

The best spot on board, if the weather was good and you got on early enough, was right up front in the 'Salon Panoramique', the row of windows just under the bridge. Well, OK, the best spot for me was on the bridge as guest of the Commandant. It wasn't what you knew, it was who your Dad knew!

Here we see Valencay entering the harbour during her first season on the route. In the second photo, the ship alongside the quay is Brighton (VI) and up river for her winter lay-up is the Dover-based car ferry Maid of Kent.