P&O established its officer cadet training scheme in 1907. But, for the first nearly 70 years, training was offered to male cadets only. The arrival of female deck cadets, in 1975, marked a radical change in course.
P&O was not the first shipping line to accept women as cadets; but having three at once was something of a coup. On 13th October 1975 all three - Sarah Stuart, Sara Miller and Barbara Sampeys - joined the general cargo liner TEKOA, bound for New Zealand.
At sea, and away from media interest, they began their training and got to work “as all cadets do – with the dirty jobs”. It was the first time that women were actively involved in the operation and navigation of P&O’s ships.
