In 1893 at the age of 13 Rowland Owen Lloyd joined the Mercantile Marine School Ship H.M.S.Conway situated on the Mersey.
Discipline was strict and the subjects students were instructed in included trigonometry, navigation, natural astronomy and french.
At the end of his first half year Rowland was fourth in his class of seventy-six.
John Masefield poet and author of 'Sea-Fever' was also a cadet at the same time.