Customs and Wives on Board
by Published on 9th November 2023 11:40 AM
In December 1949 ( yes I know I am an old one) We paid off the s/s J.Duncan in either
Port Talbot or Swansea. we had a quick check over by the black hand gang of Customs,
we had come across from France with pit props, my cabin mate had a bottle of liqueur
which was not declared, but not found, so to get it past the Gate Police,we conned a
lift with the “Old Man” in his taxi and we were waved through, as an after thought
when I called on my mate at his home and tasted the liqueur, he could have left it
on board.
In 1950 we had the Chief Engineer’s wife on board from Melbourne/Whyalla/
Newcastle/Melbourne and she was a real pain, I would take her her morning cuppa
and biscuit, she would taste the tea and say, it is not quite right or warm or
some sort of reasons to get another cuppa, so back to the hot press would go the cuppa
and another engineer would get his cuppa and then back to the hot press for the
Chief’s wife’s cuppa, yes same cuppa, and her response, “ Ah that's better”. I wonder
how many times that was used by catering staff?.
Don’t know if you can use this or not.
Fred Saunders..
PS, as a retired customs officer I could tell a few stories, but can’t use my real name.
Been retired since November 1994. But could still get into trouble, although they are
called border force now. Why follow the Yanks in everything???.
Fortunately my memory is not too bad for 91 year old.
R518224
