Musicians on Passeger Ships

[Jim Brady]

I never seen any young lads in the bands on the ships I was on John.Being a saxophonist sounds more like he would be in a cabaret type of band on a cruise liner,not many of them around at the time.What an experience for a young lad.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[happy daze john in oz]

Bit of a mixed bag now on cruise ships. Most entertainers are put in passenger accommodation and are considered to be employed by the come from. The orchestra however is often made up of persons on there as crew members. The shop crew are all from agencies and are not part of the crew. Photographers are employed as crew but make their wages from the sale of photos. A real mixed bag now but as long as the passengers keep spending the cruise companies are happy.

[John Albert Evans]

Jim, as far as I can remember he told me he was on passenger ships. It was him in facte who put the idea into my head of going to sea and I'm glad that he did, thanks Tony if you ever read this.

John

[Red Lead Ted]

The answer is, No they don't hold discharge books, They are employed through agencies just as they where as Jim says on the Empress boats, They don't report to Shipping company's like seaman do for there job they await a recall if they where good enough from there agent who tout the shipping company's on there behalf, Only one Entertainer from the UK That did carry a discharge book as a seaman that I can think of this guy Tommy Steele song and dance man here he is after receiving his M.N. Vets badge Terry.

[gray_marian]

#14, Saw Tommy Steele years ago in a London theatre. We had tried for a play and it was full, so gave Tommy a try. He gave it his all and we had a brilliant time. I see he's touring this year in the Glen Miller story

August 28 - September 5: New Wimbledon Theatre
September 7 - 12: Southampton, Mayflower Theatre
September 21 - 26: Newcastle, Theatre Royal
September 28 - October 3: Stoke-On-Trent, Regent Theatre
October 5 - 10: Blackpool Opera House
October 12 - 17: Swansea, Grand Theatre
October 19 - 24: Wolverhampton, Grand Theatre
November 2 - 7: Manchester, Palace Theatre
November 9 - 14: Cardiff, New Theatre
November 16 - 21: Milton Keynes Theatre

[Evan Lewis]

I believe it varied with the company. With the Titanic they were not part of the crew, with UCL at the time I was there in the early 60's I believe they were. They did I believe come under the pursers department.

Butof course as we all now there were so many musicians on UCL, all played a very good flue I m told.

re. the Flute. Castle Boats. : Also referred to as ,The one-eyed ,Piccolo ,

[happy daze john in oz]

re. the Flute. Castle Boats. : Also referred to as ,The one-eyed ,Piccolo ,

And I am told often played with gusto!!

[Captain Kong]

Tommy Steele or Hicks as he was born, never got a Knighthood for services to the entertainment business.
He has constantly been Mr Nice Guy in his private life.

Blair gave them out like dolly mixtures to show biz people. Cool Britannia, Bliar called it. A puff and a Tax dodger and you were in.
I wonder if it was because he was never a Tax Exile and a Married Man.

All the others who got a Knighthood, should have been made Dames instead or locked up for making money in UK and living in Los Angeles, Spain, Portugal, Barbados and Bermuda, etc, to avoid paying UK Taxes.

Thanks for the Photo Terry.
I am not sure if he went to the Vindicatrix or to Gravesend, his brother Colin Hicks did. There is a Photo in the Dockers Club in Sharpness showing Tommy Steele visiting his brother at the Vindy.
Brian.

[Red Lead Ted]

Brian, He has the same initials as myself T.H. And there is a roll call list of Gravesend lads, His name Thomas Hicks, Appears above mine Terry Hartly, Yes he was a Gravesend lad. Regards Brian hope you got a few things sorted out good health Terry.

[Captain Kong]

Thanks for that Terry
I did know his brother Colin was a Vindy Boy.
I have a photo some where inside my chaotic computer of Tommy and Colin together at the Vindy, Tommy visited him there.

I hope your good wife has her by pass successfully done. My mate Fred, ex seaman, had his done 13 years ago, a Quadruple By pass, he was on the verge of death, and he ended up working in a concrete yard humping large lumps of concrete around until his retirement. It made a tremendous difference.
Fit as a butchers dog after.
Some arteries were completely blocked and one was 90% blocked.
So made an excellent recovery.
Cheers
Brian