Keith Adams

[Keith Adams]

Hello JS. Actually i almost forgot the more recent ships as US just gives one Discharge slip, much like a UK Watch Keeping Certificate. I much prefer the UK Discharge Book method as all info in one place and in order by page. It is so easy to mislay a postcard size paper certificate — i have numbered each in order at top right corner.
The Mates used to post their Certificates (Ticket) behind glass frame on the bulk head on their deck.
Had it not been for a PSNC Reference Letter at end of my Apprenticeship i would have had a hard time remembering all of the ships and voyages. They were typed on the back of my Indentures, which was nice, but my ex Wife, who had already remarried, saw fit to set fire to my Indentures when she learned i had taken up with a lady who has now been my wife for well over 50 years — fortunately i had my references and Discharge Book with me for Job Search purposes. Since i was a Council House boy, PSNC only took me on as a Cadet and had me sign Indentures after first two ship voyages. My Book continued to be stamped for almost three years with a mixture of APP. and Cadet Rating. Stopped stamping my Book for my senior year Apprenticeship which really annoyed me.
Up for 2nd Mates, I had to insist the Examiner read the PSNC letter after he told me I hadn’t enough sea time !
I hadn’t earned any Sea Remission time (3 months) as Liverpool Nautical only awarded that to the top half of the class, so i had to complete four full years as a Cadet/Apprentice. Managed to be heard and allowed to sit.
To add insult to injury, mid Cram Course there was a holiday break. PSNC had asked me to return with my Ticket so i thought they would employ me as Standby Uncertified 3rd Mate. They only offered Standby Cadet !! I had already served the Four Years !
It was then i was glad they hadn’t rendered any financial assistance of my studies as i was able to tell them what to do with their job. Think i posted this somewhere herein — got a well paid Labour job for the holiday period instead ! I do ‘Go on’ don’t I ? Cheers.

[Keith Adams]

Hello Trader, Kind of you to to admit you are an old fart as well — i hope you are enjoying full mobility, maybe with a few aches and pains. They tell me i look great for may age — they obviously need better eye glasses !
However, my insides have aged faster so am keeping the medical profession employed a few times a year. Other than for injuries, i never was in a hospital for ill health problems. However, the proverbial stuff hit the fan after I turned 82 and working at fixing stuff, here and there, ever since. When we think of all of the Hazardous cargoes we worked with or cleaned up without proper gear, it is a wonder any of us lived beyond 65. Guess it was the many days of fresh clean ocean air away from port that compensated in some way. Also lucky genes ! Keith.

[happy daze john in oz]

Keith, so very true how we have managed to last so long!!
When you consider working conditions and hours of work, what we go up to ashore many would consider we should no longer be here.
But for many of us we are in better condition than some well below our age, maybe all the grog, or as you say the sea air.

[Doc Vernon]

With all the Jobs i have had in my life , i really should not be here!
Some real Dangerous ones , and some real near misses!
Oh Boy! Are we lucky!
Anyone for a Pint! LOL

[happy daze john in oz]

With all the Jobs i have had in my life , i really should not be here!
Some real Dangerous ones , and some real near misses!
Oh Boy! Are we lucky!
Anyone for a Pint! LOL

Gee Vernon, is it your round again??

[Doc Vernon]

Well might as well John seeing the time is galloping past so fast! Who knows if i may have a chance again to give such an offer! LOL

Mind you i mat get another chance upstairs ,thats if some will follow me that way !

Who knows where the wind blows.

[happy daze john in oz]

Well might as well John seeing the time is galloping past so fast! Who knows if i may have a chance again to give such an offer! LOL

Mind you i mat get another chance upstairs ,thats if some will follow me that way !

Who knows where the wind blows.

'Any way the wind blows"

[Gordon Gray]

I wish that I had known about PSNC allowing we working class lads a crack at an apprenticeship, I would have grabbed it with both hands. I worked for Furness Withy before getting caught for HM national service and spent a good part of that wasted 2 years guarding the Great Bitter Lake in Egypt then dodging bullets in Cyprus all for a starting wage four bob a day less three and eleven pence national insurance and I remember that every 6 months at FW head office three or four little "gentlemen" in uniform ,probably from Conway or Worcester lining up outside a directors office door waiting for an interview to join FW. Two years in the army or four years at sea No contest mate.

[j.sabourn]

#18. Well I was a council house boy as well and signed indentures , there were many the same as myself. Going to sea as an apprentice is a fallacy and the song and dance myths made up about coming up the hawse pipe is crap. That was the easy way of coming up as far as I am concerned . Anyone who blames not getting an apprenticeship or Cadetship for their lack of promotion in life is kidding themselves and others. The only advantage to an apprenticeship was the attitude it gave you of getting out of the crap experience of being the lowest form of animal life on a ship and gave you strong leanings to get out of it and give it back to others. That hawse pipe always looked the easiest and best way to do what had to be done. JS

[j.sabourn]

#19. Compare the two Deck boy pay better than an apprentice.
Leave could go home at the end of a trip No leave for an apprentice
Discipline deck boy could get a bad report , if apprentice did would be barred from sitting for a certificate
Hours of work deck boy was compensated . Apprentice wasn’t.
Living conditions of both were similar if not identical
Those apprentices who served their time , how many do you think went the full term, I know a lot who packed it in and went back on deck as OS or AB. As regards the claims of some shipowners for study leave, how many do you think this referred to in the 1950s ? Apprentices were a form of cheap labour the same as the ones who went up chimneys . JS