Cunard Catering Dept

[Jim Thomas]

Does anyone remember the name of the old guy (a right swine) that gave out the stewards jobs in the basement of the Cunard Building in the early Fifties? I'd love to know his name.
Also any engine room staff that could tell me how much fuel the old Franconia used per hour at 15 knots?
Jim Thomas (Alias 'Spot')

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Jim
Dont know if this may help at all!
Cheers

Unfortunately a bit small you may need a Mag Glass to see it!

[John Callon]

Hi Jim
You are not thinking about Bert Forrest are you? When I was in Cunard in the early 60's Bert used to dish out the jobs through the small window in the basment of the Cunard Building. I was working by for awhile on the Carinthia and Sylvania. When the ship sailed from the stage, Bert would give you your wages and National Insurance card and tell you to go and report to Charlie Fulcher in Canadian Pacific and work by the next Empress boat that was due in. He was quick to add though, don't forget to come back to Cunard.
John C.

[Jim Thomas]

Couldn't quite read it mate! But ta anyway ))

[Jim Thomas]

No, I'm pretty sure that wasn't him. I was working for Cunard from 1951 to 1955 when the NUS went on strike and I know he didn't go back to dishing out jobs after the strike. He worked on a ship during the strike and after it ( I went down the mines at that time) and had a bad time as everyone hated him.
IWorked for CPR too! Thanks for the reply though. )))

[Jim Thomas]

Re the Franconia Fuel consumption. I have written down (from the fifties) that she used 50 tons of Bunker 'c' per hour at 15 knots and could do 17 knots but would double her fuel consumption...that seems an awful lot of fuel. She probably ran 4 days at 15 knots in good weather on the Quebec City run, that's 4,800 tons of fuel????
Could that be right for a 22,000 ton ship?

[Neil Morton]

In late May 1955 after finishing my Vindi course I was sent to Cunard House to work by in the Directors Dining Room for 3 days.The cook and the stwds were fine and a laugh, the grub was good too. I met the miserable old git you refer to when he sent me to join the Andria out of Vic Dock.He muttered something about "no Camambert cheese on her son" Just as well I thought; as in those days my post war palate was still based on Mum's ration book meals even though rationing had been over for a while.

[Gulliver]

Well Jim,try decimal points? i.e. 5.00 tons per hour = 120.00 tons per day = 480.00 tons per one way voyage....which sounds about right?....rather than your 4,800 tons!

All the Best
Gulliver

[Captain Kong]

Tha sounds more like it Gulliver,
I was on the old Franc in 1956 and 4,800 tons of fuel was like taking a full cargo.

[Phil Crawley]

Hi John, I remember Bert Forrest giving the catering jobs out in the Cunard office, I don't think it is the same person Jim is asking about as I always found Bert to be a decent enough man.
Phil Crawley.