Great thread, so many words that have been lost in the mists of time; pig, Yarpy, etc.
Thanks to all contributers.
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Great thread, so many words that have been lost in the mists of time; pig, Yarpy, etc.
Thanks to all contributers.
Mr Timins , the Cunard personnel manager at Liverpool was famous
for telling anyone he didn't like the look of to come back in 100 years
time, a wag responded with ' morning or afternoon'
Never had a tourist waiter's job with Union -Castle was offerd a slot
on the Pretoria Castle tourist or first class, a no bralner i/c far easier and more cash
but we still had the coasters up to Durban and back,
I spent a lot of time in the Cunard 2x8 was rhe norm mainly tipping well, and it
circulated to Platemen cooks and gloryhole stewards, hard work lousy accomodation
hour on the clock every night coming home, but what a wonderful set of lads,wonderful
memories, cant be many left now.
Loved it in the late 60's and into the 70s when you could spot an ex Cunard 'winger' who had 'swallowed the anchor' and was plying their trade in restaurants / pubs / bars ashore. It was the splayed feet and the waddle. I was very lucky to find a shipping company that were progressive enough to take on apprentice marine caterers. But that did mean spending some of our basic training 'winging it' both in the dining saloon and public rooms. Beer carries and 'scrubouts', burnishing silver et al on the mail boats - all part of the programme.
I did wonder what happened to the 'old' Cunard winger who took pride in what they were doing when interviewing for restaurant staff for P&O Cruises in the 80's. Called in from 'the pool', and when it was evident that knowledge and skill was somewhat lacking from folk with QE2 discharges, it was invariably of those who 'worked the Brickyard' of the Brittania Restaurant. Asked what they really had been before becoming a waiter with Cunard, invariably it had been a 'brickie' or plumber. How they got registered with the MN Establishment for passenger ship employment beat me.
As a young lad before joining up we lived in an old house split into three levels for three families.
On the middle floor, we were top, was a man who was a winger with Cunard, forget which ship.
He would come and go, always coming back with a bag of loot from somewhere.
But he had a sports car of which he was fanatical and at one time told us he was going to speak with the captain to see if he could take it on board to use ashore in forieng ports.
As a young lad I was amazed at this and imagined him driving around in New York or somewhere in this car.
But that was the madness of some wingers.
Remember on the Windsor there were a few in first class who would wear a wig at night, sometimes different colors.
One of the officers complained tot he skipper saying it brought the standard down.
But no, the skipper said the ladies loved it so it stayed.
I was a winger on the Chusan We had to do after afternoon tea on alternative days, on. My day off I would get a tray and walk around deck and ask any unaccompanied lady, would madam care for tea, oh yes please. On deck or in your cabin madam. Often the answer would be in my cabin thank you steward.......lucky old me...
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My first trip as A/S was on the Rangitoto, oh those friendly Kiwi girls...
Does anyone remember the Chief Steward who was not as inclined as most men, shall we say,
She was always getting flustered and walking quickly saying Oh --- me dumb, ---- me dumb
So I nicknamed him Old ---- me dumb.!
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