Are there any former wingers left?

[john middleton]

The fifties were a very happy time for us. very
hard work 2x8 or 2x10, scrubouts , beer carries and worst of all
the dreaded afternoon teas unless you were a jacket man i.e. linen man silver man
or stairhead man who were excused.
We took a few short cuts, none of which were recommended at Gravesend sea school
you had to or you wouldn't last nor without a ciggy between sittings, and the very welcome pint in
the pig
Still very rewarding especially if you had a few American students (fixed odds at 5$)

[Doc Vernon]

Yes as you mention JM, it was all go then in those times for the crazy Wingers, doing each day what was needed!
Start with the Beer and Linen carry , then the Scrubouts, Getting the Tables ready for the First Sitting of Breakfast most times on the Castle Ships 2 Sittings of between 12 and 14, hard Yakka! Not forgetting the Porthole cleaning LOL
Then on top of that at times had extra duties as well, but for me and my late Brother it was thankfully overtime ,so extra Cash!

Then the Lunches, Afternoon Kids Teas (As they called it but was actually main meals) not much break, then t was again Dinner time , oh boy did we Run!

But after all was done the lovely Pig, where you could go and relax with a Pint Oh how lovely was that!

But at the end of each Run as i have mentioned before , i personally always got good Tips from my Bloods, and always had more in my Skyrocket than what i got in Wages! Oh Happy Days !

[happy daze john in oz]

0545 hours and the peak steward gives you a tug, up to the second stewards office to find out what wonderous tasks he has for you.
Will it be a scrub out, beer carry or linen one, or some other task you would never consider such as cleaning his shoes!!!!!!!!
15 minute break and get ready to serve breakfast, two sitting of staving Yarpies who could eat the **** out of a low flying chook.
Then breakfast and a much needed smoke.
Back to it, scrub out around the tables and set for lunch, clean napkins and table cloths, napkins to last three meals.
30 minute break if lucky, then at kit again, on the soup, on the fish go like the clappers to get the first lot out and reset for the second lot, someone yells out, 'up the wall; and those of us done go to give a hand.
Lunch over have your own,
Then maybe a couple of hours free time, bit of bronzy maybe.
For some very 'lucky' wingers children's tea, oh what joy.
For others such as I on day watch back at 1700 hours.
Silver clean, refill condiments, look for missing tea spoons a never ending task, or other tasks set buy the head winger.
The maybe 30 minutes and back for dinner, again on the bloody soup, on the fish, did kit never end where did they put it all??
The dinner and off to the pig for a much needed drink or two or three or maybe four before the pig closed.
The down to the cabin, some one had started a poker game, oh no it is now 0200 hours, must get some sleep.

Wakey, wakey rise and shine you had your wank I want mine, oh now the bloody peak steward again.

But we did it and enjoyed it all, given the chance would do it all again.

[Dennis McGuckin]

Just thinking of the tips the wingers got.
I once was told that they paid out to the galley staff.
In my time at sea, I never saw that happen.
I'm sure that John can enlighten me?

[j.sabourn]

He will probably tell you Dennis as you weren’t there in the bar they all drank and toasted you instead, The thought was there that’s the main thing . Cheers JS.

[Keith at Tregenna]

It was rare to find a waiter from a ship with checkable references,
we we were advised not to employ them. Sad as I lost some good
waiters to liners but was not allowed to re-employ them either.

K.

[j.sabourn]

His reference was his discharge book the same as everyone else. Unless he was a foreigner who wanted a written one as well. JS

[Keith at Tregenna]

Not at home.

Written references were needed.

K.

- - - Updated - - -

His reference was his discharge book the same as everyone else. Unless he was a foreigner who wanted a written one as well. JS

The industry back then was more female orientated,
think some companies saw also, little regard for gay
employees.

[j.sabourn]

I wrote out some good ones extolling the virtues of many seamen who could not read or write. But depending on the truth as I saw it would sometimes put at the end, but don’t pay him any money as he’s not worth it. They went away happy enough , Did you get any like that ? Cheers JS.

[Keith Adams]

My Dad was a steward with Cunard in the early 1930’s and rose to Barman, which i understand was a pretty good number. Sailed on the “Ascania” and “Franconia”. Came ashore to work as a Tram Conductor before joining the Royal Artillery in 1938 and became Capt by 1944, was Liaison Officer with US Army in Italy. Sure he got the assignment due to his frequent visits to the States and much interaction with Americans as a Steward, Barman and Sailor ashore in NY.. One never knows where any job done well will lead ?