Shaghai'd

[Ron Charlesworth R820665]

On my first trip to sea in 1965 I got shanghai'd by Fyffes and the pool, I had just arrived home from the Vindi on the Friday when a telegram came asking me to contact the pool in Southampton as they had employment for me, they told me that I would be signing articles at the BOT office on the Sunday and then flying out to join the S.S. Tilapa for a 6 week trip, 9 months later we paid off in Rotterdam, it was one of the best ships I ever sailed on and a really good run lots of Central American ports, Stateside, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Panama.
Ron R820665

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Ron
Would just like to give you a warm Welcome to this very good site!
Here you will find lots of info,good Crew and with luck also find a few old Shipmates!
So sit back,relax and just enjoy the trip!
Hope we wil have you here for a long time!
Cheers

[George]

Hi Ron I remember a simular thing happening to me back in 58 sighned off the Edinborgh Castle for a short break and like you teligram duely arrives so next day of to the Southampton Fedration office and got told the same thing nice little six week fruit run to Africa on the MV La Falda nine months later I sighned off in Avonmouth after tramping round the world and never once stopping at an African Port and like you it was one great ship and I loved every moment of the trip
Regards
George in Southampton

[Geoff Anderson]

Hi ALL
I was never that unfortunately to be shanghaied. But i know a man who was. We were leaving Barry on our way to OZ.when the pilot boat arrived to take off the pilot, they brought with them an Ab.On boarding the ship and the pilot put on the boat.We asked this ab why he didn't have much gear with him. he only had a small grip bag, and he was standing in his go ashore gear. he told us he only needed one set of work gear. As the pool said) it was only a 3 day run job, Barry to London ( BILLY HINKY had done it again). He must have realised something was amiss when we all started to laugh.We told him were on our way to OZ.He was straight up on the hatch cover , screaming at the bridge, to put the ship about and recall the pilot boat, needless to say that didn't happen.He told us that he d told his wife to keep his dinner warm in the oven as he would be home in 3 days.
As a protest he decided not to shave until we paid off, and he was good for his word. The crew had a whip around to get him some more gear. As our first stop was Port Said.
When we eventually paid off in Hull some 6 months later.Two deckies were dragging this clean shaven man out of our accommodation, they had found him going into a cabin , and thinking him a thief, they were going to give him the BASH on the deck. This guy was protesting to them that he was our shanghaied AB. It wasn't until he told them about his dinner in the oven that they believed him.I think it was understandable as nobody could remember what he looked like without this huge black beard.
Ive often wondered if his wife kept his dinner in the oven for him.As he told us she was not one to be trifled with.
best wishes geoff

[Peter Drake]

Back in Dec 1960 I returned from leave to join the Romanby ( Ropners ) I had told them I was due to get married in April Just the job for you son 4 months 5th Eng off you go. Key West for orders. Signed off in South Shields in Jan 62.

If you haven't got a sense of humour you shouldn't have joined

Pete

[Jack Jenkins]

In Oct 1960 I went to see a shipping agent in Sunderland,he showed me a list of ships and invited me to pick one,being a Durham lad I chose the Durham Trader,aah... sez the agent,good choice !for a first trip ,ease you into it sez he...Hull to Port Sulphur,to NZ,to Oz for grain and home to Southhampton,sez he with a twinkle in his eye,20 mths later I paid off in Rotterdam,that voyage became the benchmark for subsequent voyages,as to echo what other members have said on this thread,it was the best !!!

Jack

[R58484956]

Joined Union Castle to sail out of Southampton on the mail boats. Standing by the Edinburgh Castle, what luck I thought. The office sent for me and asked me to nip over to Belfast to bring a ship back to London, it would only be for 3 days.That was in January, I left the ship the following August, I had been hoodwinked.
Never came to London went to the continent and then around Africa. Should have rejoined the ship at the end of my leave and resigned by telegram the day before she sailed. The company informed that as I was below the age of 26 they would notify the National service mob to get me called up, But 2 weeks previous I had already joined Cunard to make sure that the NS mob did not get hold of me.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi All.
I wonder how many blokes remember their first ship as one of the best they sailed on. When I left the Vindi in 49 I joined the Trevose in Cardiff; did a short trip to Galveton /Hamburg/London, then did three more trips all to Aus, great ship good crowds. I wonder if the sense of adventure was there on that first ship.
Cheers Des

[Les Woodard]

What was that in your hands. Looks a bit suss mate.