Butchers cabin

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Originally Posted by Bill Morrison

Hi John. I can't help with the "butcher" question but your mention of the Paparoa brought this back to mind.
I found this article and put it together with a photo in my scrap book. I did a similar one for the Iberic.
Bill

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Paparoa bloody life boats.
We were in Brisbane when Captain North decided that the catering crew should have a life boat drill just for them.
The deckies lowered one of the boats and we all had to do the Jacobs Ladder bit to board her.

Going down was not too bad, and the rowing was OK as none of us had much of an idea of what we had to do.
We had one deckie on board and he gave orders.
But as to steering, well we would have done very well on a roundabout.
The back to the ladder to re-board the ship.
Twice the cook got as far as the second rung before falling back onto those below.
We then made a collective decision that he go last.
It might be easy for the deckies and the pilot to negotiate the ladder but for us it was two steps up one step down.
we did eventually get up all with very sore arms.
Cookie made it, in the end.

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Originally Posted by Dennis McGuckin

On the Iberia, I shared a cabin with one of the butchers.

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Hi Den.
And you survived?
Des

John you would of found it easier to go up the Jacobs ladder sideways with the ladder between your legs. The same with a pilot ladder if it had no spreaders. ( not the sort you think I mean) if you ever watched a pilot coming on board with a sea running he had probably sometime learned the hard way also. Why not go back and have another go.? Or are the old bones not up to it anymore cheers JWS.

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Originally Posted by happy daze john in oz

Paparoa bloody life boats.
We were in Brisbane when Captain North decided that the catering crew should have a life boat drill just for them.



It might be easy for the deckies and the pilot to negotiate the ladder but for us it was two steps up one step down.
we did eventually get up all with very sore arms.
Cookie made it, in the end.

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''''must say john i feel sory for any pilots today regarding boarding some of the big vessels afloat today .......cappy

Can’t remember the rules and regulations re pilot boarding facilities now Cappy, but during most on here’s time at sea the accomodation ladder had to be utilised if the freeboard was too high. So the pilot could step onto approx. halfway up. Manropes etc. were compulsory but often not used, whoever coming up preferring to hold on to the ladder itself. As regards the old lifeboats they were more capable of being put into the water and not recovered, this is what they were a last resource of crew and not expected to return to ship. Today however are utilised for other things. In the past had other craft such as whalers and dinghys easier to handle. As regards lifeboat ladders had to be of sufficient length to reach the water when in lightship condition and with the ship having a 15 degree list. Can’t imagine elderly passengers being able to use as such, would in any case be launched with them in it. Cheers JWS.

John, You don't want to know how I learnt!

John #13 #15, I do very well now falling of an ordinary ladder so the Jacobs would not be a problem.
I notice now on the cruise ships when they drop the pilot it is done from a Gun port door close to the waterline on most ships.
Have not noticed any ladders being used, must take a closer look next time.

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Originally Posted by Des Taff Jenkins

Hi Den.
And you survived?
Des

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Just barely Des.

Guess this should be a separate post.
However as Jacobs ladder has been mentioned I will ask this.
Which Island was Jacobs ladder on
St Helena or Ascension Island?
Recall walking up it. A large flight of stairs
Couldn't walk next day as stiff as a log.

The Jacobs ladder is on St Helena.Den
I think it had more than One Thousand steps.I climbed it up and down and over a week later my legs were still trembling.
We went there on QE2
Jimmy Savile who was with us at the time, went up and down it SEVEN times, for Charity. He was really fit, this was in 2001.
Cheers
Brian