Why Where when& How did you leave the sea?

[happy daze john in oz]

Vernon mate, thanks for sharing that with us, you have nothing to be ashamed of in doing so. The times and conditions then would have made many a one take the chance, and lets face it life is full of chances, some good some not so good. We take the chance in the hope it is the right one. But as long as we learn from our mistakes then nothing is lost. Now get started on that bloody book will ya?

[John Aspin]

Greetings Jim,
The Alan Jones that I know I think was from Geordie land he lived in South Sheilds, now Hartlepool but possibly could have lived in Weymouth.
Best wishes,
John Aspin (R685343) ormesby-Middlesbrough

[Gordon Turnbull]

John A,

Good stuff mate. Only good thing about Choba base was the bush bars outside it!!! Eket was good as you say, but many moons since last I was there. Escravos never changes unfortunately. The names you said don't ring a bell. I used to go over to the terminal for a drink off and on and could have asked over there but nowadasy I stick to my own camp. So much easier to stagger home :-)

[Bill Dobson]

Left the City of Canterbury in Bahrein when my brother-in-law died. He was like a father to me, and my sister was left on her own with a young daughter. Would go back to sea tomorrow if I was able - loved every minute of it - good and bad.

[andy flewker]

i left the sea in 86,it was getting harder to find ship work for british seaman lots of for.flag. last company P&O gas fleet.Rang the office to let them know i was ready to return to sea having finished my leave ,only to be told that if i had read a certain national paper i would know that the ships had been sold and that i was now redundant ! what a way to end 15 years as a seaman .......

[MartyG]

Hi, Well I missed my last ship in Auckland "Oriana" so found a job on building sites, etc. Then moved to the south island and got a job on the Canterbury plains grubbing noxious weeds. Then with a shearing contractor near Timaru as a wool presser before getting picked up by the cops when they were checking up on a couple of mates. I got charged with entering the country illeagally, fined $20 and remanded in custody to await deportation. It was 3 months before I got a ship home, thats P&O for you. I was in Addington Christchurch max security prison for most of that time befor being put on a plane to Auckland to the police cells for a week then escorted to the "Otaki" and put on board just before letting go the last mooring rope. I was in NZ for about 18 months altogether and most of the time had a ball appart for the last 3 months. I met a girl over there and she joined me in the UK when I finally got home and that was the end of my sea going career.
MartyG

[john sutton]

I left the sea in 57 after 7years and the reason was that while at sea I was always "up for it".If there was mischief going on or a booze up I was there.Having spent a night in jail in Curacao.fought the dock police in brisbane as they threw me aboard and got chased in Buenos Aires docks by two gun toting policemen I realised that my life at sea was due to continue this way.
Most of us have sailed with middle aged ,schooner rigged deck hands who are broke within two days of paying off and I could see myself finishing up like that so I decided to get ashore.Unfortunately a job ashore would entail ,first of all,2 years in the army and I couldnt handle the idea of 28bob a week so I headed for canada.
My last ship was the Manchester Spinner and I was booked as a passenger on the Manchester Trader after paying off the Spinner.There was a 2 week gap to fill before embarking so I asked the mate of the Spinner if I could work- by for the two weeks she was in port.
Manchester Liners always paid for working by on the friday lunchtime.We had a party at the Clowes hotel(thats another story)and I returned to start work at 4pm.The mate saw me and fired me.
Two weeks later I sailed as passenger on the Trader and lo and behold the mate who had just fired me had been transfered.Whats more he sat opposite me at mealtime for the whole trip.
Never spoke to me.
john sutton

[Neville Roberts]

I did 10 years 55 to 65 on many ships cargo and liners ,I saw the end coming while on the Empress Of canada ,the airlines were taking over the trans atlatic run and I was getting bored with that run any way and did,nt want to go back on the cargo boats at 27 as a steward . so off too the states to meet up with a girl I met in NYC , we got married 3 months later and had 3 kids ,and now 8 grand kids ,ouch they are expensive

[Jim Sinclair]

First went to sea 1973 left in 1986 when B.P. made us all redundant from skippers down to galley boys

[Paul Steel]

Jumped off a nightclub balcony on New Years Eve 1982 after a dare. Reason being, I and a mate had completed a static line parachute jump from 2000 ft and was remarking that the training would come in handy if you had to jump out of a 1st floor window in a house for any reason, fire etc.

Was told it was too high, so I said I'd jump off the balcony by the end of the night to prove it.

Come the time, I had climbed over the railing and was waiting for a space to jump. I didn't want to land on anyone and injure them. Just as I was nearly ready and a space opened up, a bouncer seen me and lunged for me. I pushed off away from him on instinct, and before I could even turn my head I'd hit the dance floor like a sack of spuds.

I shattered my left ankle and broke my right heel. In hospital for about 3 months I recall, and then had to live with my parents until I could walk and carry stuff again.

Even went to see the guy who put Barry Sheen back together, but he reckoned with both legs damaged I would not be able to go back to sea. So I had to let Bibbys know, and I was invalided out of the Navy in 1984.

One moment of stupidity and a career ruined.
I'd obtained my 2nd's ticket (Diesel) and Chief's Part A. Taken an LPG Gas course and was a Cargo Engineer, so doing quite well.

Did a training course in computer programming and started with computers.

Seems I got out just before everything changed, but there must have been easier ways of doing that.

The work ethic ingrained in my early years in the MN, has helped me throughout the years though.