Company Headquarters

[John Arton]

Nearly all the great British shipping companies at one time or another had very imposing headquarters in their respective cities, but that was only for the Office wallahs, us poor seamen were usually taken to less imposing parts of either the same building or pointed to a small dingy office around the corner.
I remember the day I joined the Canadian Pacific who at that time were in the Liver Buildings in Liverpool.
On entering tthrough the front entrance you were greeted by a doorman who escorted you over to the reception desk and he handed you over to one of the receptionists who enquired of your business. If you were visiting sea personnel you were directed to a far corner and told to go down into the basement, past the print room, stationary store etc. until you eventaully came to the personnel office which consisted of a long narrow room with one wall covered in wooden pigeon holes and the whole place covered in papers of all sorts, its no wonder that my very first trip to sea could have been as 3rd Mate on the Empress of England as how any of those who worked in sea personnel kept track of anything was beyond belief.
Things did not really improve when we moved down to Trafalgar Square. Same deal on entering but no doorman, just security and after stating your business you were directed to the rear of the building where sea personnel had by this time managed to obtain some reasonable space and where they displayed their great pride which was a huge magnetic board with all the ships names on it and below the ships was listed by rank all the personnel on board with their joining date.
Also all though on leave were listed.
This however did not truly solve the personnels department's problem of keeping track of all of us as invariably some mischievous soul visited the office would, given the chance, swap the names around so captains became 3rd mates etc. etc or even got put on different ships. They little magnetic sticker with your name on it also had a tendency to fall off. There was the famous case of one person who joined C.P. did one trip and went on leave. His name baord had fallen off the magnetic board and behind some filling cabinets. After 10 months on leave on full pay the guy became a little concerned so phoned up personnel who at first refused to admit that they actually eemployed him. After persuading them that they did actually employ him he felt a bit embarassed at not contacting them earlier so he told them he had been suffering from a long bout of flu at which he was told he had better have another month off on pay in order that he would be fully recovered and fit to join his next ship.
It was only when they moved into some faceless office block that they eventaully came into the computer age and by this time any pretence of being treated with any respect by the door person had long gone and all you got was a finger pointing you too the way to the reception desk where your archetypical receptionist sat painting her nails or whatever they do.
I do have a feeling that the doorman/security guy was actually employed by Buries (who were situated just round the corner) as the story goes if you came out glum faced after been given the heave ho (which was pretty difficult to get) he would point you in the direction of Buries saying that they were hiring.
Good old days.
rgds
Capt. John Arton (ret'd)

[Tony Morcom]

I can still visualise the Houlder's sea personnel room in Leadenhall Street today. That was a long dark dismal room, probably largely due to the number of pipe smokers it seemed to contain. You started off in the far corner as deck cadet and gradually moved closer to the door as you were promoted. Organisation seem to rely on staff shouting across the room

[John Adamson]

I can remember visiting the Hain- Nourse offices at 24 St. Mary Axe, in the City of London. It was situated in the Baltic Exchange Building, and as young apprentice going to sign his indentures, it was an aweinspiring building. Beautiful wood paneled offices and beveled glass partitions. Paintings of old Hain Ships, and rows of huge ledgers. Wonder what happened to it all.

John

[Tony Wilding]

I remember going to Watts Watts office at 37 thredneedle street, london, that was all wood panellng, with beautiful cased models of there ships on display, i think blue star was in leadenhall street,some in fenchurch street also.

[robpage]

British & Commonwealth Clan Line King Line UCL etc had very impresssive offices at 2 & 4 St Mary's Axe , with a fantastic world map in the reception showing the daily position of all 115 ships , adjusted every morning . I believe , but am not sure that one of teh cayzer Brothers had a penthouse apartment there too . They had a freight office around teh corner at Rotherwick House

[j.sabourn]

Remember going into Moor Line Offices 56 Pilgrim Street Newcastle on Tyne, on just passing 2nd.Mates certificate. The assistant personal manager who always tried to give me a hard time called me aloud by my surname, I replied in a loud voice in front of the office girl " It is MISTER Sabourn to you". He was stumped for a reply. Regards John Sabourn. PS Moor Line offices were later a Night Club. JS.

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Rob
Dont dispute your post mate,just that i cannot recal UCL having offices there!
I can however recall they had their office in Fenchurch Street!
It was rather a large Building with i think about four Floors,but the actual Building was also occupied by other Firms! Cant recall which though!
The Entrance to the UCL was not far at all from the corner of Fenchurch Street !
Or was i dreaming haha!
Cheers

[happy daze john in oz]

Hello Rob
Cheers

Not sure about Fenchurch Street but St. Mary's Axe was the official address of the company.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi John
Just thought i would satisfy my curiosity so looked up the offices in Fenchurch Street and Bingo! Now i look at the Pic its the same as i recall!
Cheers

The Union-Castle Line offices in Fenchurch Street | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[Captain Gordon Whittaker]

A gaggle of officers. M.V. Brescia. Christmas Day 1957. Pireaus Greece.-1.jpgCunard Building at Pierhead, Liverpool, was always a wonderful place to visit. I signed my Indentures in the Board Room, which was resplendent in ship's paintings and beatiful models of their impressive fleet. We deck apprentices had to attend in full uniform, and were always treated with respect by office staff. I think they saw us as future Captains, but it would have taken 35 or 40 years to gain a command, (Dead men's shoes), so most of us left for greener pastures and quicker recognition. We had to feed ourselves in Liverpool, with catering staff on leave, and were paid 7/6, old money, per day, while Officers had 30 shillings. Preumably they ate four time more?

I learned my profession well between 1957 to 1960, then went on deck to earn much more money in comparison to Apprtentice salary, with which I funded my attendance and success in Second Mate's at Leith Nautical College. Further tickets were obtained with the generous help of study leave. The attached photo shows how many we carried, and this on a 4000 ton cargo ship, one of the Medi "Brigs".