Liverpool sailors home.

[happy daze john in oz]

....One of the many skills I learned during my time at sea including playing the spoons
john sutton

Never realised you were musical!

[Neville Roberts]

I stayed there a couple of times when I was on the outs with the family one stay was about a week before I shipped out ,the other was for three days ,I had a room along the side of the dorm that had about 15 beds .the room was smaller than a ships cabin as it only had one bunk in it .and I remember the plonkies that hung around .that Brian mentioned .

[John Albert Evans]

I sailed out of Liverpool 1957 onwards, got the ships via the Pool. (Mann Island) I remember everything that the Captain has said with some nostalgia. I never stayed at the Seamans Home though but I do remember it well from the outside.
Perhaps someone will be able to help me out with the following. When I first applied to join the Merchant Navy, I've got it in my mind that I went to the Shipping Federation Offices in Paradise Street, LIverpool. It know thats it was 55 years ago and I may be mistaken but its always stuck in my mind about Paradise Street.
Maybe someone can confirm it for me about Paradise Street. Thanks.

John Albert Evans

[Graham Payne]

John
no offence, but was it Prescot Street in the East end of London close to the Red Ensign Club ? that was a big "pool" for us seamen,
quite a lot of fly out jobs, I remember one bloke saying on being offered another,
" I joined the bloody Navy not the Air Force "

[John Albert Evans]

Graham

I never sailed out of a London Pool, only Liverpool and that was the Shipping Federation Offices Mann Island.

I later became a company man with Eagle Oil Shipiing Company then with Shell Tankers when the bought them out.

Then I went back on the Pool at Liverpool.

John

[Keith Tindell]

Hi John,
It was 58 years ago when i applied for the MN, but like you i recall attending the same shipping offices for interview, although i cannot remember the name of the street. i remember it being exciting times, but cannot remember much of the interview, cheers KT

[Captain Kong]

SAILORS HOME.jpg
The old `POOL `, before MANN Island was built, was on the ground floor of the old SAiLORS HOME, the back of the building was on Paradise Street and the Front on Canning Place facing the bomb site of the old Customs House.
Here is a picture of it in the old days before I stayed there.
Cheers
Brian.

[John Albert Evans]

Thank you Captain for that infomation, since joining this site it has always niggled me a bit about me going to Paradise Street as is hasnt been mentioned by other seafarers, I'm glad i wasnt imagining it.

John Albert Evans

[John Arton]

I too went to Paradise Street to get my first discharge book when I first started in 67.
It must be the most innappropriate named street ever, I remember it as been narrow and dark with big Victotian built buildings and wharehouses lining it. The Pool Office was like stepping back in time 100 yrs.
Another thing
Was greenbergs the outfitters who supplied you with all sorts of uniforms etc. you never needed, also situated on Paradise Street as I seem to recall coming out of the pool office clutching my brand new discharge book and only walking a few minutes until I was engulfed in Greenbergs emporium?
rgds
John A

[Captain Kong]

You would not recognise it now John,.
It has all been rebuilt. I believe the original Gates of the HOME are on display in Paradise Street.
Maggie May would not recognise it,
Canning place I remember Greenbergs also Whitfields Outfitters, Mr Whitfield used to crack the Advance notes at two shillings in the pound.
Cheers
Brian.