Aspirations, Inspirations and Mentors

[Capt Bill Davies]

Throughout the formative years of your career, irrespective of department, there must have been milestones, people who inspired you , events which triggered other events etc.

To get the ball rolling. I was fortunate to have made my first trip as a Deck Boy and final trip as AB with the same Bosun who was acknowledged as one of the China Boats best. A sailor, the likes I have never met since.

Later as a young officer in British Flag tramps in the early 60s I was frequently in conversation with two Greek ships officers who lived in Wallasey and were friends with my father who was Master on a Tramp company frequently. discussed on this site. One of the Greeks was a Ch.Eng and the other a Shipmaster. Both these men had set their wives up in local businesses. I remember as a young man comparing the lifestyle of the Greek shipmaster whose house commanded a prominent position in New Brighton and better than the house I lived in. He also frequently discussed Brenda Silver when Brenda was secretary for a Liverpool Ship chandler but already doing 'foreigners' for Greek owners. Impoverished after 15 months ashore I made that journey to have a chat with Brenda who arranged my License based on my Masters (FG) and the rest is history.

Bill

[Captain Kong]

I never had a mentor or any one to influence me.
I just enjoyed Seafaring, sailing on Coasters, Tramps, cargo liners, Passenger liners and tankers. working on deck from Deck Boy to AB. for twenty years,
I was never a Lamp trimmer or Bosun. I was just happy.
The in the early 70s I joined ESSO VLCCs, we had ex service men on deck, Bleddy useless, only my brother and I could leave the deck, all work aloft was on us two, while the other four tended, the Mate wanted my brother and I to work in the Engine Room soogying, no chance , He says we are now GP, get stuffed Mr Mate do it yourself. All overtime stopped. Great, we said, in the swim pool everyday. Mr. Mate painting a long 1000 foot fore deck on his own. tough.
Then overtime back on again, He tried to give me a hard time in the wheel house, I chased him around th bridge, the screams brought the Captain up. He says if you dont like it, go and get a ticket , if you can, Ha Ha Ha, sarcastic laugh.

My brother and I went to the Office on leave and we were sent to College on full pay and exam expences paid. we got our tickets and it was the best thing me and our kid ever did and then we went all the way through.
Now you could say Mr Mate was the influence to get us motivated.
Brian

[Tony Wilding]

Three things inspired me to go to Sea, in the following order, first went aboard a Ship Aged 8, my Fathers Ship, SS Fort Augustus, was hooked from then, then at School my favourite Subject was Geography, at 16 i had my first Motor Boat, fishing in the Thames Estuary among all the Great Ships at Anchor awaiting a Berth, i realised the the only way i could see the World was to be at Sea, thirdly my two Brothers went to Sea aged 16, the stories they told was the final push for me, i was 21 when i joined. Tony W.

[robpage]

I was on a tanker with a professional second engineer who was the biggest idiot that I ever sailed with , He used to test he boiler water by titrating a large sample from one chemical bottle into a beaker and drinking it ,the chemical smelt of Whiskey , the guy was under the influence every waking hour and was dangerously incompetent , I made sure that I went ashore and got a certificate rather than sail with a lunatic o n watch again !!! I could never understand how the Department gave him a dispensation when better engineers with certificates were looking for work

[leratty]

Rob I was always amazed in my time at sea how many deck officers were drunks, generally the old timers. Had two Capt.'s a C/O in that category + one Capt. who was taken off the ship in Panama having gone mad (could have been nervous break down?) believe the C/O reported him? He used to sing the most outlandish songs on the bridge & verbally attack the 3rd without rhyme or reason. On the other hand had several who were mentors willing to pass on their knowledge, one was a lovely old Capt. who had been sunk two or three times during the war & who had lost his ticket for apparently running his ship aground in a UK river. He was an A.B. a true gentleman. Also a wonderful Maltese bosun who looked out for us young fellows in every way. He taught us to wire splice, always passing on sage advice can still see his face today just a top fellow.

[Keith Moody]

a good question, I think all of us over the years have had someone who we have said " I would like to be like him" or " i don`t think i want to end up like that", one just has to think back.
the one person in my life who gave me inspiration was a school teacher by the name of Mr Goff. he used to take us for geography and world events, time 1940-50`s, he made the world sound so interesting that i thought that is all I want to do, see the world, the only way in those days was to go to sea, or join the army or air force, so i went off to sea, 1955-1962, then with the travel bug still in me I joined the airlines and saw more of it, 161/2 years to be exact. I have visited over 65 countries whilst sombody paid my way.
what a great life, I enjoyed it all including 2 wives and do not regret any of it.
keith moody
R635978