Merchant Seamen

[j.sabourn]

Silverfish always seemed harder to get rid of than cockroaches. J.Sabourn

[Peter Trodden]

Silverfish=Jaspers,Singapore Joeys. I joined a Russian Ship,the "Sprut" July '94 in Aberdeen. We (4 Riggers) went Offshore to work with a ROV on a short Job. (10 days)
2 of the Riggers,tho good men had never been Deep sea or encounted Silverfish before. While working by and our first meal onboard, we went to the counter for our food and they spotted the Jaspers all over the galley bulkheads. They thru a wobbler and said they would not eat a thing on this manky ship. So, just before we sailed they went to the Super Market and bought loads of Pot-noddles,tins of sausage and beans and various other stuff that they would prepair and eat during this trip. They would look in disgust at us eating the Ships food,but when we said the foods Jasper Free because its so bad the Jaspers wouldn't touch it. When we tell some people of the Ships we sailed in,50s and 60s and of the Food and accomodation we put up with, they just shake their heads in disbelief.
ttfn.Peter.

[Stuart Henderson]

I was at sea thirty years 47 to 77 and first ten years sailed on all types of ships, cargo tankers colliers coasters and old passenger ships like Maloja and LLANGIBBY cASTLE.
Conditions varied on all of them if it was too bad signed off on arrival home port and back to the Pool where you didnt get choice if you were a young catering rating,
However one thing always stuck in my mind from those days, I was home on leave in Angel pub Staines one morning. In the little snug bar where you were served through a hatch and stood behind an older man waiting his turn to replenish his pint. I couldnt help but stare at his hands large and sturdy but sparkling almost with engrained coal dust. He noticed and told me he was a goal miner from up north. We got talking and I. said it was a job I could never do being enclosed underground all day long. He then asked me what I did for a living and I said I went to sea and he said he could never do that.....He couldnt swim and hated the thoughts of being out of sight of land and rollimg around. We had a couple of pints together and Ive always remembered that conversation.
Stuart H

[Tony Wilding]

Strange to say, but i worked down the ER, it never ever worried me, was just normal, but i could never go down a Mine or Submarine, went aboard one in Chatham, on Navy Days, could not get off it quick enough, think if i was on one that submerged i would throw a wobbler.

[Red Lead Ted]

Always remember painting over the ships side on a Palm Boat, We were in Lagos a beast landed on the stage, Bloody hell Jimmy my partner on the stage i don't like the look of that !!!!!!!!!!! It was about 4 inches long black and red stripes had a fine pair of listener,s on it nasher,s like a piranha helicopter blades spinning around its head, it done a few press ups and started walking towards Jimmy,s end of the stage I made for the rope ladder, Jimmy let the lot go striker roller paint in a panic and ended up in the drink. Happy day,s Lads Terry...........