Seamens Missions.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates. Hi Captain Kong or lord ----- of Bolton? I knew a refugee , whos brother was killed there at the same time his crime? he was a Catholic and owned a shoe factory. and employed some non mu --- they hung him on a lamp post outside his factory. he left a wife and three children... your stolen tape could have been used to send some very evil people to jail?...

[Captain Kong]

It was a bit disconcerting at the time. The bar was shut and locked the bond locker was Welded shut.
A strange thing. We could not use radios in the Sparky`s Office, complete radio silence, No transmitting out and also we could get nothing on our radios. We used to listen to the Voice of the Desert, an American Radio Station in Saudi.of non stop C&W records. that was Silenced.
No communication at all from the outside world. just total silence.
The Mu slim office Staff were thrown out of the helicopters because "They work for American Company, so so we can kill them". they cease to be Mu slims
They gave us some ko rans to read, some in English and some in their language.
They had Rev. Guards on the bridge and in the Engine control room and around the ship.
An interesting experience.
Es Salaam u-alakum.
Brian

[John Albert Evans]

On a lighter note than Brians last post,
I spent two weeks in the seamans mission in Willamstad, Curacao. I was sent out there by Shell to join the Haustrum whose second cook/baker had died and removed from the ship in Capetown. It was a lovely two weeks. (August 1961)The people in charge of the mission took me out with their family around the island on a few ocassions. If I went there nowadays on a holiday I bet it would cost an absolute fortune.
John.

[Jim Brady]

John one of the best missions for shopping, jeans Wranglers,Levi's etc,top quality at the right price.I remember buying my girlfriend a bottle of Chanel 5 there which was good value it must've worked as she is still here 54 years later.A great place for a drink was that not called the Madhouse bar.Willamstad was our base so we were running in and out of there and around the West Indies so spent a bit of time there.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[John Arton]

Seamans mission in Houston was pretty good, very well stocked and good cheap beer. Friday night there was a dance where lots of local beauties turned up. If the padre saw you standing on the sidelines staring at the lasses doing the Texan Two step, then he would drag you over and set you up with one of them. After that it was up to you to get a further date.
The mission in Zingan in China was another strange one, in 12 months it went from a room with a coca cola cooler full of beer, a dart board and a knacky old pool table to a bar with Chinese hostesses in slit skirts, a light and sound system to rival any nightclub, entrance fees and expensive beer.
rgds
JA

[Louis the fly]

My favourite mission in the U.K. to stay was Salford. It was very clean, modern, with friendly staff.
I teamed up with a R/O who was the most educated, funny and interesting person I have ever met. He had married a Norwegian girl, lived in Norway for many years and sailed on their ships, he was fluent in five languages. The marriage had broken up, he came back to England with nowhere to live and hit the bottle. Every morning he would wait for me on the stairs, I went to the bar bought him a pint and a large shot, only after that could he come down and mix with people.
I went away and when I came back asked where he was. The Priest said he was too far gone to ship out, he had kept him there long after he had run out of money but eventually he finished up as a dosser with the Salvation Army.
The first time I stayed in Salford I arrived about eight in the morning, I was young, fit, and just paid off. There were a group of men 10 or 12 walking up and down in a line in the lounge area, one of them told me they were waiting for Jimmy the steward to come in so could get a livener.
After a while when I found myself joining the line I knew it was time to get back to sea.

[cappy]

John & Jim, Willamstad has an indelible place in my sea going memory as on my 1st trip as an App we bunkered there & I recall so clearly the Capt. Morgan's castle on the cliff top, the clarity of the water you seemed to be able to see for ever. yes a great place visited several times thereafter each with some good times.

##### also bunkeredthere ist trip in december couldntbelieve the fresh salad coming aboard and fruit ....from trees before anyone gets giggly......the colour of the place after leaving shields some time before ...regards cappy

[Evan Lewis]

As a Rule, that great organisation The Flying Angel, Missions to Seamen . Were Dry. Though somewhere along
the line. Did hear of one ,Somewhere, that one may have. No to be confused with other similar institutions . like the Stellar Maris etc. in the days, particularly ,of Seven pounds a Month ,Boys. And the munificent 24pounds ,for A.B.s

If I may digress a little. A Late ,extremely popular Captain, of the Queen Mary. Donald Sorrel. In fact so popular. When it was announced for its next voyage, He was to be replaced for its next Trip Which included , Carrying the Queen Mother over to New York . In favour of the Commodore Captain ,from the Q. E. This immediately sparked a protest ,from the Crew. ,threatening to Walk off.
This action was only averted, By Capt . Sorrel. Getting the Crew together , and advised against it. .No Doubt the Cunard heirachy Wiped their collective Brows. .Getting back to the Subject.

His Pet project was raising Funds for the " Missions to Seamen." To illustrate an example.When on Gangway duty ,Some Quiet evenings, was able t Walk -away for a while. On a notice Board In one of the Dining Rooms, Office ,A prominent notice ,to the effect a contribution ,to the Missions! All .Donations . Signed Personally,by the Captain .Will be acknowledged. I've no doubt the Well -heeled Senior Stwds and Chefs. Would have "Jumped in like Flynn."

[john walker]

I stayed in many Seamen's clubs/Missions around the world initially the old Red Ensign in Dock street London before flying out to join a Shell tanker in Curacao. Connell House in Singapore prior to joining another Shell tanker. (Immediately after this it closed down) Then at various times Atlantic House and Kingston House in Liverpool while doing various tickets at the Merchant Navy Catering School in Canning place. the Seaman's Club in Amsterdam while looking for work. Ditto the Flying Angel in Singapore. My favourite was always the Mariners Club in Hong Kong, it was a good place to stay and the residents bar was a great place to meet people who were a mine of information when looking for work in South East and East Asia. They all had one thing in common which was that they normally all had clean and secure rooms, you always felt welcome and there was always someone to have a beer and a yarn with. All in All they were great institutions.

[Evan Lewis]

Yes .Agree with You John. What would we have done without them. Particularly when the funds were low.
The Atlantic House in Liverpool impressed me greatly. Recall describing it to My Old Mum. Such as, after a short Service ,and response. One Sunday Eve. . The Dance started. The Priest then was dispensing .the appropriate Orders ,of Drinks .So, from the Bible to the Bar! You may say . My Mum ,a Catholic ,though amused . In Her naivety . Could not believe, a Priest would Drink. or Dispense it.

The Mariners Club ,in Hong Kong Is vey impressive. Seemed ,to us though more like Luxury Hotel . Housed a number of amenities . And appeared to appeal to a large proportion of Up-market. Chinese