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John I sailed with Ernies brother Ted he got a jump at the Pier Head on the Britain as stewards messman another great guy.Did a few trips messman then went Tourist Winger,he did well Ted.
Regards.
Jim.B.
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Originally Posted by John Callon
Thanks for that John someone will come up with the answer I'm sure.
Regards.
Jim.B.
A few childhood memories some of you may recall. Bootle Belle and the canal tours. The Gainsborough cinema where every Saturday morning we came running out as cowboys. The torture chamber known as the dental clinic next to the North Park. Maple leaf boxing club run by Dave Rent and his sons. Litherland Town Hall where I first saw the Beatles play live, a five piece with Stuart Sutcliffe on bass and Pete Best on drums. Saturday nights in the Orrell Park Ballroom with the Undertakers, Big Three and Rory Storm and the Hurricanes with a young Ringo.
Happy days except for the dental clinic which gave me a lifelong phobia of dentists.
Louis reading your post you would think that you were talking about me,that is exactly where I was brought up and did all the things you mention.Always the Litherland Town Hall thursdays and saturday nights,it's a walk in clinic now.If you went to that clinic to have drops in your eyes they gave you a note "not to read write or sew for three days" the sew part always amused us.The Bootle Belle the big converted barge owned by the Caddicks this is the family that invented and made the "Sea Witch" which were sold all over the world.
Regards.
Jim.B.
When Seaforth first opened up it was a nightmare. We used to load containers in the old Gladstone dry dock at the rate of 6 containers per hour. We were always told that when Seaforth was up and running things would change....and they did we went down to 4 containers an hour.
Originally all the stevedores were allowed to park their cars right alongside the ships, taking up valuable container storage area. However after 3 people got killed in one day by straddle carriers whilst they were going to and from their cars, the dock board banned them from bringing their cars ships side. They created a car park at the entrance and laid on a so-called regular 10 minute bus service from the gates to the ships.
Joining crew in taxis were not allowed down to the ship in the taxi, nor were any ships stores trucks. So we ended up in the situation whereby you had to lug your luggae from the main gate all the way to the ship, plus any stores had to be hand carried. It took some months to sort this situation out whereby ships crew were allowed to us the bus service and stores trucks could be escorted to ships side.
When it first opened there was only one access point to the ships and container storage area which was about a mile away from the ships. Later on the stevedores demanded a nearer access to the ships berth so a further access gate and car park was built right up at the head of the new dock, up near the grain silos. Turned out that although the stevedores initially said that the reason for this new access was because it was taking them to long to get from the gate to the ship, in reality it was that it was taking them too long to get to the pub, usually the Caradoc.
If a gang consisted of say 12 men then you would only ever see 6 working, the other 6 were in the pub and they would rotate a mid shift.
This was early 70's and going into Seaforth on a container ship was a right pain, especially if you were joing/signing off or taking stores.
Must be much better know though I guess.
Rgds
JA
one good thing john you could move from one firm to another and men got years of work there..jp
john the first boat was a blue star we were working right by it laying pipes with a draw rope in them? legs of lamb were flying past all day we lived well??:p jp
John Arton #24 "the dockers parked their cars on the quay" they may have parked their bikes!!!!I drank with many dockers including my brother at that time and I dont recall any of them having cars.Three dockers killed in one day,I dont think so,I recall one person walking through the base and he was killed by a straddle.Six in a gang half in the Caradoc half working yes quite right I'l give you that but Liverpool still had the quickest turnaround of tonnage in the UK.The welt system started many years ago when it was "give a lot a little" and Liverpool still had a turnaround quicker than any other UK port,dont forget you were getting fresh hands half a day about not all the dockers went to the pub,chance would be a fine thing many of them did'nt have the money and the pubs closed at 3pm anyway in those days.A mile away from the ship!! the whole dock is less than a quarter of a mile.
Regards.
Jim.b.
there were 3 killed when the conveyer collapsed for the grain berth 2 died inside the tube and 1 landed on the quay that was at 10am one morning we heard the bang and the tube went in the water sad day and yes there was a couple killed by straddles but over a period of months? its very strict now..jp
Never having been to Liverpool I found the photos most interesting, the docks were much bigger than I imagined as is the surrounding buildings.
thanks for the look in Jim.
john at the stroke of midnight new years eve in the 50s/60s the ships horns all going together the windows would rattle and you were deaf for 2 minutes after now very little if nothing? the dock road was a see of people from all over the lines of masts and funnels of all colours. the dock road driving test if you could drive from seaforth to dingle along the dock road you passed you test now empty??shame.. jp