Retirement

In 1955 as a 16 yearold pantry boy I sailed on a Sam boat out of Vic Dock,she was thoe oldest ship I ever sailed on. Aboard this scruffy old scow was a lamptrimmer of Polish background.We often sat, in fine weather, on the bits under the lee side wing of the poop. This man had been a seaman since his early teens at first in sail,then through two world wars, the first in the Brit RN and the second in the Merch.He was as old as my grandad who sat at home beside a roaring fire and told tales of his days in the Boer War.
Both of these men in their 70's were a great influence on my life.Why? Because it taught me to listen to the wisdom of the aged.
Now that I have reached the same age I doubt I have passed on as much knowledge or could work at sea in all weathers as old Stanislaw did.

the name jensen rings a bell with me.sailed on brazilian prince and black prince in the early 50,s he must have been on one of those
john sutton

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by humber

http://www.pmcaregivers.com/Bumperstickers.htm

---

Love the Avatar Humber. Which Council?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by john sutton

the name jensen rings a bell with me.sailed on brazilian prince and black prince in the early 50,s he must have been on one of those
john sutton

---

Hiya John,

probably the same man, he was a Prince Line company man. He was also bosun on the "Campania" the ship converted into a "showboat" which took a floating exhibition around the UK in 1951 for the Festival of Britain.I think she was managed by Furness Withy.

Have a look here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Campania_(D48)

All the best. Alec.

Hi albi,
I was on tanker in the 1950s and we had 2 guys over 65 who had been there a couple of trips and when they came to sign back on for another trip the shipping master refused to let them sign on because they where over 65 he said it was compulsary to retire at that age. so they went up and seen the skipper and told him they were not married and had no savings and had been at sea since they where 14 years old so the skipper took the ship out to sea and signed them on when the ship got out side the 3 mile limit. I think they must have been stuck in that ship for the rest of there lives and hoping the skipper didnt leave.:p