What motivated you all to join the Merchant Navy.

[j.sabourn]

#60. Bernard one could say also, that old marine engineers never die, they just fade away. In the future modern world we will be down by the head with computer operators instead. No more pulling a couple of pistons
Starting at 0400 hrs. In Japan on job and finish and ashore by 1500 getting the best seats in the best bars before anyone else. Memories are made of this should be the refrain. JS

[Des Jenkins]

Ho Bernard
And there where some old tramps around in those days. I often used to wonder how the engineers kept them going, on one ship going to Canada we hit a 50 year storm that was sending us backwards at four knots, some waves recorded at 90 feet, how an engineer kept HIS feet I don't know, at least I had a wheel to hang on to.
Des

[j.sabourn]

I always found every new ship and by new am not referring to age, but new to oneself ,was a challenge and when one left at the close of Articles one hoped had provided a better vessel for the next crew joining. Job satisfaction was what I called it. However that went by the board when crew reductions came the norm and pride in a vessel suffered huge losses. It was. Place to work and go home at the end of the contract ,it was no longer a home from home as we used to know it. JS

[Fred Saunders]

At 92+ years of age, I really thank think of why I went to the "Vindi", I was working on the local farm and tried to join the R.N and was knocked back, I think because in 1948 farm work was still a protected industry, then in early 1948 the farm boss and myself had a little argument about lunch times and walking back and forth from home, so I told him give me my cards, as it was a Friday, he was waiting for me with my pay and asked if I was sure about my cards YES replied me, Monday at the Labour Exchange and another job on Wednesday, then that job came to a close, we lost Ministry of Works contracts, so another job was an offsider to a lorry driver delivering building materials and coal, some how I got the paper work for the Vindi and my Mother signed them, when leaving for the Vindi my Old Man said " son it is your bed, you lie in it", will not tell you my response. So I attended the Vindi, July/September 1949, Just recently saw online a photo of my first ship the s/s J.Duncan. Conditions were a bit rough, but them were the days, us boys aft over the screw no lining in the cabin, bare steel, firemen opposite us, sailors up in the bows, Old Man, Mates, Engineers, Radio Op,Chief Cook/Steward amidship. Them were the days.Fred Saunders

[Des Jenkins]

At 92+ years of age, I really thank think of why I went to the "Vindi", I was working on the local farm and tried to join the R.N and was knocked back, I think because in 1948 farm work was still a protected industry, then in early 1948 the farm boss and myself had a little argument about lunch times and walking back and forth from home, so I told him give me my cards, as it was a Friday, he was waiting for me with my pay and asked if I was sure about my cards YES replied me, Monday at the Labour Exchange and another job on Wednesday, then that job came to a close, we lost Ministry of Works contracts, so another job was an offsider to a lorry driver delivering building materials and coal, some how I got the paper work for the Vindi and my Mother signed them, when leaving for the Vindi my Old Man said " son it is your bed, you lie in it", will not tell you my response. So I attended the Vindi, July/September 1949, Just recently saw online a photo of my first ship the s/s J.Duncan. Conditions were a bit rough, but them were the days, us boys aft over the screw no lining in the cabin, bare steel, firemen opposite us, sailors up in the bows, Old Man, Mates, Engineers, Radio Op,Chief Cook/Steward amidship. Them were the days.Fred Saunders

Hi Fred.
As you where walking in through the gates of the Vindi I was walking out to join my first ship The Trevose.
Des

[Jamie Shedden]

I grew up on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, at the southern tip of the island is the Garroch Head lighthouse, the main shipping Channel in the Firth of Clyde, is between Garroch Head and Greater Cumbrae. I used to cycle to Kilchattan Bay, and walk to the lighthouse, where I could view the shipping movements to and from the Tail of the Bank, and to River Clyde to Glasgow. My favourite ships were the Trans Atlantic passenger liners, such as Cunarders and Canadian Pacific liners, which would anchor off Gourock at the tail of the Bank. My favourite was the three funneled Empress of Scotland and I used to say to myself, I will work on this ship when I grow up, unfortunately she was withdrawn from service in 1958, when I was only 12. When I turned 15, was working in Glasgow in a bank, and applied for position with Ellerman City Liners, Bothwell Street, Glasgow, and they were very interested in me, with banking experience, and I was assigned to their waiting list as positions became available. By 1967, they informed me, that Ellermans were disposing of their passenger/cargo ships, and suggested I contact passenger ship lines.
Applied to Cunard, P&O and Shaw Savill, Shaw Savill were the first to respond, and arranged an interview at their Dock Office, Royal Docks, London in April 1967. With 5 years banking experience, they offered me a job after a lengthy interview, when can I start? I commenced service in May, as soon as my 4 weeks resignation was over, and initially worked in the Passenger office in The Haymarket, London, selling cabins to migrants for Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and many transit ports. My first ship, was Southern Cross and sailed for the first time on 7th December 1967, remaining with this ship for two years, as assistant purser.

[Jamie Shedden]

I grew up on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, at the southern tip of the island is the Garroch Head lighthouse, the main shipping Channel in the Firth of Clyde, is between Garroch Head and Greater Cumbrae. I used to cycle to Kilchattan Bay, and walk to the lighthouse, where I could view the shipping movements to and from the Tail of the Bank, and to River Clyde to Glasgow. My favourite ships were the Trans Atlantic passenger liners, such as Cunarders and Canadian Pacific liners, which would anchor off Gourock at the tail of the Bank. My favourite was the three funneled Empress of Scotland and I used to say to myself, I will work on this ship when I grow up, unfortunately she was withdrawn from service in 1958, when I was only 12. When I turned 15, was working in Glasgow in a bank, and applied for position with Ellerman City Liners, Bothwell Street, Glasgow, and they were very interested in me, with banking experience, and I was assigned to their waiting list as positions became available. By 1967, they informed me, that Ellermans were disposing of their passenger/cargo ships, and suggested I contact passenger ship lines.
Applied to Cunard, P&O and Shaw Savill, Shaw Savill were the first to respond, and arranged an interview at their Dock Office, Royal Docks, London in April 1967. With 5 years banking experience, they offered me a job after a lengthy interview, when can I start? I commenced service in May, as soon as my 4 weeks resignation was over, and initially worked in the Passenger office in The Haymarket, London, selling cabins to migrants for Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and many transit ports. My first ship, was Southern Cross and sailed for the first time on 7th December 1967, remaining with this ship for two years, as assistant purser.