Glasgow docks

[Duke Drennan]

I remember when I paid off a boat in Glasgow, it was commonplace to have 2 half crowns in your hand as you handed your I.D. book to the cop on the gate. This was his gravy for letting you through without any form of search.
Did any one else encounter this habit? I can't remember it happening in Liverpool. Other than Glasgow, Liverpool or London, I can't remember any other docks that had gates.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Duke
Yes not sure on how many Docks had Gates and Gendarmes haha!
But the London Docks sure did as you say,and i too remember even on my very first trip,got to make Friends with a nice Guy (Percy) from Putney!
Anyway we grabbed a Black Cab within the Docks,has some goods that were supposed to be declared,but on getting to the Gates i saw Percy leaning over to the Driver and giving him some cash,this was as i found out later,a small bribe for the Gate Guard for just driving through!
After that well i then knew what to do! Amazing what we managed to get through those Gates!
Cant remember Southampton having Gates???Dont think so! But may be wrong! my memory haha!
Cheers

[Jim Brady]

Liverpool was ruthless for this activity.Those police men on the gate must've cleaned up with all the passenger ships coming in week after week @two half crowns a man.The policeman always opened the cab door and leant in pocketing the money out of sight of prying eyes.I remember one time 5 of us in a black cab thats 10 half crowns,when we got to the gate one of the lads slid down the cab window and thrust his hand out with the Dock Passes and money,the copper did'nt quite get hold of it,the money scattered all over the floor to a big rally by the passing dockers.The policeman muttered you stupid B'stard he could'nt pick them up because there was a sergeant looking on.That sergeant would be there for one reason,he'd be there to pick up his cut of the takings!!dont forget he'd been a plain bobby once so he was aware of what was going on.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[John Callon]

The same thing happened in Southampton, 10 shilling note wrapped ujp in the baggage pass. I remember paying off the Mauretania the same time as the Lizzie was paying off, baggage pass given to the bobbie oin the gate when the next thing two customs officers stopped the cab. They asked what ship we were off and before anybody could reply one of the stewardesses travelling back to Liverpool with us said the
f...... hardship. The cab carried on.
Great days,
John.C.

[stephen flaherty]

Hi Duke, it was a going thing in Tilbury...you gave the half crown to the cab driver and he gave it to the police at the gate.....it was a very long walk from the boat to the station.
Steve Flaherty, R 804635

[Duke Drennan]

Yep, the memories keep flooding back, I too remember giving the money to the taxi driver sometimes. We usually gave all the money to one person to hand over. I was puzzled the first time I paid off and was told by the older hands to get 5 bob ready for the cop at the gate. Is this what they call "capitalism" ?

[happy daze john in oz]

No Duke, it is known as getting out of the gate with getting your collar felt.

[Russ Kennedy]

I remember it as well, Tilbury, Glasgow, Victoria Docks, Toxteth, to name but a few. Funnily enough I cannot remember having to do it on the Continent, paid off in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Bremen, Hamburg etc; but can't remember having to bung anyone over there!

Russ K