The wit of shipboard Queens

[cappy]

Did they get married in later life, or was it just a fling, and was the odd one out best man, and was bigamy committed later. JS

dont know john but the score was 2 to 1...cappy

[John Pruden]

old blue flue saloon steward bert bad alcoholic drank old spice when he could not get a beer he was of his face one day came around to all us young lads and gave us a small bar of the butter milk soap saying I you fall over the side you can wash yourself ashore!!! he was bent as an Arabs dagger was bert he was in his early 60s joined the MN as a boy,,jp

[Eamonn McCarthy]

Oh the Queens on the last trip carrying passengers the Girls put on a show remenbering her last voyage .Some where I have the worse of the closing scene to which I will dig out from the locker or the linen locker also need to date ?that voyage Eamonn 666555

[happy daze john in oz]

Recall one voyage with UCL when they put a show on in the pig. One of the officers saw it and convinced the chief steward and the skipper to put it on for the bloods. It was put on in the theatre and loved by all who saw it.

[Dennis McGuckin]

Hi John.
Got talked into being a part of one show the 'girls' put on for the bloods and crew.
Took several rums before I would agree.
Spoiled my chances with a stewardess I fancied.
Still cringe at the memory.
Nearly gave up drinking after that.

[happy daze john in oz]

Hi John.
.
Nearly gave up drinking after that.

Well there you are Den missed your chance, maybe either way you never know. But yes some of them were very good sorts and never bothered any one who did not want to be. Most were great workers as well and so popular with the female bloods.

[Doc Vernon]

As I have said in the past I have never had any hassle with the Queens on Board,like said they were always polite,well attired at work,and away from it,always willing to give a helping hand (now now John) and their work was always as far as I recall very good!
They were liked at most times by all the Crew (I talk of Catering here) and got on well !
Cheers

[Jim Brady]

Vernon as you say you could have a good laugh with the girls and they would not cross that line once they knew that you were not interested.I have seen guys having their meal in the mess and one of the girls has come in and sat on the same table which resulted in the straight guy picking his food up and moving to another table.I always thought guys like that were not sure of their own sexuality.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[john walker]

I had never heard of, or met a 'Queen' until I joined the Tintagel Castle in 68 as a very naive 17 year old catering boy. One of the stewards who was called Edward Hamilton was as camp as a row of tents. He gave a lot of help and advice to me that stayed with me through about 25 years of a sea going career. One of the things He told me was that if you stay at sea you should use your shore time as an education. It is not all about visiting as many bars and brothels as you can on a drunken tour of the world. Try visiting some of the other attractions. On my first half day on that ship in Cape Town (This was Edward's Home town) He invited myself and two others to go with him on a trip up to Table Top Mountain WOW! what a sight ? In Mombassa a trip to the castle museum. I have lost count of the places I have been to and the Natural Beauty of some of those ports but I have great memories of those places and the people I met. I did not always follow that advice and do have some vague memories of one or two infamous bars and watering holes around the world but we were all young once ?

[john walker]

As Jim said in # 73 there were some guys on board who can only be described as Homophobic. Edward who I mentioned in my previous post loved his country of birth (South Africa) but hated the Afrikaner population for their bigotry. He had always endured taunts and threats from people because he was 'Different' He told me that the bosun on the ship who thought he was the Epitome of the macho seaman had tried to get him to sleep with him and not tell anyone and threatened him if he did with a beating. Fortunately the majority of people that I sailed with were more tolerant towards others which made my seagoing career a pleasure.