Hamburg 1960

[Keith Tindell]

I joined a United Baltic Shipping ship, the Baltic Trader in 1960, Oct, i joined her in London dockland , by Tower bridge. This ships main trading route turned out not to be the Baltic ports, which was normal for that company, but we were one of two Baltic boats on the Mediterranean run, with the home port of Hamburg. I was to be on this ship for the next 15 months, returning to Hamburg every 6 weeks ish, super ship and run, lots of overtime good money. I had gotten tangled up with a young lady in Hamburg, Rena, which made the return to Hamburg very pleasant. In 1960s the British pubs were a relatively quiet affair , but in Hamburg could be totally different, particularly in the Reeperbahn district. One earl evening i was sat in one of the bars with a mate, waiting for Rena to finish work, and in the pub were aagroup of 5 Welshmen, all speaking Welsh, and had been on the bevvy all day. Eventually their arguments got louder and louder, and then the table went tits up, glasses drinks etc, and the bar owner just walked up to them, vey quietly, pulled a small gun from his pocket and fired right at the heads of two of them. I was completely shocked for a few seconds, and then realised it was a gas gun, all five were completely blinded, but staggered toward the main door, the owner stood at the door and whacked each one over the head with the gun, blood every where. A few minutes later we got a whiff of the gas, and in seconds you just managed to get out in fresh air. I gave that bar a miss for some timeout suspect most of the bars were rigged for trouble the same. The ship i was on was the Baltic Trader. happy days

[James Curry]

Keith, did she have a sister called Reina Del Mar sorry Im will get my coat. But yes some great bars in Hamburg.

[Bill Morrison]

Hi Keith. A bit later 1969. The ship was in dry-dock Swan Hunters and rumour of strike action by the work force. We were all signed on and left post haste. Destination Hamburg well ahead of schedule. We then spent a fortnight on the "dolphins" waiting to load cargo. A ferry past along at certain times and landed us at St Pauli. If you were not night aboard went ashore every evening. The Seaman's Mission first stop only to change our Pounds to Marks best rate of exchange. The Reeperbahn to see what was on offer. I remember the Zillertal where when the band was playing a chap walked around with a hat and when the band stopped playing would place it on the head of who ever was nearest. This person now had to try and conduct the band and if he couldn't manage to make it sound like a tune, had to stand the band a round of drinks.
Went "window shopping" in the Herbertstrasse I wouldn't have believed it all those Ladies displaying their wares, stop to look at rather nice redhead and were told to feck off in a broad Irish accent.
All good thing come to an end and cargo loaded next port Bremen but only for one day.
Bill.
PS Forgot to add this for the memory.

[Keith Tindell]

Yep, hamburg was a good run ashore in those days, 11.8 marks to the pound, could have a really good night for 2£. I remember through the session on Elbe sloss(spelling) the beer, the burger bars were on most streets, so always something to eat. Ashamed to say, i picked up a few loggings there, could not get out of bed early enough to get down to the ship for turn to.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

I was in Hamburg in 1949 as deck boy; could only look in awe, got to meet some school girls on their way home , they took us around the place, trying out their English, plenty of bricks pilled up alongside the roads. was there again in 55 as well as Bremerhaven had a much better time.
Des
PS
Keith, those Welsh blokes were from North Wales, wouldn't behave like that where I come from LoL.

[happy daze john in oz]

It was a place that gave the term window shopping a new meaning.

'Won't be long dear, just going window shopping for a while"

[Ivan Cloherty]

'Won't be long dear, just going window shopping for a while"

Although they were soiled goods, you never got a discount!

[James Curry]

Bet there were a few who caught the COLD and later needed attention though

[John Gill]

Better to be treated by Dr Ross than Dr Josef ⁷⅞Mengele.

[cappy]

Better to be treated by Dr Ross than Dr Josef ⁷⅞Mengele.

Or doctor shipman