How to Park a Ship.....

[rigger]

Took the. Ss empress of France to the scrap yard. Liverpool. To Newport mons. Sailed her right up on the mud alongside pontoons. Crane and skip only means of getting ashore. Did alright with selling heaters from passenger cabins in local pub. Xmas 1960. Happy days gone by. Bk

[Captain Kong]

Hi Rigger,
I got off the France just before she went to the Breakers. Paid off 25 October 1960
I was thrown off the Pool after the strike so I got a Pier Head Jump on the France. got a discharge in my Book and got back on again.
I was on her several times.
Cheers
Brian

[Keith Tindell]

Well what do you know, maybe i am not as brain dead as i thought, bit out with my figure of 1000, but heh,
http://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php?topic=2362.0 KT

[Charlie Hannah]

The France wasn't a bad job. I was also on that trip Brian,Signed on 6 Oct. paid off 25 Oct.I did a number of trips in her first in July 54till Dec. 54.Shame they have to end up on a beach so far from home.

[Captain Kong]

Hi Charlie, she was always Chatty but happy, I wonder if Chatty Matty from Cinsinatty went to the breakers as well, he was part of the fixtures and fittings. Dont think they would get much for him.
My younger brother was a deck boy on it, I always made him do the Look Outs at night as I was on the 8 to 12, so I could get into the Pig. Very handy.
Cheers
Brian.

[Charlie Hannah]

Brian i was in the same cabin as chatty Mattie,Joe finningin Tommy Lawler Jim Grace Jim Wilson And guy named Kenny Bickerstaf,some good laughs in that cabin.Cheers

[happy daze john in oz]

Hi Charlie, she was always Chatty but happy, I wonder if Chatty Matty from Cinsinatty went to the breakers as well, he was part of the fixtures and fittings. Dont think they would get much for him.
My younger brother was a deck boy on it, I always made him do the Look Outs at night as I was on the 8 to 12, so I could get into the Pig. Very handy.
Cheers
Brian.

All that time in the PIG yet they still come and live next door to you. How is 'hey you' by the way?

[Jim Brady]

Brian i was in the same cabin as chatty Mattie,Joe finningin Tommy Lawler Jim Grace Jim Wilson And guy named Kenny Bickerstaf,some good laughs in that cabin.Cheers

Charlie do you remember what Chatty Mattie's surname was.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Captain Kong]

Hi Charlie , I remember all them,
Tommy died quite young, too much ale, and Joe Finnegan lives in Safety Bay , south of Perth. I always see him when we go to Perth. 18 months ago Joe and I with wives went to John Sabourne`s home near there and had a lovely Barbie,
I have his phone No, and address if you ever need it.
Joe and Tommy won the Carol Levis show on TV in the 50s and could have had a recording contract but they turned it down as they enjoyed going to sea.
I have a photo of them somewhere called The Cunard Yanks, in the Big House on Lime Street.
I sailed with Joe a few times in Cunard and as well as the Scotland and France.
In 2005 we sailed back to Liverpool on the Funchal, Portuguese ship, for Six weeks, had a great time, Joe got up and sung on stage to entertain the passengers, with a few Jokes thrown in, Good trip.
Cheers
Brian

Hi Jim
I don't remember his name, he was just Chatty Matty, a legend . he was the Sailors Mess Man for many years.

[Charlie Hannah]

Jim i had never heard Chatty Matty called anything but that name.cheers.