Doormen

[John Arton]

No not the bouncer on your local "gentleman's" club, boozer or strip joint but the doorman at your companies head office.
When I first went to sea in 1967 I joined Canadian Pacific Steamships who at that time were situated in the Royal Liver Buildings in Liverpool and there was a liveried doorman who greeted you, asked your business and escorted you across the lobby to the reception desk, a long intricately carved affair, and introduced you to the receptionists sitting behind the desk, who would then phone whoever you were meeting and they then would come and greet you. Off the end of the reception desk was a meeting/seating area enclosed with half height frosted glass screens where you would wait (this was where I was interviewed by the personnel officer Alec Duncan, who gave me my job as deck cadet). Opposite the reception desk on the other side of the lobby was offices of senior managers including the company doctor. Personnel Office was down in the basement with access via stairs situated at the rear of the lobby just by the aforementioned glassed in meeting area. Down the stairs, turn left past the print room and various storerooms to the personnel office which wa a long narrow room with its desk and walls covered in paper and wooden pigeon hole racks covering most of the surfaces. The was a stable door at on end opposite the entrance with access to the street where I believe the signing on crew for the Empress vessels was carried out. Around the front of the building facing the river was a very gran entrance but that was for passengers wishing to book a berth on the Empress vessels. Only visited the Liver Buildings about 3 times and one time went into the passenger entrance only to be told by a snotty receptionist that CREW were to use the other entrance only.
After a few years the office was moved to Trafalgar Square in London (believe the building is still there with Canadian Pacific in stone across its front). There was still a doorman but the livery had disappeared and he would escort you to the reception desk where he would hand you over to the receptionist. Personnel were situated behind the reception desk in a more open office type arrangement and the pride and joy was a magnetic board along one wall with all the ships names and below that list of all crew and rank on board. This board was of course, open to mischief and it was not unknown for a sea going person visiting the office, to slyly rearrange the names and ranks of those on board, promoting junior officers to captain and vice versa. There was a section of the board listing those on leave and one guy actually got 6 months paid leave as his name fell off the board and got hidden behind some filing cabinet.

Next they moved to Finsbury Square, again a doorman in a suit and again the same deal where he would escort you to the reception desk.

What struck me was all of them seemed to be able to recognise you as ships crew even if you had no luggage with you and all of them would always be ready to stop and chat with you even to the extent of passing on insider gossip of who was on the way up or who was heading for the exit and this often included senior management levels. In the 20 odd years I sailed in the Canadian Pacific, although never a regular visitor, indeed I only went if I had no choice, I still got some very interesting snippets off those doormen.
rgds
J.A.
J.A.

[j.sabourn]

There was more politics in some of those shipping offices than there was in the houses of Parliament at times. Factions came and went among the directors and if you chose the wrong faction, you went when they went. As for recognising seamen, if Ivan was here he would say how easy it was, some of the office staff might even recognise some of the clothes they had contributed to the rag bag. Cheers JS

[Red Lead Ted]

J.S. Just out of curiosity is anyone including yourself still in contact with Ivan, I hope the guy is well and getting on with his life he could mix it with the best of them Regards Ivan if you read this Terry.

[cappy]

There was more politics in some of those shipping offices than there was in the houses of Parliament at times. Factions came and went among the directors and if you chose the wrong faction, you went when they went. As for recognising seamen, if Ivan was here he would say how easy it was, some of the office staff might even recognise some of the clothes they had contributed to the rag bag. Cheers JS

####after skinning out in oz and eventually looking for a ship back to the uk ....i got signed on a tramp ....iwas also a tramp one pair of wranglers one pair of shorts and a pair of flip flops only the tee shirt i wore......shipmates fitted me up with the gear ...extra shirts and keks even oilskins from a guy who had skinned out ....plus baccy till igot a week or so in and then had wages to buy my own cigs ....proper shipmates proper seamen.....cappy

- - - Updated - - -

##ivan is fine and busy dancing and enjoying life .....one of the true old time seamen and ships masters still about ......takes no crap .......sadly missed cappy

[cappy]

J.S. Just out of curiosity is anyone including yourself still in contact with Ivan, I hope the guy is well and getting on with his life he could mix it with the best of them Regards Ivan if you read this Terry.

###just had a e mail from ivan ...he ses tell JS ivan is still keeping up and using the salvo instead of the rag bag ......regards to terry ....he is also going on a four week dancing holiday he is good and enjoying life ......from my point of view he is one old man i would have enjoyed sailing with.....on a trawler at 13 0r 14 ........a ships master .....and onwards and upwards.......proper seaman......there are other old timers of the same ilk on this seamans site ......the times have changed but they were the backbone of the british MN.....which sadly is now long gone .....enjoy it ivan best wishes cappy

[Doc Vernon]

Will agree fully with you on what you say there cappy,Ivan was and still is someone who has Posted some fine stuff and yes a lot miss his input!
Now just to get something correct,i did quite a while ago Email Ivan and asked him if he would come back on site, as he had said that at that time when he left that he would just lie low for a while if i recall.

Anyway he did reply a very nice reply too and said that he would think about his situation and possibly return at some time.
Since then i have not heard from him.
I had told him that his Registration was still fully valid and would stay that way.
So as said just to let all know that Ivan can return at anytime he wants.

So if you may read this Ivan you well know that you are more than Welcome back at any stage.

Here is a capture of his still valid Registration (I have blacked out his Email for obvious reasons.

Ivan.JPG

[happy daze john in oz]

No such persons at the London pool when I turned up to join up.

Just a guard at the gate who said good luck and be careful how you go in there.
What did he mean by that I pondered.

Soon found out when I was called in for my first interview.
He sat there as camp as a bloody camp stool. Dripping in make up and giving me an odd look.

Thankfully he did not keep me long, gave me some papers to fill in and send back, saying hope to see you again.

Told the guard at the gate thanks mate think I know what you mean.
Sent the papers in and thankfully was not called to see him again.

But on UCL, so many clones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Keith at Tregenna]

The job of a doorman is more important than many think. A doorman is usually the first person someone encounters when entering a building, and making a good first impression can make the guest or resident feel comfortable and secure. Doormen should have a cleancut appearance and a cheerful attitude. They should remain professional at all times. A good sense of humor can also be a plus.

K.