How long have you kept a "docking" bottle ?

[Eddie Grant]

How long have you kept a docking bottle ? Joined the Kingsbury houlders first trip in 1952 and sailed for the river plate south america,all was new and magic. Montevideo Buenos Aires Rosario,all memories being the first trip. I proudley arrived home with my docking bottle, it was black and white whiskey with the lead seal and spring clip (remember them ?) cost 8 or 10 shillings at the time. Anyway i gave it to my father and said thanks dad for letting me serve my time and going away to sea . The bottle was never opened till a few years ago! was allways kept for a special occasion,but sadly he died then mum died many years later. My sister was to celebrate her 80th so i stepped in and insisted we open the bottle or i may never taste it, it was still very good and theres still a tot left id like them to pour it over me when i pop my clogs. So 55/56 years and still a drop left . Can anyone beat that its been one special bottle. Eddie Grant.

[Captain Kong]

Cant beat that Eddie,
I was given a Bottle of Amontillado Sherry by ESSO, very fancy label, in 1988 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of ESSO, 1888 to 1988, 23 years ago, It is still in my cabinet unopened. Might be worth a few bob one day.
Most docking bottles were supped on the train homeward bound.
Cheers
Brian

[DeepSea]

Bit off topic, but my dad, a former Bosun with BP had a porcelain bottle of Pusser's Rum he brought home when I was a kid in the 1970's. When he died four years ago he still had it unopened in the cork and wax seal. The same year I took it down the Stockton Navy Club and opened it on Remembrance Sunday and all the old boy toasted his passing.

[Gordon Turnbull]

Bit off topic, but my dad, a former Bosun with BP had a porcelain bottle of Pusser's Rum he brought home when I was a kid in the 1970's. When he died four years ago he still had it unopened in the cork and wax seal. The same year I took it down the Stockton Navy Club and opened it on Remembrance Sunday and all the old boy toasted his passing.

Nice story. Who was your Dad, DeepSea?

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates I remember docking bottles allways drunk mine on the train going home.

[alf corbyn]

hi lads things may have changed but in the fifties you had to open your bottle or customs would either confiscate it or mak you open it in front of them.i remember one old boy who said the punt at the bottom was a one tot measure and you could drink a tot out of it and customs would let you go through. never took the risk myself. alf

[DeepSea]

Nice story. Who was your Dad, DeepSea?

Dave McGee, originally from Hartlepool

Attached is his obituary in the Crossed the Bar section of the MNA Full Ahead magazine.

[Eddie Grant]

hi lads things may have changed but in the fifties you had to open your bottle or customs would either confiscate it or mak you open it in front of them.i remember one old boy who said the punt at the bottom was a one tot measure and you could drink a tot out of it and customs would let you go through. never took the risk myself. alf

Hi Alf, yes you are right however i allways tried it on and only once i had to open my bottle in front of the customs man paying off in London (they were allways awkward down south) cheers and thanks Eddie Grant.

[Eddie Grant]

Cant beat that Eddie,
I was given a Bottle of Amontillado Sherry by ESSO, very fancy label, in 1988 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of ESSO, 1888 to 1988, 23 years ago, It is still in my cabinet unopened. Might be worth a few bob one day.
Most docking bottles were supped on the train homeward bound.
Cheers
Brian

Hi Cap Kong, sounds good to me my nephew was after me to put my bottle on ebay but i could not bring myself to do that. Had great pleasure in opening it and seeing others also with smiles on their faces tasting it after so many years. Dont think it was any better than it was, it was just the thought so "CHEERS" Eddie Grant.

[Jack Jenkins]

How long does it take to get from Kings Cross t Newcastle ??