New Member

[Tony Wilding]

tony, i well remember the 'queen of the channel' .

hi roger, on the queen of the channel there was a fish and chip bar that officially did not exist, plus all the spirits were not as should have been, and a small bar also not official, you can imagine the money that was made, on pay days all the ones included in the fiddle got a sealed envelope, plus deposits on trays for drinks, in the rush to get off hardly anyone went back for there deposits, over 1000 passengers all drinking, did not need to touch your wages.

[Pete Leonard (Bruno)]

I Am amazed how many of our members started their sea life with the old 'bird boats' I was on the Drake in late 1949. I was galley boy and general dogsbody. Didn't stay long ( 2 trips to Tonnay Charente and one to Bordeaux) The Bay of Biscay in a 530 ton ship was enough for me.

[Tony Wilding]

HI PETE, I was on the MV Corncrake doing that run, we used to swap a bottle of Four Bells Rum, or a bottle of Whiskey with the French Agent there, for a bottle of Remy Martine Brandy, VSOP Champagne Cognac, yes the Bay could be a pig, Corncrake was 630 tons and very slow, we went to Pasajes in Spain also, sometimes had to stay in Port in severe weather, went through the Bay in 1988 it was flat calm, came back in 1990 was headwinds all through the Medi rough as guts, comeing up through the Bay was awful, stood by a Dutch Coaster that was sinking, not a pretty sight. but all saved. used to go to Bordeaux also, had some good runs ashore there, regards, Tony W.

[happy daze john in oz]

Hi John what are you doing on the 3rd Sept ?

I have an afternoon meeting to attend but my morning is free, anything in mind?