Signing On

[Cliff Cocker]

Name is familiar but never sailed with him, there were 52 ships in the fleet when I started, apart from the Copra boats there were only the Fish Class left when I was made redundant. Apart from 1 trip always had good shipmates, that trip was with a Welsh Master with the initials WW and a Chief doing his first trip (and only, I didn't see his name again) who was a dried out drinker.
Cliff Cocker

[j.sabourn]

John I was always on the Dole when up for tickets and had no questions asked. Although for 2nd. mate was 30 bob a week. The only trouble I ever had with Dole was when made redundant from an Aberdeen company in 86, as was on contract with them got 12 weeks wages in lieu of notice. Hunted around for a job and got a fill in from a bloke in a pub. However was advised to approach the dole by Numast which I did and received 3 weeks dole before being re-employed.After coming back 12 months later had a letter from the same wanting their 3 weeks dole back. Told them to get knotted. Went to see the dole manager and he knew nothing about it said it was up to him who he paid out to. Continued to get claim letters saying it would come out of age pension when retired. Went to citizens adviice bureau and claims dried up. Was not so much the piddling amount of dole money but was the NHI would have had to have paid. Anyhow the grand old age pension now receive from uk hardly keeps me in beer . Cheers John Sabourn