A miserable, rotten trip

[Robert Black]

GREAT READING could do with more lolol

[Des Taff Jenkins]

HI Rod.
Only just read this, must have missed it when posted, great writing takes you right there well done.
Cheers Des

[Tony Draycott]

That was a great read, but I must say I had (only) three trips on O boats and had none of the problems you describe (OK I'm very ugly).
I do remember, when, on my first trip I was a U/S on Oronsay, we were accompanied by someone called Geoff (AKA The Queen of P&O) and when we were doing spud carries, he certainly didn't appear the least bit 'queer'.
In my cabin was another U/S named 'Aggie' who kept the cabin ship shape and was very non-assertive.
All my cabin mates made the trip very enjoyable and I hope they all had a happy life after the Oronsay.

[happy daze john in oz]

Aggie must have been the 'in' name in the 60's. If I recall just about every second queen was named 'Aggie'.

[Dennis McGuckin]

Knew a great Queen called Blossom.
Sailed with her on the Iberia, and years later on the Andies.
Quite the character, as were most of them.

[john sutton]

My shipmate Ginger and I had paid-off from a three week home-trade (h.t.) visiting ports in Holland and Germany on the "Good Hope Castle". After five or six days leave at home (Southend-On-Sea), we figured on another h.t..

Later in my career as a chief executive, I often traveled with female executives or female staff members. We would always stay in separate hotels, not only for her piece of mind, but for me maintaining a reputation, as did "Caesar's wife"... one of purity. I never forgot the pressures used by people with power over me. And I was damned if I would conduct my life like them.


Cheers, Rodney

great story and well told.I didn't have to put up with bent cooks(they used to leave the deck crew alone) but had a few run ins with supposed hard case bullies.Sorted most of them out

[happy daze john in oz]

Hey Happy daze (John) what about Aussie Cath did you ever met her at sea or in London?

There was another known as 'Farah Dema' sic. I believe named after one of the Shah's wives? I tell you they all when I was living in London both on leave or between ships & going to uni in the mid 60's-early 70's were a hoot as long as you made it clear you were on the other side of the blanket or team.

I was in the Coach and Horses in Southampton having a quiet beer, if that was possible in there, when two UCL queens walked in. They ordered drinks and then began to look around. Then I heard one say,' he looks nice over there' pointing at me. Then it was on for young and old, they began to argue as one said to the other, 'I saw him first'. Well I did not give a rats toss bag who saw who first I was out of there quicker than Flash Gordon. Thankfully they were both first class wingers so did not see them on the voyage, I was up ion the tourist gallop.

[happy daze john in oz]

Leratty ,the weather here is in the middle of a heat wave. Got to 40 today where we live and about 39 in the city. Had to put my Land Rover in for service, the service centre is in the middle of an industrial estate. We walked about 12 KLms all told today. It waas fine at 10 when we started but by 1500 hours when we got back it was like being in afan forced oven. Cooler tomorrow only about 35.

[Evan Lewis]

RE. 19.
Hi! John.
Memory ,gives up a bit, after all these years,suggest, the famous Horse & Groom. Was the pub concerned. The Large armchairs,with the Bear.hovering behind them? In the Area known as the Marshes. Very Nearby , was The Lord Roberts. Also very popular.

Drifted round to the Lord Roberts, from the H&Groom. one Sunday night ,in my earlier days. Knew a few Heads,at the Table I'd 'joined.

Womans Logic?

Still never completely understood!
Handing the cigarettes round. Opposite end of the Table. Sat the one .I "Had the Eye on") She pipes up ." What about Me?"I
Said ,"Your'e smoking!" Her reply was, "I'm wearing Shoes. But i'm not Walking!"

St Mary St' s Albion ,Was the Fav. for the Andes (Girls) They were Her best spending customers.
That's the days when there would easily be Eight -ten thousand Seamen ,round Southampton.
The owner of the Albion,and I were an (Item) over the years. Her ex. at that time kept the .Bargate. Who ,could miss that one. In its prominent position? The Bargate ,could be the only one left Now.

[happy daze john in oz]

Well Evan hate to dissapoint you but when in Southampton last June for a Medi cruise I took a walk along the high street for nostalgic reasons. Not a pub in sight, the pubs are all gone not even a bottle shop in sight. Only one we found was in a back street near the gardens. The street now is only for walking, no more traffic just shops and outside stalls. Apart from the actual Bargate It does not resemble the Southampton we knew in any way.