Doris's Bar

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates, Doris's bar? i may have been there one or two times on a banana ship, I may have had a glass or two to drink, there it was a long time ago.The rum was stronger in them days...

[David Dunlop]

Doris bar in Kingston had nothing to do with the popular doris,es bar in Las Palmas. but just as good.

[William Gardner]

Did 6 trips on Royal Mails Eden 1956-1957, spent alot of time in the Caribbean mostly Jamaica had some very good runs ashore, have not heard Doris's Bar mentioned, must be alot more old sailors out there who like me frequented Doris's
Cheap rum 8 shillings a bottle, Appletons 12 shillings, I was in Montego Bay last April while on a cruise brought back lots of memories and Appletons is still cheap.

royal mail araby kingnston jamacia story bout lady saving a crew man i remember lots of rum had my 21 first birthday thear

[David Dunlop]

Good old memories, I was in Kingston many times during the 50s. on Royal Mail Ships. As well as Appletons rum there was the grand 1/2/& 3 Dagger rum. Doris bar was our favourite haunt,spent many a night in there.

[John Neary]

I thought she was the lady who inspected the appropriate parts of unfortunates who had dallied too long with the girls at Doris's

[John Neary]

You're right Saltie. Doris got all the sailing info from her husband. We'd tell her or the girls in Doris's that we're sailing tomorrow.
"Oh no you're not" Doris would say. "You've got two or three more days yet before you sail" And sure enough she would be right.
How well I remember that bar. We'd go in Friday night and come out Monday morning more than once.
We'd go ashore for a dinner time drink and not go back even when the Mate would send a cadet to the pub to tell us if we come back now we won't get logged. Yeah right.
Next morning we'd be up in fron of the old man, get our loggings with the usual "Nothing to say sir" Ten bob well spent.
The the Mate would say "Alright you lot, down to my cabin." when we got there "OK, shut the door" then he'd pour each of us a slug of rum. Then....."Get to work you lot"
Best mate I ever sailed with was Mr. O'Keefe of Royal Mail's "Essequibo"
This was all in the early Fifties. Great days to be at sea then

Jesus O'keefe was well known throughout Royal Mail and the stories about him abound like the one about the third mate who faced with a problem exclaimed "Jesus" and Mr O'keefe replied "Yes".

[happy daze john in oz]

I wonder if Doris was operating a franchise business as there was a branch in Las Palmas.

[Eamonn McCarthy]

John Re O'Keefe of Royal Mail Essequibo,The Chief Officer on the Royal Mail Lock boats to America in 59 or 65 was named O'keefe, fine big man with a big voice, from the south of Ireland. I recall his office was some what near the Cadets cabin, from it he would shout :BOUCHER: Boucher was the name of the Cadet ,like a dog from the traps ,and calling as he ran YES SIR

[Arthur Amis]

Remember Dorises bar well , on the Ebro from September 61 till July 62 ended up Lampy and used to fix up a small Jamaican guy who tended the shore gang Kid Chocolate boxed years before for R.A.F. legs all gone, great little guy. Used to knock around with a Doris girl just called teenager [ remember I was only young] take her to a film and happy all week, Yea some juke box ,with a reel sturdy wire mesh surround, bottles didn't stand a chance. Great days when you were young,looking back we were all very lucky in those days.

[John Neary]

I thought she was the lady who inspected the appropriate parts of unfortunates who had dallied too long with the girls at Doris's

But now I remember she was nurse nadger
lol