Last night on BBC4. Great programme with lots of footage and stories of Cardiff Docks/Tiger Bay. Anyone interested in Maritime history and Docks culture Liverpool, Cardiff and London, I recommend you watch it on catch up.
Spedger
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Last night on BBC4. Great programme with lots of footage and stories of Cardiff Docks/Tiger Bay. Anyone interested in Maritime history and Docks culture Liverpool, Cardiff and London, I recommend you watch it on catch up.
Spedger
Cheers, my grandfather was a docker, albeit Newport. I'll have a gander at this :thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Sloop_Jon_Bee
I watched it and it was well worth watching, I worked down there in the sixties and remember how different it is from nowQuote:
Originally Posted by Sloop_Jon_Bee
Trust me, I'm a docker.
A docker me old cocker?Quote:
Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie
I was 35 years as a seaman, and ironically only shipped out of Cardiff once. But well remember the times having to go to the Shipping Federation on Roath Basin dock to sign on the Seaman's pool. Containerisation changed the whole shipping and stevedoring culture in a massive way. The people in the documentary obviously did their homework/research properly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Llanedeyrnblue
Spedger
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sloop_Jon_Bee
It was a Fantastic program and always nice to see old clips of old tiger bay etc.
Historian Neil Sinclair did a great job :thumbup:
Most of my family worked on the docks or away at sea
I was and apprentice boilermaker welder at Bute dry docks ( C H Baileys)
:thumbup: I am meeting up with a few fellow Cardiff seaman tomorrow in town. Do most Fridays now. It's good to reminisce.Quote:
Originally Posted by tigerbaybluebird
Spedger
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Originally Posted by Sloop_Jon_Bee
35 years!!! - that's some feat :thumbup:
What do these shipping companies use now ... Filipino crews?
I had an old school mate who joined up with Shell, circa 1977. I remember seeing some of his photos at that time - all the deck crew were just wearing shorts and flipflops and with a can of beer in their hands as they happily posed for pics. All you're likely to see of British deck crews these days is those working on coasters or ferries, wearing overalls, hi-vis, toe-caps and hard hats.
I went to the sea training school in Gravesend about a month before my mate, I completed my 14 weeks deck course, had a ship lined up to South Africa with a company from Liverpool - Holder Bro's, but got cold feet and never joined the ship ... hugely regretted that in later life!
I think during the 70's there was still plenty of opportunities for British seamen and the British Shipping Council offices down the docks were very busy - I'm not sure anyone could have foreseen at that time the sad decline of the British Merchant shipping.
I bet when you meet up with your mates from sea you have plenty to reminisce about :thumbup:
I caught a few years of the Flip flop and shorts era. I retired last September after having Heart surgery. I did 10 years moving around companies from 1980 -1990; Geest, Shell Tankers, Blue Star Line among others, very care free, international traveller-like times. Then did 25 Years with RFA (MOD) which is very much the Navy these days an ships are operating autonomously in areas such as anti-pitracy a disaster relief etc . Worked my way up the ladder, so ended up with a good pension. So the 35 years of partying was worth it! Houlder brothers were a good outfit, so I guess you missed out on something there mate. There is very little commercial sector British Shipping companies around that employ British Seaman these days. I would wager not one deep sea trading company that employs British Seaman. RFA is the biggest employer of British Ratings and Officers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rock_Flock_of_Five
Spedger
You have a PM Tigerbaybluebird.
Spedger
4.30 Sunday afternoon at the old library, Neil Sinclair is giving a talk on Butetown, part of the Cardiff Book Festival weekend. I'm popping in, free tickets online.Quote:
Originally Posted by tigerbaybluebird
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Originally Posted by splott parker
Borough at half 5 it is then :hehe:
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Originally Posted by Sloop_Jon_Bee
Reply sent Spledger:thumbup:
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Originally Posted by splott parker
Enjoy mate :thumbup:
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Originally Posted by tigerbaybluebird
Spedger
As it's Book Festival Weekend, you can read me like a ............:hehe:Quote:
Originally Posted by BLUETIT