We arrived in Hull on the 29th of December 1956.
It was cold wet and windy, a typical winters day on the Humber.
We had a few bevies that night and the following night then it was New Years Eve. The problem with having to the discharge ports after a long trip meant that we were going to pay off with nothing, after all the subs and loggings.
New Years Eve, we were sailing at 10pm. What a stupid time to sail.
All hands went to a dance at the Baths at Beverley Road, the pool had been boarded over, and there was a band, a bar and lots of pretty girls.
10pm came and went, Midnight we were kissing the New Year in and Tony and I copped for two young ladies to take home. Tony?s girl looked like Gene Autry and had legs to match, mine was quite pretty.
We took them home and eventually made it back to the ship just after 1.30 is, she was still there with tugs alongside and the Pilot on board, the Captain demented and screaming abuse as the crew were arriving back one by one.
Next day we were all lined up on the bridge for logging, at this rate we?ll be paying Blue Star on pay off day.
Another day at sea and then we arrived in Antwerp. We were only here for the day sailing sometime in the evening.
I went ashore at 1pm and at the first bar stopped for a beer. Inside was a lad I had sailed with on the `Empress of Scotland` 18 months earlier.
He was on a Ropner boat, the `Levenpool`, a Fort boat; they were trying to get paid off. They were on a two-year voyage, coal from the Continent to Buenos Aires and grain back to the Continent.
They had all began to break out in scabs and boils with bad guts. They had complained about the water, which was pumped up from the after peak and told the tank was cleaned and cement washed in dry dock in Glasgow nine months earlier. They had the Union man over from London and eventually got the tank drained and then the manhole cover was unbolted. Inside they found the skeletal remains of a man and some empty whisky bottles. It was presumed that the man who cleaned it also had a few whiskies and flaked out inside. When the men shouted inside if anyone was there, no answer, then they battened down? When it was filled up he must have drowned and they had been drinking this contaminated water for nine months. So they were hoping to get paid off.
My mate was gulping ale down as fast as he could, trying to wash the taste of the ships water away.
I was keeping up with him and eventually Oblivion. I remember nothing until I woke up at sea bound for London. Don?t remember going back on board or anything.
Next morning, Friday, 4th of January 1957, we berthed in London and paid off in the afternoon. We all got taxis to Euston Station and went into the bar for a few drinks then we caught the last train to Liverpool
" Brief Encounter".
Tony and I went into the bar on the train, which was full of business types. drinking Gin and Tonics, going home for the weekend. Whilst I was stood at the bar I saw a very attractive young lady trying unsuccessfully to order a drink. I asked her what she wanted, a G&T? right. ? A G&T and two rum and cokes Garcon.? ?There you are, my treat?, I said. In those days I was lean, mean, and bronzed with sun bleached wavy hair and the girls could not resist me, TRUE!!
I introduced myself and told her that we were homeward bound from Australia and were celebrating Christmas and New Year.
She told me that her name was Magnolia and she lived in Birkdale near the golf course and she was a secretary to Sir Hartley Shawcross the famous legal eagle. After a couple more G&T s our hands touch and it was electrifying, our fingers entwined and soon we held each other in an embrace. I could feel the warmth and contours of her body as she pressed herself against me, we kissed gently and I could smell the perfume in her hair. I could see Tony over her shoulder and he was going around the coach talking to all the men there and pointing at me, but I took no notice I had a promising night ahead, soon we were planning to stay at the Adelphi Hotel on Lime Street. Magnolia was lovely, I was in love with her and she was with me.
The Train stopped at Crewe Station, suddenly I saw Tony open the door and throw my case out on to the platform and a crowd of men came over to me and pulled me away from Magnolia. " Hey what?s going on?? I shouted.
" Come along old chap" one fellow said to me, " your Mother is waiting for you"
My Mother??? What?s she doing in Crewe? They dragged me away from Magnolia who was looking startled at what was happening, I was struggling to get free but there were to many of them and next I was out onto the platform and Tony slammed the door. I picked up my case and tried to get back on the train then the Porter grabbed me from behind and was pulling me back. Then the train moved off and was picking up speed as I ran alongside it. Magnolia opened the window and leaned out, she was weeping as the train accelerated out of reach Magnolia took a ring off her finger and our fingers touched for the last time as she passed the ring into my outstretched hand. I stood there stunned, I could not believe it, what was happening, one minute I am homeward bound with a beautiful lady and the next I am all alone on a cold dark platform as the train disappeared into the darkness.
The ba*ta*d, that Tony will have a lot to answer for when I catch up with him. I walked back down the platform to where my case was, the Porter was there. " What the hells going on I demanded." why did you stop me from going on the train"
He replied " Your mate said that you lived in Crewe and that you had been away from home for more than three years and seeing that you were drunk they had to force you off the train"
The picture was getting clear now, that Tony wanted to have a go at my Magnolia.
" What time is the next train to Liverpool " " There is no more tonight, the next one is at 6.30 in the morning" he said. " Kinnell" I dragged my case into the cold dismal waiting room, I sat there stunned, looking at the ring that Magnolia had given me, This was the big one, the only woman I
would ever love, now she was gone, I could have wept. I didn?t know her surname, or her address or phone number I would never see her again. I kept the ring for two years until a young lady in South America took it off me.
I stretched out on the hard wooden bench in the cold waiting room and tried unsuccessfully to sleep. I could not believe it, I should have been in the Adelphi with Magnolia.
I climbed aboard the train at 6.30 next morning, cold, stiff and hungry bound for Liverpool. In Lime Street I dumped my case in the Left Luggage Office and caught the bus to Dovecot to where Tony lived. I walked down Grant Road to number 189 and hammered on the door, as soon as he opens it I will batter him.
The door opened, it was his Mother, " Hello, are you Tony?s mate off the ship? Come in" I went in " Where is he"? " He?s upstairs, I?ll just go and get him, make him a cup of tea Luv" she said to Tony?s sister, she was attractive, I followed her into the kitchen and was chatting to her while she brewed up.
Tony walked in laughing, " All right Scouse, how did you get on in Crewe"" You ba..? I said but I could get angry as his Mother was smiling and his sister was handing me a cup of tea." Why was I thrown off the train" " Well" he said as we all sat round the table " I fancied Magnolia and I knew I would have no chance while you where there so I told the men in the train that you had been in the French Foreign Legion and had been captured at the battle of Dien Bien Phu in Viet Nam, and when you were released you went to Sidde bel Abbes in Algeria then demobbed in Marseilles and now you were on your way home after being away for more than three years and I promised your Mother that I would see that you got off the train in Crewe where you lived. so all the fellows in the coach thought they doing you a favour." " How did you get on with Magnolia? " I asked. " I didn?t " he replied " she was weeping and when I went to her she slapped my face and then went down the coaches to her seat and I didn?t see her again. "
" You sneaky ba*ta*d , and I was all fixed up there" " That wasn?t a very nice thing to do , our Tony " his Mother said.
Ah well, `Cie la vie`, as we say in the French Foreign Legion. We walked down to the `Boundary` Tony?s local alehouse, as they were open by now and had a few bevies before I got the train back to Bolton and home.
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