National Sea Training School/College. Page 2
On the 8th of April 1981,I was standing at Southampton Docks,amazed at what I was seeing.
The "Canberra" was huge,when I made my way up the gangway into the reception area,there was people running every where,people leaving all excited about being home and people joining all lost,not quite knowing what to do!
I spotted someone signing in new crew members,I joined the queue.I was given a cabin number and signed on the "Canberra".
I had to find my cabin,no directions given,so I went for a little explore,this ship seemed massive,corridors and alleys and doors everywhere!Finally found my cabin,and also my other four cabin mates,we were all bellboys.The cabin was small and was in a right mess from the lads before us, it was stinking.
We had to find the laundry room,get some clean sheets,towels,uniforms,P&O uniforms,we looked better at college in just white shirts but no,we had to where these dodgy uniforms,(there is a picture on the photos page of the web page)The laundry room was run by Chinese staff,they sorted us out and we went back to air out the cabin,we got back to the cabin and P&O supervisor was waiting,he told we had to start work,we had probably only been aboard an hour at most,the cabin had to wait.We were given our jobs,I was a bellboy in the aft starboard lift,great(the resturant was better as I was to find out later).
I did not even notice we had left Southampton until we reached “The Bay of Biscay”
Then the sea sickness started,i had heard that some sailors had to end their careers at sea due to sea sickness but after a couple of days and some dry biscuits I was okay.
We were cruising around the Mediterranean,this was great because having only travelled to France and Germany in my childhood,my adventures were about to start!
Gibraltar was our first “Port of Call”,this was to be one of many to the rock,we were on two weeks cruises out from Southampton.
Their were some great bars and pubs in the main High Street,and being only 17 years old,we kept well away.(of course!).
Being a Bellboy we had to do shifts of four hours,an eight hour day in total,overtime collecting glasses in the bar at night when not doing a shift.
In port we could pay the Goanese(Indian Crew)to do your shift,unofficial but they were not bothered about going ashore,they were more interested in building up their savings,they were on a 9 month turn around,unlike us we did 4 months,and their wages were considerably lower than ours.
Working in the lifts was not my ideal job,i think it was the confined space.
When there was two Bellboys together(which was not allowed but who ever was not working could see what talent was on the ship,without being caught walking around the passenger areas)we had a good laugh at the “Punters”(or “Bloods”) expense.
Those who read this will know what capers we got up too!
We were asked so many unbelievable questions:
Did we go home at night?
We would tell them “Yes” the swimming pool would slide away and a helicopter would take us home and back in the morning.
How did we get fresh milk and eggs?
From the farm animals below!
Had we run away from home! These were just a few.
The old favorite was “Don’t they give you a chair”
There was twenty Bellboys on the "Canberra",half worked in the resturant and the other half the lifts.Finally after a few verbal warnings for being missing from place of duty,
I finally got my place in the Atlantic Resturant,this being aft and for middle class tourists,our job was to help all the waiters and serve soup and clear the crockery and cutlery,there was 8 of us.This was what I had trained for at the college and some waiters gave you the chance to show off your “Silver Service” skills,I enjoyed working here.
The "Canberra" was a great ship and i enjoyed 3(4 month)trips on her,the last was the start of a world cruise,sadly i only went as far as San Francisco and was flown home.After about a month i was flown to Sydney to join the "Oriana"the sister ship to the "Canberra"
NORMAN W. BRICE
Born : 26th November 1963
CATERING STEWARD
Attended National Sea Training School : 19th Jan 1981 to 27th March 1981
Class : F No. 033223 Berth : 9G
Matress No. 251 Key No. 87
Served on :
P & O Passenger Division
S.S. Canberra : 8th April 1981 to 29th Jan 1982
S.S. Oriana : 14th April 1982 to 12th Dec 1983
Atlantic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd
Felixstowe Vessels : 21st Nov 1984 to 27th Dec 1984
Cunard Steam Ship PLC
MV England : 28th Jan 1985 to 26th March 1985
My Dad was at sea for ten years,here is a quick word from him:
I enjoyed my life at sea and anyone who remembers me or any of these
dates and photos,please contact me on my sons email address,
Best wishes to all.
Great website,keep up the good work
R565266:Seaman: Guildford,T.V.S.A No509.
I was at the VIndicatrix N.S.T School 22.10.1951 to 28.12.1951.
Argentina Star(Blue Star Line)04.01.1952 to 25.09.1952(Deck Boy/J.O.S)
Alsatia(Cunard)22.10.1952 to 28.11.1952(J.O.S)
Cape Hawke(Lyle Shipping Co)12.12.1952 to 25.03.1953(J.O.S)
Rippingham Grange(Houlder Bros)20.04.1953 to 16.07.1953(J.O.S)
Sydney Star(Blue Star Line)19.08.1953 to 08.01.1954(S.O.S/A.B)
Uruguay Star(Blue Star Line)26.02.1954 to 25.04.1954(E.D.H.)
Maplecove(Canadian Pacific Railways)13.05.1954 to 13.07.1954(E.D.H)
Teviot(Royal Mail Line)27.07.1954 to 03.11.1954(E.D.H)
Mapledell(Canadian Pacific Railways)22.11.1954 to 29.12.1954(E.D.H)
Warwick Castle(Union Castle Line)12.01.1955 to 14.09.1955(E.D.H -&-Q.M)
Durban Castle(Union Castle)29.09.1955 to 02.12.1955(Q.M)
Kenya Castle(union Castle)11.01.1956 to 16.03.1956(Q.M)
Dominion Monarch(Shaw Saville)18.04.1956 to 16.07.1956(A.B)
Kenya Castle 18.09.1956 to 25.11.1956(Q.M)
Adjutant(General Steam Navigation Co)1.1.1957 (A.B)
Chusan(P-&-O Line)31.03.1957 to 21.06.1957 (Q.M)
Strathnaver(P-&-O Line)02.07.1957 to 28.12.1957(Q.M)
Empire Fowey(Goverment Troopship)13.01.1958 to 04.03.1958 (Q.M)
Arcadia(P-&-O Line)25.03.1958 to 29.12.1958(Q.M)
Port Wellington(Port Line)10.02.1959 to 19.02.1959(Q.M/A.B)
Port Chalmers(Port Line) 04.03.1959 to 25.06.1959(Q.M/A.B)
Written by Norman A Brice Snr.
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