Sharpness memories
Here are memories of Sharpness and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Sharpness or a Sharpness photo.
Training
I must have been one of the first on the training ship because I thought it was 1954 I was there, but if it is recorded as c1955 who am I to argue! I was there training for the merchant navy for about 12 weeks. I was the camp bugler until I was relieved of my post because I was caught sitting down at the back of the church when I should have been standing. My first ship was MV Middlesex with The New Zealand Shipping Company. I joined her in Liverpool and was on her for about two months before we sailed to New Zealand via the Panama canal carrying trains on deck. When we got to NZ, the dockers went on strike and we were allowed to load our own ship with lamb carcases as we had refridgerated holds. My ships wages were 11.50 per month but we got 1 an hour for loading our own ship. We felt like millionaires. Barbies on the beach... Read more
Summer Training
Just to let you know I reported to the school on 31.5.1954 and finnished on the 9.7.1954 so there was some of us that did the training in the summer. I went on to serve on 7 ships in catering till I left to get married in 1957, I have still got my discharge book and union card, good memories, all the best.
Joining The Vindi
I was at the Vindi (Vindicatrix) from July to Augusts 1955 and how I remember that fish pie on arrival and all the lads cadging anything you would part with and shouting 'Where're you from?'. I'm a bridge boy, it took me a couple of days to find out what they meant, it was the spands acoss the bridge. I still go to Sharpness every August reunion.
Training on The 'Vindicatrix'.
I went to the sea training school in September to November 1959. It was tough but you had to do it to have a chance to go to sea after it. I remember the food was awful, especially the scouse we had once a week, but I made good pals in Terry Wignal (I think he came from Kent) and Jimmy Reid from Clydebank, I often wonder what became of them as we lost touch after we left the 'Vindi'. My first ship was the MV 'Swiftpool' which I joined in Nov.1959 after I had been home for one weekend, I was all excited as I found that we were sailing to Port Arthur in Texas, USA. This was my first time that I had been abroad, and I can remember when I arrived there the older seamen were laughing when they said I had to go for a short arm inspection before I could go ashore. Being green I trooped up to where there was custom men and medical... Read more
Vindicatrix
I was a trainee at the Vindi between 25 October and 31 December of 1954. Met at the Sharpness station by a boy Bos'un who took the opportunity to cadge fags from us, we were marched(?) across the high bridge to the camp. Boys aready on courses hung around and attempted to extract ciggies from us but the bos'un had already removed what we were prepared to give so the lads contented themselves by making remarks like "You ain't never going home new boy" and similar things. After being processed we were led down the towpath to the ship and given a supper which had the name of Sea Pie (corned beef hash) and looked pretty uninviting. Some of us decided we were not that hungry and let the waiting vultures tuck in. It turned out to be the only meal we didn't completely devour during our entire time there and, by week two, we had joined the vultures. There were no vegetarians at... Read more
Feeling Homesick
You know I haven't come across anyone who did their 8 weeks' training at Vindi in the summer months, most people you talk to remember most of all the severe winters. I am no exception, I remember going down to the ship from the camp last thing at night for a couple of slces of bread and butter and a mug of what was supposed to aid sleep. If you remember anti, my fondest memory I think was the latest music they used to play prior to the film show. I was at the camp in November and December, in fact I first shipped out on New Year's Eve 1961, me being a young fresh-faced 17-year-olf Scot who had never been away from home before. I don't mind admitting that I cried like a baby ... ah! memories.
L Remember it Being Dam Cold
l came across the vindi site by accident,and was amazed to see the old ship again, l trained on her on the stewards side over the1965 xmas period and went on to travel the world on the m.v. huntsland, carrying cargo all around the world.
seeing the photo brougt back so many memories of many years ago, does anyone else remember the jam butties at the seamans mission or swopping our cap badges with the crews on the russian boats in the docks.
Memories of Gloucestershire
The Cordwainers Shop
My Great Grandfather, Samuel King, ran a boot and shoe business (as a Cordwainer) from this address in the 19th century. His family home is listed in the 1881 census as The Old House, Market Place, Berkeley.
His father John King (Dob 25.5.1765) was also a Cordwainer in Berkeley in the 18th century.
The King family were residents of Berkeley for many years, John King of Ham (Dob 23.9. 1730) is shown in my personal family records hand-written by Samuel King in 1835 as head of the King family. Thomas King is listed as having a Butchers shop in Berkeley in the late 19th century.
Lydney - 1939-1945
My father, the late Cyril Cook, spent some time in Lydney, during the war, as a Nurse at a Naval Training Establishment, I believe.
Unfortunately, I know very little about his time in Lydney.
Ken Cook
Growing up
In the 1950s Lensbrook Tea Gardens became the site of Billy Thomas's scrap yard. I was born and brought up at Lensbrook and my mother used to work at the tea gardens. I was born in 1942 and I can never remember it being tea gardens. I used to play in the scrap yard with Billy Thomas's daughter Diane.
GROWING UP.
Lensbrook house and Lensbrook Tea Gardens are the same house. I lived in Lensbrook Cottage which was farther down the lane, from the time I was born until my marriage at 20 years old.
Family Evenings Out.
I cannot remember the exact years, about 1950, when my Mother and Father used to take me and my cousin for a walk from our house at Lensbrook Cottage through six fields (which is a public footpath), and arrive at Severn Bridge Hotel. We used to go into the clubroom and Mrs Gertie Harris, the Landlady would play the piano. This was a monthly event on a Sunday when the Coach parties used to come up from Wales because there weren't any Public houses open in Wales on a Sunday. We used to sit there listening to the music, with a glass of lemonade and a bag of crisps. Then when it closed walk the six fields back home. If I was lucky my Dad would give me a ride on his shoulders. I think this is what inspired my love of music. They were the good old days.
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