Nostalgic memories of Sharpness's local history
Share your own memories of Sharpness and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 11 - 20 of 20 in total
I joined the Vindi late 55 and did my 6 weeks catering. I loved every minute of the regimented days and the food was great after being on rationing at home. I remember two of the lads in our hut going over the wall one night, must have missed their Mamas. I first trained in the galley but was sent to the dishwash station, then to the spud locker in the focsle. I guess I coudn't go any lower so that's where I stayed while ...see more
I remember it was freezing most of the time - we had short blue jackets. I can remember taking the slops to the waste - my hands froze to the rope handles. We had no sheets, just blue covers and blankets. I remember fighting for ciggy ends, we used to go to the local cafe and we went to Dursley once to the pictures; one good friend was Bobby Fraizer from Dundee. Quite a few lads went home early. My first ship ...see more
They let all the local English kids go home for Xmas and us north of the border nuts were allowed to sleep aboard the Vindi, where we got into a pillow fight!! and I finished my last 3 weeks in 'Jankers'.
Cheers Joe from Scotland.
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.
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.
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 ...see more
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 ...see more
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 ...see more
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 ...see more
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.