Quote:
Originally Posted by BobClay
In July 1967 with starting at Leith Nautical College coming up in September I needed some money to supplement my grant. (Students could get grants in those days.) I'd done a couple of years at sea as an Engine Room Rating, and from the Shipping Federation Office on Pier Head I got a job for two trips on the Empress of Canada signing on as a 'wiper.'
I can remember my Dad asking me what a 'wiper' did, a question which I found very funny.
I did a month on her and the first Atlantic crossing was as 'peggy' cleaning the ER's accommodation, and also the cabin of a high petty officer (can't remember what his rank actually was) who was known onboard as the 'Aga Khan.' Some ex Canadian Pacific people might know the name.
The second crossing I actually got down the engine room cleaning mainly down there. So my last trip as a rating was with Canadian Pacific.
Years later after sparkying for CP Ships from 76 to 86 I came ashore. So my last ship in that job was Canadian Pacific !!
Not many sparkies can say there were a peggy for the Aga Khan I bet, although being a Sparks was a far far better job than the dreaded peggying.
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Ive heard of the Aga Khan Bob. I seem to recall he was engine room storekeeper on the Empress boats, but its only a vague memory.
I wonder if you came across an engine room rating on the Canada named Johnny Lynas, AKA Miss Fontaine. A most unlikely"tranny". He was a big, ugly, and very hard scouser, who could often be seen swanning around the working alleyway in all his finery.
Regards,
Pat