| Description | Tape 1 Side A: MICHAEL LEONARD PATRICK PEARCEY born 7 August 1938 Gosport. Maternal grandfather in Black and Tans. Recalls childhood home. Third of six boys. Father in Royal Navy. Brothers in Merchant Navy, Army. Did National Service in Army after working for a butcher. Went to Catholic school. Religion not important. Father, a stoker, away a lot. Details re him. He dug air raid shelter. He loved watching sport. Mother had strong character, loyal to her sons. Didn't like school, preferred work as butcher's boy. Details re jobs done in shop, butcher, lessons learnt from him. Comments on old butchers' blocks. Recalls wages in butchery, Army. Did butcher's deliveries on pushbike. Joined Union Castle Line as kitchen porter. Became second butcher on Queen Mary. Details re work on ship, restaurants, classes of meals. Butchery details. Served on Caronia, 'Green Goddess'. Describes Captain's inspections. 10 years at sea. Joined oil industry 1965. Details re wife, marriage, children. First involvement with Norman Chalk catering in Aberdeen. Impression of rig construction, John Brown's shipyard, Glasgow, workers. Recalls supply of pieces (sandwiches), buckets of tea, meals, desperation of workers for beer. Details re construction of rig. Reference to Keith Laddiman, Gordon Brophy, Ralph James, Les Malt. Details re Norman Chalk. Daily work routine in catering. Describes jack-up rig North Star. Reference to Marex company. Recalls tow-out. Recalls level of safety then. Rig Constellation always in trouble, broken tow etc. Reference to IDC (International Drilling Company). Recalls being in gale, fear. Further details re North Star, its crew. Recounts disparaging attitudes re Americans. Details re catering, cleaning, shift pattern.
Tape 1 Side B: Describes rig Constellation. Reference to Ed Delap, deckman. Describes sensations when rig jacking up. On Constellation till she went down 1969. Describes events leading up to sinking, weather, skill of helicopter pilot, evacuation to rig Britannia, getting news of Constellation sinking. Details re Motel 41. Rejoined Phillips gas platforms, then Ocean Traveller, semi-submersible from Aberdeen c1971-2. Compares crew types, levels of education. Comments on drillers. Story re Americans' refusal to eat lamb. Explains approach to preparation of meals. Food, choice better then than today. Explains. Details re menus, appetites of crew. Negative attitude of some crew towards caterers. Few confrontations. Got used to pressure of work. Compares with hotel work. Started own company, MPCS, 1974, servicing offshore installations for Phillips and other companies, took over from Chalks. Details. Describes personal service provided. Aberdeen different from southern centres. Explains. Still servicing southern offshore installations. Describes catering routines. Recalls Great Yarmouth in 1960s, 70s, pollution in harbour. Significance of oil companies to Great Yarmouth's development. Recalls social life in Great Yarmouth, pubs, clubs etc. Recalls Two Bears Hotel (which now owns). Americans mixed with locals. Reference to accident involving Arco rig. Recalls earlier bad reputation of Two Bears, its previous good reputation, Star Hotel, Savoy. Mentions drinking hours. Response of Great Yarmouth people, businesses to oil/gas industry, eg taxi services. Details re Number 41 Motel. Mentions other social venues. Impact of industry life on some marriages. Details re MPCS, companies serviced, tendering process. Compares cultures of different companies. Also has onshore, airline contracts. Details re catering work processes, size of business. Impact of own experience offshore.
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