| Description | Tape 1 Side A. Born Antwerp, only child, lived in flat. Father, 4th engineer Merchant Navy. Recalls moving houses frequently. Paternal grandfather a stevedore describes his character, little influence. Good relationship with maternal grandparents. Details re grandfather who was not in a regular job, 'did everything'. He was a good mate, had a pub adjoining a gypsy campsite, and had six sisters. Recalls his saying 'steal it with your eyes' (learn from watching). Grandmother was boss, everybody jumped. Grandparents worked in mines in Belgium aged 12/13. Remembers grandfather's beautiful handwriting. Story of 'doodlebug' destroying house, Remembers war when aged 15. Recalls May 1940, occupying American forces, activities during war. Wouldn't have missed it. Recalls Antwerp, large Jewish population, many in diamond trade. Outlines own views on Israel, now and in 1947. Recalls Jewish friends in wartime, acceptance of non-Jews by Jews. Attended local school in war, technical college aged seventeen, awarded electrician's diploma. Mentions Waricon shipyard. Joined Merchant Navy 1950. Recalls Mother, disciplinarian, like grandmother. Anecdote illustrating this. Father away at sea. Comments on childhood, changing times, mentions recent attack on old lady. Describes father, details of his sea life, in wartime. Tells story re meeting father in Africa. Describes character of father, joint activities, father's plans for own career, not as seaman. Describes practice of religion, at school, own views on church activities, changes, being an altar boy. Present attitude towards religion. Discusses politics within family, did also in Merchant Navy. Explains own socialist perspective, membership of Labour party in England, views on present government
Tape 1 Side B. Comments on Labour government, Euro currency, membership of Labour party. Describes native language, languages spoken. Recalls childhood friends, sports, college. Describes life as seaman, junior electrician, promotion, new job. Importance of maintenance of ship. Recalls applying for jobs in England, responsibilities on ship, drunken seaman as stereotype. Served in cargo ships then tankers. Recalls first ship, mixed cargo/passenger. Details re route. Mentions Martin Belsh, Travis More (?), government funding, job as junior electrician. Describes Chief Electrician as supervisor. Compares life on ship, ashore Recalls wanting career as engineer, father's opinion. Attended technical college. Describes tests for electricians, rules, need for care, careful observation. Comments no chief electricians/chief engineers as good tutors. Remembers second engineer, thirty first ship, and job as chief electrician. Anecdote re present for grandchild. Anecdote re oil tanker chief engineer, close to retiring, nudist. Outlines safety measures on tankers, emphasises dangers. Anecdote re danger, smoking on tankers. Recalls first trip, cabin size, crew numbers, and recruitment measures. Describes chief engineer's quarters. Discusses Seamen's Union. Recalls, complaint about food, union reaction. After twenty years at sea unmarried, warns against early marriages. Left merchant navy. Explains pay, hours. Mid-60s worked on tanker in Rotterdam, Amsterdam effecting repairs. Explains working times, four-year contract. Reference to Le Havre. Recalls tug boats, effect on health of work, leisure activities. Job offer of dredging contract. First wife Mary died 1971. Applied to Union de Remorquage et de Sauvtage Societe Anonyme, Antwerp, for job. Details re size of fleet, towing, rescue, North Sea contracts, and supply ships. Offered tugboat job on Scaldis.
Tape 2 Side A. First job tug boat with Scaldis as second engineer. Describes training, hands on experience, qualifications. Compares job with that on larger ships, tugs, especially engine room. Describes Detroit diesel engines, capacity, and reliability. Story re new tug with one engine. Reference to Cockerell engine. Dislike of having only one engine, fear of accident. Recalls crew on tug-boat, shifts worked, earning Captain's commendation. Comments on size of company. Mentions, in 1970s, tugs, barges in the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh, belonging to Union van Raading. Describes size of tug, where crew stationed, crew nationalities, size of engines. Reference to role of tug related to oil industry requirements. Recalls bad weather in North Sea, miscalculation by American owners. Describes major job, 1970s, towing concrete jacket from Kristiansund, Norway, to Staatfield oilfield in Arctic Circle. Details re size of jacket, time taken to tow, accommodation module. Describes dangers when changing crew. Details of leisure time speed of tug, dangers of towing. Recalls stress of job, need for weather reports, places of shelter, dependency on captain's decisions. Story of tow taken over from American tug-boat in bad weather. Outlines conditions on tug in bad weather, especially in engine room. Reference to pressure from company to produce oil, gas. Details of tenders. Mentions derrick barges. Compares rate of pay in tugs to merchant navy. Recalls competition for work because of high wages, high staff turnover. Comments on Spaniards, Portuguese men on derrick barges. Details re their length of time on barge, working conditions.
Tape 2 Side B. Continues discussion about long working hours, pay of Spanish, Portuguese seamen. Details re conditions for workers, union involvement. Comments on American-run companies. Mentions MacDermott, Brown and Root. Recalls attitude of American companies, foreign workers to unions. Comments on safety procedures regarding crew changes. 1971-1980, worked in 6/7tugs including Scaldis, Union 1, Alfonse Letza, Boxer, and Wrestler. Explains procedure hiring tugs, comments on good reputation. Describes difficulties in North Sea. Details Jacques Cousteau's study of the North Sea. Comments on danger for divers. Recounts own views of companies, giving companies' views of people who complained. Describes Jerome Letza, harbour tug, used for North Sea. Comments on speed of change in North Sea. Recalls accidents during crew change. Details leisure time activities. Mentions North-Eastern Marine, Wallsend, sheltering from bad weather. Explains wind force regulations. Outlines procedure when towline breaks because of size of jacket being towed. Describes jacket being put into position on seabed. Need for mild weather. Details role of tug. Discusses routine of tugboat compared with shore work. Recalls problem with engine on tug, Jerome Letza, German engine type MAN.
Tape 3 Side A. Continues anecdote re engine failure on tug. Details problem with bolt-on pump, discovery of blockage, lubrication, sounding of alarm. Recalls being ordered to Aberdeen, not possible under own steam. Comments on possible loss of contract. Describes supply ship bringing new oil, disposal of old oil. Comments on complications in bad weather. Details cleaning work needed back in Antwerp. Recalls trip as chief engineer, loss of barge in bad weather. Describes reporting to Head Office, Antwerp. Mentions recovery of barge. Details danger of towing wire, like an iron bar. Discusses intuition when dealing with engines, noticing changed engine noise. Comments on tug crew, boatswain who is in charge. Comments on need for co-operation at sea, social interaction. 1971-1980 UK joined European Community, little interest. Outlines views on American crews, repair of parts. Anecdote re American reaction to refurbished parts. Discusses shore leave. Remarks on having no family then. Mentions time spent with father, family. Recalls friends on tugboats, now deceased. 1980, left tugs through near-accident. Comments on working on survey ship until new rules came in. Details re necessity for first aid certificate, prohibitive cost of course. Discussion of public concentration on safety after Piper Alpha, not reflected on tugs. Refers to lack of formal safety training, absence of lifeboat but having Zodiac to evacuate personnel. Recalls, tugs on standby for rig fires. Mentions Guard line contacting, attending trials in Aberdeen. Sea career ended late1980s. Describes looking for work, nearing sixty. Mentions firm in Peterhead, transport costs, being offered work after sixty-five. Recalls first living in England 1978 when stationed there in Merchant Navy.
Tape 3 Side B. Recalls coming to live in England, being stationed with Merchant Navy. Recalls when aged nearly sixty, living ashore, and possible job offer in Great Yarmouth. Overheads too high for company so no contract. Comments on demise of oil industry in Great Yarmouth, its move to Aberdeen. Recalls ships three abreast Great Yarmouth harbour at peak of oil boom. Compares with Klondike gold rush. Contrast between life at sea and life ashore. Comments on need to be adaptable. Mentions second marriage, wife, Valerie nee Oxford, who has two children from previous marriage. Recalls meeting her in 1979/80. Reference to her birth in Greenwich.
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