Cigarette Smoke And Black Lungs

[DAMNTHEWEATHER]

I was on the eagle one time, I had the worst hangover in my life [up till then] that was after a night in the 'golden fleece' in pompy sculling the scrumpy, nearly fell down a few hatches that were below each other.

FFS...the Fleece !!!

The Golden Fleece was situated at 37-41 Commercial Road. This pub has now been demolished. During the sixties and very early seventies the Fleece was without doubt one of the toughest pubs in Portsmouth.

Run by two brothers, who were always prepared to leap over the Bar with Baseball bat in hand, to sort any trouble that arose. There was sawdust on the floor, often damp with rough scrumpy, bloodstains on the ceiling, the odd melamine topped table and short stools dotted around and which often got thrown around. The brass spitoons were a feature in front of the bar.

There was also a loud juke box and a painted steel pole supporting the ceiling in the main bar area. It was frequented by the famous 'Big Sylve', a lady of questionable character and tastes, she was as hard as nails, as the huge dried bloodstain on the ceiling proved, when she took on some characters that didn't know her reputation, she hit one of them with a bottle, which cut him severely, spurting the blood onto the ceiling.

Sylve loved Royal Navy Sailors and they loved her, She would often cadge pints of 'scrumps' off of foreign sailors and pass them down the bar to her RN mates.

Sailors could often be seen 'choking' as most were drinking scrumpy and would float something in it to recognise their pint, and on occasion after a good few, the object would be swallowed with their scrumpy and lodge in their throat. Some were taken to hospital, where they were well used to it.

Remember it well Here's my first sea job Eagle.

[quinner]

FFS...the Fleece !!!

The Golden Fleece was situated at 37-41 Commercial Road. This pub has now been demolished. During the sixties and very early seventies the Fleece was without doubt one of the toughest pubs in Portsmouth.

Run by two brothers, who were always prepared to leap over the Bar with Baseball bat in hand, to sort any trouble that arose. There was sawdust on the floor, often damp with rough scrumpy, bloodstains on the ceiling, the odd melamine topped table and short stools dotted around and which often got thrown around. The brass spitoons were a feature in front of the bar.

There was also a loud juke box and a painted steel pole supporting the ceiling in the main bar area. It was frequented by the famous 'Big Sylve', a lady of questionable character and tastes, she was as hard as nails, as the huge dried bloodstain on the ceiling proved, when she took on some characters that didn't know her reputation, she hit one of them with a bottle, which cut him severely, spurting the blood onto the ceiling.

Sylve loved Royal Navy Sailors and they loved her, She would often cadge pints of 'scrumps' off of foreign sailors and pass them down the bar to her RN mates.

Sailors could often be seen 'choking' as most were drinking scrumpy and would float something in it to recognise their pint, and on occasion after a good few, the object would be swallowed with their scrumpy and lodge in their throat. Some were taken to hospital, where they were well used to it.

Remember it well Here's my first sea job Eagle.

I believe I had many a pint in that pub.....I worked on the building sites in the Guildhall Square in the very early 70's.......Met a lad there from our Village who was in the Navy.....Named Saunders....

[cosmo]

FFS...the Fleece !!!

The Golden Fleece was situated at 37-41 Commercial Road. This pub has now been demolished. During the sixties and very early seventies the Fleece was without doubt one of the toughest pubs in Portsmouth.

Run by two brothers, who were always prepared to leap over the Bar with Baseball bat in hand, to sort any trouble that arose. There was sawdust on the floor, often damp with rough scrumpy, bloodstains on the ceiling, the odd melamine topped table and short stools dotted around and which often got thrown around. The brass spitoons were a feature in front of the bar.

There was also a loud juke box and a painted steel pole supporting the ceiling in the main bar area. It was frequented by the famous 'Big Sylve', a lady of questionable character and tastes, she was as hard as nails, as the huge dried bloodstain on the ceiling proved, when she took on some characters that didn't know her reputation, she hit one of them with a bottle, which cut him severely, spurting the blood onto the ceiling.

Sylve loved Royal Navy Sailors and they loved her, She would often cadge pints of 'scrumps' off of foreign sailors and pass them down the bar to her RN mates.

Sailors could often be seen 'choking' as most were drinking scrumpy and would float something in it to recognise their pint, and on occasion after a good few, the object would be swallowed with their scrumpy and lodge in their throat. Some were taken to hospital, where they were well used to it.

Remember it well Here's my first sea job Eagle.

buccaneers ?? couple of gannets??

[cosmo]

I believe I had many a pint in that pub.....I worked on the building sites in the Guildhall Square in the very early 70's.......Met a lad there from our Village who was in the Navy.....Named Saunders....

was a great pub for a bit of craic , before Sylvie there used to be a very very old lady who used to do a 'dance' jazzes she had to be in her 80s , it was all a learning curve , and the vintage cider was firewater, it was served only in small glasses. there was another couple of pubs in the locale in the same 'class'.

[cosmo]

apoligies to the other posters who started with the 'smokes' topic ....got a little carried away with the memories.

[quinner]

was a great pub for a bit of craic , before Sylvie there used to be a very very old lady who used to do a 'dance' jazzes she had to be in her 80s , it was all a learning curve , and the vintage cider was firewater, it was served only in small glasses. there was another couple of pubs in the locale in the same 'class'.

Yes cos. ....I worked around there for well over a year......Just thought of the lads first name......Tony Saunders.....

I also installed two lifts in Brickwoods brewery around that time......My long time friend from Manchester also worked there.....His name was Joe Quinn......Yes, there were two of us......A delightful pair of Rogues...

[cosmo]

was he your foreman...the doppelganger .

[quinner]

was he your foreman...the doppelganger .

LOL......I was in charge but nepotism ruled the day.......

You can certainly see where he has been....The M.U.F.C Motif was drawn in coloured chalk inside every lift shaft......an avid supporter....But most of us used to write our names there for posterity.....

[DAMNTHEWEATHER]

I believe I had many a pint in that pub.....I worked on the building sites in the Guildhall Square in the very early 70's.......Met a lad there from our Village who was in the Navy.....Named Saunders....

There ye go....might even have been in it at the same time....there were a few along that strip.....and yer right it went from Comical Road right down to Guildhall Walk where the Mucky Duck (White Swan) is to this day....then we had the 'Yorkshire (Yorky) Grey' 'Criterion'.....Country House....Cox's Hotel just outside the gate.....The Eagle is St George's Square....mind the step lol. Then the Egremont and the Painters Arms Crasswell Street......Havelock and Hearts of Oak....Wig n Pen and Three Horse Shoes (Shoes).....

The Yorky Grey's still there, well the building anyway, but its business ofices.....and the Mucky Duck has canged its name to the boring Brewhouse & Kitchen......then the flasher mack soft porno playhouse on the corner....now called the ASTORIA NIGHT CLUB FOR UNI STUDENTS..... Oh and don't forget the Raven round the back.....then down Queen St.... The Home Club...The Three hats (Crowns).... The Duty Watch bar The Standard......The George and the Appletree and the Invincible.....and round the corner on the Hard.....The Ship Anson and the King n Queen ....n Ship Leopard.... Keppels Head Hotel Bar....

Most fave ship of all, three and half yrs in her...the Hermes coming through the harbour neck at Pompey home after the Falklands extravaganza.

[Napper Tandy]

Ex crewman wants to buy her. Now come to the end of her life with the Indian Navy.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/meet-scouser-trying-buy-15m-12929025

[DAMNTHEWEATHER]

The Indians decommissioned Hermes (Virat) on 6 March 2017, and one of my ex sailors went out to Mumbai / Bombay for the ceremony. Smudger loved his time in the ship, as I did, well I must have done cos I volunteered to do a second sea commission on her. Known throughout the fleet as the Happy Hermes.... she was the best ship in all 13 I served in, great memories. I won't ramble on too much, except to say we had our first lad Liam christened in the ship's chapel onboard and his name will be on the ships bell.....not the upper deck or primary bell but the second bell which was preserved below decks for the purpose.....be nice to have it to pass down....but more chance a havin a black baby i spose.

I still have an annual get together with a load of the lads from my division, and general we get 20/30 turn out for a weekend of chinwag and beer. The meet increases every year, and as I was Divisional Officer to 82 lads in Hermes....I'm looking forward to seeing some new old faces in mid July this year.....

Smudger took some pix and copied me not only the ceremony, but the little squirrel managed to sweet talk his way below decks and into my old office, and here are three of the tiny little wardrobe I conducted my business from way back in the 80's.....he's even snapped the last incumbent.....name was not supplied.....I have te say....space being at a premium, this office housed three of us.....my Subby, my Chief and Me......room te swing a cat ?.... we managed....and it was luxury compared to some office spaces onboard lol.

[cosmo]

first week in......so you were a lower deckie noel, well done.

[DAMNTHEWEATHER]

first week in......so you were a lower deckie noel, well done.

LOL......Class pic there Cos.....a Raleigh boy eh......I was St Vincent in Go Sport lol......Started on the lower deck . ...just turned 17, so boys time for six months, then out of the Juniors Mess and didnt have te go to mass on Sundays ffs. A steady move up over first nineteen yrs. ...got me the Tate n Lyle for me last 13 years.....so a life a riley tbh..... thirtheen ships inc the yacht for three....but happy H was best of all....... What ships you have.?

[cosmo]

thought st Vincent was an industrial school lol. jaze ye had a long service there, I was only in for four years, I packed it in over the ' love' of a girl back home, when I got back home she was out with another bloke, talk about dear john!! anyway I had a chance to go back in but I didn`t bother, there`s a story to that I`d rather tell over a drink . my first ship was glasserton a mine sweeper, next was wotton [as in rotten] another sweeper, dolphin, to train as submariner my worst fear, this was during the polaris build up and they needed two ships companys for each boat coming on line, during the training two persons were drowned in the escape tower [a trainee had an epliiptic fit and took an instructor with him] everyones rap sheet was screened for medical defects etc [I came under the etc] and was drafted. I went to centaur from there, after she decommished I was drafted to Zulu, Zulu was in refit so we were accommodated in hms chevron a ww2 destroyer and hms Cochrane. for six months on Zulu I stood in for a mate[for one night] on cochranes c.p.o mess doing 9`oclockers [me a tas rating], so during the day I used to wander round rosyth dockyard and meet up with the lads at the naafi . nobody on Zulu knew anything about me for six months, I was only found out when a regular dental and tabs checkup went to Zulus office. my killick had never met me although I was in his 'squad' for the past six months, a few other short stays, Vernon, drake, vic barracks. great times . often thought I should have stayed in longer but then therest of my life wouldn`t have happened ...such is life said ned.

[DAMNTHEWEATHER]

[QUOTE=cosmo;444506]

thought st Vincent was an industrial school lol.

It was ffs

jaze ye had a long service there,

I loved it big time....I was 'anchor faced' as farook lol.

I was only in for four years, I packed it in over the ' love' of a girl back home, when I got back home she was out with another bloke, talk about dear john!!

FFS what a bastad...happened my mate as well, mind you he got married and went on to have two lads, and still wed to same bird....so ok for him.

anyway I had a chance to go back in but I didn`t bother, there`s a story to that I`d rather tell over a drink .

We'll share a few pints whenever ye might pass through London.

my first ship was glasserton a mine sweeper, next was wotton [as in rotten] another sweeper,

Niice ships....very family and first name terms ish....never had one mind ye.....started out in flat tops and did 5 a dem....then destroyers in between and some odd ones like the matapan and of course the Yacht for three yrs working for Betty the One.

dolphin, to train as submariner my worst fear, this was during the polaris build up and they needed two ships companys for each boat coming on line, during the training two persons were drowned in the escape tower [a trainee had an epliiptic fit and took an instructor with him] everyones rap sheet was screened for medical defects etc [I came under the etc] and was drafted.

jaze....well although I did Ships Diver for 17 yrs, I never fancied the oul submariners life...I have may pals who did and made a shed-load of dosh and all that.....it was and is a very special family...and hats off to them, but I'd rather be able to take a stroll on the upper scupper with a blue-liner and tinny any day than be 20 leagues below...."Divers Do It Deeper".

I went to centaur from there, after she decommissioned I was drafted to Zulu, Zulu was in refit so we were accommodated in hms chevron a ww2 destroyer and hms Cochrane. for six months on Zulu I stood in for a mate[for one night] on cochranes c.p.o mess doing 9`oclockers [me a tas rating], so during the day I used to wander round rosyth dockyard and meet up with the lads at the naafi .

LOL....brill dit and a brill little cushy number....good onya.

nobody on Zulu knew anything about me for six months, I was only found out when a regular dental and tabs checkup went to Zulus office. my killick had never met me although I was in his 'squad' for the past six months,

That's hilarious ffs....but the outfit was so big back then you could disappear for months on end if ye were floating....gas eh.

a few other short stays, Vernon, drake, vic barracks. great times . often thought I should have stayed in longer but then the rest of my life wouldn't have happened ...such is life said ned.

Well ye got around a bit anyway in the four years.... Thing is, everyone I meet up with who left early says they should have stayed....but ye have te ask would it have been better or worse than the life they led in the end....Not forgetting one move can end in 1000 fuk ups.lol.....ye prob made the right move.

I only ever had one Dear John from me pash way back up north.....we had it all goin for us....but while I was on an eight month deployment to the Fez, she started knockin off a schoolie up her way.....but she waited till we were one week away from homers to send the letter.....I was kin gutted.....but as usual in these circs....I slapped the DJ up on the Mess Notice Board and got on with me life....ye want to have heard the comments ffs....lybo............mind you I was pizzad as a rat that night with all the consolation beer the lads passed my way te help me drown me sorrows....

De ya remember the GRONK BOARDS we used te have in all messes....lol.
Then there was the GRONK TROPHY...I won a few a dem ffs.

Matapan....named after the Battle....was a WW2 converted Battle Class Fleet Destroyer.....only ship of the name.....she was converted and took over from Veralum as Sonar Trials Ship.....and I did just over two yrs in her.....what a run it was too....all over the states with her.....including Burmadoo and a few of the south islands.......It was a joint US / UK thing so our time in the States was lenghty and we made many many 'friendships' out west.....Great little ship with stacks of memories....even picked up me crossed hooks in her.....loads more beer tokens eh.