After my allotted leave span (about 4 months in this case) and after a fair amount of TLC my heart rate hade just about returned to normal. It always amazed me that the MoD knew just when to call, and the phone had a slightly different "tone" to it. I began to think that someone had inserted a "chip" into me while I wasn't paying attention.
But I was to join the "Olwen". Another "O" class tanker. (I've already posted a pic of her somewhere else on here). One "O" boat is the same as the others so I knew what to expect. The surprise was that she was coming into the Tyne for a 3 month refit in Smiths Docks. Well, as you can imagine, that got me smiling again! All sour thoughts about the MoD were banished.
However, in my euphoria, I let my usual "going away again" session with "the lads" take place (they bought), but I didn't let on. So I joined the ship, did what was necessary, and said farewell to the well knackered guy I was relieving. Got the ship into dry-dock and made sure those who were staing had somewhere to go. The "old hands" had already arranged their "feet under the table" places, but the "virgins" (mainly Southerners) were feeling a bit lost. This was a foreign and alien country to most of them. The language appeared to be English, but not as they knew it. So they were a bit apprehensive . Easily got them into B&Bs in Whitley Bay, gave them info. on transport etc. and left them to it. Within 2 days most of them (maybe a dozen out of 15) had lost their anxieties and more "feet under the table" seemed to be the order of the day. Most of them were RN ratings who were with us just to look after aspects of the flight complex that was really their bailywick).
So, after just one solitary night away from home I re-appeared in the "Monky Arms" and had to make some quite expensive apologies. Worth it though!
The refit itself was pretty ordinary without any of the major cock-ups that had dogged some others I've been involved in ( read my 1972 report of the "Resouce" refit in Barclay-Curles to see how things can go wrong). Well, OK we had a couple. The first was an event I've related earlier, but may well bear repeating. For those of you who knew Smiths Docks of old this is "old news". There used to be more than one "main gate" to the yard. One of them was adjacent to the N.Shields ferry landing stage. With a pub next to it. The other was a long hike away up the hill . With a pub next to it. Yonks ago the ferry gate was closed, probably causing havoc with the pubs revenue. The much larger pub outside the top gate seemed to thrive. I don't know how many people Smiths employed directly in those days, but it was a lot. Before the whistle blew there was always a mighty crush at the gate. Whistle blows and it's a St.James Park exit. The pub was only about 50 yards from the gate. It had a very long bar. Before the "rush" the bar staff would literally cover the entire bar with opened bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale and each bottle had an upturned schooner on top of it. Within 20 minutes the bar had to be replenished. And again. I guess everyone had a "method of payment", but I never found out what it was. I would also imagine that this "rush" was not unique to Smiths. Although the yard workers in the then "dry" parts of Glasgow must have found a way around it. The same "rush" occurred at the end of the day shift. It doesn't take much imagination to work out what some afternoon productivity was like. However, during the evening shift ....or with people doing a bit of overtime...there were many fewer workers. Most of them worked in pairs, just finishing off jobs that the day shift hadn't completed. It was also very obvious to us that the "pairs" were more often than not "singles"...and these "singles" changed every half hour or so. It was no good asking a foreman or ship-manager why this should be, as the same mantra would be spouted..."Gone to the stores" or some such. Even though we all knew that these places were shut for the day.
Again, I must repeat that I'm not singling out Smiths. I saw this sort of stuff going on in all the yards I've had the pleasure of doing a refit in. But I do think there must have been a fair amount of intimidation and perhaps even some mild bribery taking place. But be that as it may. The pub prospered. But as with all these practices, it would all end in tears.
One dark and stormy night (I've been wanting to find a place to put that bit in for ages!) our night duty officer heard, while doing his rounds, a weak call for help coming from one of the cargo tanks. He discovered a "caulker" who had managed to "caulk" his own fingers between 2 bits of steel. No doubt shortly after his visit to the "stores", and where his mate was still waiting to be served.
I hope you can imagine the chaos this engendered. Red faces all round I reckon, but as the ship was officially in dockyard hands, the ships personell were not involved. Noticed a few missing faces later though. And I cannot possibly comment on the profit level of the pub.
The second episode happened to me. To my shame. A few weeks after the "caulking" business I was invited to join a couple of managers at the "Tynemouth Lodge" (another well known and historic pub) for a couple of lunch-time beers and lunch. Well, to cut a long story short, I was so well and truly stitched up. So much so that I had to be put in a taxi to take me home...although I still can't remember that bit. But "they" had chosen the day well. The day an inspection was to take place and which I was required to attend.
Oh, woe.
I was lucky to get just a mild written reprimand. I think I was chosen as I lived locally! Some lessons are learned the hard way.
By the way, my car was driven back to my house and the keys put through the letter box by"persons unknown"! Says it all really.
Next time....after refit.