 |
|
Let me set the scene, during the Manchester Ship Canals Centenary celebrations I was Acting Ships Keeper on Bronington covering for Malcolm Coulson the ships fulltime Ships Keeper who was on sick leave. The event was to take place over a weekend along the wharf at Trafford Park that was Bronington's permanent mooring but no longer so. The whole area was transformed into a giant carnival about half a mile long. There were sideshows and various visiting historic ships alongside. The highlight being a visit to canal company's Headquarters by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal who arrived by launch from Salford Quays to open the newly refurbished wharf. Along with the rest of the ships volunteer crew Sidney Leonard, Rowland Murphy, and Ron Mills we set too. The "Brony" was turned out really tiddley and dressed overall ready for the big day, even my wife Anita was pressed in to help on the day selling souvenirs. Now, normally when "Brony" is open to visitors they arrive in two's and three's and get the full audio tour and the intake is fairly steady, but on this occasion when I looked across the gangway at opening time the queue was about sixty yards long and growing fast. I knew then we had to change the viewing arrangements fast, so it was decided to introduce a one way system around the ship with groups of ten and at set intervals with the ships volunteers. The late Roland Murphy, and the late Ron Mills and Sid Leonard and myself positioned at various strategic points. We were all very busy moving visitors through and keeping them out of restricted areas, it got very hectic. No stand easy today I thought. I kept thinking to myself things are going too well something's got to go wrong, the questions kept coming thick and fast all technical stuff like
"Where did they all go to the lav then, surely not all in that one toilet?"
Reply “No Madam that’s just the Officers”
"Can I have my photo taken on Prince Charles's bed?"
Reply No Madam the Skippers Cabin is out of bounds
"Where did their wives live"
Reply “At home Sir if they had any sense
"Why has it only got one porthole in its side?"
Reply That’s not a port hole madam it’s just a glass panel in the skippers bookcase
There were Mums and Dads Grannies and Granddads, Grandkids with ice creams, hotdogs,” SORRY NO FOOD ONBOARD PLEASE" SPLAT - the lot! Any minute now I thought somat’s got to go wrong, maybe it’ll be this woman can’t get her finger out of the post box or a kids fallen down the funnel or something. But it didn't happen. Instead I was informed by one of the lads “There's this prince fella on the gangway, wants to have a word" I looked at him gone out thinking, this is not the time to start loafing we're too busy, but he wasn't, this prince was for real he introduced himself and his friend and produced his I.D. which confirmed this and all seemed in order, he was in fact a cousin related to Prince Charles. Although I really couldn't spare the time I thought I'D better make an effort and duly gave him a guided tour finishing with the customary signing of the visitors book. After his departure I felt somewhat relieved because I'd said things were going too smooth and there was bound to be some hitch, and now it had happened, and been sorted, all would now be well....don't you b....y believe it . Towards the mid afternoon we had to conscript two security bods from the site to help with the queues...we were all looking forward to closing time in a couple of hours and we were feeling pretty chocka by now Then came a call for me over the Ships p/a would I come to the gangway, I called back "I'm busy what do you want"..." well....flippin ek!" I exclaimed, when I was told "Queen Victoria's on the gangway with this bloke what shall I tell her?".... I replied ...politely I'm not in the flamin' mood, for jokes. I’m definitely not in the mood; I was cursing as I got to the rail and looked down from the foc'sle to the gangway. There she was Queen Victoria in all her glory and with an escort.
Well if you don't believe me, here's the proof.
|
|