Author Topic: Barry Edwards: boy cook 1976  (Read 3950 times)

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edwards

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Barry Edwards: boy cook 1976
« on: Nov 24, 2014, 02:44 AM »
hello all
I found this site merely by chance earlier today.
I am BARRY EDWARDS.
I joined the QE2--fresh out of gravesend sea school way back now in june (26th) 1976--via the then shipping fed.
young and naive from the `hill billy` wiltshire countryside.
GOSH!!!--what a wake call that was for a shy 17 yr old-lol.
I stayed on board for around 18 months before changing over to the `princess` out of lauderdale.
it would be really good to interact here--catch up with a few old ex crew members maybe.
though I guess that some-given the passing of time have `moved on` now.
many thx,
BARRY.
« Last Edit: Dec 29, 2018, 02:42 PM by Lynda Bradford »

Offline Lynda Bradford

Re: Boy cook 1976
« Reply #1 on: Nov 24, 2014, 10:21 AM »
Hello Barry

Welcome to the forum and looking forward to hearing more about your time onboard QE2. 

PS I have split your post from the Garry Baltao topic so that you have your very own introduction topic. 
« Last Edit: Nov 24, 2014, 10:23 AM by Lynda Bradford »
I was proud to be involved with planning QE2's 50 year conference in September 2017 in Clydebank

Offline June Ingram

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Re: boy cook 1976
« Reply #2 on: Nov 24, 2014, 04:54 PM »
Welcome, Barry, to The Forum !  It is great to have you here and I, as we all do, look forward to hearing about your time aboard our QE2.  This is definitely the place to be for all things QE2 !  June   :)
QE2 - the ship for all of time, a ship of timeless beauty !

Offline Alan Snelson

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Re: boy cook 1976
« Reply #3 on: Nov 24, 2014, 04:57 PM »
Hello Barry and welcome to the forum.

I joined in August 78, so our time on board might have overlapped a little, although we would have moved in different circles to each other.

Which galley did you work in and what food were you preparing? How did you find the Princess compared to QE2 and how long did you stay on her? I knew a couple of the guys who did the photography on the Princess, did you ever come in to contact with them I wonder?

I worked on the Countess a few times between 78 and 82 and then went on her full time for a couple of years in late 82, quite a different atmosphere to QE2.

It would be great to hear more of your memories from your time at sea.
Don't just be part of her past, be part of her history!

edwards

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Re: boy cook 1976
« Reply #4 on: Nov 24, 2014, 10:06 PM »
hi alan
thank you indeed for your kind reply.
yea--our time may have overlapped there.
as you say -as a boy cook my movements were somewhat limited.
my first corner was in the columbia--right out the chef`s office.
geoff owen being mainly in charge.
then up to the T O H W ,
but yes the princess was a complete world away--far more freedom for me there.
don`t remember the photographers.
struggling really to remember names--but knew many people there.
many thanks.
always happy to chat.
BARRY

Offline Isabelle Prondzynski

Re: boy cook 1976
« Reply #5 on: Nov 24, 2014, 10:54 PM »
Hello Barry, and welcome onboard the Forum!

Looking forward to some of your stories! I wonder how you came to be on QE2? Had you applied and waited for your chance, or did it arise suddenly? I wonder what your first impression was when you saw the ship and walked up the gangway?

Enjoy yourself here, and hopefully lots of memories will return to you as you read other people's stories! Do you have any photographs of your time on board?

edwards

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Re: boy cook 1976
« Reply #6 on: Nov 24, 2014, 11:27 PM »
hi iasbelle
well -my being on the ship--was merely by chance
I had not long struggled through sea school at gravensend.
and-so was posted on board via the then shipping fed at canute road.
but MY!! I remember being very awed by the prospect of it.
for sure I was never going to be one of cunard`s rising stars-lol.
but I managed to give a good enough account of myself--and huffed and puffed my way through.
it is only of late that I now realize was a fantastic chance I had then-and what good days that they were,
I still work at sea-but only on a dover ferry.
multi-national now of course,
but many guys there-young and old alike-have never in truth really been any further than a few miles from their front doors-yet claim to be `at sea`
you can imagine some of the things that I say to them.
does not make me popular some times--but the older guys from mainly the deck and bridge departments really take to my `caustic` banter-lol.
many thx.
BARRY.

Offline Lynda Bradford

Re: boy cook 1976
« Reply #7 on: Nov 25, 2014, 09:48 AM »
It would be good to hear a bit more about the countries you visited when you worked on QE2 and if you were given much time to explore.  On today's Cunard ships I know that sometimes the kitchen and restaurant staff only get a few hours leave, but they really make the most of the time, some taking time off the ship and others are just glad to have time to relax.   
I was proud to be involved with planning QE2's 50 year conference in September 2017 in Clydebank

edwards

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Re: boy cook 1976
« Reply #8 on: Nov 25, 2014, 08:34 PM »
HA!!
lynda--lol.
of course back then shore leave was far-far more liberal than it is today.
-but I guess you are-well you MUST be-very worldly/
but what i am getting at--a 17 yr old-with-then loads of money in his pocket--and full of youthful hormonic drive.
I /we-were hardly likely to be taking a tour around the local museums and art galleries---lol.
but best i hold back just for the mo.on this one.
do not wish to pick up-the fastest ban ever from this forum- :)
but-for sure-could spin a yarn or so about certain `run ashores`
many thx again.
BARRY.

Offline cunardqueen

Re: boy cook 1976
« Reply #9 on: Nov 25, 2014, 08:54 PM »
Quote
  do not wish to pick up-the fastest ban ever from this forum-
but-for sure-could spin a yarn or so about certain `run ashores`
many thx again.
BARRY. 

Hi Barry
Welcome onboard.
We are all mature grown adults on here, so do feel free to share some stories, it might spice things up lol
And if you do need to miss anything out...well lm sure we can fill in the blanks..

Waiting with bated breath

Myles
From the moment you first glimpsed the Queen,
 you just knew you were in for a very special time ahead.!

edwards

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Re: boy cook 1976
« Reply #10 on: Nov 25, 2014, 09:07 PM »
HA!!
yea for sure.
will do so then a little later.
but you get my drift.
ashore in places like rio--`happy valley`--well plural---both curacao and mexico-among others--african and eastern ports.
HELL !!--would not dream of it these days.
that having been said of course.
a `home trip ` back in southampton-could be equally inviting---or rather-an invite to the pox clinic-----lol.
now very likely I am banned----ha!!!!