Long-Service Records
As the career of RMS Caronia draws to a close, it's time to look back over the years and talk a little about the crew men who served the longest on board. My researches continue as to whom the longest serving crew members were. Certainly, with 16 years service Ave (Stretch) Quin is one of the contenders.
Since first writing this, I've been informed that Assistant Pantryman Leslie Ellery signed-on to the “Green Goddess” on 31 August 1950 at the age of 24, having been a seaman for 2 years. He served on board Caronia continuously until she was sold by Cunard in 1968 which gives him an overall 18 years of service.
[Photo: Courtesy of Ave Quin]
I have clear recollections of Les Ellery. Several of the cooks and pantry men would offer their services to us waiters to prepare our meals, for a small fee, usually payable on Thursdays (the recognised pay-day) each week. With such a well-connected fellow as Les, it was quite a coup for me to be able to join his “list.”
The arrangements were simple and effective. You placed your order and at the pre-arranged time collected a tray of delicious food ready to go down the companionway to the crew messroom and devour it. Because this service was offered by cooks and pantrymen all around the galley, doing this yourself was not only not the done thing, trying to keep your meal hot or fresh was highly impractical.
Clearly, for Les this was a satisfying financial and personal arrangement, for he remained a pantryman during his entire Caronia career. Seemingly he eschewed any promotion paths that were obviously available to such a long-standing and well-respected crew member.
Les Ellery became Caronia's custodian during the retirement period when she was in lay-up and available for purchase. He was given the ship's keys and would be contacted by Cunard when potential purchasers needed to be shown around.
If anyone can inform me of other potential long-service crew members, I'd like to add their names to the list below.
Long-Service List
- Leslie Ellery - 18 years
- Allan Horsburgh - 13 years
- Ave (Stretch) Quin - 16 years
If you can contribute any information, do please get in touch…
