A Full Order Book!

When the yards had a full order book it was conciderd good news to the town, but it would mean different things to different people.Bearing in mind that these comments were made when Lithgows had one ship on the stocks and two more to follow. Here some shared their veiws in 1963.

David Mauchline a barber from Port Glasgow had this to say......... .

"Until a few years ago when things were good in the Port and there was plenty of overtime a haircut lasted three weeks. Then if overtime stopped a haircut cold last for six weeks,seven or even eight! Most of my customers would get their wives and girlfriends to do a clean cut at the back for them. If that is what happens when overtime stops, what would it be like if all worked stopped? When I hear that Lithgows has got an order, I know that it's my living as well."

John E. Forsyth is a well know Port Glasgow butcher he had this to say.....

"The men from the Port like the best. They like centre cuts, the chops and Belfast ham. Give a shipyard man good money and he will eat and drink it! But as soon as the overtime is cut the grilled stakes change to sausages and a quarter o' mince.
But even at that it is not as bad as the old days. When I go up the scheme in my van it is all fitted kitchens, fridges and double sinks and it is the yards that are paying for it."

Ex-provost and welder in the Kingston Yard, Mr Minihan had another opinion......

"Cigarettes and TV are the last economies the average household makes, if they ever go, we'll be in real trouble. To my way of thinking an order for a big ship means H.P payments."

"We have not been without a ship since the war so we have no experience what it would be like. The only way to judge it is by the overtime, the difference it made when it stopped.
If a man gets £5 overtime, his wife doesn't get half of it. She'll get a quid. So the way I see it most of the overtime is spending money. The bookies felt it first. Then many cut the drink down, a decent bloke would not go in incase he could not stand the next round, so he would practically cut out the drink altogether.

The women want their wave and set and their stockings, they have got to get their stockings! and nothing cuts the fags! Holidays and betting, that's what goes if you ask me..

But that is just overtime. If we did not have the those ships down here----well..We've had no experience since the war but I remember before the war, the old Buroo days, staying in bed half the day because it was warmer and you did not feel so hungry

Those big boats are the best thing that ever happened, there's no argument about that. Those big boats are a wage. If the day ever comes when their isn't an order, it'll be a bad day for Port Glasgow."

Little did they know those days were coming...........and fast!

Mr McConnel was a plater inthe yard and added this statment.......

This page last modified on Tuesday, March 04, 2003

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