Absolutely superb. Loved seeing so much detail of the actual manual work, the banter, the lack of H&S! I'm from New Zealand and was in and around London last Summer - walked the Thames Path, including Thamesmead to Purfleet/Dartford Creek. Ugly industrial fly-tipping wasteland? Not on your life - history, graft, Estuary, birdlife, the out of sight stuff a city needs, like building waste sorting. God bless em all. Madness, the Jam, The Smiths...would've been on the radio on them lighters
@mozdickson sad that Wilko died not that long ago. I occasionally used to see him out shopping. I believe Lee Brilleaux was so inspired by the Blues that he liked to refer to the Thames Delta rather than the Thames Estuary
Nice to hear the deckhand mentioned the Golthic, a few men from my village sailed on her and a couple of men I worked with over the years, my father also sailed on some of the shaw saville boats, in fact it was the Majestic which sailed my father back from Australia as a distressed british seaman in the 60s. I was surprised how they did the tow, I thought it would have been easier to put a bowline in, anyway I’m sure they had a good reason!
I am finding it hard to believe that this was filmed in 1984, surely it would have been in colour. As the man says 'history' is still repeating itself.
The Gnat was a Gaselee tug (yellow funnel with three red rings). It was broken up in the early 70s. There is quite a lot of information on the internet about the Gaselee tugs. I used to go on the Tayra when I was a boy. The crew were highly skilled and real gentlemen. The skipper had strong views about washing your face before you went ashore. At the age of 12 I couldn't see the point of it. We went up to Hammersmith and down to the Medway on various trips. I slept on bard once. Very happy days.
@@TheMrgaztop really pleased to hear that there are still some Lightermen on the river; was brought up on the banks of the river forth in Scotland, still some dock works ongoing but nothing like it was when I was a child over 60+ years past. Best regards.
I was interested to see the name McAlister in the crew. I wonder if they are related to the McAlister family in the States who run one of the largest companies here. I work on an ocean tugboat that’s coupled to a petroleum barge. The routine of life on the water remains the same.
People didn't start to see in color until the 90s. Before that people never heard the term colorblind because nobody saw color. After color was invented and everyone could start seeing it then the revolution began.
got a few names wrong and i think about a year or less later the tug general v11 which this was not the merit sunk in northfleet taking a lot of the hands with her then she was scraped
Hard, honest men doing a tough job. All good mates watching out for each other.
Brilliant. Loved the fact there was no narration and nobody talking to the camera. Good stuff.
What can thy say economies of scale is strting to mix with eurotax fraud?
There won't be many following in the honourable worshipfull of bullshit.
Fantastic film. Would be amazing to see a follow up today of these guys if they are still around.
40 years ago is doubtful
Excellent,many thanks for posting.
I'm American and I love videos about docklands
Absolutely superb. Loved seeing so much detail of the actual manual work, the banter, the lack of H&S! I'm from New Zealand and was in and around London last Summer - walked the Thames Path, including Thamesmead to Purfleet/Dartford Creek. Ugly industrial fly-tipping wasteland? Not on your life - history, graft, Estuary, birdlife, the out of sight stuff a city needs, like building waste sorting. God bless em all. Madness, the Jam, The Smiths...would've been on the radio on them lighters
Dr Feelgood too
@@davidantill6949 🔥 I payed due homage at the Kurstal in Southend! Thst full live show filmed there, 🔥
@mozdickson sad that Wilko died not that long ago. I occasionally used to see him out shopping. I believe Lee Brilleaux was so inspired by the Blues that he liked to refer to the Thames Delta rather than the Thames Estuary
I really enjoyed that I just wish it was longer!
That's what the wife said!
Nice to hear the deckhand mentioned the Golthic, a few men from my village sailed on her and a couple of men I worked with over the years, my father also sailed on some of the shaw saville boats, in fact it was the Majestic which sailed my father back from Australia as a distressed british seaman in the 60s.
I was surprised how they did the tow, I thought it would have been easier to put a bowline in, anyway I’m sure they had a good reason!
That old steel jetty they went under just near Canvey is still there 40 years later and is still not being used
Great film. Thanks for posting.
My dad was a lighterman working on a tug also called the General, They moored up and worked out of Charlton.
The General VI? That is the focus of a 1963 documentary.
I am finding it hard to believe that this was filmed in 1984, surely it would have been in colour. As the man says 'history' is still repeating itself.
@@MileneMartines-e1d it was filmed in 1984. But chosen to be filmed in black and white.
Great movie very interesting thanks for sharing cheers 😂
Lost, lost! The old working class, salt of the earth, backbone of the nation.
All slaves for having a day off.
Christ, one wrong step on a rainy day and it's over, not a life jacket in sight..
But it all worked, those were the days...
I am 71 my grandfather was a skipper on a tug called the Gnat his name was Charles Morris Brown wish I new more.
My grandfather was tug master on the the Wiliam C Daldly saving the Auckland harour bridge in 1966
What wonderful times Looks like
My grandfather was a skipper on the Tug the Gnat before the war his name was Morris Charles Brown i wish I could find out more.
The Gnat was a Gaselee tug (yellow funnel with three red rings). It was broken up in the early 70s. There is quite a lot of information on the internet about the Gaselee tugs. I used to go on the Tayra when I was a boy. The crew were highly skilled and real gentlemen. The skipper had strong views about washing your face before you went ashore. At the age of 12 I couldn't see the point of it. We went up to Hammersmith and down to the Medway on various trips. I slept on bard once. Very happy days.
@@rodericfindlay4147 Thanks.
The refuse from these barges was never dumped on Canvey Island but at Pitsea land reclamation and land fill site. Which now days is nearly full.
thanks for that detail
now all gone, not to be seen again,
Really saddened that all these highly skilled jobs no longer exists and people thrown on the scrap heap 😢
Lightermen are still on the River. Tough men. Grafters. My uncles were rivermen. I was raised on the Thames.
@@TheMrgaztop really pleased to hear that there are still some Lightermen on the river; was brought up on the banks of the river forth in Scotland, still some dock works ongoing but nothing like it was when I was a child over 60+ years past. Best regards.
I was interested to see the name McAlister in the crew. I wonder if they are related to the McAlister family in the States who run one of the largest companies here. I work on an ocean tugboat that’s coupled to a petroleum barge. The routine of life on the water remains the same.
5.07 that’s my dad. I’m older now than he was then.
I hope you’re dad is doing well
It must be wonderful seeing him in these old videos.
Seems a fine bloke!
That were the days when men were men & women were grateful.
Any idea what church he's on about with the yew tree?
When men where men 👍
People didn't start to see in color until the 90s. Before that people never heard the term colorblind because nobody saw color. After color was invented and everyone could start seeing it then the revolution began.
got a few names wrong and i think about a year or less later the tug general v11 which this was not the merit sunk in northfleet taking a lot of the hands with her then she was scraped
The crew of the merit are working on general vii on the day the video was made here
Anyone remember Bill Lester ? fell off a ladder ! deed !.
BM17:40:00