Frank Maguire - Shipbuilder on the Titanic

I remember everything as if it were yesterday. Sandy and I made our way towards Queen’s Island to the deepwater wharf on a dull dreary morning. We had an appointment with the Foreman at Thompson’s Graving Dock. The smell of the River Lagan was the first sign we were nearing the Dock. We joined 14,000 other Workers as they made their way to the shipyard and the biggest dry dock in the world. We were like ants or Lowry’s stick people. The trams were full, some workers hanging on the footplates, some wearing bowler hats (to protect their heads from the hot rivets which the Prods! used to drop accidentally on purpose on them (the R.C’s.) It was a proud day for us because we had been selected to help build the biggest ship in the world and had travelled from Liverpool, where we had worked at Cammell Laird. Still although we had an idea that what we were about to see nothing prepared us for the first sight of the Ship. Ithad staggering dimensions. At that time it was the largest man-made moveable object in the world. The gantry alone was reputed to be higher than St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Foreman had the plans of the ship and he warned us not to wander away from our group or we would never find our way out as the ship was so vast. We followed him to our allotted place of work. One of my tasks was to french polish the grand staircase which was topped by a dome of iron and stained glass from which light flowed onto the stairs and landings. The staircase was greatly admired, as without doubt it was the finest piece of woodwork afloat. The balustrade had yet to be fitted and I can tell you I shivered with fright to look down at the cavernous drop below. I was glad to return to the carvings which were very beautiful. All the woodwork was composed of the choicest of timber, that the world had to offer, Mahogany, Oak, Maple, Pine, Walnut, etc., and nothing but the best was good enough for this ship. Some described it afterwards as “opulence gone mad”. Although the work was good because of using such an array of lovely timber, there was a feeling of unease about the ship. For a start we had all brought our lunches but had to eat where we were working as too much time would be lost going ashore. But try as we would the water would not boil. We tried everything using numerous stoves, primus, etc., but to no avail. We had to drink cold water. Shipbuilders and sailors as you know, are a superstitious lot and this to them was a bad omen. Another odd thing was that several men of our gang went missing mysteriously during the work and were never seen again. In hindsight it was thought that as we were working so hard, and in those days if you didn’t work hard you’d get the tap on the shoulder from the Foreman and your cards. There were plenty of men waiting to replace you. It was thought that they went into a corner for a smoke, which was not allowed (because of the danger of fire) and fell asleep from fatigue and were literally boarded up. It was the only solution we could think of. We were under pressure to get the work done, at all costs, and everything was behind schedule. The ship was due to leave Southampton on her maiden voyage and was booked out with many V.I.P.’s travelling. On one of the days whilst having our break in a corridor my mate Sandy, a red headed Scotsman from Glasgow, who often entertained us singing, opened a door and discovered a lovely ballroom, with a Grand Piano just inside the door, whereupon he opened up the lid and proceeded to play and sing Harry Lander songs which were all the rage at that time. We all joined in the sing song - “ I Love a Lassie....etc” “I Belong to Glasgow’ Dear Old Glasgow Town .....etc” “You certainly are a F***ing common old working man” shouted a stentorian voice of a bearded uniformed man who we later learned was Captain Smith. "How dare you dirty scum defile my beautiful vessel with your F***ing bawdy music hall songs. Get out of here at once ”, and calling on a couple of his followers to put us out and lock the door in case we should go in again. The day was fast approaching when the ship would have to leave Belfast and head down the Irish Sea to Southampton and we had to travel on board and continue working all this time and try to get finished at Southampton. My work finished just one hour before she sailed. Some of my workmates, including Sandy, and some carpenters and plumbers were not finished and gloated over the fact that they would see New York and the Statue of Liberty. Sandy promised to send me a card from the States saying he might not come back at all if work was available there. He was right for once for I never got that “Letter from America”. I was very glad to disembark. My pockets had never been so full. The last 24 hours I had worked non-stop and we were well paid. Even though I was very fatigued and had a long journey ahead of me to my homeport of Liverpool I managed to get a viewing point among the thousands who were gathered to watch the ship sail. There were even l0,000 troops drafted in to control the crowd. The band played. I remember one of the tunes as the British Grenadiers. The ship was dressed over all and the flag of the White Star Line flew from her mast and as she moved into the solent on her prow proudly written her name TITANIC. Frank Maguire, Shipbuilder

Update 2012

Have been to Austria and Tuscany since the last report. Will upload a few photos and some experiences over the next few days.

Swiss Snaps

Swiss Journeys 2011

Another day in Switzerland, and we set out to catch a Paddle Steamer for a trip on Lake Geneva, There was no boat due at Vevey so we got a Bus To Montreux and just as we left a little shop there was a Paddle Steamer coming in to stop. So we managed to get across to the jetty and this was a most majestic Paddle Boat. Over 100 years old it had just be completly restored and returned back to its original condition. The First Class Dining room was like something from the Titanic and the second class for us 'Plebs' was slightly less plush but still more than adequate. The Paddle boats themselves were at one stage retired from active duty but public pressure and public donations meant many have been restored and returned into daily service or during the busy Summer months. For the technical minded the boats no longer run on coal but now on oil and many of the manual 'oiling' jobs have been automated but you can still see the enormous pistons and cylinders and various mechanical bits driving the paddle wheels outside.
The trip lasted as far as Lausanne. There we changed to another Paddle boat and crossed over into France at Evian. Here we had something to eat and as it was in France it was much more reasonable priced. From there I saw a signpost for the re opened Funicular, so we walked up to the Funicular. Again like the Paddle boat the Funi was taken out of service and was closed for many years but was reopened again by private donations about 10 years ago. The Funi itself has been brought back to the 'belle epoque' period but all the engineering has been fully modernised.
The was not much to see at the summit but there was a small shop selling souvenirs and the top staion again had been beautifully renovated and restored.
Photographs to follow later.

Swiss Railway and Boat Holidays IV

Been to Switzerland several times. This time we decided to stay near Vevey which is situated in the French speaking part of Switzerland. Veyey is on Lake Geneva. As before I booked via BnB.ch which is a group of small Hotels, Guest Houses and Bed and Breakfasts and is the most reasonable way to stay in Switzerland. Our accommodation was just outside Vevey and it had it owns train service passing very near the BnB. Had been warned on Trip Advisor that the owner was a bit strict but we had no problems at all. The house was a Luxurious, almost a Villa with its own Swimming Pool and we had no complaints.
The first day having arrived early we caught a train to Montreaux and then on up to a town called Montbovon. From there we got a little narrow gauge train to the Gruyere region and got off at a little town called Bulle. There we had some cakes and tea and a glass of wine is a little old fashioned cafe. We returned home on the 'Golden Pass Panorama train'
The following day we went on a mountain train to Gornergratt, which is opposite the Matterhorn. A special cog-railway bring you right to the summit and even in the middle of Summer it was very cold and there was still snow to be seen everywhere. There was a Hotel and cafe on the summit but we only had coffee and our own snacks. A plate of Chips was eight Euro and with the rent rise of the Swiss Franc that would be nearly nine now, ouch.

First Hols of 2011

Just back after 6 nights in Italy. Stayed in Maestre which is a few Km from Venice. As usual booked on the WWW so it can be a bit hit and miss with the Hotel if you have not stayed in particular hotel before. Luckily there was n problem with the Hotel in fact it was very good value and included a good Buffet Breakfast and the rooms were very good too. Also right outside the Hotel you had a choice of Bus or Tram services. There were direct connections to the Airport, Train station and Venice itself. Only slight problem was we got on number 14 bus from Airport and it has unfortunately changed it route recently due to the new Tram. We should have got No 45 but we will know next time. One of the days we did have a bit of a problem with a sudden total transport strike. the bus brought us the the train station and I got our tickets and went to the Platform and suddenly it went all quiet, no one seemed to know what was happening. Eventually we realised we had to make our way to Venice by Taxi. Having got to Piazza Roma by Taxi there was in fact signs there telling us there was a 24 hour strike including the Vaporetto buses (water Buses). So we walked into Venice through the narrow streets stopping on the way for an ice cream or two and a few drinks as well.

Plans

Next two holidays are already booked. Just done up a map of the places in Europe already visited and marked up the places I hope to return to or visit for the first time. Some places are nice to go again and sometimes I missed something such as the little Blue tram in Barcelona was closed when I visited last Spring. In Porto thy had just opened a new Metro but more interestingly they had started building a new 'Old' tram route in the City Centre but had run out of money. That route opened in 2008. Perhaps on a holiday to Lisbon we could get a train up to Porto and spend a day in Porto and get to see the centre via the old Trams, then stop of at the Cafe Majestic and back to Lisbon.
When In Germany I hoped to go on an old Steam train called the Vulkan Express near Brohl, but arrived on the wrong day so had to make do with a visit to Königswinter, which was a delightful old village which had its own cog wheel railway up to the top of the Drachenfels Hill. So not a wasted journey at all and an excuse to return.
Was in Mallorca a few times but never managed to go to Palma except for a quick tour. Years ago Mum and Dad were there and they went on the Soller Tram and Dad always said to go on it. Its more of a train really and its really the scenery and the twists and turns on the way to Soller that are of interest. I actually got as far as the Tram station but my friends wanted to get back to Santa Ponsa.
Still have plenty of places to see over in the U.K. and having been watching a T.V. series of British Railway Journeys has given me more ideas. Just hope the BBC don't commission some new series of Great European Railway Journeys or I will be traveling forever.

Venice and Trieste

Booked a holiday for March. Booked on Air Lingus flight rather than Ryanair. Both have extras to add but somehow Air Lingus now nearly as cheap and less extras and stupid fees etc and easier to get through the booking process. Also got a good hotel in Mestre which is a short bus ride into Venice itself. Last time in Mestre got caught out by the Hotel being much further away than advertised from the centre and buses ran infrequently so we had to get a taxi several times. Also at night there was only one Trattatoria nearby which was run using the Basil Fawlty school of Restauranteuring. We managed to get seated but then the Waiters had to tidy up all the empty tables and after about 15 minutes decided to take our order. Another 30 minutes or so later we finally got our order which was completly bland and cold. We only went back to get ice cream to take away.
This year in Mestre they have opened a new Tram line which goes past our Hotel. However rather like in Dublin the tram doesnt yet reach the Airport and its also stops about 500m away from the bus station. Eventually it is supposed to reach Venice but thats still a long way away.
Last time in Venice we went to Trieste and hope to go again. Last time in Trieste I wanted to go on the Opicina Tram but alas it was broken down and we had to make do with bus which did however still bring us up to a mountain view looking down over Trieste.
One place we have not gone to is Vicenza which supposed to be another beautiful town to visit. Also some of the smaller Islands of Venice might be worth exploring.

2011 Booked

Have just finalised our first holiday for 2011. Booked flights to Geneva in Switzerland and will be staying in Veyay. Flights via Aer Lingus in June are very reasonable and also found very nice little Hotel to stay right on the Lakefront of Lac Leman (Geneva). The accomodation is a little on the expensive side but you have to pay for lifes luxuries and have found there is no point staying in some crap Hotel for a week to save a 'few bob' Also the Little Hotel has a small Swimming Pool, and a little Train station is right beside. The Train actually goes up to he local Vineyards, hence the name of the train translates 'The Train of Vines'. From Vevay you can get trains to almost everywhere or boats across the lake to several destinations.
Aer Lingus are also going to fly to Perpignan in 2011. So that is a great new base to travel from. Its very near the sea, Argeles, Collioure, Cerbere. Even Montpellier is only a 2 hour train ride away. So will have a look around the area for a possible holiday.

Tuscany 2009

Some photos.
Fiesole, Assisi, and Florence. Fiesole is a small village looking over Florence. At one stage it was as big as Florence, now its a small town you can reach by local Bus. Plenty of Restaurants and Cafes and a nice place to spend an evening away from the heat and noise of Florence.

2011 -II

FLORENCE
Another holiday next year hopefully to Tuscany and this time stay in Florence. Last time in Florence the Hotel was a bit of a dump, beds fell apart, noisy guests, very hot and insects were also uninvited guests. So this time have to go up market and pay more for a better place. Probably go to the same places as before. Pisa and Siena, Lucca or Pistoa. Really liked the train trip to Assisi and want to go again. Possibly find some new places as well and spend more time in Florence itself.

2011

its been snowing all week in Ireland. Good time to cheer myself up by getting out the guide books and maps. Still going to Switzerland. Found a couple of places to stay in Montreaux. Hopefully the plan will come together. Plenty of trips on trains and boats, I have done a plan of possible places to visit and visit as many new places as possible and returning to old favorites.

Ford Capri Classic

Another photo from the 1960's. Probably taken on a Summer holiday. In the 60's anyhow we never ventured very far abroad, in fact never abroad until the 70's. Mum and Dad and Frank I think went over to London. So most Summers we went down to Cork, or Killarney. A couple of times we went as far as Westport. Mostly though it was day trips. Dads Ford Capri must have passed through most of the counties of Ireland. Over the years the car got too old for long drives and Dad gave up travelling. Heres a photo of the car in its heyday.

Attic finds

Found a couple more really old photographs. One is of my Grandad, Francis Maguire. In the photograph it looks like it was taken out the back yard of the shop where they lived. He was a Carpenter and you can just make out him using some sort of foot operated wood turning machine. The other picture was taken in some photographic Studio and features my Dad, John Maguire I, as a baby in his Mother arms. Timeline must be 1918, possibly earlier for the one of Grandad.

2011

Making Plans for next year.
Have thought about where to go on holidays next year. A few years ago went to the South of France and hired a car. Thinking of flying to either Carcassione or Gerona, Gerona is in Spain but near enough for France. Last time in that area we were looking at houses and sites for a possible holiday/retirement home. This time it would be to travel around the little villages, mountain sides and little beaches. In 2005 I went as far as Montpellier but didnt have enough time to see the city properly. The plan might be to fly to Carcasione then on east ward towards Gruissan, Narbonne and Montpellier. Possibly on as far as Nimes. Then back via Sete and take in some of the Canal de Midi.
The other possibility is flying to Gerona then up North to France, taking in Collioure, Argeles, Languedoc and numerous places dotted about the place. In that part of france very few speak english so I have to try and make do with my 'pigeon' French, much pointing at things, getting lost and driving around roundabouts several time.
Last time I got lost in Southern France, ended up back in Spain and only got back on track thanks to a kind man at a Spanish Toll Gate who let me through quickly as a mad Spanish Truck Driver behind me had got out of his cab and was running towards my car. He had previously attempted to ram me as he reckoned I was driving too slowly and I had given him the international sign by sticking up a finger at him. For some reason he took offense at this. Once past the toll gate he was unable to keep up as I floored the accelerator of my little SEAT Ibiza Diesel as far away from the nut case as possible.
My Mum is a great help with being the navigator pointing out the obvious as we drive about France. For another odd reason the French authorities love roundabouts and they often have such oddities as windmills or small boats which Mum points out as I circle some roundabout looking for the right direction, sometimes having to circle several times looking for the missing signpost. Or Mum points out some rare flower we have never seen before while I am trying to navigate some impossible road while being lost up in the Mountains.
We always end up somewhere, eventually. it doesnt really matter as the journey itself is the real reward and theres always somewhere different just around the corner.

later on in 2011 I have no real plans but possibly go to Canada, Wales is also due a visit and finally Portugal.

Holidays Cafes

Just back form Vienna. Everything went well except the bad weather on the Sunday. Not a lot to do in a wet Vienna especially on a Sunday. Found the cafe that Mozart used to play the piano. A very nice cafe and we had traditional austrian food and a very reasonable price and served by a traditional waiter suitably dressed. Also went on that trip to Linz. Had a bit of difficulty initially getting from the railway station to the main street but eventually found the right direction. Then found where to catch the Postlinberg Tram and off we went up the steepest tram route in Europe. Didnt take that long but a very enjoyable 25 minute trip. The Tram line has been completely rebuilt and extended to the main street of Linz. Also the tram company went to the bother of ordering new Retro styled trams as well as retaining four of the old trams suitably re furbished and with extra safety equipment.
At the top of the Hill the view was restricted by the foggy weather. So we went to a nearby restaurant and had something to eat and drink. Back to Linz for a look around the local shops and Mum found a junk shop selling loads of crap for a euro or slightly more.

Back to Vienna we went to our usual haunts and found a few new ones. The only dissapointments was some admins decision to stop the popular Tram route that goes round Vienna in a circular route around the 'ringstrasse. Now if you want to go on that route its 15 Euro on a special Tourist tram. Usually this new service ran empty.

Also as it was late in the year the Ice Cream Salons were closed so we didn't have our ice creams in 'Tichy Eis Salon'

Probably won't be back for a while now but Vienna is another great place for long week end visit.

Vienna 2010

Back again to Vienna in October. It s a great place to visit, have been there a couple of times so We wont waste as much time trying to find places. Staying in the same Hotel as before too. This time hope to go to Linz by train. its supposed to be a great place to visit and there is cruises from there on the Donau. Also I'm interested on going to up to Postlingberg. You can get there by the worlds steepest Tramway, recently completly renovated with modern 'retro' trams and they have also carefully restored some of the original trams as well. They also extended the tramway so now it goes directly into the very centre of Linz. So that for me will be the first thing to do in Linz.
Back to Vienna hope to visit some nice Cafes and Restaurants especially Cafe Cobenzl, Central Cafe and Tichy Ice Cream Salon.
Hopefully will find some new places to visit as well.

Zurich Thoughts

Just getting the bags packed after a weeks hols all over Switzerland. Finally got to go to the little 'Schynige Platte" railway. Built over 100 years ago as a tourist railway. It's almost a "toy" railway. The track is only 600 mm wide and due the steepness of the gradient it uses Rack assistance all along the 9km of track. The journey takes over an hour. Beautiful scenery aound every curve. And there were many curves. The line itself is metulously maintained by the Jungfrau Railways.
On the journey downhill we rode in open coaches, our view was slightly hindered by mist, but the rain itself held off.
Can't post any pics via my phone so have to do some photo posting at home.

Rusty Classics

Last Sunday I went to Mondello Park to see Classic Car Live, The weather was great and apart from seeing loads of vintage cars parked there was several demonstration laps and races. One of the classic old cars was a 1962 Ford Consul Capri. Also called the Capri Classic my Dad had a similar car. He bought one in 1962 and a secondhand one in 1963. As a car the model wasnt a great success it was too expensive and the similar sized Cortina sold in huge numbers. Anyhow Dad kept the car for years until eventually it was falling to bits with rust and various bits had fallen off. We actually went on many holidays and days out all over ireland including one trip to Sligo when the passenger door lock decided to give up the ghost. Dad not being that good at fixing things stopped in a hardware and bought some clothes line and did a basic repair job. Over the years there was a few other bits modified as they broke. The rear windows were fixed in place as the winders had rusted. The car was painted but the rust came back and eventually the sad day came in 1978 when the car was traded in. The Capri at the show was restored from a complete wreck and must have cost the owner thousands. I spoke to the new owner and he had always wanted one and decided it was the car for him. He drove it around the track and we waved at him as he came around. I dont think i would want one myself but it brought the memories back, Dad insisting on absolute quietness as he attempted to fire the Capri into life. If anyone spoke, you would get blamed for another aborted start. it was as we now say a banger for its latter years but Dad at the time couldnt afford a newer car or had little interest in the car. Heres the restored Capr, I must get out a photo of our Capri, the GT model of course.

Postcard of Monaco 2010