Tales of London's Docklands Read Online Free

cashier in the outer office. He will make all the arrangements. Right?’
    â€˜Yes, right,’ I replied.
    â€˜Clear off then,’ he ordered, ‘and come back and report to me when you have passed your crane driving test and you have got your licence.’ That was it.
    I went off and found Eric in the Tilbury Dockers’ Club. I explained what had transpired between the governor of Maltby’s and me. We went back to the office together and saw the cashier. He telephoned the Port of London general office and got a date for a medical examination, which was to be conducted at Trinity Square, opposite the Merchant Navy war memorial and the Tower of London.
    The day of the medical examination came, and I met Eric on the Gravesend ferry terminal. We crossed the river to the Tilbury Riverside rail terminal and purchased tickets, using our dockers’ rail warrant, to Fenchurch Street station. We walked from Fenchurch Street to Trinity Square and found the medical officer’s surgery in the Port Authority building. We were given a through examination. I passed, even with my stiff leg, and that was a shock to Eric, because he was failed as he had varicose veins.
    After the medical we left Trinity Square, looked round the Merchant Navy war memorial, and then made our way to a restaurant Eric had known when he had been a trainee chef at the Grosvenor Hotel, before his call up for national service with the Royal Navy several years before. Eric had said the prices would be a bit stiff in this restaurant, but as we were getting a travelling and subsistence allowance to attend the medical examination, we could put it down to expenses. We walked in and waited to be shown to a table. A waiter came for our order. Eric said we wanted a pot of coffee and some pastries. We were quickly served and sat talking for some time, slowly drinking coffee and devouring the pastries. While we were sitting there, several different waiters came to take a look at us. I wondered what was so obviously wrong, but Eric stayed pie-faced until it was time to leave. Then he said, ‘You go on, and I’ll pay the bill.’

    A steam ferry approaching Gravesend Riverside terminal to discharge road transport vehicles conveyed from Tilbury Riverside landing stage, 1950s. (Author’s collection)
    I walked a short way from the restaurant and it was several minutes before he came out with a Cheshire cat grin all over his face.
    â€˜What’s so funny?’ I asked.
    He said, ‘You may find this hard to believe, but they think you are Robert Beatty, the film actor, and I am Bonar Colleano, the film star.’
    â€˜Well! You would be the star, of course. What did you tell them?’
    â€˜I told them we were travelling incognito looking for sites to make a film. I signed a few autographs for them and promised I’d have a word with our studio director to see if he could use them when we are in the area filming.’
    â€˜And they fell for it? I don’t believe you! By the way, how much were you charged for the coffee and pastries?’
    â€˜They were on the house, for as the head waiter said, “After all, we can’t be seen to charge two prominent film actors who have chosen to grace our premises with their persons, now can we?”’
    He pointed at me, and the stupid sod said, ‘You, Robert Beatty!’ and he never stopped laughing all the way home.

2
    K IPPERS – H AVE A
B OX ON M E
    T ilbury Docks was built for the East and West India Dock Companies. It was constructed on marshland that stretched from the Thames riverside, opposite Gravesend in Kent, to the town of Grays in Essex. The lock that allowed ships to enter and leave the docks was built to handle sailing vessels, the first coal-burning cargo ships, short sea traders, sailing barges and lighters. It was opened in 1886.
    To operate the lock gates, massive pumps were used, and these had a dual purpose. They not only opened and