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Ginge Deary · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 11:55 am Post subject: J Wing Coffee Boat

When I was in ‘J’ Wing in the early sixties I ran a coffee boat.

A standard pussers mug of coffee was 6d. (2 1/2p).
· extra sugar 1d
· extra milk 1d
· extra coffee (for those who preferred a stronger mix) 1d.

i.e. A coffee with all the extras would set you back 9d. The equivalent of 3 3/4p.

One afternoon and evening when I wanted to go ashore, Pablo (aka Paul ‘Jim’ Green) offered to run the coffee boat for me. On my return Pablo presented me with a shed load of money that he had made during his ‘shift’. I was amazed and asked where all the customers came from. Pablo said he’d had no more customers than I would have had but he made the original coffee so vile the customers had to have all the extras to make it drinkable. I like Pablo. He’s got style!

lesbryan · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 1:03 pm Post subject:

A standard pussers mug of coffee was 6d. (2 1/2p).
· extra sugar 1d
· extra milk 1d
· extra coffee (for those who preferred a stronger mix) 1d.
Tight bugger charging for extra's
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Ginge Deary · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 5:05 pm Post subject:

At those prices if I didn't I'd have been paying them to drink it.

admin · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 6:49 pm Post subject:

Ah coffee boat wallers... they really do make the Corps keep going. As for the charging for extras, why didn't I think of that?
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Pompey Rich · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 11:07 pm Post subject:

Why does everyone rant and rave about coffee boats when everybody knows that we all rely on a good old cup of tea in every walk of life. Couldn't survive without a coffee or tea boat, though. As for the old money system, ginge, I really struggle to understand the old coinage almost as much as when we learnt to go decimal when I was seven! Am I starting to show my age?

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Ginge Deary · Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:55 am Post subject:

When decimal coinage came in in 1971 the fact that prices seem to rise dramatically was hidden.

When you paid 5p for something you were paying the equivalent of 12d (or 1/- = one shilling). Because you had been asked for five pence (new money) disguised the fact that you were in fact paying the same as twelve pence (old money) and people thought they were getting bargains!