George Thurgar

Name:  George Thurgar

Age:  83

Place of birth:  Millwall on the Isle of Dogs

Job on the river:  At the age of 14 he began work for a ship chartering agent in the City. In 1939 he joined the merchant navy and served until 1946 when he joined the New Zealand Shipping Company as a shore worker. In 1951 he became a tally clerk and worked in every dock in the Port of London apart from St Katharine's Dock.

Strongest memory:  George attended the daily 'call-ons' at each of the docks when labour was hired for short periods. Only the lucky few would be selected, the rest would be sent home without reward. The employers wanted to have a large number of men available for work but they did not want to pay them when there was no work.

Feelings about dock closure and regeneration:  George had originally worked in the upstream docks and been based in London, but on their closure he was sent to Tilbury. He found the travelling downstream to Tilbury Docks very difficult and eventually took voluntary severance.