back

CLUB

OF FORMER COOKS OF THE TS HAMBURG

CHRONICLE OF THE CLUB  

 The German Atlantic Line has not been in existence in over four decades, yet even after such a long period of time, former crew members still meet up on a regular basis. Initially, meetings were held biannually in Hamburg, Germany; meetings since 2006 have subsequently been held on a yearly basis, with the average number of participants at around 150-300. Every job is represented - from the ordinary seaman to the captain. Participants join from the USA, Asia, and from all over Europe.

Our club, the Club of Former Chefs of the TS Hamburg, meets up every year, usually at the beginning of June. A different member is responsible for preparing and hosting the meeting on each occasion. We see this as an opportunity to explore different areas and experience different cultures in Europe. The number of club members currently stands at around 50 people. It is a special feature of our club to allow members’ families to be included in the meetings. We are especially proud to see our children taking part in our club’s activities and for them to contribute proactively.

It is almost incomprehensible to think that, in this day and age, a group of former employees from over 40 years ago still choose to meet up, frequently, and in such high numbers.

By Uwe Noack

The founding....

One day in May of 1970 during a passage from America to Europe as almost every night  some cooks met on board of the luxury liner T.S. Hamburg in their mess cabin for having a beer and once again celebrating another farewell.

Should it happen to be that when being back to home they would lose sight of each other  forever? The answer was NO! This group of cooks did not want to accept that their just arisen camaraderie and friendship was to break apart.

It was decided to found a club of former cooks and so it happened. The same evening the 13 cooks mentioned below founded the “Club Of Former Cooks Of TS HAMBURG” and promised each other to meet in regular intervals.   

From the organization chart at that time... 

Hans-Werner

WALTERSDORF (Rasputin)

Richard

PICHLER

Richard

SCHWEIGER

Konrad

KRUSE

Arno

HÄUSLER

Carsten

BREDEMEYER

Franz

SCHÄRER

Elmar

NOCKER

Kurt

HIPPLER

Horst

KOHLER

Manfred

FLINZNER

Carl-Heinz

DUNKER

Norbert

HOFINGER

 

 

Arno Häusler and “Rasputin” were selected to organize the first meeting. The place to meet was Villingen in the southern region of the Black Forest (Germany) and the date was in November 1970. Besides these two organizers there were only Franz Schärer and Richard Pichler to join them. For a start this was not really encouraging. Was the figure of 13 to be a bad omen? By 1975 it looked like the whole matter would be tailing off. Rusputin invited again for another meeting in Wasserburg on November 21st and 22nd.       

According to the minutes of that meeting the number of participants was satisfying and  obviously it had taken place at the right time in order to bring about a revival, thus beeing   varified during the following years.

The whereas concluded statutes amongst others provided to make a cruise on the “White Lady” in 15 years. This was performed in 1985 and it might have been an unforgettable event for all those who have participated.

By Arno Häusler (chairman) 

 

top
Homepage Club TS Hamburg. Im Netz seit: 26.06.2001
copyrights 2018 © by Uwe Noack