Carol’s Catering Days

When we moved into our first council house here in Guildford from living in “tied” cottages since we came “down South”….we had to pay rent and as the kids were getting older. I decided to try and find part-time evening work…and that’s how I became a general assistant in the kitchens of our local hospital …..as the easy walk from home.

Was very nervous when I first started……..I had been busy having babies.

My job was described as plating up the supper trays for the in-patients in the wards. It was done in what was called the “Ganymede belt”…….a moving conveyer belt where caller called our the main choice so that the person serving the hot portions could plate it up. or the person at station 1 could put sandwiches or salad on the tray. As the tray went along the belt soup/milk pudding/cold sweet would be added. You had to glance at the menu to see what was wanted as it passed onto to end of the belt where it was checked and a  put into a trolley…….which was then taken up to the wards

While it was away we had the wrap-up cutlery for the breakfast trolleys the next day. 6/8 of us all squashed into a narrow room…(no social distancing). until the trolleys were returned for us to empty. Then the worst part of the job….a massive moving dishwasher. Three people…..one taking the tray out and putting used cutlery into a tank of water……one taking off paper and scraping leftover food into waste disposal making sure nothing else went down…….people often left stuff on the trays we used to rescue jewellery, specs etc………even false teeth….a few we used to miss until you heard the crunch.Nasty stuff used to come down. The other person used to load it into the machine which two people would unload when it came out the other end. If the machine ever broke down we still had to wash it….manually.Lots of wet memories from those days.

It was fun also you had to work in a team…I met many people and some are no longer with us…RIP……Cliff and Taff to name two have never forgotten. Some I am still in touch with through the magic of Facebook….hello Darrin, Kevin and Pat H, Maggie L toname a few. Memories come flooding……..Keith dropping a whole tray of the liver and it slipping down a wall, the noise when a whole trolley of plates went over. Making up trays of juice with Kevin….hi there Kevin….hope you reading this.

Alos son no1 spent some time working in the kitchens….which I think we both found “strange”……..me being Carol and not mum. I know he will be editing this….hello TJ  I will leave that for you to comment on

I began to do some more hours as overtime was available and I worked with the daytime ladies, got the chance to make salads and sandwiches for the midday and supper trays. Loved the machine where you shoved a cucumber in and it sliced. At some point, I changed jobs and I worked in the coffee lounge……when smoking was still allowed and it was HORRIBLE to have to go in the area to clear and clean……it was like walking into a fog…I remember Jean (RIP) who showed me the ropes

Had some good nights out….the Drifters concert we all went to, nights over at the hospital social club, the day the Queen opened  Phase 3. I am sure I was not the first to go in with a hangover. It seems like another world. If you did work with me in the times you can comment below. Please do.