Not sure this qualifies under Purser's Patter, but I met many P&O Pursers in this role.
Having finished a contract training Pacific Islanders to be stewards and cook assistants, I was looking for another job. Taking leave in Australia with my wife and her family when I received a copy of my HCMI Journal advertising a training role with P&O Cruises. I fancied my chances having had a wonderful apprenticeship with Elder Dempster Lines as a Catering Cadet which also supported my graduation to Hotel & Catering Management Institute by examination plus experience as Catering Officer on their RMMV 'Aureol'.
The application form was posted to Australia and even returned from there......but as interviews were undertaken while still on my travels to relatives in New Zealand, California and Canada - I can understand why they couldn't wait.
I ended up with another P&O company. Bulkshipping were looking for British Purser/Catering Officers for their new-build LPG carriers that were being manned with NUS crews - Barbadians. A big change for them used to Indian and Pakistani crews and Indian Chief Stewards. Not only sailing maiden trips in their ships but also undertaking manning reviews, transferring from in-house to contract catering, overseeing ship management transfers and recruiting an Indonesian crew to take over the manning of a ship on a static contract.
On leave, the advert appeared again with an enhanced salary compared to three years previously. This time I could make the interview. Despite my lack of professional training qualifications, it appears that my seagoing experience swayed in my favour as I understand the previous incumbent struggled with understanding ship routines.
Over four delightful years with this prestigious company. Visiting all the ships in their various areas of operation (even Uganda when trooping from Ascension).
Some memories that I might expand on. Seeing Canberra 'out' and 'return' on the Falklands campaign. Recruiting and overseeing the Junior Catering Rating scheme. Working with Fleet Personnel on recruiting European personnel. The Junior Assistant Purser induction programme. The Asian pre-joining training programmes, including trips to Sydney and Bombay (as it was then). The 'set up' of various off ship courses. The introduction of 'Royal Princess'. Designing and utilisation of a new training suite in Dukes Keep when head office to moved to Southampton. Dealing with Canberra's 'vomiting bug'. Assessing the viability of Acapulco's Hotel School for Mexican Crew training.
It was only when P&O decided in 1986 to seperate the 'pazzy division' into seperate operating companies; the UK, Australia and Princess, that fleet functions were disbanded. I was one of the casualties.