Yes JW there are more than a few of us out here - My own contacts number about 40, look at the TWPP to see the quality of our forebears – I would estimate that around 200 regularly view the GUESTBOOK (though they are not members of CLOUDOBS) ! So if you have a message for anyone in your past you can declare it here and our most honourable secretary, she who must be obeyed, will forward.
I can assure you John that your dits are being read by many – maybe even some who have visited your pub(s) – I do remember you from ASWEPS – do you remember our lunches at the Marquis of Granby up behind the 24hr post office with gay Ron as the host - - must “of” (have!!!) been the smallest pub in London.
John you sadly you missed the original ‘guestbook’ circa late 00’s decade which was so vibrant it exceeded it’s capacity and had to be stored – with the hopeful, (funding available), return on this site’s FORUM. It was very personal – and perhaps should not be put back in the public domain again . There is little in the current guestbook that was not discussed in detail and I suspect that the greatest fountain of knowledge of our branch of the 60’s and 70’s (George Blu) feels he has said it all before.
For Ray B – our PO in Singapore was the late Roy Barroclough (relieved in my time by Percy King). Percy and Ginge Howarth had enough offspring’s to field a unisex football team. Yes I remember well our trip to BUGIS St on Roy’s scooter – though I had won a BET earlier re downing about a half bottle of whiskey – I was 17 !. Peter Jones was another in the office – ‘tink he married a Met (female of course). Not Sandie – as I once thought – maybe Green ? not sure that Sandie ever served in Singapore. Ray – apropro your earlier comments re wearing sarie’s etc – once when there was three carriers in dock – there was a ‘Far East Fleet’ “skin” competition down in the dockyard NAAFI club organised by a carrier MET (I ‘tink) (Bryn Telfer ???) - Did’nt you win that competition ???? if so …. does Sandra know !!!!
The forecasters I remember (I ‘tink) were Cdr Waller, LtCdr Bain and Lt Cdr Townsend – all great bosses and Gentlemen – as Roy B and Percy K were. What a joy it was to be in the Navy then – gentlemen bosses good senior rates and great mates.
(except for the Master at Arms HMS TERROR – he had a bottle of WHISKY in his lower locked drawer – he was a DEVIL – but to be fair he never trooped me despite his sidekick ‘crusher’ (can’t remember wot they were called - patrolmen? ….) this crusher was named at birth as Timothy Valentine O’Donovan – he saw me sitting on my scooter across the road in the garage down from TERROR, I was waiting to have a faulty clutch looked at – he beckoned (commanded) me over to him and then trooped me for not wearing a helmet within the naval base.
For Ken – in an oblique way in my efforts to get to the FORUM fail me 9 out of ten and which, maybe through my own fault – passwords etc – I came across the Malta pic of you and Sandie hanging out the window at Hal Far – as a native of Dorset her ‘lovely’ tones were a regular visitor to my ears. Wonder if I am right – did Sandie (did you) do the Sunday programme that was called …. Forces favourites --- or something similar .
I will try to put the link for the Halfar pic as an addition to this entry.
Now that the snow has stopped I can go out and feed the birds – good for you !!
failed to get the link to copy - will put it in a following bulletin in the next few minutes.
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