Guest Book

Happy days eh Ray?
I believe these days our role is undertaken entirely by computers.
Whilst the boffins may pat themselves on the back,they still haven't created a computer which can produce a chart, then go ashore, drink 12 pints in numerous dens of ill repute, stagger back to the dockyard to consume fish, chips and a pint of milk and still be able to produce a chart the next day.
Happy Christmas!!
PS - Pussers Rum Gunpowder Proof (found on Amazon) is a much nicer way to warm up than a Polo mint.

Very jocular, Steve! I remember another Steve on the Happy Hermes, who solved a problem whenever they showed a film in the galley, because there wasn't a bulkhead large enough to show it on. They had to pay him, of course, because even though the projector belonged to the ship, it was Steve Enson's screen.

Gosh Ray, given the timescale, your latest post seems to have stunned old shipmates in to reminiscing about 'Singers', maybe with a hot cup of cocoa and the 'Ovaltinies' songbook.
Come to think of it - what ever happened to that Greek chap, Len Ticularis? I hear he left under a cloud.

OK so seeing my wife's look of amazement and disbelief on her first visit to Bugie Street, when a Kai-Tai sat on her lap and a rat ran over her feet; this while eating an egg banjo and drinking a Tiger tops. Couldn't keep her away after that. Fond Memory......

That's a great question Ray, the problem I have is picking out the fondest memories of my time in the Met Branch, because it was all so great and at every turn there were wonderful highlights that will remain with me always.
My time at Harrier was just fantastic, a self contained spot on the Welsh coast. We had such great times there I don't think I ever went into Haverfordwest except to get the train to go on leave.
Six months on the Eagle was a wonderful experience with George Clevitt, the long gone Mick Lehan and John Moran who you will remember from Culdrose.
Back to Culdrose where I met the woman who was to guide the next forty years of my life, that has to be the ultimate for me.
Victorious was great, just as Hermes was for you, my one and only tattoo ashore with Tom Scanlon, had the names scrubbed out later!
Admiralty for all the reason that you know.
I think the real highlight for me and the fondest memories would be Hal Far for two years, my great mate Topsy Turner who I have never been able to trace, Sandie Jones, a wonderful person who went on to do great things in broadcasting, BBC, Ocean Sound, and the lovely long departed Annie Lowe who was a joy to work with.
Seeing my daughter enjoy the first two years of her life in that wonderful climate and environment. Two magical years for both me and my beloved Connie.
That's about it, all of it fantastic and so different from the humdrum lives that most of my teenage contempories enjoyed, but for so many reasons Hal Far was the highlight.

My fondest memories were firstly HMS Ganges at age 16. Having been at a very strict boarding school for five years, I found Ganges an absolute doddle. My best time by miles was on the Happy Hermes - great crew, happy ship, good runs ashore and fond memories. When I look back at it, I realise how easy we had it compared to most others - the chefs especially - cooking up three meals a day for 2,500 men; and me sitting at a desk plotting a chart! How about the rest of you who read this Guestbook? Fondest memories?

You are probably correct in what you say Ken but those memories of those early years were at Kete, Culdrose and Admiralty are the most precious years of my life and should never be forgotten.

Pete Jonwes, that will be the welsh spelling will it Ray? Yes you are right he was a bit of a lad with the ladees, we roomed together for about a year so I had first hand experience!
But I have to tell you he was but a mere novice compared with the late great Tony Bell,G.A Bell as was. Before I was married he talked me into going on a blind date with him and two very sprauncy ladies Up West as they say, had to throw a sickie next day I was so tired, from the boozing obviously!
On a more serious note, we have all had the very conversation about pubs in London and the Admiralty in general about four years ago on this very guestbook, and if you check back you will see that its almost word for word the same as that which we have just concluded.
is this the onset of the dreaded Alz disease or is that we only remember and love to talk about the times that will never be repeated?

Yes Ken it is very strange, Tricia,s parents lived in Forest Hill, we also had a large one bedroom flat between Forest Hill and Catford that had a huge marble fireplace.We also had flats in Peckham, Dulwich we always tried to find our own places but generally South of the River. Tricia says she had 12 different moves in such a short time.

I remember Pete Jonews very well - a real smoothie with the opposite sex. I also remember him getting married before a draft to Terror. Wonder what happened to him....anybody know?