Guest Book

I have been reading with interest the current dialogue, and I see a definate pattern emerging here.
We have talk of ASWEPS, an organisation of which I know nothing except that it existed in tucked away back rooms and when asking participant what went on, there was surreptitious patting of noses and winks like, you are not in the know buddy so keep it out!
Then OWS and american warships and other strange drafts.
The pattern I see is that all you open toed jesus boot wearers and cargo shorts aficionados were sent to these godforsaken places to keep you out of the way, whilst us sharp dressers, patrons of John Stephens in the Kings Road and expensive barbers were used to man the front line, the romantic faces of the branch, ie, the Fleet Weather Centres or the School where we imparted our extensive knowledge.
Surely it can be no accident that of my nine and a half years in the Andrew I spent only two years of that in the discomfort of sea going ships, the rest of the time I was FWC Admiralty FWC Malta (HAFMED) or at the school. QUOD ERAT DEMOSTRANDUM!

Ray KA has gone in to Hibernation for awhile, hoping to see more contributors other than we three. I have exchanged Emails. If you were based at Northwood then your trips would be after my trip.

Come on, Kenneth, let's hear from you.......

Can't remember, Johnny, it's all a blur - but clearly remember also a trip on /RRS Discovery with Lieutenant Dave Done. That was an excellent month at sea; I called him Dave and he called me Ray all the time on board - unheard of in those days. I remember Lt.Cdr Carter as being in ASWEPS and living with his parents just outside London. Also Pete Lonsdale for a while was with us - met up with him a few times. On board HMS Hermes when I was the Killick and he was the P.O. Also at HMS Warrior at Northwood when he went AWOL on my watch, never to be seen or heard of again! Charlie will remember that episode, I'm sure.......

Ray when did you go on these OWS, was it before I went on the USS WASP or after ?. I had a great time on board, after spending a week in Boston, all the Bars seemed like the one the TV show CHEERS including the clientele. When I arrived on board I was greeted by the Officer of the Watch and a young Sailor to carry my bag, I was then taken to the Skippers Cabin to be formerly welcomed. then a steward was called for to take me to my cabin, I realised the mistake had been made, I explained my rank and that LT CARTER would be arriving later, The Skipper said I could keep the cabin or mess with the other Mets. I had a great time with them, plotted their charts for them which impressed them, their speed of plotting was about half of ours. They had a party for me when I was leaving and showered me with gifts. LT Carter and I flew off the Ship off the coast of Spain.
I had a film of my trip, which I put on Video then DVD unfortunately over the years the latest copy is in very poor quality. I sent a copy to the Secretary. The DVD is the only record of the trip, nothing on my History. I was sent to Londonderry shortly afterwards.

Ray when did you go on these OWS, was it before I went on the USS WASP or after ?. I had a great time on board, after spending a week in Boston, The Skipper enjoyed going through a Hurricane that he decided to go through it again. I was on board with Lt Cdr Carter, a great Bloke looked a bit of a twit but knew his stuff. They had a party for me and showered me with gifts when I left, all contained in a signed Kit Bag, it included a coffee machine. boy did they like their coffee, Bars in Boston were bit like the TV show Cheers, seemed to be the only British Sailor in Town. Use to plot their charts for them, our speed of plotting was twice as fast as theirs, they were quite impressed, unless they thought let the sucker carry on we will have another cup of coffee.
I have been in touch with KA WAS NOT A HAPPY CHAPPIE.

Back to ASWEPS - I vividly remember being a willing volunteer to spend a month at a time on the old weather ships. I went on OWS India, OWS Juliet and OWS Kilo. They were converted Castle Class Corvettes; good when sailing from Greenock, but swines when they got on station and just wallowed in the swells. The Surveyor/Recorder who came with me a few times (A/B Dave Carey) used to eat my puddings at meal times after I'd chucked up the main course. I got used to it in the end, though. Good times - no discipline, no rounds, no uniform for a whole month at a time......

The reunion photos are very good and have been quickly put on the site. Shame there were not more attending. Sorry I was not there but I sent the reason why I was not there to the secretary. Where was Bungy??
There must be more rum left for the next one!!
I also was at the Victory reunion in the late 80's and went with Graeme Turner in his Porsche. John Whitehead hosted the event as he I believe was the Commanding Officer of the ship at the time.

To John Whitehead, gradually finding people in those ASWEPS days, did you go to the Reunion on the Victory I thought the Admin Officer was a ex Met with the name of Whitehead or could of been Whiteside, then again with my memory could of been Smith, I too am not at the Reunion because of Medical reasons, I hope it goes well.

Interesting to see John Whitfield in the guestbook, again with others was in ASWEPS early '60's do remember going to John Whitfield's pub, I think, on opening night...like all smoke runs ashore always got a bit confused!!! Re John Whitehead, there were two of us me the Met and the other a Handler, JW Handler became aircrew 1965, helos thence Gannets, I think he also flew Helos in Monaco when he left; also got to LtCdr, remember whilst in Centaur his course came to the Fleet Review on the Clyde..John was late leaving had his own boat cause he was 'delayed' in the Handlers mess!
Hope the reunion goes well I am currently P7R and unfit to travel!!