Guest Book

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!!

Thanks for the info Ray but will stick to this and hope that Ken does continue with his comments. Sorry about the Grammer, having spent most of my life dealing in figures and taking down brief hurried notes over the White Mans Talking Box.
Ray can you remember who was in the Asweps office when you were there, I know there was only 3 or 4 of us. doing very little.
I hope Ken is reading these entries and not joining that clan of Grumpy Old Men.

Johnny - when you go to Cloud Observers site you will see what looks like a TV screen in the top right hand corner. Click on that, then go to FORUM halway down on the right. You will then find some not-much-used topical discussion subjects. Better to stay on the Guestbook and be nice! Ken is rite about yor grammer and speling; try sleeping with a dictionary under your pillow tonight. And Kenneth - stay with us here! I always remember you with pointy shoes, too; also a collarless Beatles leather jacket in voguish black. You always were the smooth one - bet you're not so bloody smooth-looking now!

So they win again.
The ones with the sense of humour bypass and the blocked comedic arteries.
No more literary gems enhanced by the clinical butchery of the english grammar laws from Johnny.
No more tales of the nether regions of the Met world, like Ocean Weather Ships from smooth old Ray.
No more tales of boozing with the stars and lunch in Marbella with Dalglish and Robson and Best from the self confessed "friend of the stars and professional hanger on", ie my goodself.
No more incisive analysis from Goerge and Spud and others.
Myself Ray and a few others have been on this site many, many times since it's inception, indeed I am not sure but I think I posted the first one, and we have had many a comforting chuckle at the memories brought back by us all participating.
Johnny, whose joy at finding and using the site for just a short time has been self evident will now be deprived of many contributions that may have amused and comforted him, alas, no more.
So we let the faceless and nameless people win.
But hey, maybe we appreciate that the charmless ones need their little victories to sustain their humorless lives, quien sabe? as they say en espanol.
Soits goodbye from me.