Guest Book

Ray,Connie and I knew each other firstly from Kete and then later she was drafted to Culdrose, she was a wardroom steward and a favourite of Commander Norman Fairfield Jenkins, I still have the lovely telegram he sent to us when we got married in '62.
Sadly she passed away in 2002 from cancer.We didn't quite manage the forty years together.

sorry about missing words this machine has a mind of its own, my little curser flies everywhere. like me getting old.

Yes Ray that wren was indeed my first wife, Tricia nee Barron, was on the course in 1960 when Ken and I were part of the School Staff, often think of her, we have remained friends. I dont think that was Connie at that time, may be wrong, as you say memory is very hazy, I do not remember you on the School staff at that time.
I was the Hermes in Singapore and did have the Occasion to visit Boogie Street. remember a really attractive Lady we called Blue, she always wore Blue. many a sailor had a shock. Ken would more about the Gut, I may of got lost there.
What happened to Pete Rossington, a great chap, he was the PO on the Hermes when I was on there but left early, leaving me in charge.
You will find my first wife in a course photo. we were in the Pub together for four years. bad move.

I seem to remember Ken chasing a Wren at Culdrose when we were on the staff about 1960 or so. Was that the Connie you refer to? Also I remember Johnny falling for a Wren whose name escapes me, at about the same time. Was that your first wife? It's all so hazy - but it's over 50 years ago, so it's bound to be. As for Boogie Street, I got married just before a draft to HMS Terror for 2 years, and my wife was an innocent schoolteacer from Manchester. I took her down Boogie Street to show her the sights. We had rats running over our feet, fist fights between Royal Marines and Army,and beautiful 'women' accosting the matelots. She just could not believe they were men in drag......

I must of missed that part of Pusser training, what happened to conversations of those Tourist attractions, frequented by your hairy a....d Matelot.
The Gut, Boogie Street, Roof Tops and that lovely Avenue in Plymouth, Union Street, never went to them myself
I do all the cooking at home so not completely undomesticated.
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I too have always washed and pressed all the clothes in our house (well, since the kids have left, that is) Thought I was the only one to look forward to a good pile of ironing before breakfast. But as you say, it's the Pusser training that's caused it. When I was on Hermes, I used to volunteer to work in the Chinese laundry when I was off watch, I was that keen. Hence my yellow complexion, and slitty eyes......

kEN never been Press-ganged into the art of ironing, all my wives were very good at it ( IRONING ) and it is amazing what you can get done for a tot. Thats what the Chinese Laundry was for on board Ship. My son however presses all his clothes, perhaps missed a generation.

Here is a stimulating thought that just occurred to me whilst doing my weekly ironing.
How many of you hairy a....d matelots/naval airmen still do their own ironing, ie shirts, trousers?
I must admit that from my early days in the Andrew until now, neither my wonderful and sorely missed first wife Constance nor my current wife Katie have ever been required to iron either shirts or trousers, even when I was working and wearing formal suits and shirts I always ironed or pressed them myself, and even now though I wear mostly chinos and polo shirts these are always ironed by myself, obviously a product of pusser training in the early days.
So come on, how many of you do the same?

Johnny I am sending you a smudge of the wren I think you are talking about, she was on my course in 1958, she was only very tiny and may have remained at Kete after I went to the Eagle in Late '58.

Really surprised to see this site I was "Met Man" from 1976 to 1991 so lots of faces I knew pictures of my instructors and pictures of me as an instructor. Still doing the same job at Lossiemouth (observing not instructing) Met Del Brown a few times (mainly Basra) Nice site thanks for reminding me of a few names I had forgoten