Guest Book

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.

Amendments to my last
line4/16 to read more
line5/2 to read than
along with punctuations. thankyou

What is Forum have not found it yet The only Forum was a Frankie Howard Film, if someone wishes to make remarks about me go ahead I am to old in the Tooth to worry about things, Ray has the right Idea, I always thought he was well off to afford a Gucci, at Admiralty I never thought he would make a career in the Branch, I wish I had I would of met for people in the Branch that I did, Sent a Photo to Ken as a Publican I put on quite a bit of weight on since those early days though still weighed over 14stone then, to many G&T,S over the years but now dont drink last G&T almost 3 years ago. I hope the reunion goes well this weekend, I know Ken not going, is Ray, I am not medical appointment Friday which has taken months to get.
Keep laughing I do when I look into the Mirror, Never noticed Kens Nose
only his pointy shoes.

I don't like the forum - it's too restricted to certain subjects - and by the look of the very few entries over the past year, not many others like it either. I look forward to opening up the guestbook occasionally, and reading the nostalgic comments from the likes of Ken (the good-looking one who can joke about his nose) and Johnny (who denies all knowledge of Portleven Jane) and I can even take a joke about myself carrying my sarnies down Whitehall in a handbag (well, it was a Gucci) so there we are. Any derogatory remarks are taken in good humour, as they are meant to be taken. I suppose it was the comments about Woodside that offended someone...I hope it wasn't the man himself, or we can all expect a visit!

wELL Ken since I have been chatting on this site pleased to take renewed acquaintances of many years ago, the amount of people using the site seems to be Yourself,Ray and myself and the occasiobal of Mr Blewit, I would love to hear from other members whose path may have crossed mine. Some may of had a complete dislike to me because of my dashing looks and physic and Bull,
what about the wrens I am wondering what happened to them there was a tiny one called Margaret her surname was a typical Cornish name she was at Kete with a wren called Wendy about 1959/60 at the time of my sole course. her fater was a Vicar. I can understand Kens feelings but in my remaining years I want to enjoy the memories and believe me some were not all great.
All my life particularly in the License Trade I have enjoyed Humour and laughed my way through all the ups and downs, especially my split with my first wife a Met wren,
Smile chaps and forget those who made those days a missery. Ive got my vodoo doll out if I could only remember names.

Iam being extremely voluble this evening but an experience I had in'62 and is true I swear mught serve to illustrate the point made in the previous post.
I had travelled up to Charing Cross one morning to start the shift at AFC at 10.30 and was standing at the lights waiting to cross Whitehall when a woman standing next to me, who I had never sen before in my life said and I quote:
Crikey you have got one huge hooter havn't you?
I surprised myself because, quick as a flash I said " yes I have and it really helps me to smell your B.O." then I stalked off across Whitehall and felt like a million dollars all day!

As an addendum to my last post, it was in no way intended for or aimed at Charlie, Charlie does a good job and somebody has to police the site and arbitrate when necessary.
However, having reflected for sometime on the issue of the removal of the entries, it certainly seems to support the theory that we are increasingly being forced down the dreaded "political correctness" route which seems to be insidiously infecting todays society.
I amm not so stupid or vain as to think that colleagues and shipmates from my time in the Met branch would not entertain the view that I might be a prig, a pain in the ...e, a bighead, a boring fart,useless at the job or any combination of the above.
However I am sad to see the demise of their right to express that opinion if they so choose, in public or otheerwise. I know that I am big enough and old enough and have a thick enough skin to have a laugh about it or, who knows, maybe agree with them on some aspects I may have missed out.
I feel a bit sorry for those people who don't have that capability