Guest Book

When I was an Instructor at Culdrose I taught a Wren called Travis Jones, a lovely girl who had joined as an Officer Wren entrant. She had to qualify as a Met 3 before moving on. You will be able to find her on a course of Wrens amongst the photos on this website - around 1970. My eyesight is not good enough to find her. She achieved 99% a record while I was there. Perhaps Spud can dig a bit and find out what became of her.
Spud - I live in Somerset and have a season ticjet for the County team who play at Taunton. A brilliant team this season - winners of the One Day Cup and top of Division One. I have high hopes of them winning the T20 competition as well, and achieving an historic treble!

…. afterthought – remembered one of the wrens on my course 2/1962 was commissioned but can’t remember which one of the four in the back row – maybe Meg (Murray) knows ?

In response to Ray and needing excuse not to weed the patio (plus cricket and Ascot on radio) herewith my pennyworth - In no particular order –
Clem Oliver – Lt (SD) (AV) 1950/60s
Bryn Telfer Captain (was CO HMS INTREPID Falklands War) (50/60s Met, officer till mid 1990s)
JDD Whitehead – Lt Cdr (CO VICTORY) (60s Met - 70/80s officer)
Frank Nowosielski - Lt Cdr (CO VICTORY)
Roger Edwards – Lt (Supply) (1960s Met, 1970s officer)
? Bell – Lt (Pilot) 1960s
SPUD – Cdr (Observer) (61 – 69 met then flying till 1995).
Rosie Locke – at least 2nd Officer WRNS 1960s Met - 70s officer.
Liz Walmsley – Cdr RN (was the senior female serving at sea when on HMS DARING 2007/9) 1978/85 Met, then officer till 2012.

I suspect that many more wrens were commissioned because there was no direct entry route - they joined as wren rating then commissioned when qualified and passed Admiralty Interview Board.

If I have erred in my list I apologise but there is really no way to track so I have trawled the course photos in the hope they would jog my memory.

In going through the photos I noticed (unrelated to above) a pic of David Philpot in Course No 1/79 dressed as a four ring Captain but in all subsequent phots dressed as a Commander ! (…. wonder - did he fail the ‘frothy’ coffee making test … !!!)

Finally - a bit more for this rainy day ….

Confucius did Not say ……

Man who wants pretty nurse must be patient.
Passionate kiss, like spider web, leads to undoing of fly.
Lady who goes camping with man must beware of evil intent.
Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.

End

Well, started as a boy entrant at HMS Ganges in 1958, having run away from a detestable bording school, and signed on for 9 years, as it was then. Unfortunately this 9 years did not start until my 18th birthday in 1960, so really it was 11 years. I then stgned on for a further 5 tears and left in 1974, During all that time I only made it to P.O. and having read all the latest on this website, I was a bit of a failure! Perhaps Spud could furnish us with all the METs who succeeded to the Wardroom - and how far they got.

I do seem to remember a guy called Cutting spending some time at AFS with me maybe around 1966 or early '67.
If it is the guy I am thinking about he was a big Derby County fan and was over the moon when Brian Clough took them into the First Division As I remember, he was a real nice guy.

... JDD Whitehead was a regular on here around the time of the Pompey 2009 reunion. He sent Charlie some genuine Sophia Loren memorabilia (not underwear just to be clear) which Charlie presented to me at the reunion and I got Gill to forward to G Blewitt knowing he was passionately in love with her! I hope G Blu is keeping well - amazing memory for detail in all his posts on here !
I kick myself for missing the HMS VICTORY reunion - I was the Ops Officer in INVINCIBLE at the time alongside in Pompey and had bumped into JDD somewhere locally. Interesting that two ex-mets became Captain of HMS VICTORY (will think of the other name (possibly Polish sounding?) the moment I press 'send' to this dit. Interesting also that I do not know of any 'mets' who jumped ship and became 'crushers' - L/Regulators (killicks joined the Reg Branch 'sideways') ! Says something about the branch shirley !
Best wished to John (JDD) and G Blu .

Confusion solved! The person you are trhinking of was Lt. Cdr. John Whitehead, who was on board Victory at that time. I joined up at HMS Ganges with him and was on the same Met course at Culdrose. One of us did very well in the R.N. and it wasn:t me!

Sorry that last bit didn't make sense, I don't believe Cutting continued in the Met Branch but had his commission in a General Service or the Like.

Now I am really getting confused but I am sure it was a Young Michael Cutting who was on board HMS Lion in 1965 and went sick prior to sailing,
Does anyone remember a Reunion on the Victory long before we had more formal affairs, I may be completely wrong but I am sure Cutting was the Officer on Board who was able to arrange it. I went with JTC Bell and his wife and I was with mine, It went on till early hours, A speech was made by Brin who rose quite high as a officer in the Branch, I dont' think Cutting became actually continued as a Met Officer more general service.

... sorry Johnny should have added you !