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Member’s Magazine ‘Pot Mess’ – Summer 2018. Edition No.72

www.hmsstvincentassociation.com

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From Cover Page 1.

Training By Example Our Standard Bearer

Mick “O” Keefe with his Grandson Cameron

Honorary President: Commodore Michael Mansergh CBE RN Rtd

Padre: Phillip Hiscock 02392 346881 Chairman: Gary Goodwin 01978 750213 Secretary: Christian Littlewood via the Chairman Membership Sec: Jo Cornish 01480 414152

Magazine Editor: Tony Barton 01959 534723

Treasurer: Jonathan Gibson 01215 808598 Website Manager: John Cushley via the Chairman Museum Curator: Ken Cast 01329 668464 Minutes Sec: Lindsey Wheeler via the Chairman AGM/Reunion: Paul (Soapy) Watson 01329 310078

Raffle Organizer: Cathy O’Keefe 01273 693375

Public Relations: Darby Allen MBE 02392 556810 Slops Manager: Dave Hazelwood 02392 580218 Data Protection David Ashley via the Chairman Standard Bearer: Mick O'Keefe, via the Chairman

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Chairman’s Chapter My Chat Gary Goodwin

Welcome to our Summer Magazine

How quickly the time passes as we get that little bit older, it only seems like yesterday that I typed out my report for the Spring Edition.

Since my last report there have been one or two issues that have directly affected our Association. The main issue was one relating to Data Protection. The UK Government introduced changes to the existing act by introducing into law the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The purpose of the law in a nutshell was to provide greater protection of individuals data held by Organisations including that held by the Association on our Membership Data base. As this was a potential minefield we are indeed grateful to have enlisted the services of one of our members Dave Ashley who has stepped forward to take on the role of Data Protection Officer. I have invited Dave to stand for this position and to add the role to our Committee. It will be

put forward at the forthcoming AGM to be ratified.

Our Web Manager John Cushley recently ran a survey of users to our website to see which members wished to receive their Magazine in the

form of an electronic version. The purpose of this was twofold. One to save on costs of printing and the other to offer those that wished it a chance to read the magazine and save it if wanted on their laptops. A total return resulted in 14 members who expressed a wish to have the Magazine sent electronically. Just to remind everyone in the Association the Magazines are downloaded to the website after publishing so if you wish log in and read it that way.

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As always, our close association with Stone town Council continues and as I reported in the last edition our old Association Standard was handed over to the Council and now is proudly displayed in the Church.

Once again, our thanks go to Jonathan (Our Treasurer) for his report on the ongoing St Vincent connections with the Town of Stone. Together with his photo’s, How nice to see our old Standard in pride of place in the Church. Our thanks go also to the retired Mayor Jim and his good lady Lyn for their help in ensuring that our Standard has found a good home!

Stone Civic Council parade was held on the 1st July and some members of the committee were in attendance following an invite.

Our Association has been invited by the new Mayor of Stone Mrs Kristan Green and her Consort Mr Mark Green to send a representative to attend the forthcoming Trafalgar night Dinner in Stone in October.

The Association will reciprocate by inviting the Mayor and other members of Stone Town Council to our Reunion. Details of which are included in this magazine.

As pointed out in the last magazine this is a “special” year for the St Vincent Association AGM and Reunion. To commemorate the closure of St Vincent 50 years ago it is our intention to turn back the clocks of time by Marching the “old boys” back into the establishment prior to the start of the AGM. Thanks to Mick we will be led back in through the gateway by a bugle and drum band.

As this is a special occasion could all members who will be attending the AGM I ask that you arrive at St Vincent no later than 10am to allow time for the muster and march back into the establishment. The occasion will be videoed and hopefully will receive the attention of the media.

On the subject of March-pasts, the association has applied for our allocation of tickets to attend the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph in London in November. For those of you who have yet to take part don’t miss out on an opportunity to pay your respects to the fallen

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and enjoy a great day out with fellow St Vincent’s. If you wish to attend contact Jonathan Gibson gibson25@btinternet.com our Treasurer with your details.

In the last edition of the Magazine we included a picture that had been sent into us by a lady who had found it amongst old papers that she purchased as a job lot. We did ask if anyone could provide information relating to where and when it was taken. Bingo! Up popped Dave Fisher with all the gen. The photo was taken on February 11th, 1962 following the Confirmation Service of 44 entry. How did he know? Easy he is the good-looking chappie second from the left on the back row.

Sadly, we have lost four more of our shipmates who have “crossed the bar” and our thoughts and prayers go out to their respective families. Len Baynes who only recently crossed over was a long-term member of the Association and a talented poet and author, I would like to end this chapter with one of his own poems.

Life’s Wish By Len Baynes.

I wish again to see my life and note the things I’ve done. The many things that I regret and those just done in fun.

To sail again the endless sea, that ever calls me now. To find again the friends I’ve lost and not to wonder how.

But now my life is winding down, these things are long gone past. The happiness I need I’ve found and peace is mine at last.

I will finish now by thanking you all for your support to the Association and hope that you enjoy the content of this magazine.

Gary Goodwin (Chairman)

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NOW WHY DID I SAY THAT?

By Donald Aldsworth

When I left St Vincent in 1954 I was drafted to HMS Newfoundland in The Far East,

I had been on her for about a week & half and detailed off by the buffer, I was oiling the guard rails with boiled oil and cotton waste which was a rather mucky job, Lo & Behold the Admiral came up to me & said who are you,

I said with great pride Boy Seaman 1st class Aldsworth Sir, to which he replied do you know who I am?

“Yes sir you are Vice Admiral Alkin” followed by if we didn't have boy seamen we would not need Admirals Sir,

I thought now why did I say that !

His reply with a bit of a smirk was “That is one thing you need to remember lad or you will always be doing that job”.

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HMS St. Vincent Association - Museum Opening Times 2018

The last Friday in each month during term time:-

Friday 26th. January 1000-1200

Friday 23rd. February 1000-1200

Friday 16th. March 1000-1200

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Friday 27th. April 1000-1200

Friday 25th. May 1000-1200

Friday 29th. June 1000-1200

Friday 6th. July 1000-1200

No August opening (College Holidays)

Friday 28th. September 1000-1200

Friday 26th. October 1000-1200

Friday 23th. November 1000-1200

Friday 14th. December 1000-1200

English Heritage weekend: 13th. – 16th. September inclusive.

Opening times:- Thursday & Friday 13th. & 14th. - 1200-1600.

Saturday 15th. 1000-1600. Sunday 16th. 1000-1500

Includes amusing & factual Tours of the Establishment.

Treasurers Report.

This year’s accounts 2017/2018 are being audited by the auditor and are showing a small surplus. The true picture and the harsh reality is if we did not receive the donations the accounts would be showing a loss. The unpleasant news is subscriptions from the membership are declining. In 2012 it was just under £6,000 or 84% of total income.

This year, 2018, subscriptions were just under £5,000 or 61% of total income. Donations received are nearly £1,300 or 16% of our total income for this year

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So what now, how do improve the finances? Increase the numbers of members, and change the annual subscription. The first way would be to incorporate the joining fee into the subscription thus removing the need to make two different payments. Instead of paying £17.50 on joining and then £12.50 it will become an annual fee of £17.50.

Alternatively we could increase the annual subscription to £15 for everybody including new members.

Unfortunately, a lack of communication is a common problem today in many Societies/Associations this is because we rely too much on electronic means. There are still a number of the membership who are still paying £10 per annum and I feel the only way to get them to pay the correct amount is to telephone them and ask them.

We cannot rely on Donations to keep the Association alive and kicking but we will have to try and to increase the number of members of our Association. HMS St Vincent closed its gates in 1968 which means there are a considerable number of potential recruits in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Finding them and then persuading them to join is easier said than done. But & a BIG BUT please get out there and sign them up, both Members and Associate Members.

Jonathan Gibson

Honorary Treasurer,

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HMS St Vincent Association Income &

Expenditure Year Ended 30th June 2018 Represented by 30/06/2017 Barclays No 1 £847.62 Barclays No 2 £227.27 £9,272.17

Savings £7,500.00 Pay Pal £197.28 Cash floats £600.00 2016 Audit fee accrual -£100.00

£9,272.17

Income Subs £4,942.00 £8,058.84

Slops £619.80 £17,331.01

Donations £1,256.74 Raffle £417.00 Bank Interest £8.80 pay pal £26.79 Luncheon/RNA £787.71

£8,058.84

Expenditure Newsletter £2,094.40 Postage £1,049.63 £7,421.21

Reunion £625.83 £9,909.80

Museum £39.45 Stationery £112.23 Travel £1,329.32 Capital £145.29 Sundries £417.79 Subsitance £789.11

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Services £818.16

£7,421.21 Represented By

30/06/2018 Barclay's No 1 £192.23 Barclay's No 2 £2,144.48 £9,909.80

Barclay's savings £7,508.80

£9,845.51 Pay Pal £14.29 Total £9,859.80 Cash floats £150.00

£10,009.80 2018 Auditor's fee -£100.00

£9,909.80 Income £8,058.84 Expenditure £7,421.21 Overspend/SURPLUS £637.63

By Jonathan Gibson Honorary Treasurer HMS ST Vincent Association

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Important Notice Have you ever wondered what it is like to actually take part in the London Remembrance Parade? Well here is your opportunity. The Association has applied for tickets so if you would like to take part then please send me an mail, and my email address is gibson25@btinternet.com.

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After the Parade those who have taken part retire to the Civil Service Club for lunch. The cost of the lunch is only £15.

You may need a white cap and cap tally which for a small fee can be supplied. If you have your own then now is the time to take it out of the cupboard.

So see you on Parade.

Jonathan Gibson

Honorary Treasurer &

Remembrance Parade Organizer

REMEMBRANCE DAY PARADE 11th

NOVEMBER 2018

It is now confirmed that we have booked our place in the Civil Service Club after the Remembrance Parade on Sunday 11th November 2018 in the Trafalgar Room. Please parade with No 1 hats again, I have a few hats, let me know your hat size if you need one.

If I do not have a hat your size one can be purchased from slops.

For access to the parade you must carry photographic ID. Your Passport, or Driving Licence, an Identity Card photographic document may be acceptable if in doubt contact. gibson25@btinternet.com. Or Phone Jonathan 01215 808598

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ASSOCATION REUNION Week END

Friday 12 th – Monday 15th

OCTOBER 2018.

The HMS St Vincent Association AGM and Reunion Dinner welcomes all members to the re-union

weekend 2018 to be held from Friday 12th October – Monday 15th October 2018 at the Royal Beach Hotel,

Southsea.

The AGM will be held within the Establishment (By kind permission of St Vincent College).

On Saturday 13th October we are meeting on Forton Fields at 10am. Then Marching into the establishment for the AGM which commences at 1100am. Coaches will be laid on from the hotel to take you round to the College in Gosport as part of your re union package or you can make your own way.

You must be at St Vincent by 10 am at the latest.

The forms were sent out before Christmas to you via the current membership list, so if you have changed your address please let the membership secretary

know asap.

The Reunion Organisers contact details are:

Isle of Wight Tours, 3 Lake Road, Lake, Sandown Isle of Wight, PO36 9JN, Telephone 01983 405116

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By Gibert Watkinson Consultant Interior Designer

By Ed: I wonder where he got his Designing expertise from?

Pussers Grey I suppose or was it the Boot Topping Line.

As a youngster I was a typical Turktown ragamuffin, living in Alverstoke (until 2 years old), then Albert Street (with our back yard abutting St Vincent playing fields), and finally in Parham Road (which had Forton Creek to the end of it). In those days, at the end of WW2, bombed houses were our playgrounds, along with the railway grounds at the end of Albert Street, St Vincent playing field and Forton Creek and beyond. I was always the youngest in the class at school, didn’t understand most of what was being taught, so played truant on a fairly regular basis. At around 9 years of age I was taken to juvenile court for stealing a banister from what was to all intents and purposes, a derelict house in Albert Street. A shilling fine and one and six pence court costs, which took months to pay off, as money was hard to find in our house. In my early teens I got up to more mischief, and ended up on probation for 2 years, it was during this time that Dad convinced me that joining the Andrew, just like my older brother Roland, and older sister Dee (known eventually as The Flying Wren!) would be a good idea. Off we go over to Pompey, to be told that my probation officer would need to give his permission for me to enlist, which he did with a sigh of relief. A few months later, over to Pompey I go (even though I lived within spitting distance of Vincent) to be packed into an RN lorry, and taken back almost to where I had started!! Nozzers, new entries, Trogs or Junior Seaman Second Class, it mattered not, I was going to be a sailor. In a blur we had jabs, haircuts, more jabs, an issue of overalls, deck shoes, socks, underwear, pajamas and a cap (plus tally) along with washing stuff and a hussif, our first day passed in a flash, until that wonderful first time of having nine-o’clockers, I was in heaven (I’ve skipped the fight I had with Dodger Long that evening, but I won, and we became best friends eventually, along with Happy Dow). The first breakfast the next

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morning was like a dream sequence from a posh film, lots of food, and as many seconds as you wanted, I knew the Navy was the place for me. Eventually, over a six week period, I learned to darn, sew, wash myself and my clothes properly, iron and press my bits of uniform, obey orders, stand at attention properly, march and how to keep my shoes clean and shiny. Those few short weeks changed me beyond recognition, as my older sister Dee keeps on reminding me. But things got even better when we started our years schooling, that is when I really changed into a completely different person, but more of that later. Regards to all from Gil

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Eastern Promise Another masculine milestone.

By our renowned Peter Shore

“All night in” This particular ‘phrase’ was well known in Wang Chai, Hong Kong, and though it was another of my birthday celebrations; 21st to be exact. I decided at the last minute to make a night of it, and whatever the outcome or consequences I have no one to blame but myself..

The routine tended to be that after playing rugby down at Happy Valley, we (those of the team in funds or probably on pay week) would go to the China Fleet Club, book a room, take a shower, go for ‘big eats’ and then wander down-town for the bars and inevitably the taxi-dance hall. Naturally, as it was my birthday, I had more than the usual shandy and was on either Horse’s Necks or Gin Slings and soon became involved with one of the girls at the dance hall who had the reputation of being quite a sportswoman particularly at volleyball and netball – probably a load of balls!. However she certainly was tall for a Chinese and danced with a most athletic hip-involved shuffle, which after all, was really the only skill needed in such seedy cramped places. After spending a few dollars on a

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strip of tickets, for it needed one ticket-one girl-one dance, I also paid the Mama-San on the door, for a special sitting-out ticket which allowed me the ‘privilege’ of sitting at the bar with the girl, talking and drinking for an allotted time of maybe half an hour. There was no touching allowed, so either social chit chat was the order of the night or arranging a more in-depth assignation for when the dancer would finish work – maybe some 1-oclock in the morning. When she was off-duty she was free to make her own arrangements, though I think the dance hall owner still picked up their 10%. However in a hazy way I made arrangements with the sporty girl to go back to her place after closing time for an ‘all-nighter in’ as distinct from ‘a short time’ (I don’t think any explanation of the terminology are necessary!).

I hung around long enough to meet

her outside and then we took a rickshaw back to her flat to discuss the finer points of martial arts or 18th century Chinese architecture whatever! On arriving she politely showed me Into a dim bedroom whilst she went off to shower or what have you and no doubt change into something more suitable whilst I was told to make myself comfortable with a drink from the fridge near the bedside table then strip off and lie back on the bed. It was pretty obvious that she was socially well-organised, and when I drowsily lay back naked on the soft bed I automatically glanced up overhead. As my eyes slowly became accustomed to the gloom I noticed what appeared to be huge spring-like objects hanging obscenely from the roof. Intrigued, I sat up for a better look and slowly it dawned on my drowsy brain, that they looked like the chrome chest-expanders used by

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muscle-men in their bid to increase chest measurements or upper shoulder strength. On focusing on the pair, I noted that they hung down towards the bed at about shoulder-width apart! Odd! - I thought,. and whilst sitting up trying to sort out myself – and the reasons for the springs – the girl shouted from another room something about – “you ok? no problem…you ‘nother drink, I be there soon”. She may have been playing double fiddle for all I knew but a cold shiver hit me – what I thought! – if she used them as part of her sex act -and she used them as sort of a mechanical aid – for vertical motion.? What! and another very big WHAT! if she missed the target on the way down! Now I might not have been the biggest or the best in the” toggle and two department” – but I was big enough, and imaginative enough to, know that I would feel most aggrieved if she missed on that downward stroke. All of a sudden I decided – and Percy agreed! – that no way was I going to experiment, so miraculously stone cold sober I quickly dressed and in seconds was on my way out shouting out as I went that “I no feel good – go back ship - see you ‘nothertime!”. Zai jian

Are all milestones hard, uncompromising and full of surprises? - In the intimacy of a bedroom is nothing sacred? This Englishman not only ‘needed time’ but he needed a guide book.

Peter Shore

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Re-Union Organizers Report So far we have 60 members attending the reunion in October who have sent their details to Isle of Wight Tours for the weekend, and 25 to visit Portsmouth Branch after Church on the Sunday. We are on track for the weekend, but still we could do with a few more Association members attending, and a few more for the Sunday lunch time up spirits in the Club after Church.

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If you are still considering joining us, then please contact Isle of Wight Tours Soonest. We are having the Quiz on Sunday evening, and of course we would appreciate your bringing a raffle prize for the Gala dinner on the Saturday night. We look forward to seeing you all in October. Yours aye Soapy Watson BEM ( Soapy ) Paul Watson BEM PPAGSB No 3 Area Chairman RNA

soapy_watson@hotmail.com Tel 01329-310078 Mbl 07786-565485

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Slops Managers report. Dave Hazelwood

Slops shopping has been busier than previous years since our AGM

with several orders received and processed. I have also taken the

opportunity to restock on some of the items that were low in quantity

and investigate the supply of items we have been out of for some time.

As a result, I’m pleased to say we are now able to supply printed Mugs

and Drinks Coasters again, the same of which we previously held in

stock. I’m also awaiting delivery of another batch of the popular Fridge

Magnet

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Membership Secretary’s Report. It has been a busy time since my last report and I am still trying to reconcile the payments via the bank account with members subs. The majority of standing order payments are working well however,

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in some cases, there is not enough information for me to allocate them to the right member. Hopefully this will be resolved by the AGM in October when I can give a more accurate report on members numbers. I am going to include a list of members at the end of my report whose magazines have been returned to us either because these members have changed address and have not been notified or alternatively they have sadly crossed the bar. If you see a name you recognise and know more details it would be really helpful to get their status correct on our system. New Members The following are those members who have joined since my last report.

SBN Name Entry Joined

1183 Phillip Triggs 31/10/66

1184 Jim Worlding Associate member **

1185 James (Jim) Davies Associate member*

1186 Derek H P Hoskins Hawke 610 9/9/1963

*Jim Davies is a past Mayor of Stone and has joined so that he can stay in touch with all his friends in the St. Vincent Assoc. ** Jim Worlding is an ex Ganges entrant and is happy to support his St. Vincent oppo’s having friends in both camps. Members who have Crossed the Bar are:-

SBN Name Entry Joined CTB

58 John Beard Hawke 22 1947 28/03/18

1092 William (Jack) Frost Exmouth 553 02/01/1963 30/03/18

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513 John Reddick Blake 120 11/01/1947 10/02/18

937 Stanley Clements Duncan 11 10/10/1946 25/04/18

925 Arthur (Len) Baynes Hawke 47 01/05/1954 18/05/18

List of members where magazines have been returned.

1177 Paul Campion Assoc.

678 Frederick McCarthy Anson 1952

23 Bernard Mayer Duncan 1968

636 Kevin Harris Anson 1955

1057 Allan Gunniss Blake 1961

84 Frederick Brooks Duncan 1952

736 Michael Milford Duncan 1960

1078 Robert Hollyman-Mawson Duncan 1963

150 David Poulter Duncan 1953

98 Bryan Morris Duncan 1949

763 John Scarrott 1953

If anyone has any information on the above members and can confirm a change of address of CTB date I would be very grateful. Do not forget the Website is full of information of past, present and future events and is easy to access once you have your username and password. It is a simple process to get set up so contact me and we can get the ball rolling. Email me on jocornish@gmail.com.

Late entry of Crossing The Bar.

It is with sadness that I report the Death of Aubrey John Savin

He died peacefully on 11th June 2018 aged 83.

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Trained at HMS St Vincent and then served in the Royal Navy 1950

- 1959 .

The photograph shows Aubrey with his wife Julia and daughter Jane on a treasured and memorable visit to HMS St Vincent in

September 2016 . Darby ( Philip ) Allen conducted a wonderful and nostalgic tour of the old grounds and museum ending with a tot of

rum !

Take care all and enjoy the rest of the Summer in the hope the good weather continues. Jo Cornish Membership Secretary

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By Ed: It does bring things to the Fore when Aubrey joined the same

year as I did give or take a couple of months. What will be will be!

An Obituary printed in the London Times

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend,

Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long

ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having

cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;

- Why the early bird gets the worm;

- Life isn't always fair;

- And maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend

more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are

in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but

overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy

charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended

from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for

reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the

job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly

children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental

consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not

inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an

abortion.

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Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses;

and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a

Burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to

realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her

lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death,

-by his parents, Truth and Trust,

-by his wife, Discretion,

-by his daughter, Responsibility,

-and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers;

- I Know My Rights

- I Want It Now

- Someone Else Is To Blame

- I'm A Victim

- Pay me for Doing Nothing

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If

you still remember him, pass this on.

Brought to us by the redoubtable John Toner

By Ed:

For those who do not know John Toner He made his escape from the Andrew to Australia.

I knew that they used to take convicts But Ex Matelot’s ?

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John Toner’s Biographical Info:

Joined St. Vincent on 18th March 1958. Hawke 120 class until April '59 then to HMS Ariel at Worthy Down. Served at

RNAS Brawdy from October '59 to December '61. Drafted to 831 Sqdn at RNAS Culdrose from January '62 until

killicks course at Lee -on-Solent in October '63. From there drafted to No1 COD Flight on HMS Eagle from '64 to '66.

Finished my time back at Brawdy as A/POEL(A) on Station Flight. After demob in September '69 emigrated to

Australia and worked in the aviation industry as a Licenced

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer until retirement in 2010.

The Magazine Editors Waffle.

After St Vincent.

In August 1976 I had been busy trying to adjust myself to civvy life

after the R.N. having worked for various companies I had decided to

run my own business. I thought that I could do a better job of it than

some that I had worked for. One day feeling rather pleased with

myself having just acquired a long lasting contract with a well known

International Company, I yielded to the desire of buying a larger boat

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after having had a 19’ plastic hard chine cruiser with a 65 hp

outboard which made it go like the wind!

I saw an advert in the Exchange & Mart paper for a largish motor

cruiser but upon making contact with the owner it had just been sold,

but he did give me a tip “Why not try the Admiralty Small Craft

Disposals at Bath. I duly contacted them for a list of vessels that were

up for sale and lo and behold my eyes brightened when I saw that they

had a hundred foot plus ocean going tug for sale berthed in the

dockyard at Pompey so down I drove in my brand new Volvo Estate (I

do get carried away when I am in funds) in the dockyard I was

referred to the Chief Shipwright who happened to have the same

surname as myself and we seemed to hit it off straight away, he

handed me a large bunch of keys and said there are a couple of boats

in the basin, so off I went to investigate.

The Tug was fantastic in my eyes and appeared to have been well

maintained apart from the fact that the dockyard matey’s had

removed the main engines gearbox, so other than towing her away she

was not a goer, but I persevered and went to the engineering panel and

pressed START this was an air start large engine around eight to ten

feet high but it ran as sweetly as any that I had come across in the

Andrew. I then turned to the electrics which being D.C. were

important to me and as before the air start two cylinder machine

driving the generator ran smoothly up to speed and the engine room

lights flooded the open space with light which was like a cathedral.

Now being a newly qualified Electrical & Mechanical Engineer I could

see myself at the wheel doing all sorts of financially rewarding charter

work just by having an adaptor spacer plate bolted to the engine and

fitting a heavy duty automatic marine gearbox to that and connecting

it to the prop shaft (Simple) I thought blow the cost!

After my very thorough inspection from the bilges up I went topsides

and inspected the hull condition which looked fine. Mr Barton (Chief

Dockyard Shipwright) told me that the only reason that she was for

sale was that a special gearbox for the Ruston main Engine apart for

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being obsolete would have cost more than a new tug and that they had

made one good tug from two so this one had to go.

As I walked around the deck reminiscing of my naval days in the

dockyard just across from the tugs berth there was a TRV (Torpedo

Recovery Vessel), now I had had a spell on board one whilst in the

service acting as the naval liaison man and recovering spent torpedoes

off of Frazer Battery Range when they ran out of TVO, the boat that I

had been on was a fantastic sea boat, really comfortable it was ran by

a crew of Dockies who took great pride in her. I looked at my sales list

and saw this one down at the bottom of the list she was a sixty foot

triple screw hard chine boat built in 1943 at Woolston by John L

Thorneycroft, I started drooling or was it dreaming again any way I

went over and started my inspection, when I stepped aboard a

dockyard matey said sorry mate but we have stripped lots of the brass

fitting from her as souvenir’s there was no ships wheel, the engine

room looked fine but no batteries for the engines, no bunk cushions,

no porthole butterfly wing nuts and so on went the list, all radio gear

stripped out.

When I arrived home that night I costed out the repair and running

costs for the tug and it would have been prohibitive and unless a full

time business venture would have been a disaster. The TRSV on the

other hand was very attractive in my eyes, but my wife suggested that

we bought a holiday cottage in Cornwall, (How sensible). Needless to

say you know what I did? I went ahead and paid £1250-00 for her by

sealed tender. Now for the problems she was in the basin in the

Dockyard at Portsmouth and I lived and worked in Orpington Kent,

the terms of sale were that the boat must be removed from the

dockyard within a fortnight due to maintenance of the caissons, so I

said to my namesake the Dockyard Chief Shipwright what will happen

if I can’t remove her, well he said she will have to stay where she is

until next spring, so we shook hands and he arranged a dockyard pass

for me and my car so that I could come and go whenever I wished to

enable me to work on her.

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She was moved across the basin to the shipwrights berth for boats

under repair just below their workshop and with a few tots and

numerous cups of tea miraculously over the winter and into the late

spring loads of bits and pieces that belonged to or fitted the boat

started to come aboard, I did have to buy a walnut ships wheel,

batteries and new life jackets as the ones that were given were all out

of date only useful in an emergency.

I was now the proud owner of a lovely 60’ pinnace Motor Boat

Number 43776 in the year of 1976 I got her registered with Lloyds

Shipping and called Her Lady Sandfire (Well all Boats are ladies).

MOD Motorboat No 43776 Ex HMS Dolphin. Used for recovering fuel spent Torpedoes, Target Towing, Maintenance of Mooring & Navigation

Buoy’s in and around the Solent approaches.

27

The story will be continued in later magazines. I do sincerely hope

that you readers out there do enjoy the content and please keep the

stories coming in to me by post or email in MS WORD preferred. If

you do not get on with computers maybe a friend or relative will

use their keyboard to record your ditty, but please think about the

commissions you were on and which ships you went to and places

visited which in those days were or seemed to be so exotic. I am

quite happy to write them up for you if you do not use a computer,

as long as the hand writing is legible Ed: You see there is I am sure a story or yarn that all of us could write or tell. Send them in to me or give me a call. Tony Barton Magazine Editor

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A small ditty from HMS Danae From John Toner

I Saw this story on the WAFU Facebook page and thought that some of you lads might have a quiet chuckle to yourselves. this is the dit of dits nicked from the Leander class frigates site! Pure

gold.😂😂

Just remembered this dit that happened on the Danae in the early 70's. Wonder whether anyone else remembered this happening. We were at Portland and in the middle of the Thursday war. Jimmy was getting all excited and full of piss and importance as usual and we were under attack. You may

Lady Sandfire at 12 knots on TWO Engines undergoing Sea Trials in 1977 in the Solent on a lovely summers day Top Speed 16 Knots on all Three engines

28

remember that the FOST staff would pick someone to do the usual 'throw a wobbler' and usually they just leapt into the Ops room or HQ1 and started screaming. Someone sat on 'em -end of dit. This time FOST picked someone with a grudge, a greenie that had just lost his hook. The guy thought about this for a bit then went up to the SRE compartment with my test mic pinched from the telephone exchange. Once in he roped and wedged the door shut. With the mic he now had access to the main broadcast and all the intercom systems.

He started small, plugged into the conning intercom a did a clipped 'Port Ten". "Ten of Port wheel on Sir". Panic!

They checked the emergency conning position and switched to conning two. Next was the main broadcast. We were in the middle of all the action and the pipe was made, "d'yer hear there - one all round" and of course we all lit up. More panic from the Jimmy. There were a couple of other MB pipes made which I don't remember, but the ships company were in stitches and they still had not figured out where this phantom piping was coming from (I should have told them really but was enjoying it too much). The 1st Lt then made the best pipe of the lot, "All main broadcast pipes are to be ignored unless prefaced by 'this is the Executive Officer speaking' and of course you know what happened next. Nameless Greenie was careful to allow the ships company time to piss themselves laughing at this ridiculous pipe before he said, "This is the Executive Officer speaking..

By this time either WEO must have figured it out and sent Joss and dog to pull him out. Of course they could not get in and the Greenie left the main broadcast on. Heard the Joss say, "Get a fucking axe Taff," whilst kicking the door and 'ordering 'wobbler thrower' to open it. Of course with a Fost 'get out of jail free' card this was not gonna happen! Eventually dog arrived with an axe and the Jossman started axing the door down. Of course the MB mic was left switched on and said Greenie started singing a

29

popular 60's song - "They are coming to take me away hah ha, he he.... Joss burst in eventually and wobbler thrower screamed, "don't hit me Joss - over and out." By this time the ships company were laughing so much the tears ran down our collective trouser legs – did wonders for the morale that Jimmy had done his best to destroy. Didn't help the Jimmy's morale though - he was replaced by the weekend - not just because of this though to be fair. The ex killick had his revenge.

Ed: He sure does find em!

Now Another One I quite enjoy these yarns?

By Maurice Dawe

In 1948 I was serving on the cruiser HMS Nigeria in Simonstown South Africa when we were informed that due to Argentenia and Chile personnell trespassing on British bases in the Antartic we were to ammunition ship and proceed immediatley to Port Stanley in the Falkland islands. For the next twentyfour hours we loaded ammunition,stores etc and then sailed. The trip across the South Atlantic was extremley rough and most of the Boys were seasick myself included. Along with a mate I decided to try and go onto the after deck for some fresh air so we had to open a door on the Starboard side to get out on deck, when it was open I stepped out and at the same time the ship went into a really bad roll and before I could turn round and go back in my mate had closed the door and a huge wave hit me and took me across the torpedo tubes to the other side of the ship where lucky enough I got tangled up in the guard rails as the ship rolled back the other way. From that day on I was never sea sick again.

After service in the RN, RAN and USAF I joined the British Merchant Navy and in my first year in the MN I accepted a job on the oil tanker supply ship "TideFlow" in Portland which was preparing to go to the Far East and and was doing daily exercises off Portland & Weymouth. As we were preparing to

30

enter harbour and secure to a buoy, I was detailed off to be buoy jumper and also instruct a young ordinary seaman on how to secure to the buoy. We were both taken ahead of the ship by motor boat and landed on the buoy to wait the arrival of the ship, as it approached the buoy I could tell she was going too fast so when the mooring wire was lowered we barely had time to secure it to the buoy and as the ship kept going the wire tightened up and then broke in two narrowly missing my head and the buoy spun violently throwing us both into the water, I remember thinking "don't panic" as the ship slid past but at the same time trying to swim away from the stern although this was difficult with the clothing including an oilskin that I had on and the ship's engines had been put on full astern which was churning the water up, thankfully she passed us and we were soon picked up by the motor boat, I was so mad that when I got back aboard I went straight up to the bridge and told them what i thought of their seamanship including the Captain. I was not long back in my cabin when there was a knock on the door and a Steward was there with a bottle of Scotch compliments of the Captain which sure cooled me down in more ways than one. However enough was enough so I handed in my notice and left the ship in Plymouth but before I left I bumped into an old shipmate from the Australian Navy who had returned to the UK and was now working as a dockie in Devonport . so we arranged to get together that evening for a night out on the town which we did finishing up in the Long Bar in Union Street.

Thanks to MAURICE DAWE.

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HMS St Vincent Association Book Review

By Your Editor. (Un appointed, un Qualified, and un educated BUT NOT

illiterate I don’t fink).

I have had several books forwarded to me and I shall be either

summarizing them or writing a condensed version up as a precis for

your pleasure (I hope).

“Admiral With a Screwdriver”.

By Tony Hoare.

When Tony first contacted me I was rather doubtful that I would

be able to find time to read it all but to be fair, although we all went

through the mill of St Vincent our experiences all differ as much as

we as individuals differ, we were not cloned from one mould,

although some admirals may have thought differently.

Tony has the knack of opening a general viewpoint over all of his

time in the R.N. Starting at St Vincent and progressing through his

chosen trade and up through the ranks to a CPO where the he

decended back into civvy street and made his way onwards through

life. The R.N. lost so many good men who had at their fingertips the

expertise to keep their allotted ships working through its life span,

of course the time served man did benefit from the experiences of

the service but to put it to good use later in life is not always easy.

I found Tony’s book an interesting good read which was very

humbling as well as inspiring showing the up’s and down’s of R.N.

life.

Copies are Available from the Author.

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“Part of The Shore”

Another book This One is By Paul Moran.

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Paul Moran was not a St Vincent Boy, he lived in St Ives in

Cornwall and as a young lad witnessed the stranding of HMS

Wave. He has documented the sequences of the grounding and

subsequent re-floating of the ship. The St Vincent connection is

from our own Eric (Sago) Rice who was ships company at the time

and along with others was actively involved with the rescue.

The book gives an account hour by hour and sometimes minute by

minute of the events as they unfold of the drama and build up to a

point where as the reader you think that all will be lost, but then

the fortitude of the shore rescue crews, local people and of course

the ships own company who strove and succeeded in saving her

from a fate that not many ships come away from.

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Lastly another Book that I as yet have not had a chance to read

again compiled, edited and told by Tony Hoare it is the story of

War & Peacey. Another Sailors Tale Of life during the war in HM

Ships.

Further details in the next magazine.

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Note for those of you staying at the Royal Beach Hotel Southsea.

You cannot afford to be ADRIFT or you will miss the boat!

(Coach).

09-00 am Muster for the Coach outside of Hotel.

09-15 Coach Departs Hotel for Gosport.

10-00 Muster on Forton Fields Opposite the Main Gate of St

Vincent College. 10-30 Proceed to March through the Gates of St

Vincent. Preceded by the Band.11-00 Commence the AGM.

Anyone who is adrift from these times will be on the defaulters list,

in front of the President and Chairman as well as making their own

way to Gosport.

33

Darby Allen receiving

his presentation gifts for

services rendered to the

Asociation whilst

serving as the Magazine

editor for so many years

The Presents consisted

of a beautiful crafted

engraved pen in

eucalyptus wood finish.

An apron for his ervices

as Tea & Coffee boy 1st

class.

34

NOW PAY Attention You NOZZERS.

It goes like this: “We were so poor when I was younger that my

Mum had to shop around the Military Surplus Stores in order to

buy us clothes to wear.

Not a bad idea you may think, but I can tell you now that going to

School dressed as a Japanese Admiral was no joke.”

From JC. Ed He likes to remain anonymous does John Cushley.

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”When we had a Navy”.

Previous Reference’s: HMS St Vincent Volume 5 Journal – September

2001 No 3. “Danger Boy’s Aloft Part 1”. See Page 5.

HMS St Vincent Volume 5 Journal – December 2001 No 4. “Danger

Boy’s Aloft Part 2”. & See Page 7.

Up on the Bridge I gazed forwards binoculars at the ready as the ship

plunged down into yet another of the troughs of the large Cape rollers,

then the green/blue Indian Ocean water came up and over us soaking

everything in its path then draining away down the scuppers leaving us

lookouts and the officer of the watch spluttering and shaking ourselves

every time the ship dived down, I quickly surveyed the arc of the

horizon where the Officer of the watch had told me to keep a sharp

lookout in case of local fishing boats being out in this spring season.

The sea was not overly rough just a constant swell where each trough

was half the length of our ship HMS Nereide based at Simonstown

South Africa.

I thought of the days spent at St Vincent with all of the square bashing

and bull of polishing our boots and rolling up our kit for inspection and

then after inspection carefully putting it away as we were told and

could find no comparison with what I and my classmates were

experiencing now, this is a life at sea and we were looking forward to

going off watch and down to our forward number one mess right in the

35

bows below but at least we would be dry or so we thought and a little

warmer than up here on the bridge wings, although the fresh air was

invigorating to say the least. On passing out at HMS St Vincent

Duncan five class all went for sea training with the Home Fleet on a

spring cruise to Gibraltar there were around twenty seven of us left

from the original thirty or so that had gone on from the New Entry

Division into Five class, I had been back classed from Anson Four due

to having had to go to RNH Haslar for an operation on my eyes.The

Spring Cruise of the Home Fleet based at Portsmouth consisted of three

Aircraft Carriers, Indefatigable which we five class all were shipped to,

Indomitable, & Implacable, accompanying the flag Officers ship HMS

Vanguard along with several frigates and destroyers All based at

Portsmouth as their home port. We learnt that we were to go from

Portsmouth Harbour by train down to Weymouth where the Carriers

were anchored in Portland Harbour. When we arrived at Weymouth we

were shepherded onto a large 110 foot MFV firstly having to load our

kitbags, & hammocks on to the decks, we all thought that it was a rather

large boat but as we moved out into the harbour there was this

enormous ship which dwarfed everything around, us included, HMS

Indefatigable she even had an aeroplane on the deck, once on board

after climbing a very high gangway we were detailed off to various

messes and taken charge of by our respective Leading hands who were

to be our mentors for the couple of weeks that we were to be on board,

they showed us the key gangways and areas of the ship that we would

need to familiarise ourselves with on all the different decks. Life on a

carrier was totally different to that at Vincent but we soon settled into a

routine where we were to sling our hammocks for real as well as lash

them up and stow them away before breakfast every morning. Crossing

the Bay of Biscay quite a few of us were as sea sick as dogs as they say,

as the fleet had caught the tail end of a hurricane with a head on sea and

even the seasoned hands commented on the motion of our ship as she

crashed down through the rough weather with the flight deck awash and

out of bounds to all. At last we arrived at Gibraltar and berthed astern of

Vanguard where we were able to look down from the flight deck to

Vanguards quarterdeck and watch the routine of a capital ship, we had

36

been spared from watch keeping and only worked day time watches

where we were kept busy with polishing and cleaning messes and flat

spaces, I was lucky as I had been detailed off to work with the engineer

artificers in their workshops, whilst there I learnt how to work a metal

lathe and turning up brass and steel fire pokers for the chiefs to take

home to their friends I suppose! I had at the time of going aboard

volunteered (that word was to haunt me throughout my career) to join

Indefat’s Choir who were invited to sing at a celebratory Church service

in Gibraltar Cathedral. We were also introduced to the pleasures of

what sailors get up to whilst in port although I must say within the

confines of the Kings Regs and Admiralty Fleet Orders regarding the

treatment of Boy Seamen whilst ashore we were still being educated by

our respective killick’s of the mess who were responsible for our good

conduct and coupled with the visits to the bars we were in, inspected by

the shore patrols every so often. After our sojourn in Gibraltar our

return to the UK was fairly uneventful until we the boy seamen were

told that we were to be addressed by the Captain. He told us that he had

received details of us being drafted. All of us en-block (Ex Duncan Five

Class) were to be sent and drafted to the South Atlantic Squadron

preceded by three weeks leave, (A similar fate to others before us) what

a shock, a three year commission for the boys from St Vincent? at only

sixteen years old how were we going to get there we wondered.

To be continued.

By Anthony W Barton © 2018