Collingwood 44, "Green Mansions" corregated walls, concrete floors! Cold as charity! Even the "drying room" was cold!

Chiefy West, "Seamanship." "Tinger Ling" PO.GI Parade Drill instructor. We hated them, but turned out they were the best friends we ever had, I still live by their standards today. Footwear cleaned everyday, laces removed, bath and dhobi, clean nicks and socks, sewing cable stitch, splicing rope, hospital corners,making "kai", standing up straight, swinging your arms, no hands in pockets, always looking as though you are going somewhere! Funny how things stick!

Climbing the Mast! The rigging shaking in tune with the climbers. Paul Drinkall having to go thro' the Lubbers Hole at the "elbow" because he was such a"short arsed " little devil, he couldn't reach up and over the elbow. Reaching the "half moon" through the hole and down the other side. Much later, Manning the Mast for the Queen's Birthday Parade, all done to the drum beat

Joining The Bugle Band as a drummer, spending hours under the instruction of the Royal Marine Drum Major. First "Divisions" as a drummer, never hitting the drumskin once!

Sailing cutters, pulling whalers, MFV week-end to Ipswich or Felixstowe,sea training on HMS Chaplet or Paladin, we're real "roughy toughy" sailors now! Evening classes to get you up to HET standard, seamanship classes, parade ground drill, "skylarking about" and meeting "Faith, Hope, and Charity" dressed for the occasion, oilskins back to front and wearing gas masks!

Guard Class, smart as a pin! Passing out Parade , Mums and Dads real proud, if you had them, some didn't, never mind "the Andrew" will look after you! Saying goodbye to friends, and then on to your "specialist training" after a spot of leave. Victualing Allowance burning a hole in your pocket, going for a wet! Uniforms got you away with "murder". Once on that train at Ipswich you were "proper little Jack me Hearties!"