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I am still serving on HMS Yarmouth. We are now acting as guard ship in the West Indies. So what is a guard ship? Basically the ship’s duties are to patrol the islands and to respond to any requests for help, particularly in disaster areas…. Continue reading Boys will be boys…! 
So here I am, fully trained. I am now an MA (Medical Assistant) ready to take up medical duties wherever I may be drafted. So, will it be a ship, abroad or a shore establishment? Any of these would be exciting for me. My first draft? The army cadets, of course! I will be going to spent 2 weeks based at Tidworth…. Continue reading Trained and ready for action….! 
Yep – the RN can come up with some exceedingly fun things to do. In the unlikely event you are still alive after your helicopter hits the water – the RN, bless em, will have trained you in what do in this inconvenient scenario….. Continue reading Underwater escape training – oh yes..! Seen here with one of my best mates – Andy (Beanie – for obvious reasons!). This was taken sometime in 1979/80 while serving at HMS Osprey in Portland. Both, now fully qualified LMAs (Leading Medical Assistants). Now we could be relied upon to be responsible at all times – yeah – right!…. Continue reading Reliant robin…! 
Now, at HMS Osprey, Portland – a naval airbase. I am now an LMA (Leading Medical Assistant) – so, am experienced and responsible. It was here that I was to have, a somewhat ludicrous, run in with a particularly jumped up young Surgeon Lieutenant (a doctor). I was on duty, one morning…. Continue reading Tea and toast….! 
Xmas a time of good cheer and copious quantities of alcohol! Well that’s how ‘Jolly Jack’ does it. It’s New years eve 1984 – on board HMS Yarmouth on patrol in the South Atlantic. It’s rough weather and the ship is rocking and rolling. No matter! It’s Xmas – down to the mess for a few tinnies…. Continue reading Heard the one about the glaswegian and the scouser at Xmas….? 
We escorted HMS Plymouth and HMS Glasgow to Ascension island today. The Plymouth looks a right state – not surprising given the hammering they have been through. My counterpart on the Plymouth is George Peddie – a real salty old sea dog if ever there was one! George invites me on board to take a look around. What a mess!…. Continue reading Near miss…..! 
By dogs, of course, I mean salty sea dogs. Surely, they can’t get seasick – well, they can! Certainly, when I joined the Leeds Castle for my ‘jolly’ to the Falklands it took me a little time to get my sea legs…. Continue reading Do dogs get seasick……..? 
We came alongside the jetty at Grytviken yesterday and spent the day shifting stores – that’s what we do! Of course, Grytviken and Leith is where this conflict kicked off. It was on the 26th April that South Georgia was retaken with the help of the Plymouth and Antrim – the Argentinians didn’t like their fire power at all…. Continue reading Grytviken………….. 
Well, here we are, steaming from ascension to the TEZ with more supplies to deliver throughout the fleet. The Leeds Castle from the superstructure to aft is all flight deck – this probably accounts for half of the length of the ship. Pretty big for a ship of this size…. Continue reading Leaning…… | ||||||
