In 1982 I had to attend the Weymouth Magistrate’s Court with one of my maintainers, who was charged with various misdemeanours associated with the taking of a bus from the town’s railway station. I don’t know whether it’s true now, but back then, Naval ratings were employed under the terms of fixed ‘engagements’of a specific duration. A consequence was that following a court appearance, of a Naval rating was found guilty, they had to formally request ‘a day’s pay and time’, so that the Service wasn’t disadvantaged. Duly, after the request had been submitted, we had to attend Captain’s Table at HMS Osprey. I’d prepared, so when I was asked to comment, I said “Mechanic *..* is a good worker, but after drinking he seems to lose his social conscience”. I’d been pretty proud of this. The Captain looked over his gold half-moon specacles at me and simply said “Crap! High spirits! A day’s pay and time.” I felt about two inches tall.