During University holidays, we were assigned ‘leave activities’, but there was a deal of flexibility – if you really wanted to do somethiung, you could always ask.. I did a term’s worth of engineering workshop training (in batches) at the Royal Naval Engineering College at Manadon in Plymouth; I attended the Queen’s Jubilee Review of the Fleet on my father’s ship (HMS Galatea) and I completed the Petty Officer’s Leadership Course at HMS Royal Arthur in Corsham, near Bath. We were allowed to take actual leave, but only to the level of our entitlement.