About me

For one of our leave activities I, along with a bunch of other University Cadets, completed the POLC. We formed course no 1562. The POLC was held at HMS Royal…

As I've said above, a hike in the Brecon Bracons formed the culmination of the POLC. When we planned the hike, it had seemed sensible to spend one night at…

In 1980 I spent 6 months on board HMS Bristol, learning about the ship. During this time I had to write 'journal articles'. The journal itself has a document number:…

Back in the day, one’s Fleet Time (6 months 'additional' on board a ship) ended with a 3-day oral exam, during which your knowledge of your ship was very thoroughly…

Whilst I was serving, matelot language and humour around homosexuality knew no bounds. There must have been dozens of derogative terms for homosexual men. It was all very amusing (if…

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…

I'm often asked how much time I spent at sea. Most people think that it ought to be a lot. But if you add together all of the time that…