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Date Posted: 17:07:19 01/11/07 Thu
Author: Richard Blake (Develop This Forum it is fully justified)
Subject: Young Boys 1966 - 1967

Young Boys 1966 - 1967

12 January 2007

Since recently finding this forum and reading most of the various posts, it has helped me to recollect my past experiences bringing them to the forefront of my mind. For example I can remember more names of boys and officers that were definitely around at the time I was at the NASH together with many experiences I had during my time there. I have not heard from anyone as yet following my post of the 7 January 07, I expect that the site is visited quite rarely. I would love to have sight of photographs of the period 1966 – 1967 because this would help me identify and name various people, so if anyone has this information I would appreciate copies or links.
My tug in Anson division was Nobby Clark other boys I remember are Vincent who became a leading boy and there was Storey, Defremee, Bailey, Ginger, Grandpa, Eros, Mick Hayler.

The officers I can remember
Captain Campbell has been laid to rest in St Peters Churchyard. I have the greatest respect for this man and the way in which he fulfilled his role. I remember him taking the fresh boys to Cheddar Gorge and on Friday’s where he would gather us all around him for his weekly talk sharing with us all relevant letters of communication and giving us an identity. Mr Markham the organist and second to Captain Campbell, Mr Booth taught woodwork, Chaplain at the St Peters church known as Chaps the rugby instructor, Mr Winters the grounds man who also rode the 500cc Norton sidecar motor bike, Commander Johnson who although very loud and strict was an excellent seamanship teacher of the old school. Points of the compass to be learnt parrot fashion he said. Johno with the very ruff voice his bark was worse than his bite! There was the time he had all of Anson Division running around the gym jumping the trestles for nearly two hours. cause talking after lights out!. Mr Heffer? took the boys out on the Black Nore (the schools motor vessel), Mr Smith the Anson House Master, Mr Wilkinson who taught engineering. Mr Tuffey the painting and decorating shop. There were other officers about four of who I remember the faces but not the names. I think we were very lucky to have such a diverse selection of officers and teachers.

Having read Gordon S Sollors book 1938 – 1942 I was struck by the fact that the routine at the training ship was basically unchanged from his period of stay up to the period 1967. The photographs suggest that the position of the dinning area was moved to the west and over the years alterations were carried out to the building such as the sick bay and three dormitories instead of the four. It would be interesting to have more information about these changes. My interest in this area is based on my career in the construction industry.
St. Peters Church under construction must be a rare picture of the time of a church being built. Those amazing nautical stained glass windows!
Upon arriving at the school I was told to paint the last post. This was typical of the leg pull the fresher’s had to endure at the time. There was the story told about a boy who on his last day was put up to playing the last post on the bugle while walking along the balcony rail above the Gym by the Captains Gallery. Apparently he fell and broke his neck, this may be the fatality mentioned within the notes in notice board. I remember that a net was hung from the gallery over the balcony maybe to prevent this happening again.
There was a Admiralty inspection scheduled during 66 where the whole school underwent a makeover in preparation. A parade that involved marching and drills on the parade ground also various exhibits were organised such as the erection of Sheer legs for river crossing by Com Johnson, climbing the Formidable mast, assault course routine.
I was aware that the school also had a canoe facility although to my knowledge this was never used while I was there.

Many of the experiences that we all had at that time were quite unique and not likely to be witnessed again owing to the severe cuts in the Naval budget and the curtailment of merchant shipping owing to the changing pattern of world trade. Health and safety the nanny state we find ourselves in, does not prepare for the contingency for future engagements, neither does it instil the confidence that is so necessary for the development of young minds. I count myself as one of the very lucky ones together with all of you out there, because we were able to be a part of a way of life that encompassed old tried and tested principals of training and discipline that although severe, nevertheless taught us to achieve objectives that we did not know we could. We were lucky enough through our previous misfortune to enter an old tradition now in demise, that enabled us to experience a side of life which is not likely ever to be repeated again.
When I look at the photographs of the truly majestic facilities that were created for the purposes of training and teaching boys to prepare themselves for the big outside world, I am dismayed that such a facility has been surrendered to the commercial world of domestic accommodation.

All of those boys who went through T.S Formidable and who are now men, should support this site and contribute to it by submitting their comments of experiences for the benefit of all of us. Finally I believe I am not alone in thanking all of those responsible for the setting up of this site, I’m quite sure it will develop into an interesting forum. So lets make it work!

Look forward to hearing from you all


Richard Blake

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