Re: Young Boys 1966 - 1967 -- B.T.S. FORMIDABLE

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Date Posted: 14:34:27 04/24/10 Sat
Author: allan brooker (anson 1965 1968)
Subject: Re: Young Boys 1966 - 1967
In reply to: Richard Blake 's message, "Young Boys 1966 - 1967" on 17:07:19 01/11/07 Thu

I was there for 2 1/2 years, I remember george efreeme
togo, alan warren, some one called reynolds who I saw in portishead on a return visit, It was a great time for me I remember the fire I was on the schools fire pump before the fire brigade turned up. staff I rember was old mr Chorlton, tony pemprase (boxing) commander Johnstone used to scream at me you poxey cross eyed flea bitten bog rat you havn,t the strength to pull a black man of your sister. played rugby I remember John Gray the black guy from Cardiff boy could he run if he got the ball he was gone . john Cambell was a gentelman others I remember were the brennen brothers tony and ray as we all knew each other from home woolwich and derek Crabb who died very young a few years after leaving the nash he was killed at work. but I would like to hear from others around this time
but I have only found this site tonight 24/04/10 I rember going to camp, Iremember the black noir and the cutter racing in the docks for me the best time of my life
kind regards to you all allan brooker.
>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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Re: Young Boys 1966 - 1967 -- uxqkfc (cyfAEnEYCHgKDiWmvlH), 05:40:41 12/13/11 Tue