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Gary Wood’s Memories
Oriana Seadogs 1977-84
'the early days'
additional names and comments marked in Grey have been supplied by Chris Lawton
1978 Oriana Ocean Bar
L-R:
Me, Paul 'Blue' Robinson, 'Little John' Elder, Malcolm 'Malc-the-Alc' Orr, Trevor 'Biffo' Baff, Lin 'Sheep Dip' Mort & Gary Pemberton (VO).
1978 Oriana Ocean Bar.
Back Row L-R:
Me, Big Tommy Hunter, Peter Bennet, Mick 'Slaver' Everson, Don 'Porky' Cole, & Unknown.
Front Row L-R:
Pat 'The Hat' Gallagher, Trevor 'Biffo' Baff, Lin 'Sheep Dip' Mort & Unknown.
1979? Oriana Ocean Bar
L-R:
Alan 'Plumbob' Plummer, Unknown, Trevor 'Biffo' Baff, Paul 'Blue' Robinson, 'Little John' Elder, Sean 'Plug' Atkinson & Me.
1978? Oriana Midships Bar
L-R:
Me, Paddy ??? (the Irish Electrician), Alan 'Plumbob' Plummer & Big Tommy Hunter.
Oriana Ocean Bar
Back Row L-R:
an Unknown purser?? Unknown, Unknown & Me.
Front Row L-R:
The lady who I believe became 'Groucho's' wife & Geoff 'Groucho' Heap.
Oriana Lookout Bar
L-R:
Ginger John Milner (Engineer), 'Little John' Elder & Me.
There is always one guy in life that always manages to hit your funny button. With me it was Pete (Goldfish) Gillespie (on the left). There are many stories featuring Pete one of which involves the Oriana O-Bar and a close encounter with a DJ that still creases me up when I think of it even after the best part of thirty years. I would gladly recount it but if I cold do it justice but it was just one of those many times when you just had to be there.
Shooting cans - A beer can (usually Allsopps or VB) was turned upside down and a hole pierced in the bottom. With ones mouth firmly over the hole, all the air was sucked out. The can (with the protagonist's mouth still firmly sealing the hole) was then turned the correct way up and the ring-pull operated. The effect was that all the beer would whoosh down the throat in one go. If performed correctly (as shown in the photo with my mate Pete 'Goldfish' Gillespie - a past master of the art) this was a great party piece. However the effect of incorrect practice could be explosive.
I own many things to Andy Jackson, a long friendship, many, many laughs and one or two inherited daft expressions of which this is one.
Oriana Wardroom,
L-R:
Unknown, Terry? (Elect), Me & Malcolm Greenwood.
Oriana Ocean Bar.
Back Row L-R:
Dave Shimmons, a Unknown Jokers Seven girl, Unknown Photog, yet another Jokers Seven girl, Unknown Engineer, Me (with another daft Andy Jackson look), 'Supersonic' (Elect).
Front Row L-R:
Unknown Cruise staff girl, Kenny Gillespie, Unknown Engineer.
Andy with an unsurpassable original expression. Pictured in Oriana Wardroom.
L-R:
Ken Worsfold, Andy Jackson, John (The Bopper) Englefield, Me and finally I do believe Sue (Miss Jones) + Teddy Bear.
Jacko anecdote - A certain Electrical Officer, who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty, was returning the slightly worse for wear to the accommodation using the time honoured, tried and tested 'bulkhead-shuffle' method. Unfortunately he literally ran into the Chief Engineer, who had been disturbed by his somewhat noisy passage. Casting a belligerent eye on the man the Chief demanded 'P….d again (name withheld)'. To which the officer replied 'Yes, so am I Chief!!' and proceeded to wend his unsteady way to bed.
Oriana Seadogs 1977-84
Oriana Wardroom Group Photos
1982-83
Back Row L-R:
Kerry Fox, Unknown, Phil Aldridge, Steve 'Robbo' Robinson, Graham 'Bondy' Bond, Kenny 'Alvin' Barns, Jim Barlow, Chris 'Flowery' Lawton, Charlie Hill, Unknown, Tony 'Sid Vicious', Unknown, Duncan Hall aka Trogg, 'Ned' Kelly, Paul 'Peem' Mead, Chris Trainer?? Bill McCandless, A Freeza known as Lazarus due to his deathly white complexion, Mick Jack & Andy Jackson.
Middle Row L-R:
John Rennie, Roddy McConnell, Me, Unknown, Sue Allen (WAP), Sean 'Plug' Atkinson, 2 WAPS and an Accountant called Helen Hawkins.
Front Row L-R:
Ann (Mrs Roddy McConnell), 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown, Caroline Brown (WAP), Colin Hindmarsh, Unknown, Rosy Irwin (Nurse) & Unknown.
Colin Hindmarsh (far right) was a regular Australian entertainer who was the bane of the 'penguin' officers. To inadvertently pass by when he was performing was to endure an avalanche of merciless, sharp, cutting but wholly fun filled baiting. In spite (and probably because of this) he was held in great affection by us as this presentation demonstrates.
L-R:
John Rennie (Eng), 'Ned' Kelly, Paul (Peem) Mead, Tony (Sid Vicious), Dave 'Wizard' Watson (just - with moustache), Andy Jackson (just) & Colin Hindmarsh.
Back Row L-R:
Unknown Deck Officer, Unknown, Cliff Merwood, Sue Allen (WAP), Ken Worsfold, Unknown, Dave Grant, Kenny Gillespie, Me, 'Young' Don Oliver, Tony 'Sid Vicious', Rodger White (CD).
Middle Row L-R:
Two Unknown Photog's, 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown, Unknown, Jimmy ?, Eddie Duncan (Storekeeper), Ken Willey, Dave Shimmons, Unknown, 'Scary Joe' Scaramuzza, Andy 'Jacko' Jackson, Chris 'Flowery' Lawton & Ian 'Cecil' Settle.
Front Row L-R:
Of the three girls I don't remember the first one, the second is Barbara Sampies (affectionately known as 'The Bridge Barracuda), next is Sue Gregory (WAP) & Fred the Red holding John Thow's leg (laying down in front).
Back Row L-R:
Glyn Winttle, Jim Barlow, Unknown guy behind the blond girl or the girl herself (Jokers 7), Unknown Engineer (he used to share a toga with one of the J7s, when he wasn't blasting his foot off with a jetting gun!!), Andy Jackson with his head behind Tony 'Sid Vicious', top part of Stewy 'The Bear' Drew's head, Chris 'Flowery' Lawton, Sonia Johnson, Phil Aldridge, Alan 'TT' Conlin, Unknown, Sally (Ents Staff) the blond girl at the back, Unknown WAP, Barbara Sampies, Hugh Leslie, Mick Jack with his head behind a number of passengers?, Brian Benzie, Dr Liz Fischl (Baby Doc), Unknown & Kerry Fox.
Front Row L-R:
Unknown, John 'Sasquash' Guy, Sean ' Plug' Atkinson, Me, 'Scary Joe' Scaramuzza, My Dad, My Mum, Unknown, Unknown, Charlie Hill, Dave Shimmons, Sue (WAP), Marty Elliot, Rosy Irwin, 'Young' Don Oliver, Dr Peter Mainer, Unknown Jokers seven girl & Unknown Photog.
Back Row L-R:
Chris 'Flowery' Lawton, Alan 'TT' Conlin, Sonia Johnson, Unknown Baby Doc, Me, Dave Shimmons & Sean 'Plug' Atkinson.
Front Row L-R:
Unknown Photog, another Unknown Photog, 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown, Mary Walby (Nurse) & Simon Love (Deck Officer).
Ian Settle believes the chap at the bottom right named by Chris Lawton as Simon Horne is actually Simon Love, the son of the late Captain Love. Can anyone confirm either? John Rennie has confirmed it is Simon Love.
Oriana Engine Room Group Photos
1978 Chris thinks it was 1980
Back Row L-R:
Cliff Merwood, Dave Grant, could this be Steve Hockborn??, Andy 'Jacko' Jackson, Unknown, Mark ?, Ian 'Cecil' Settle, 'Young' Don Oliver, Dave 'Biffo' Smith (Engineer).
Next Row L-R:
Stewy 'The Bear' Drew, Charlie Hill, Kenny Gillespie, 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown, Roddy McConnell, Me, Dave Shimmons & John 'Sasquash' Guy.
Next Row L-R:
Could this be a young Mike 'Sweaty' Pryor?, Tony 'Sid Vicious', Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Ian Stoker & a Unknown guy I cannot recognise behind Don Coles head.
Next Row L-R:
Unknown, Chris 'Flowery' Lawton, 'Scary Joe' Scaramusa, Ken Worstfold, Ken Willey, Don 'Porky' Cole, John Thow & Mike 'Motor Mouth' Ward.
Font Row L-R:
Eric Smith & Mick Jack.
Back Row L-R:
John 'Blaster' Blaskewicz, Terry ?? (Elect), Unknown, Cliff Merwood, 'Fritz' Fitzpatrick, Unknown & Toby Tomkins in glasses.
Next Row L-R:
Unknown first two guys, John 'Sasquash, Guy, Roddy McConnell, Me, 'JAG' Lewis, Unknown, Unknown .
Next Row L-R:
Pat 'The Hat' Gallagher, Eric 'Trichian' Taylor, 'Flipper', Jim Angles, 'Supersonic', Tony (Elect) & Unknown .
Next Row L-R:
Steve Stroud, Unknown, Kenny Gillespie & Dave Jewkes.
Front Row L-R:
Mick Goulding, Chris 'Mutley' Freeman, Dave Garry, John Bates, Willy Dempster (Chief Eng), John 'The Bopper' Englefield, Ken Worsfold & Andy 'Jacko' Jackson.
1977/78
Back Row L-R:
Pat 'The Hat' Gallagher, Malcolm 'Malc-the-Alc' Orr, 'Paddy' (Elect), Tommy Hunter & Unknown.
Next Row (right of the picture) L-R:
Don 'Porky' Cole, Martin 'Chopper' Harris, Unknown guy in glasses, Alex Jamison, Unknown.
Next Row L-R:
Dave Garry??, Mick ' Slaver' Everson, Chris 'Muttly' Freeman, Dave Jewkes, Dave (Engineer), Unknown, Steve Green, Dave 'Wizard' Watson, Unknown, Me, Dave Grant & Peter Bennett.
Next Row L-R:
The first three guys I cannot remember, Lim 'Sheep Dip' Mort, John Bates, Trevor 'Biffo' Baff & Pete ' Goldfish' Gillespie.
Front Row L-R:
Aiden 'Jumping Jack' Graham, Arthur Bownass, Unknown & Unknown.
Oriana Main Switchboard.
L-R:
Terry? (Welsh Elect), 'Supersonic' (Elect), Tony? Me, Unknown, Big Jim Angles, Eric'Trician' Taylor (him of the 'Baby Blues'), Andy Jackson & 'Flipper'.
In our day everyone had to have a nickname (Goldfish was the master at developing them, he probably even named himself). Flipper (far right), who was not at sea very long as I recollect, gained his when convince by us all that it was 'good form' to take part in passenger Fancy Dress Night. Unfortunately for him (but fortunately for us) all he had was a full set of scuba gear. I can still picture him in full gear (including flippers) disappearing out of the Engineers alleyway on the way to passenger decks. Luckily the facemask and snorkel prevented any concrete identification by the, then, senior staff.
1978 - Oriana Main Switchboard.
Back Row L-R:
Me, Ian (Cecil) Settle, 'Young' Don Oliver, Ian Stoker.
Front Row L-R:
Andy 'Jacko' Jackson, Mike 'Motor Mouth' Ward, 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown, Don 'Porky' Cole & Dave 'Shim' Shimmons.
Oriana Seadogs 1977-84
Oriana Officer Review Shows.
Back Row L-R:
Unknown WAP's head (Deck Officer??), Mike Moulin? Jeff 'V-Block' Talbert, I think is Paul Morgan (Deck Officer), Cannot identify anyone else on the back row apart from perhaps 'Ned' Kelly (Elect) and tall Ian 'Cecil' Settle with the glasses, then perhaps 'Fritz' Fitzpatrick (just behind the WAP), Ian Stoker just behind Fritz?.
Front Row L-R:
Unknown first two lady WAP's, Mike Fatchen, Sonia Johnson, Unknown, John 'Sasquash' Guy, no one else up to Me, Andy 'Jacko' Jackson, 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown, Caroline (WAP) & Sue Allen (WAP).
Forefront L-R:
Roger White (CD) centre & Capt Malcolm Rushan.
Officers Reviews on Oriana were a rare (annual or biannual) event. To say they were amateur was to put it mildly but the very fact of this, plus the sometimes chaotic renditions (usually cased in great part by the effects of too much 'Dutch Courage') made them extremely popular with the passengers. Our MC was usually Roger White Cruise Director (pictured centre) who put heart and sole (and on one or two occasions his job) on the line for them.
The finale shown above reminds me of a similar line-up which included many hot and sweaty engineers. This followed a not unusual blackout aboard Oriana which occurred in the middle of the Review during one of Paddy Clare's famous Swan Lake's (Paddy was heard to say, at the point when the lights went out, 'stay quite you fools it's only a fuse'!!!). The memory of all those cowboys, ballerinas and various scrawny Apollo's running around a dark and steaming engine room will forever haunt me. As I'm sure it will the, then, Chief Engineer (Tony Mazonowicz) who I remember asked me in the midst to all this, and with me in full cowboy gear and makeup, if I was part of the show and if so I should hurry up and get back on deck as the finale was about to start.
Oriana's 'Hand me down my pair of jeans' country & western band.
L-R:
Duncan 'Trog', 'Fritz' Fitzpatrick, Me, Ian Stoker & 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown
Rodger White was game for most things we wanted however I could never persuade him to allow the 'hand me down my pair of jeans' band (shown above) to perform a tricky little ditty which began 'Its forty below and I don't give a f….., got a heater in my truck and were off to the rodeo'. Or a similar song entitled 'I'm a B……d!. These we had painstakingly copied and rehearsed from a tape obtained by 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown. The rendition of either one would have been a fine, if final, end to some sparkling careers.
The rather large hat Bob is wearing in the 'hand me down' sketch was often worn by the late Captain John Young during his Review renditions.
Oriana Pirates sketch.
L-R:
Me complete with shoulder parrot, Ian Stoker, Caroline (WAP), 'Capt' Andy 'Jacko' Jackson & far right 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown.
The 'One finger, one thumb' sketch
L-R:
Jeff 'V-Block' Talbert, 'Young Don' Oliver, 'Fitz' Fitzpatrick (standing), Unknown, I think the final member might be John 'Sasquash' Guy.
The 'Swan Lake' sketch.
The Late great Paddy Clare (he is the one in the tutu and underpants!!) in the final throws of his immortal Dying Swan portrayal onboard Oriana. God bless you Paddy, no-one ever did it better.
Oriana Seadogs 1977-84
Oriana Officer Wardroom Fancy Dress
'Vickers & Tarts'
Back Row L-R:
Some Unknown 'Tart', Me, Andy 'Jacko' Jackson, Mike Fatchen with 'Scary Joe' Scaramuzza just behind him, Sue (WAP), Could be Duncan 'Trog' in the hat, Unknown WAP in the black dress, Sue Allen (WAP) the blond girl at the back, Dr Andy Iddles, Dave Grant, Pat Huchinson (Nurse), Dave Shimmons, Unknown WAP, 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown & Unknown Photog.
Seated:
Unknown & Caroline (WAP).
Back Row L-R:
Andy 'Jacko' Jackson, again could be Duncan 'Trog' with 'Scary Joe' Scaramuzza behind him, Sue Allen (WAP), Unknown WAP, Dr Andy idles, Dave Grant, Pat Hutchinson (Nurse) & Dave Shimmons.
Seated:
Caroline (WAP).
Back Row L-R:
Unknown Engineer, Me, Back of 'Scary Joe' Scaramusa, Mike Fatchen, Duncan 'Trog'?? Unknown WAP, Sue Allen (WAP). Dr Andy Iddles.
Seated:
Caroline WAP.
L-R:
Dr Andy Iddles, 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown, Unknown but inquisitive WAP, Dave Grant & 'Scary Joe' Scaramuzza.
L-R:
Dr Andy Iddles, 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown, Unknown WAP, Dave Grant.
L-R:
Andy 'Jacko' Jackson in borrowed Tele Op uniform (but I think the shoes were his!), 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown molesting the unfortunate Unknown WAP.
L-R:
Paul 'Mamby' Williams, uncomfortably attractive Engineer, 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown & Dave Grant.
L-R:
Mmmmm!! Paul 'Mamby' Williams (Eng) & Unknown Purser.
Oriana Seadogs 1977-84
'Rock & Roll'
L-R:
Me, Paul 'Peem' Mead & 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown. Boy did we have the moves!
L-R:
Me, Paul 'Peem' Mead & 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown in close harmony.
L-R:
Me & Paul 'Peem' Mead just before being thrown out for making an ungodly row..
L-R:
'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown, Chris 'Flowery' Lawton and a sartorial Mr Cool Charlie Hill.
The late great Paul 'Peem' Mead. The glasses and moustache were false. The nose I'm not sure.
L-R:
Back of 'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown's head, Chris 'Flowery' Lawton & 'Peace Brother' Wood.
L-R:
'Ned' Kelly & Peter Kennington (aka Lazarus or Laz)(VO).
L-R:
Sue Allen (WAP) with garter & Caroline (WAP).
L-R:
'Ned' Kelly in background & Bee Gee 'Fritz' Fitzpatrick.
'Monsters'
L-R:
The "unknown dead person" has now been named by himself as Iain Reeves, Hairy-Scary Me, Caroline (WAP), Timmy 'Tampon' Wride in glasses & the remainder are unknown. (Lazarus with a ring in his nose, the minstrel is "Fletch")
'Silly Hat'
Back Row L-R:
Andy 'Lightning' Ball, Unknown, Cliff Merwood, Me, 3 x Unknown, 'Ozram' Purser, Mick Goulding, Unknown WAP & two Unknown men.
Middle Row L-R:
Unknown Engineer in beanie hat, 2 x Unknown Jokers Seven girls, Eric 'Trician' Taylor, 3 x Unknown, Andy 'Jacko' Jackson & Sandy Gunn Joker's Seven girl.
Front Row L-R:
Unknown Photog, Anne-Marie (Nurse) & Unknown Photog.
Oriana Seadogs 1977-84
Various Cabin Party Photos
L-R:
Trevor 'Pellet' Atkins, Mike (Elect), Paul 'Cooper Dome' Cooper, Me, Don (RO) & Dougie Barr.
L-R:
Me, 2 x Unknown WAP's, Barbara Sampies & Roddy McConnell.
L-R:
Cliff Merwood, Eric 'Trichian' Taylor, Dave Shimmons & Me (the eyes must have been a camera fault).
Back Row L-R:
Pete 'Goldfish' Gillespie, 3 x Unknown Engineers, Chris Trainer, 'Monster' (Elect), Dougie Beverage & Dave Turner.
Front Row L-R:
Dave 'Wizard' Watson & Me.
Back Row L-R:
Dave Shimmons, bit of Andy 'Jacko' Jackson, Trevor 'Biffo' Baff, Cliff Merwood, John Elder.
Front Row L-R:
Eric 'Trichian' Taylor, Lin 'Sheep Dip' Mort, Steve Stroud & Toby Tomkins.
Mick 'Slaver' Everson & Kenny Gillespie.
Back Row L-R:
Dave Oaks, Malcolm 'Malc-the-Alc' Orr, Pete 'Goldfish' Gillespie with Alan 'Plumbob' Plummer behind him.
Middle Row L-R:
Unknown with beard, Unknown with hand in front of face, Paul 'Blue' Robinson, Unknown Deck Officer, Tommy Hunter with Eric'Trichian' Taylor underneath him, Me & Dave Shimmons.
Front:
Nick 'Meesh' Williams.
Dave Oaks & Malcolm 'Malc-the-Alc' Orr.
Back Row L-R:
Dave 'Wizard' Watson, Pat 'The Hat' Gallagher, Unknown Engineer & Paul 'Blue' Robinson.
Front Row L-R:
Trevor 'Biffo' Baff, Malcolm 'Malc-the-Alc' Orr, John Elder, Alan 'Plumbob' Plummer, Dave Shimmons, Lin 'Sheep Dip' Mort & Unknown Engineer.
Back Row L-R:
Trevor 'Biffo' Baff in Fez, Malcolm 'Malc-the-Alc' Orr, Pete 'Goldfish' Gillespie. John Elder in bowler hat, Paul 'Blue' Robinson & Dave Grant.
Front Row L-R:
Tommy Hunter, the less unattractive looking end of Howie Pool & Peter Bennet.
Tommy Hunter & Paul 'Blue' Robinson.
Back Row L-R:
Tommy Hunter, John Elder, Me & Roddy McConnell when he was a cadet.
Row L-R:
Slightly better looking end of Howie Pool & Trevor 'Biffo' Baff.
In front:
Dave 'Wizard' Watson & Chris Trainer
In uniform. L-R:
'Cuddly Bob' Ashdown, Dave 'Buster' Brown, Me, Duncan 'Trog' (friendly) Engineer. All other are passengers.
Tommy Hunter I think with me in straw hat.
The working end!!
For all those other old sad engineers and electricians here are one or two photos of the main switchboard of Oriana. Old and dim technology compared to today but bright with memories. One would be justified in thinking that all we ever did was stand around having our photos taken or whooping it up on deck or in a Wardroom and in truth we did a fair bit of that. However the good times were only made all the more precious by the often hard slogs between.
That Photo Shoot!
Oriana was the set for a number of TV and advertising projects. This was from an advert shoot taken in Aussie.
Paul 'Blue' Robinson being made-up for his Show-Biz début.
Malcolm 'Malc-the-Alc' Orr likewise being made-up for his Show-Biz début.
Paul & Malcolm make Show-Biz history.
Some of the camera team hard at work.
All Shore!!
Back Row. L-R:
Mick Jack, Pete 'Goldfish' Gillespie, Andy Jackson, Cliff Merwood, 2 x Unknown Engineers, Dave Grant, Kenny Gillespie, Dave Shimmons & Unknown.
Font Row. L-R:
Sean 'Plug' Atkinson & Unknown Electrician in head-lock.
Oriana lifeboat on it's way too or from a beach Bar-B-Que
L-R:
Gavin Ash, Cliff Merwood, Dave Shimmons & (I believe) Dave Turner (2nd Eng).
Same party with Shim, Cliff (another good mate of mine) and a VB Bitter (yet another good mate of mine).
L-R:
Unknown Engineer, Dave 'Wizard' Watson, John Elder & Me with Dougie Beverage on top.
L-R:
Tommy Hunter, Pete 'Goldfish' Gillespie & Me.
The boys get time in Disney Land.
L-R:
Me, Sean 'Plug' Atkinson & 'Young Don' Oliver.
In Disney Land Chris 'Flowery' Lawton meets a flying pig (Chris is in the funny hat).
In Disney Land: L-R:
Sean 'Plug' Atkinson, Me & Chris 'Flowery' Lawton. The 'Mark Twain' is in worse condition than the Oriana.
In Disney Land we waited for hours to get on the, then, brand new Magic Mountain ride. Unfortunately we only managed to get halfway up the first ramp when the thing blacked out (typical!!). We were stuck like this for twenty minutes before being released and let out as the ride was out-of-order for the rest of the day.
L-R:
'Fritz' Fitzpatrick (just), Dave Grant. Tony 'Sid Vicious', Sean 'Plug' Atkinson, Chris 'Flowery' Lawton, 'Young Don' Oliver, Sue Allen (WAP) & Mary Walby (Nurse).
Oriana Ocean Bar.
L-R:
Alan 'Plumbob' Plummer (partially concealed), Malcolm 'Malc-the-Alc' Orr, Trevor 'Biffo' Baff, Big Tommy Hunter, Dave 'The Mexican Moustache' Shimmons & Me
It's not generally known but Dave Shimmons originally joined the sea sporting a rather fine 'viva Zapata' style moustache. As can be seen in this rare early photo above (that's Dave with my hand on his shoulder). This was until one night early on in his career when some wags thought it would be a jolly jape to wait until Dave was asleep and then shave half of it off.
The following morning after some more sober reflection and feeling somewhat contrite it was felt that some solution needed to be found to massage Shims understandable ire. Admitting that what had happened had been wrong was, of course, out of the question so it was decided to convince Dave that he actually looked much better without the offending hair growth. This was so successful that the white lie still remains effective to this day.
Oriana Midships Bar
L-R:
Paul 'Blue' Robinson, Mick 'Slaver' Everson, Trevor 'Biffo' Baff, 'Little John' Elder, Me & Dave Shimmons (this could have been the very night Dave lost his magnificent facial growth).
Dave Shim and I are still close friends and see each other regularly (leave plans permitting). These meetings often end in a solemn and befuddled reliving of times past and the bemoaning of the present whippersnappers and a general 'putting the world to rights' (much to the amusement of our long suffering wives). However would we ever begrudge the accumulated sixty years of sea life? Not one second!!
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