Bob
Chambers, Mark The Bean Sawyer, Kevin Timms, Geordie John Atkinson
(kneeling), Dave Blackfoot Whitehand.
Dave
recalls;
The
dot on Kevin’s forehead is not some sort of Indian face paint nor has he
been shot with some special sort of tip-ex gun. But when you think this is
a run ashore to a beach in Pago Pago, just maybe the fashion conscious
Kevin deserves some sort of retribution.
Here
is a bit of a special photo as it is the only one that I have with
‘Mildred’ in … I feel a story coming on.
We
sailed out to Sydney one man short and had been told that a replacement
called David Roper was on his way out to Sydney and would be waiting when
we arrived. We arrived and whilst having our breaky in the Duty Mess Room
after standby, it was debated and decided that if David Roper was a big
bruiser then we would call him George if not it would be Mildred. These
names had been picked because at the time a comedy called George and
Mildred was very popular on the TV. A very nice David Roper looked round
the door and said in a very quiet voice ‘Hi, I’m the new boy’. From
that day on Mildred was named. “Mildred” is the one wearing glasses
standing behind me giving an admiring look at ‘Mick the Slav’. (Of
course the one big problem is that nicknames live with you forever.)
Pete
Woods,
Les Diffey, Mick Everson, Paul Clasby, Charles Oxley, John Russell, Andy
Jackson, John Hammond, John Speed, Paul Robinson, Mark Sawyer,
Dave
Whitehand, Super Mac, Alan Conlin, Celia Cowan.
Bottom
left is Dave Jewkes with Ian Walters (the mate) above him.
Steve Stroud is
on the far right at the back and Kenny Gillespie is the one with the beer
in his hand. The one wearing glasses, Dave thinks, is Cliff Merwood. Maybe
you could confirm or deny that Cliff.
John
Elder believes the guy in the middle with the glasses is a Welsh Junior
called Lloyd Griffiths.
Here
is a photograph taken in the Oriana midships bar in about 1977, I am sad
to say that I cannot recall the names of the other people, I am on the
left, there are 2 WAPs, one AP and one 3rd Officer, if anybody can fill in
the names this would be much appreciated. Tony has advised the 3rd Officer
is Dave Pembridge, I met him again at a dinner party locally in West Sussex a couple of weeks ago, he is now Captain Dave Pembridge of the latest Oriana.
Tim
Lees has kindly met the challenge and come up with the following names;
The
WAP on the left has the surname Ferguson but I forget her first name. The AP in the centre is Paul Brady
and the WAP in the centre is Anja Van Den Bosch (now Stileman) and the WAP on the right is
Frankie Gay (now Blyth)
Here's
myself (on the left) with a WAP whose name escapes me and R/O Colum Keogh
on Oriana around 1977. I understand that Colum is still with P&O today
as a CETO.
This
photo was taken in 1978 and I think there’s only one guy I recognise and
that’s Mick Everson 3rd from the right back row. Don
Cole tells me he’s the one 2nd from the right back row next to Mick.
Groucho tells me the “thumbs up” guy at the back
is Peter Bennett who actually went out with Groucho’s ex wife before he
did. He also tells me the guy kneeling on the left is Pat Gallagher (aka
Pat the Hat) and the young guy at the other end of that row is an ex-cadet
called Dave. Thanks Groucho. Further information from Don reveals:
L-R Back:
Garry
Woods (aka Trigger), Tommy Hunter, Peter Bennett, Mick Everson,
Don Cole
and the last we don’t know.
Front:
Pat
Gallagher (aka Pat the Hat), ??, Dai ? and Dave ?
Dave
Jewkes informs me that the guy next to Pat the Hat is Trevor Baff who was
an electrician same as Don and next to Trevor is Sheep Dip! Possibly
called Lynsey Morf … ???? Any other offers?