Les Diffey - Engineer with P&O

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Les Diffey's Memories

Les Diffey

These photos are the result of my incessant pestering of Les' widow Pat. Any feeling of guilt for the harassment has been quelled by the brilliant photos themselves. Pat has asked if we could put names to the people so she can relate to the people Les often used to talk about. How can we refuse such a request so I'd really appreciate your help with those people I'm unable to name.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

The famous Crossing the Line ceremony with Les Diffey about to be plunged into the depths to appease King Neptune. The only other person I can name for sure is the guy in the red T shirt on the right who is my fellow Scunthonian Richard Reubin (Baby Doc).

Garry Stewart believes the guy on the left is Lewie (lecky) and the guy with the curly hair and face half hidden is Gavin Ash.

Jewkesy believes that chap on the left is Martin Reid (1st officer), made captain and now retired.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

Les with our old mate John Speed (aka Speedy).

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

What a great picture of two great mates, Garry Stewart (aka Aussie Jock) and the infamous Alan Conlin (aka TT).

Dai Griffin has kindly done a restoration job on this photo and what a good job he's done to.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

What a great group.

L-R Standing:

A very skinny Dave Jewkes (aka Jewksie), Paul Dixon (aka Tex), Harry Adamson (aka Dirty Harry), the fabulous Les Diffey.

L-R Kneeling:

Glyn Dodson (aka Twinkle Toes) and John Atkinson (aka Geordie John).

Dave Jewkes has named Tex for us, I can't believe I missed that.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

This photo was taken on the aft deck of Oriana during the famous FO incident. That's Les with Geoff Heap (aka Groucho). The binoculars were to see me 500' up in a light aircraft hired so I could film the ship leaving Fremantle. Alas the plan was foiled by a certain 4th engineer during a bunkering cock up.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

Les as I'll always remember him with that magnificent head of hair like a lion's mane. What a fabulous guy and such a waste that he's no longer with us.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

I've left the best 'til last. Even though there's a few I can't name the last four named are four of the most special people I've ever met.

L-R seated front:

Nigel Cook (aka Tiny), Les Diffey, ??, Steve Allen (aka Slimey), Andy Whitham (Deck Cadet), Glyn Dodson and the gorgeous Celia Cowan.

Back:

John Speed.

Andy Ball kindly named Slimey and Andy Whitham. Phil Archer also confirmed Steve Allen.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

Les standing on Oriana's port prop.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

The likely lads ... Dave Oakes (Oakesy) and Mark Sawyer (Bean).

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

I'm sure that's Super Mac with definitely Geoff Heap (Groucho) and myself (I recognise those bathers).

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

What a fabulous picture ... front to back is me, Super Mac, Groucho, Alan Conlin (TT) and Garry Stewart (Aussie Jock).

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

Bottom row left to right is Groucho, Aussie Jock and me on my back. On top left to right is TT, Les and Super Mac.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

That's definitely Bean and me and I think the guy on the right is Glyn Dodson.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

Me, Bean and Groucho and the magnificent Oriana taken in Puerto Rico I think but I stand corrected.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

That's TT with foot on the bonnet of the Ford Escort but I've no idea who the other two are.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

God, I remember this day on Antigua Beach like it was yesterday. That's John Speed (Speedy) bending over on the far left with Mick Everson (Slaver) in front of Speedy. The Bean with the red strip shorts, me behind Bean, Mike Jack with his back to the camera sitting on TT who's sitting on Les and Groucho on the far right. Just look at us all fagging!!!

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

Other than Les peering around the desk and Jim Powell (Jungle Jim) front middle between the two girls I don't have a clue. Dave Jewkes has quite rightly pointed out that's Dave George behind Jungle Jim.

From left: Malcolm ?, Robyn ?, Aneurin Griffith (Griff), ??, Nice John (possibly)(I don't think so Griff). Centre in red hat is Derek ?, far right at the back is Malcolm Owen.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

The man himself.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

Again, only Les in the middle I know.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

A great photo of Chris Hall, Les and Harry Adamson (Dirty Harry) on Oriana's plates.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

Les and Dirty Harry.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

TT and Mickey on the piss!

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

Dave Jewkes informs me that the gentleman in this photo is Ian Walters who is now the captain on Arcadia.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

I don't know these two either, or the guy or the girl :)

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

Slaver on the left looking very well groomed!

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

The stunner in the white dress is the lovely Pat Diffey. Pat has asked the question "is this Steve Hill?". Can someone let us know please. Jewkesy believes it is Steve Hill but not 100% sure about it but he's pretty certain that's Angie Carr (retired Captain Mike Carr's wife) behind him.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

Pat has named this photo John Bunbury Richardson but I'm not sure which one he is.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

This is Les and Pat with the Band.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

This is Les on the left and Pat in the middle. Pat thinks one of the others is Pete Bennett. Jewkesy confirms the one with his leg in the air is Pete Bennett.

It was taken in 1977 in Cadiz and Pat recalls;

"The bunkering in Cadiz was a unique experience. Les arranged for me and June (an Australian girl I'd met) to walk the plank from the bowels of the ship over to the bunker barge where upon the captain treated us to Spanish omelette and red wine."

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

Pat and Les of course ... what a magic couple.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

That's Les looking very smart and handsome in the white Tux with Pat in front of him. This photo was taken during a cruise on Oriana in 1995 and was a wish fulfilled as Les had made a promise to himself that he would do it if he beat the cancer.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

This photo 'boys n their toys', was taken in America when Les was away on business working for BSI, a major aerospace company. Of course you just have to be photographed in a fighter jet!! This was taken just prior to him becoming unwell for the second time in late 1997.

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

Above is a current picture of their sons Chris and Matt.

Pat adds;

"Chris is the eldest and will be 28 in August, I think you will be able to see a lot of Les in him. Matt is 25 and has Les' easy going nature. Les lives on in both of them daily."

Courtesy of Pat Diffey

I'm lost for words at this point and doing this has reduced me to tears as it did when I fist saw the photos a few days ago.

Pat, I truly admire your strength. You must be very thankful to have such wonderful strapping lads by your side. Thanks for all your efforts putting this together for us. I only wish I'd started this site earlier so Les could have known what he meant to so many people.

Les' Seadogs Departed section.