HMS/M A5 MEMORIAL VISIT

• Dudley Davenport
• Bob Faragher
• Glyn Stevens.

Friday 11th Feb 2005

0600 Stevie and I boarded Train for Manchester.

0601 Train set off. Wrong Train!

0605 Arrived Askam.

0608 Shook work oppo who lives in Askam, got lift to Ulverston.

0620 Met a surprised Dudley on Ulverston station. In time for a burn.

0625 Finally on the right train.

0850 Arrived Manchester, booked in after Dud’s had some problem explaining to security that he was ‘clean’.

1025 After all this excitement, we needed a pint or two. We therefore had a liquid breakfast before the flight at 1100.

That ended phase one of our adventure. We arrived in Cork eventually congratulating ourselves on our resourcefulness. We were accommodated in the Cork travelodge which was quite adequate for our needs.

Afternoon was spent investigating our nearest watering hole. In the evening we attended the Memorial dinner which was excellent. The venue was The Rochestown Hotel, and was quite magnificent. It was attended by many dignitaries including John Gregory, Cork RNA Sec, and CPO O’Keefe of the INS who started this whole event some years ago. The mayor of Cork, Royal Navy officers, and senior officers from the Irish Naval Service.

Once again we met and enjoyed the company of our friends from Belfast and made many new ones. We were all quite surprised at the number of people who attended.

Saturday Feb 12th 2005

Investigated Cork watering holes for most of the day. Dudley made some new friends amongst the local populous, although they were definitely a bit suspect. He certainly attracts them!

Evening we had been invited to the Cork Garda club. This was somewhat alcoholic. However, once again we made many new friends and met some old ones. The high light of our evening was when a particularly attractive young Irish girl sang some Irish songs to us. Not to be out done Stevie gave us his rendition of Bonny Dundee, It would have brought a tear to a glass eye.

Sunday Feb 13th 2005

Up early (Hung over) to attend church ceremony. However, not early enough. The Derry lads who had offered us a lift in their coach had already gone. We got a taxi to Cobh Church. The driver took us on a grand tour of County Cork and charged us 42 Euro, however, he had the good grace to let us off the odd 2 Euro!

Both the Church service and the ceremony at the graveside were extremely well done and very moving. The only draw back for us in blazers and flannels was the ice-cold wind.

After the ceremony was concluded, we tried to get Her Majesty’s Navy to give us a lift. However, they must have something against Submariners since they refused to allow us on their transport. We were eventually taken pity on by the Derry coach who delivered us back to Cork. We had one success though. With the able assistance of Fiona Barlow, we managed to talk David into carting the Standard back to the UK for us, thus pleasing Dudley no end! Sorry about that Dave.

Sunday afternoon was something of a blank and we can leave that to the imagination of the reader.

Monday 14th Feb 2005

Relatively uneventful return home somewhat knackered.

Briefly, the visit was excellent and we were all glad we attended. We would certainly repeat it, only with slightly better planning.

Bob Faragher on behalf of our Trio (The three Amigos)

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