Blackpool and Fylde Branch Visit - 2005

How many times have we postponed this visit? It must be three this year at least. They have been in the new venue at the Blackpool Sea Cadet HQ for a year now and this was our first visit to that venue. But we made it at last.

After visits to the Northern Ireland Branch and the Central Lancashire Branch, then receiving a visit from the South Kent Branch to Barrow this made the fourth visit in the month of July. Surely this is a record?

Our President John Hart and Secretary Barrie Downer, together with Ted Budgen and Brian Downie and me formed the pirate skirmishing party on this occasion taking the Jolly Roger with us yet again.

The navigator found his way to Bispham and the Sea Cadet HQ where we were welcomed by our old friends of the Blackpool and Fylde Branch. It was good to see them all again and renew acquaintances. Gerry, Monty, George, Spike, Robby were all there and many others who we were soon the best of friends with. Things were going quite well until the social secretary realised that while he had brought the Jolly Roger, he had forgotten the camera !!! But being a resourceful guy he made a couple of phone calls and a "Houlding Sprog" came out from Fleetwood after borrowing a neighbours camera and played David Bailey.

The picture above was duly sent to us addressed to the "Sun Dodgers", such cheek from a General Service, Skimmer, Target of a sprog. But no matter we got the picture to prove the visit by the Barrow Pirates to yet another branch of the Submariners Association. Thanks Brian.

Jeff Rushworth their chairman, was absent due to recovery from an operation and Syd Raynes, the Social Secretary was also adrift but we passed on the best wishes from Barrow to all Blackpool members and gave them copies of our advertising posters for the BBQ and the Ladies Night Dinner Dance promising them a warm reception if they could make it to either or both. They in turn invited any of the branch to their annual bash which was due to be held at the end of November as usual, not in

Blackpool at the Central WM Club but in Thornton at the Ashley Club. (Note we have now received this invitation for Friday 2nd December list available from the September meeting).

We shared stories with many of the lads, one of whome told us of his time in Barrow when he had just joined up with and was a run ashore buddy of James Magennis VC.

At a fairly reasonable hour we took Cinderella leave and got home to Barrow around midnight.

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