HM Naval Base Clyde - 12th September 2005

Sounds pretty formal but it’s just the start of a very informal visit by members of the Barrow in Furness branch to Faslane.

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Monday 12th September, the fuel strike was looming and we had already lost one or two of our normally intrepid band of “Brigands” due to take the road north. By Tuesday we lost another and I gave the remainder a phone call to give them the opportunity to review the plan.

“No don’t cancel we all still want to go” was the resounding cry. So the now 8 members of the raiding party prepared themselves for departure on Friday 16th September. Needless to say there were absolutely no signs of any fuel shortages.

Once the party was finally assembled, not as simple as it seems, but with patience we managed it “just” - Stevie took the helm and guided the party north and over the border where we made a halt to replenish tanks and set the trim. Then we continued under John’s guidance to the coastal hamlet of Helensburgh, which was a mandatory resting post to take on even further supplies before the boarding party made their first sortie into the base.

Bob Cantley was there, as ever, waiting for the waifs and stragglers to arrive. But all he got was US. We were all issued with dog tags giving us access to the most top secret areas of the base; ie the bars, galleys, accommodation and the old wrens quarters.

At the WO and SR’s mess we were impressed with their efficiency as we all very quickly were allocated keys and cabins, met up with George “gracie” Gerc and Jim McMasters the co-hosts for the weekend and were invited to join them for a  complementary ‘swalley’ in the lower bar.  How could we possibly refuse!

So much for their efficiency as many of the keys did not fit the cabins allocated, but laid back and carefree we had a leisurely meal and finally all got sorted out. We found that the ‘ladies’ from the Whitehaven and the Scottish RNA’s were billeted in the old wrens quarters so immediately took that off our list of priority visits.

On the Friday evening we attended the West of Scotland branch meeting and were made very welcome. We were of course very conspicuous as the Jolly Roger was clearly displayed at the front of the hall for all to see that the “Barrow Branch” were in attendance.

Some jokes and dits, a tot and a little bit of business (which included our verbal invitation to attend the K13 memorial weekend in the future – more about that separately) made for a very convivial meeting, with Capt Steve Upright in attendance.

After the meeting and a number of group photos round the ‘Jolly Roger’ we adjourned to the lower bar to further relax and acclimatise. One or two of the more adventurous decided to take a hackney into ‘the burgh’ to see if the old haunts had changed! I’ll leave them to tell you any juicy stories about that.

Saturday; breakfast then visits to our host submarine, HMS Sovereign, who were about to load fish ready for work up, sadly recounting their hard luck that they were preparing for a world cruise to finish off their last commission – it’s a tough life. There were also trips on the police launch and to the electronic shooting range. Around lunchtime we accepted an invitation from the Junior Rates mess and went for a tot and a few drinks with them. Their mess, the NAFFI, Banks etc are now in portacabins in the old car park while the ongoing accommodation upgrades are still carrying on.

Note: we were advised that is very unlikely that these will be advanced enough for an Association reunion before 2008 at the earliest!

After the JR’s some members again hit the burgh in pre-arranged transport, on a ‘rabbit run’ we were told! Others decided to take a short siesta to reconvene for the evening meal ready to partake in the mess ‘quiz night’. 

Some made it (5); Stevie arrived just before 2300 complaining he had not got a shake. The other two, who shall remain nameless, had a really long sleep and were not seen again until the next morning. Ian, John, Ted, Ginge and Mitch, however, represented the branch at the quiz and were placed a very creditable second – being told by the quiz master before hand that there was no way we could possibly win as ‘he’ set the rules. The first place was uncannily awarded to the ladies from RNA Whitehaven who had presented a bottle of pussers to the West of Scotland branch the previous evening. It was definitely not a fix !!
After that we individually collapsed, at various times, threatening to be up bright and early for ‘breakfast’ or did we say ‘brunch’.

Sunday was subdued – our numbers gradually increased but we had to go and skirmish to locate the last few before starting our journey home.
Wait a mo !  It doesn’t finish there !

The three ladies from Whitehaven asked for a lift into Helensburgh Rail Station and of course we obliged. Stopping by the Station, allowing them to disembark, they turned and said all their goodby’s and asked for their luggage which they thought ‘we’ had put on the bus! What?

I dropped the lads in town, for a pint, and ran them back to the base. Meanwhile their luggage had been noticed in the mess and was on route to Helensburgh, we missed them, and returned to the burgh to find them, only to find Jim and co. had now gone back to the base to find us! Blow that!  I dropped the ladies by the station gave them the telephone number of the mess and wished them an ‘uneventful’ journey home to Whitwhaven.  (That’s another story).

I went to pick the lads up next to the Royal only to find them waiting outside as the pubs did not open until 1230. Shame!

That’s it - home - tired but happy.

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