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May 2010 Dear Friends and Members, This morning I awoke at 4am, I was cold, I had a rick in my neck and my pillow was wet. Dawn's early light lit up the fore cabin of RASC Garth as I made my way up the sloping cabin floor to sit in the dry on the opposite bunk. Last evening a steady stream of visitors came on board and many admired the accommodation and supposed my pleasure in living in such surroundings- how little they know! Yesterday we left Sandwich Town Quay where the boat has been moored for two weeks, and came a mile or two to a charming Yacht and Motor Club built around a large Dutch Barge. There were tented areas, a Bouncy Castle, food cooked on the 'spit' and a wonderful cake table (where I purchased a chocolate cake for a few pounds). The entertainment was provided by a threesome who played and sang 'sixties' music in a kind of Roy Orbeson manner, I liked it. Later in the evening we repaired to the surprisingly large bar on the Barge and watched the antics of the young and not so young at the Disco. My large glass of wine cost just £2.20, but as I had to walk to the boat without lighting, I decided that one was enough. I left the Barge and headed the two hundred yards to the moorings, it was raining heavily, I ate a piece of cake and went to bed. This was the most pleasant day, the vessel looked her best, she was 'dressed overall' the weapons were on their mountings and she was flying the British Army Ensign. Meeting so many people saying so many nice things was a delight. |
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April 2010
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February 2010
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NEWS 5th February 2010 FILMING BBC 1 News Leave Buckler's Hard, Hampshire at 8-30 am, In the ever reliable seventy nine year old RAF 206. First the slow meandering 'descent' of the Beaulieu River then bursting out into the wide expanse of the Solent, the sudden roar from both engines, a long sweeping arc in our wash as the craft turns North to pass Cowes on our way to Portsmouth. The morning sun is up and the wafting clouds in the distance cause an apotheosis of colour to surprise the eye and gladden the heart on a cold, cold, morning. In three quarters of an hour, (at 25 knots), we are at Portsmouth. Pretty young uniformed ladies moved around with cups of coffee and packets of crisps, TIMES photographers on a plastic rubber dingy which looked fast and menacing and completely out of place in this group of historic WW2 vessels. We, (Robin and Phil Clabburn and the Stoker) mingle with the throng of about twenty VIPs... A BBC Cameramen buzzes around whilst men in black 'windcheaters' interview the great and the good: I notice in their number, Messrs. Goodship, Heighton, Rowbotham and Mrs McGuinness (Chairman of the National Lottery) but could not put a name to their companions. Searching amongst them all I at last spotted the wonderful WW2 skipper Jimmy Shadbolt, who after speaking for half an hour to The Times of London and the British Broadcasting Corporation, had time to talk about our Trust's Boat and his plan to attend an open day at our Clubhouse on Canvey Island in the Spring. Somehow, the twenty VIPS were shoehorned onto MGB81 whilst most of the camera team were shared between HSL102 and RAF 206. Phil and I were assigned to '102, Robin and a volunteer (a very bright and decent young man called Ed.), to 206 and the Harbour Master and his assistant to '81. We took off towards the Isle of Wight and the others followed. Wisely, Jimmy Shadbolt and his wartime crew member, declined the trip and opted for a local Hostelry instead. There followed three hours of hi jinks at sea, which by the time you read this report, you will have seen on BBC 1 on Tuesday morn (a larger clip on BBC South) and, story and pictures in the Times Tuesday Morning edition.. More Coffee and crisps (do the great and the good eat Crisps)? And so, we all went home..... ================================================ |
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34miles in one hour - RAF 102 Had the honour of taking '102' with Phil Clabburn, to her last resting place. It was a fast journey in a calmish wind and sea, I stayed on deck to whole journey. We were met by the Marina Master of the Gun Wharf Quays, and shortly afterwards by the VIPs. I had worked on the boat for three days. Now I am back to Canvey for a couple of days on our own boat. Gunboat 81 is booked to arrive at the same mooring at noon on Sunday, I also worked on her a couple of days recently. John Cook |
