The Second HMS Manchester Association

Shane KYME

84 - 86

Shane Kyme joined Pusser UK Ltd as a Pinky Faggot in 1983, and in a five year "career" he is strongly rumoured to have spent half of it asleep! During the time he was awake, he fondly remembers his one ship - which just happened to be the Mighty Manch, and among his memoirs of foreign lands - standfast the land of Nod! - he particularly recalls Bordeaux where he nearly got arrested by the local Gendarmarie for insulting and inappropriate behaviour - he insisted on drinking beer whilst those in the know were sampling and scuppering the local Chateau fallydowny wines! Mombasa also gets a mensh 'cos it is there that our hero fell in love with a charming and adorable German girl. Indeed, their romance lasted longer than the habitual first turn of the screw, and postie was kept busy handling their mountains of mail...that is until she wrote to say she was engaged to get married and Shane wasn't the lucky one! Dasrottenstinkingkrautenfraulein! Worse was to follow - our sleeping beauty then got shafted by Drafty and was unloaded from D95 two weeks before the start of that infamous cruise - Global 86! Outside since 88, Shane is another who has chosen to fight crime from behind a cosy desk and he is a Police Officer on T-side (and being a good copper it is only natural he should have a wife called Penny!). When not nicking all the nasty people in the North East, Shane is a percussionist in an "Irish" Celtic Rock and Reel Band with future stardom assured if Amy Plonkshack is anything to go by - and she has Police connections too - allegedly! Shane heard about the 2nd HMS Manchester Association from Andy Rafferty. Joined 28th June 2010. (223).

Melvyn "Mel" SAUL

82 - 85

Mel Saul joined the Recreational Arm of the Royal Navy, or Fleet Air Arm as it is sometimes called as a Wafoo in 1975, and in a 17 year career in Woo World was drafted to RNAS Portland, then Portland, then Portland before a warship, in the shape of the Mighty Manch finally hove into view. Appointed by the Command as the custodian of the after sun deck, and some other duties when the shed was open as Mel was always keen to show off his weapon. He rates Mombasa and the Seychelles as his best runs ashore, however Manchester was not his best ship (Shock! Horror!). After experiencing another umpteen drafts to RNAS - you've guessed it - Portland, Mel won a draft to the Cherry B, which he says was an absolute hoot! (Manchester being the learning curve and Cherry B the home straight!). Could this be the same Cherry B, nominally deployed to the Gulf as the Dubai Guardship - along with battleship Beaver in the late 80's, which resulted in the bulk of the patrols being done by that sleek, graceful greyhound of the seas, the Mighty Manch?! Outside since 92, Mel is now an Exec for BAE Systems. He learned about the 2nd HMS Manchester Association through surfing the web, and how to open the hangar door by wxnking the handle! Joined 3rd August 2010. (224).