say it, a few thousand Global 86 dits as well! Reports received back at 2MA HQ suggested our boys had a whale of a time, and whilst many admitted there were many changes to be seen from their own sea going days, there was one constant that had not changed. Good old matelot hospitality, it was as good as it ever was! (hic!).
Meanwhile, in an attempt to keep the nation informed and entertained as yet more austerity measures are announced by Gov.UK Ltd, Channel 5 launch their TV Prog, "Caribbean Patrol" starring none other than the Mighty Manch - still looking and acting the part after all these years. Most of the series was pretty good - and no doubt brought back many memories to our gallant band, but did we really need an in depth portrayal of two sailors - one of each kind - trying and failing to give up smoking? Stocktaking down the Main Naval Store would have been far more exciting!
With the morale of the nation greatly enhanced by D95, the ship arrives in Liverpool, and it is soon time for the Official Reception, complete with Royal Marine Band and all the trimmings. Among the Big Wigs who receive an invite are our own locally based members, Terry Beddoes, accompanied by his wife Kathy, and Steve Taggart with his wife Jacqui. It was also the event that we decided to play our jokers, in the form of Bungy Mark Williams and Whiskey Haigh! A report subsequently received at 2MA HQ suggests that the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Whatshisname, was fortunate enough to receive a full eye witness account of the entire….Global 86!
On to more serious and formal events, and Saturday 5th February marked the Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance in Manchester Cathedral, followed by the Ships company marching through the streets of the City prior to the return of the Freedom Scroll back to the Lord Mayor - in typical Manchester weather too - it hissed it down! In a very thoughtful gesture, and on completion of the Thanksgiving Service, a memorial tree in the cathedral grounds to the late MEM 'Mac' McCarthy who died whilst the ship was deployed to the Caribbean in 2004 was rededicated. 2MA was again well represented with Terry Beddoes, Ginge Crook, John Dixon, Stuart Gerrard, Whisky Haigh, Dan Maskill, Steve Taggart, Sam Wellens and Bungy Williams who were among others who turned out, with the more wily of our number blagging their way into the official reception in the Town Hall on completion! There is no substitute for experience!
By 17th February the ship was back in Pompey, and preparations were well in hand for the De-commissioning on the 24th, and by now 2MA had managed to scrounge, beg, bum, borrow a whole host of additional invites which ensured everyone who wanted to go had a ticket. The only downside was that tickets for the event were £15 a head, and having collected all the dosh in, a certain Sir Donald Gosling of NCP fame, and regular benefactor of Pusser UK Ltd, found a whole shed full of shekels on is estate and offered to foot the entire bill, "Good man"! we all said, as we reached for our cheque book to issue the refunds!
Prior to the decommissioning, there was just one final Families Day at sea, and among the representatives of the world's press who were invited along to record the event - (ok, so it was only BBC South Today, The Pompey Evening News and the Dockyard Dandy!) - was our own raving reporter! In glorious weather for the time of year, D95 made her final departure from Pompey under the White Ensign, and proceeded to the exercise areas off the Isle of Wight for a spot of final speed and manoeuvrability demonstrations, a flying display by a "just happened to be passing" Lynx, and an excellent spit roast lunch on the flight deck by the Manchester Mafia, time for a final pipe "The bedding store is now open", and all to soon, sadly, it was time to return to Pompey. With Paying Off pennant rigged, and escorted by tugs pumping water to the heavens, the ship passed a packed Round Tower and foreshore and proceeded up harbour. Doss Living closed up by the Gosport Ferry to take a few phots not knowing for one moment that his efforts were to become the official phots - on account that the RN Phot team missed the event completely! (Being a Thursday, they'd all gone weekend!!) HMS York manned the side…and dare I say it, hardly a dry eye was to be found on the upper scupper…well, it was very windy y'know!
