Ships and trips

First ship I joined was HMS Jupiter. I joined her up in Rosyth in july 1978 early hours of the morning British Rail never run trains when you wanted them to.
There she was my home for the next 18 months or more. Jupiter was about to take part in an exercise of the west coast of scotland around the islands and very nice they where too.
Seem to remember we went for a run ashore on the isle of Bute and also seem to remember the late Lena zavaroni's family had a chip shop there.
Mind you that could have been rothsey..is that on the isle of bute.?
We also went up to the land of the midnight sun, its strange coming off watch at 4 in the morning and the sun blazing down we spotted whales and all sorts of wild life.
And as seen in earlier pages I went nearly half way round the world on this old tub..but she was special to me..probably because she was my first ship.
I left her in guzz december 1979 when she went for a major refit and came out without her 4.5 inch gun.
Happy Days.

In about January 1981 I joined HMS Galatea the black pig.wasn't with her for long as she was due to go to GIB for refit.
Can't for the life of me remember where we went on this ship but it was only round Europe I think.
She went to GIB and I stayed at home for the birth of my 2nd daughter Lyndsey.
Then flew to GIB and joined the rust bucket HMS Ajax.

HMS rust bucket Ajax.
Not a lot to be said for this ship I didnt like it one bit.it was old and decrepid.
Again only went round Europe, dont think they wanted to send it to far in case it needed a tow home.
Left this in january 1982 for the biggest ship of all citizenship.
Had 2 months as assistant bar manager at HMS Drake wonderful..
then on day of leaving the Fleet joss told me i had done a day more than I should !! I left on my birthday for terminal leave the best pressie ever !