Bernie Bruen writes: 'I
have been trawling through some old photographs and send you their
scanned images. The first three concern our class of officer Cadets from
Dartmouth (in the days when we were Cadets - all old men now) carrying
out seaboat drills in our Montagu Whaler; HMS Tenby, 1968. You can tell
they are drills as the ship is stopped in the water. Any proper launch
would, of course, have been done at 8kts. I am sure that those
knowledgeable will be able to work out at what stage these drills have
reached, just by looking; but in case not they are - 'hooking on',
'preparing to hoist' and 'preparing to lower'. The last photo was taken during the Malta RN Regatta that year. I am sure
that many will comment on the disparity between the port and starboard
oars and, needless to say, we did not win. However, it does show the
effort being put in and the enthusiasm displayed. From Cox'n to Bow,
they are: Cadet
Tsang (Royal Malaysian Navy), Cadet Bruen RN, Cadet Morgan RN, Cadet
Beaumont RN, Cadet Vanus-Fadarami-Ramayen Royal Iranian Navy, Cadet
Wheeler RN. That
whaler was my personal reserve. I had managed to get myself assigned to
it and, for our four month stay in the training-ship, worked endlessly
to keep it in best condition.'     |