I had a great time in Bermuda right up until the First Lieutenant landed on me breaking a couple of ribs HMS Montrose, 1998-2000!

Wasn't that the irrepressible drunken loud eccentric BUT fantastic Charles Howeson. He was just something else My boss in Gib - had his mini-moke brought out on an RFA

Yep, the very same. The most eccentric XO I ever served with
Edited to add, having seen John's post above it was indeed the Cleopatra not Montrose! I was DWEO from 86 to 88.

Now then, I thought he left Cleo towards the end of 85? We'd sailed from Bermuda, on this occasion we lost the mail, Bermuda was my last foreign run before leaving Cleo in January 86.
I remember the years, coz we got back to blighty just in time for me to go the epic 4-3 defeat at Reading and then having left Cleo, whilst on leave went to Gillingham 1-1 and the 0-3 win at Wolves.

It seems my memory is not what it was I have just rummaged through my records and Cleo was from 84 to 86 so it seems we served together John.

It seems my memory is not what it was I have just rummaged through my records and Cleo was from 84 to 86 so it seems we served together John.

Thought so, Steve Best and I were your seacat maintainers.

Actually - he / family have some serious dosh - get him into Argyle :greensmile:

So why has he spent so much time working for non-achieving QUANGOs then?

:think: no idea. He is/was Chairman of FGW. His last house had a huge outdoor model railway

http://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/201 ... 66x668.jpg

He left the RN to try and become an MP but didn't quite make it. Its one of about 2 reasons the RN are obliged to let you back in again. He would have been huge in the Commons - and kept the bar afloat. :stout:

I took my relief to see him at 9am and his first words were ''wobbly coffee?'' :thumbup:

Cannot argue with that. Would like to have seen a Cheif Whip who impose anything on him! He was there (Gib) towards the end of my time and certainly made the social arena and ONH a better place to be. Without ever being near the ship I had heard he was a legend during his time in Cleo.

Who were you then ???? :think:

It seems my memory is not what it was I have just rummaged through my records and Cleo was from 84 to 86 so it seems we served together John.

Thought so, Steve Best and I were your seacat maintainers.

I had Seacat in the back of my mind John but wasn't sure. Great to make the connection!

It seems my memory is not what it was I have just rummaged through my records and Cleo was from 84 to 86 so it seems we served together John.

Thought so, Steve Best and I were your seacat maintainers.

I had Seacat in the back of my mind John but wasn't sure. Great to make the connection!

Small world - I spent my working life looking after and issuing 4.5" (Mk 5 and Mk 8), Bofors, Oerliken, Depth Charges, Mk 8, Mk 24 and Mk 44/46 Torps, Sea Slug, Sea Cat, Sea Dart, Sea Wolf, Exocet, Harpoon et al, both from Ernesettle and from many RFAs at sea. My opposite number was normally the DWEO. When I started we used to work alongside the wall in Guzz, trying to stay out of the way of the welders! My first issues were to Berwick and my last to Ocean and Bulwark. I began to feel old when I worked with my second Bulwark, my second Ark Royal and the second Kent. Good days and 42 very happy MoD years for me. And keeping to post, the first question I asked was always "Any Argyle fans aboard?"

It seems my memory is not what it was I have just rummaged through my records and Cleo was from 84 to 86 so it seems we served together John.

Thought so, Steve Best and I were your seacat maintainers.

I had Seacat in the back of my mind John but wasn't sure. Great to make the connection!

Small world - I spent my working life looking after and issuing 4.5" (Mk 5 and Mk 8), Bofors, Oerliken, Depth Charges, Mk 8, Mk 24 and Mk 44/46 Torps, Sea Slug, Sea Cat, Sea Dart, Sea Wolf, Exocet, Harpoon et al, both from Ernesettle and from many RFAs at sea. My opposite number was normally the DWEO. When I started we used to work alongside the wall in Guzz, trying to stay out of the way of the welders! My first issues were to Berwick and my last to Ocean and Bulwark. I began to feel old when I worked with my second Bulwark, my second Ark Royal and the second Kent. Good days and 42 very happy MoD years for me. And keeping to post, the first question I asked was always "Any Argyle fans aboard?"

Ah happy days!

It seems my memory is not what it was :-) I have just rummaged through my records and Cleo was from 84 to 86 so it seems we served together John.

Thought so, Steve Best and I were your seacat maintainers.

I had Seacat in the back of my mind John but wasn't sure. Great to make the connection!

Small world - I spent my working life looking after and issuing 4.5" (Mk 5 and Mk 8), Bofors, Oerliken, Depth Charges, Mk 8, Mk 24 and Mk 44/46 Torps, Sea Slug, Sea Cat, Sea Dart, Sea Wolf, Exocet, Harpoon et al, both from Ernesettle and from many RFAs at sea. My opposite number was normally the DWEO. When I started we used to work alongside the wall in Guzz, trying to stay out of the way of the welders! My first issues were to Berwick and my last to Ocean and Bulwark. I began to feel old when I worked with my second Bulwark, my second Ark Royal and the second Kent. Good days and 42 very happy MoD years for me. And keeping to post, the first question I asked was always "Any Argyle fans aboard?"

Ah happy days!

This thread is becoming a real tear jerker. Fort Grange was my second home for almost 3 years and one of the RFA crew named Tony Sherlock or ''Shylock'' was a real green through and through. He was the purser. Long time ago :lol:

Actually - he / family have some serious dosh - get him into Argyle

So why has he spent so much time working for non-achieving QUANGOs then?

no idea. He is/was Chairman of FGW. His last house had a huge outdoor model railway

http://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/201 ... 66x668.jpg

He left the RN to try and become an MP but didn't quite make it. Its one of about 2 reasons the RN are obliged to let you back in again. He would have been huge in the Commons - and kept the bar afloat.

I took my relief to see him at 9am and his first words were ''wobbly coffee?''

Cannot argue with that. Would like to have seen a Cheif Whip who impose anything on him! He was there (Gib) towards the end of my time and certainly made the social arena and ONH a better place to be. Without ever being near the ship I had heard he was a legend during his time in Cleo.

Who were you then ????

PSTO(N) organisation, I was running Fosseway - check your old PMs!!! Lived at BV.

Maybe I should clarify. I meant to say "aboard now".

Good to see the reminiscing though!

Actually - he / family have some serious dosh - get him into Argyle

So why has he spent so much time working for non-achieving QUANGOs then?

:think: no idea. He is/was Chairman of FGW. His last house had a huge outdoor model railway

http://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/201 ... 66x668.jpg

He left the RN to try and become an MP but didn't quite make it. Its one of about 2 reasons the RN are obliged to let you back in again. He would have been huge in the Commons - and kept the bar afloat. :stout:

I took my relief to see him at 9am and his first words were ''wobbly coffee?''

Cannot argue with that. Would like to have seen a Cheif Whip who impose anything on him! He was there (Gib) towards the end of my time and certainly made the social arena and ONH a better place to be. Without ever being near the ship I had heard he was a legend during his time in Cleo.

Who were you then ???? :think:

PSTO(N) organisation, I was running Fosseway - check your old PMs!!! Lived at BV.

BV = Buena Vista ?? Been years y'know :lol: I lived at South Barrack Sheds then that house opposite the hospital. I feel old now !!!!

not that is has anything to do with the thread but I served on the Cleo as well (86-89-i think). Joined it as a POMEA and left as a CPOMEA-great ship, lots of laughs -best of all no flight so the flight deck was for sport or bronzying- still serving now (just). Seem to remember that tiny little was XO for most/some of that time but could well be wrong.

[Andy_S]

Leander class Frigates...best ships Pusser ever bought!

I was on HMS Scylla, 1971 - 1974, she was the last ever warship constructed wholly in Devonport Dockyard!

Pretty sure it was the Cleo that their Lordships removed the propellor from and we towed it around the Med, carrying out noise trials!