Cornwallis ‘61-‘63

I left RHS at 15 and aged 18 I joined the Merchant Navy. The ship I travelled on did 3 month World trips that visited many different countries and cities including: Lisbon, Cape Town, Durban, Panama, Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Wellington, as well as, magical Islands like Rarotonga, The Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean and Acapulco on the Mexican West Coast.

My next job took me to America where I found a crewing job on a private yacht which took me all round the Caribbean.  My work has always enabled me to make friends from all over the world, which has helped later on with my travels.

My last trip was to Vietnam. I have always been interested in Vietnam – mainly due to the media coverage of the war in the 60’s and early 70’s. I always felt empathy for the Vietnamese people so at the beginning of this year I visited friends there. I was fascinated by the people and their culture and they were fascinated by this very white guy amongst them! I was treated so warmly and was shown lots of warm hospitality. It is a country that has so many contrasts, sights, sounds and smells and the streets and traffic is crazy, but I loved it all….Vietnam is locally called the Land of Smiles. Places like the Mekong Delta and Ha Long Bay are awesome places to visit…. I will definitely return there.

Although not every day was a happy one, I still get this special feeling about RHS. It has a unique history and it’s a special place and it’s great to see it still flourishing and moving with the times. I do have some good memories, and always remember Lord Mountbatten speaking to me one Speech Day Parade.