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At last we were on that final run home, all the souvenirs, presents
and memorabilia, were once taken out again and looked at, repacked and packed
again, in the cases ready for the customs man to have a look at.
From Freetown it seemed a long trip, maybe because we didn't stop anyplace
up that last stretch. I think we managed to see all the movies again that
we had on board, and some were lucky enough to win a few bob playing Tombola.
I didn't take any chances with what monies I had; I had a wedding to think
of. Oh yes! There was one chief engine room tiffy, who more or less taught
a lot of us to strum a guitar. I can't remember his second name; I do remember
him as wee Sam. He made that last stretch a wee bit more pleasant with his
singalongs.
The last bit of excitement for me was when my friend and I from the
seaman's mess shared one of the bottles of Chivas Regal. We decided one
day seeing as I had my own tape recorder on board, to make a recording to
send to our folks. We did this because we knew that we would be second leave
party, and this would be better than just an everyday letter. So hidden
away in the signals room one night, with the bottle and two good sized glasses,
we set about making what started out as a three inch tape, but finished
up with a seven inch one instead. I heard that tape when I got home, as
a matter of fact my mother insisted I translate most of it, for some reason
she said we sounded as if we had just come from a stag's party or something.
I didn't have the nerve to tell her the truth, and just made it up as I
went along with the translation.
On entry to the Plymouth Sound, I think every Tom Dick
and Harry, was either on the upper deck, or had his head poking out the
portholes. And when we finally tied up. I never saw such a scramble to see
the wives or girlfriends.
Return to UK 1957 with Paying Off Pennant just
visible (photo Copyright Western Morning News Co Plymouth)
So there you have it, I know it is not a record of the log book or anyway
near it. But it's told the way I best remember it, and I hope it brings
back some pleasant memories to some who served on that tour.