Dear Shipmates,

                           Well that was Bath , another year, another super reunion. How quick time fly’s by, if we don’t watch out we’ll be getting old before we’re ready. Our physical well being, may not be what it was, but our all round joy of life and our ability to enjoy it, come what may, was reflected in the earnest pleas of the staff, begging us to use their hotel again, amazed and delighted by our enjoyment of the simple pleasures of life, which had so animated their hotel during our short stay.

   We probably over egged the coach trips this time, a ride out on the Sunday is enough and our visit to the S.S. Great Britain was probably a tad too long.

   Never the less, our circuit of this revolutionary ship of its day, was a winner. We might have thought it was hard times when we were at sea but the men who sailed that ship and what they had to do for their tot and ships biscuit, makes Dr. Johnson’s remark, ‘Why go to sea, whilst you can go to jail.’ Easy to understand.

    Incidentally, talking to our guide we were amazed to discover that George Osborn’s great, great grandfather was Isambard Brunel’s mentor, engineering best friend and the father of his third child, Ossie Brunel. You can see him standing behind Isambard in most of the photos taken at the time, compare him to the accompanying snap of George wearing his ancestor’s hat, taken by our attractive ships photographer Nicky, Bob Allen’s daughter and you cannot mistake the likeness.

    A top hole weekend, which even Norman Tweedale’s unfortunate needle, had a plus side.

                                                           Your Chairman,                               

                                                                                      Shipmate John Miller.