Many of your readers would have served in the Royal Navy.

One thing is certain, they will all think back and remember the camaraderie and friendships formed at the time, only to be broken when moved to a different ship or shore base. There will be the occasional thoughts being cast back to “I wonder what happened to old Chalky White on H.M.S. Rustybucket?”

Well a lot have found out what happened to their ‘Old Chalky White’ because Lots of the ships have Associations, full of their old shipmates and a new monthly service has recently started to help find all of the other ‘Old Chalkies’. old shipmates Many of the Ship’s Association Secretaries are sending details of their reunions to R.N. shipmates for the monthly listings of reunions and other notices. This monthly service is totally free because it is all done by email.

Are you on a monthly mailing list? Nearly 400 are. Looking for someone? This is a good start point in meeting up at a reunion and ‘swinging that lamp’.

And for those who just want to live the camaraderie again, R.N. shipmates are having another reunion next April.

Interested? Send brief details to mike.crowe1@btinternet.com

Mike Crowe

Sandown