| It was Friday morning‚ early November 1959. I was 16‚ and working as an apprentice tailor. The factory manager was a tyrant who always seemed to pick me out for public humiliation in front of dozens of women. I suppose it made him feel good‚ as at 5'3"‚ I was the only one shorter than him!
He told me that my father had phoned to say I had to go home at dinner-time. Fearing the worst‚ I cycled the 5 miles home. On arrival‚ my father handed me a letter‚ my very first one! In it were papers to say that I had been accepted for service in the Royal Navy‚ and to report to Liverpool recruiting office on Monday. Overjoyed‚ I leapt back onto my bike and back to work.
Everyone was most concerned‚ as telephone messages to the factory usually spelled out trouble. I proudly flourished my letter‚ and told the boss that I was leaving that very day. Everyone made a fuss of me and I cannot recall if I did any more work that day.
Sunday dinner-time‚ my father took me to his local pub‚ The Cumberland‚ as I recall‚ and said to the landlord "Jack‚ I know my boy is only 16‚ but he joins the Navy tomorrow. Can I buy him a pint?" The reply was "If he's old enough to serve his country‚ he's old enough to have a drink‚ and the first one is on me" I felt 10' tall! I even had a tot of rum bought from an ex-mate. "Get used to it lad‚ you'll soon be drawing your tot"
The rest of that day is a blur‚ but next morning I set off with a pathetic bag of clothes‚ (first up was best dressed in our house!) and began a twenty-four years stint under the white ensign. It was a day that changed my life and made a man of me.
User: rumrat
Location: Crewe
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