Visit to HMS Daring - 12 Jul 14

[Grin-a-lot]

I've found a chance to arrange a visit to my ship over summer, it'd be great to make a day of it with kitcars and the like but if the weather is unfavourable then we can resort to using tin tops.

I propose Sat 12 Jul as I don't think there's anything on that weekend, for various reasons I need to limit it to 12 people and I need to know who you are so if we've not yet met then I apologise.

I propose something like depart Bristol 9am, grab some early lunch and then visit the ship for a bit.  After that a scenic drive home and back by 6pm ish.

So please let me know if you're interested,  we'll sort details nearer the time!




Edit. added to calendar.

[robp]

Yes please. 

[benchmark51]

I'm very interested please.

['The Gaffer']

Yes please

[Moleman]

Yes please mate. 

[Iancider]

Me too with Wifey and I guess Crash Test Dummy will be up for this - will confirm as soon as possible.

[fletch_306]

Could it be thirteen as I'm already a matelot?

[Pilgrim Anna]

im off work that day, so we maybe interested!

[Moleman]

OK people that would like to go.  1, Robp
                                             2, Benchmark51
                                             3, The gaffer
                                             4, Moleman (+1 if there is room)
                                             5, Iancider + 1
                                             6, Crash test Dummy
                                             7, Flech_306
                                             8, Pilgrim Anna (maybe)
                                             9, Bulldog Bri (maybe)

          Anyone else up for this? not many spaces left?

[fletch_306]

Obviously due to being in the navy etc I will happily drop out if an extra space is required for someone else.

[Pilgrim Anna]

Where is it docked? Plymouth bit far for us 

[benchmark51]

I think it's parked in Portsmouth

[YellaBelly]

Where is it docked? Plymouth bit far for us 

Not for us Anna!!

[Moleman]

You up for this then John. You could meet us there? 

[robp]

I think it's parked in Portsmouth

Nope, it's up a Scapa Flow.   

[benchmark51]

I think it's parked in Portsmouth

Nope, it's up a Scapa Flow.   

Hope it doesn't hang about there too long

Daring joined the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla in Scapa Flow on 10 February 1940 for escort duties. While escorting Convoy HN12 from Norway, she was torpedoed on 18 February in position 58°39′N 01°40′WCoordinates: 58°39′N 01°40′W by U-23, under the command of Otto Kretschmer. Daring capsized and sank very quickly after having her stern blown off, and 157 of the ship's company were lost. The five survivors were rescued by the submarine HMS Thistle, which had witnessed the attack.[

[Grin-a-lot]

Hi guys,

Yeah sorry I wasn't very clear, she's down in Portsmouth as that's home for us.

Fletch - sure I can find room for you as well, just don't go picking holes in my knowledge!

[Pilgrim Anna]

Where is it docked? Plymouth bit far for us 

Not for us Anna!!

No its perfect for you! your lucky

[Pilgrim Anna]

Hi guys,

Yeah sorry I wasn't very clear, she's down in Portsmouth as that's home for us.

Fletch - sure I can find room for you as well, just don't go picking holes in my knowledge!

Hi well that's not too far. Should be fine. Think my boy Joao might enjoy it too! And Im off work that day Yay!!! Just need to confirm it with the boss LOL

[fletch_306]

Hi guys,

Yeah sorry I wasn't very clear, she's down in Portsmouth as that's home for us.

Fletch - sure I can find room for you as well, just don't go picking holes in my knowledge!

I'm a WAFU so I won't be picking any holes in your knowledge about the ship mate.

[Moleman]

WAFU ??   Ok I give up the only thing I can think off is Was A F**k Up 
Only joking mate. What does it stand for? 

[fletch_306]

Weapon and fuel users but at the end of the day it's just what they call us fleet air arm Aircraft engineers we call the general service ship guys fishheads just a couple of many nick name.

By the way the persons of the fishheads persuasion may say it means wet an f**king useless but they are just jealous. Pick your branch and take your chance is what they say.

[Bulldog Bri]

Love a good Nickname, some are very ingenious to how their derived, few from our work
Spud - Because his surname is Spaulding, where lots of potatoes are grown
Sub - He only surfaces at breaktime
KT19-21 - Someone who's been in the sun to much, KT19-21 is the postcode for Leatherhead

[Moleman]

I've been working with a guy that I call Dipper. It's been his nickname for about 25 years & I've been calling him that for the most part of that. The problem is that I can't even remember why he is called that now. 

[Iancider]

Hi guys,

HMS Daring visit

I still have this in my calendar but the thread seems to have ended.  Is this still going ahead?

Regards
Ian

[Moleman]

We are waiting for a up date from Grin-a-lot Ian. He can't always reply too quickly due to his job.

['The Gaffer']

I just assumed date suggested in his opening post was good?

I propose Sat 12 Jul as I don't think there's anything on that weekend, for various reasons I need to limit it to 12 people and I need to know who you are so if we've not yet met then I apologise.

I propose something like depart Bristol 9am, grab some early lunch and then visit the ship for a bit.  After that a scenic drive home and back by 6pm ish.

[Grin-a-lot]

Yeah we're all set, I'll get the thread going again tomorrow and some proper plans in place.

Just back from the Festival of Speed and ready for bed - incredible day but shattered now!

[Grin-a-lot]

I probably should have said but the ship is in Portsmouth so with stops we're looking at about a 3 hours drive down.

We're currently dry docked so should be able to get down the dock bottom as well - we'll see nearer the time but either way we're good to go with the visit.

So the people coming are below, please can you let me know your full and real names so that I can get you through security.  On the day I recommend no skirts (mainly aimed at ladies but you never know) and comfortable shoes with small/no heels - we'll be up and down vertical and inclined ladders and if we do the dock bottom then there's a whole bunch of steps to navigate.  Cameras are welcome but photos are best kept for personal use rather than shared across the internet.  I will provide paper overalls (optional) and hardhats (mandatory)

As far as a plan goes I reckon:

Depart Bristol 0830, arrive at a pub near Portsmouth for lunch  1130, depart pub 1215, arrive ship 1245, wander around for a bit, depart 3pm (ish), homeward bound.  Its a bit of a long day but there's quite a lot to see!

1, Robp
2, Benchmark51
3, The gaffer
4, Moleman (+1 if there is room)
5, Iancider + 1
6, Crash test Dummy
7, Flech_306
8, Pilgrim Anna (maybe)
9, Bulldog Bri (maybe)

So I reckon that just about covers it, can I ask someone to arrange a convoy (if that's what people want to do).  I'd definitely recommend heading down across Salisbury Plain if people are bringing kit cars.  I thought it'd be nice to make it a kitcar event but if the weather's rubbish then we can chop to tin tops anyway.

I'll be mostly "off the grid" for the remainder of the week but i'll be back on here next weekend.  Let me know if you've got any questions!

['The Gaffer']

I'll be mostly "off the grid" for the remainder of the week but i'll be back on here next weekend.  Let me know if you've got any questions!

Can we shoot the big guns?

[Moleman]

I'm still up for it mate. How soon do you need the Names as my +1 is not sure she can go so the name could change. 

[Iancider]

I've confirmed, details sent-off

Ian

[Iancider]

There's a good route down from Shepton Mallet via Warminster Salisbury then north of Southamption to Portmouth - the only motorway os the M27.  Circa 2h10m from Shepton.

My memory of Portsmouth pubs is that there are very hard to park in or near.  Hopefull Grin knows some with parking.

[Sprint 7]

Have a great time people. You can all be Puddle Pirates for the day. I think Skimmers is a more polite name  than Fish Heads but Stokers Rule OK.
Would love to go but can't make the date, but I have spent several days on both The Mighty "O" (Ocean) and Bulwark and I know you will all find it fascinating, if you can understand the "Jackspeak"
Ask Grin what I'm referring too . He will tell all.

[Iancider]

if you can understand the "Jackspeak"

Well he might,

I'm sure he has staggered the Burma Road in the rough and made a Shore run in Civvies only to suffer Barrell Rash and perhaps after serving a few Sticky Greens to Schnurglie Gronkits.  Or perhaps regretted that with a sore head going back to Pompey to visit the Scab Head before a quick jaunt up the gang-plank bereft of Klebbies. 

[Sprint 7]

You obviously savvy Ian, but I meant the rest of the party going on the trip

[fletch_306]

Sprint i think you will find that WAFU's rule we are the best and brightest in the Royal Navy!! Fleet Air Arm will always save the day the Lynx helicopter is the most versatile unit the ship could possibly have! however I may be a tiny bit of a lot bias.
Fish heads would love to be as amazing as us etc.... 

[Grin-a-lot]

Can we shoot the big guns?

Err, no.  Obviously i'd normally say yes but given its a Saturday we wouldn't want to upset the locals...

...Stokers Rule OK.

...and don't you forget it!

As for Fletch and his WAFU love-in; i'll be sure to set the record straight at the weekend, I agree that the Lynx is versatile though, great for collecting mail, milk, stores, papers...

My memory of Portsmouth pubs is that there are very hard to park in or near.  Hopefull Grin knows some with parking.

Your memory serves you well - I don't recommend a trip into Portsmouth in a kitcar.  There's 2 places that are worth investigating for food, the Golden Lion or Red Lion at Southwick Park or the King's Head at Wickham.  Both locations are (sort of) en-route and parking will be easier.

Don't forget, please PM me your real names - if your name's not down then you're not coming in (not my rules sadly).

[Grin-a-lot]

Any more names for me?  Just to encourage you some more, here's what £1 billion looks like...

[Moleman]

I will txt you my details mate.