Halcyon days... In conversation by the coffee machine today, I mentioned a guy I used to work with many years ago and some of his exploits. Kind of got to thinking I'd write the occasional memoir about my life as an apprentice in Portsmouth Dockyard. Not largely interesting to the population at large I guess, but some of the stories might make you smile, or wince. So, to get the ball rolling I'll introduce to you, Dave. A one time instructor of mine. Dave was one of my all time personal Dockyard favourites. Dave seemed to know absolutely everyone that worked in the 'yard without exception. He knew all the news, all the gossip, seemingly knowing everything, a veritable oracle of information. Dave would always have a joke or two up his sleeve and always, always had a quick quip or story ready to entertain the gang. Wherever Dave stopped to chat, a small crowd would gather to listen and they were rarely disappointed. It would always, without a shadow of a doubt, be a pleasure to get paired up with Dave on a job. Always. Dave would also work absolutely any hours thrown his way, regular over-time, half-day Saturdays, all day Saturdays, Sundays, night-shifts, you name it, and Dave would always get first option to work it, and I don't recall a time that he ever refused. Looking back now whether or not he actually 'worked' all of it I'm not sure, but he was always there. Dave, a consummate practical joker himself, was always up for a good wind-up too. I personally witnessed Dave convince a hapless, non-to-bright apprentice that he had actually managed to pick himself up in a bucket. Honest. Hand on my heart, it's 100% true! The poor lad stood in a bucket and with Dave's very convincing encouragement got the boy believing that he was actually managing to get the bucket off the ground with him inside it. To shout's of "Go on son! Go on my boy!" "Your almost there! Keep going, keep going" "A little bit more, go on, it's just starting to lift." "Keep pulling..." In the end, the poor guy was pulling so hard on the handle of the bucket it almost made his eyes explode, his face was purple with the strain, sweat beading on his brow, both rows of knuckles glowing red with pulling so hard. But with lot's of vocal encouragement from all of those around him, it worked a treat. The look of sheer delight on the lads face was amazing, like he'd won the final of the Olympic 100 meters or something, I can still picture it now, he looked so chuffed with himself swaggering around the workshop. I wonder if he told his family and friends of his exploits when he got home that evening? Maybe retelling it down the pub after work to his mates over a couple of pints. I wonder too if he was mercilessly ribbed about being gullible enough to have fallen for it? Maybe, I sure hope so. I had heard stories whilst in the Dockyard, that Dave saved all of his extra, hard earned money to invest in property. From what I had heard he would buy local, cheap, terraced houses, decorate them, then rent them out to the local student population or lease them to the local Polytechnic, now Portsmouth University, ploughing any profit back into buying yet more property. I had heard that Dave's plan was to sell up his portfolio of properties upon his retirement from the Dockyard and for him and his dearly beloved, long suffering wife to then live the life of Riley and enjoy their retirement together enjoying their Grandchildren. Sadly, I heard that his wife was taken ill a couple of years before Dave was due to retire, and her health descended into requiring 24 hour, round the clock attention. Dave gave everything up, retiring from the Dockyard early to enable him to devote all his time to looking after her. Sadly, she didn't live too long from what I hear. Maybe there's a grain of truth in the old saying of ?Making hay while the sun shines.? Perhaps he should have enjoyed his money a little more while he and his wife had the good health to enjoy it. I don't know. During the time that I knew Dave, about six years in all, he was an 60-a-day chain smoker himself, always using the cigarette he was smoking to light up the next one. Maybe Dave didn't make it too far into retirement either. to be continued.....

27.10.05 16:15 Permalink / 4 Comments / comment