Once Navy Always Navy

The Overseas Area

Shipmate John Bailey a visitor to South African waters and apparently global traveller from Yorkshire (Huddersfield Branch?) was here just before Christmas.
John who enjoys back packing holidays first port of call was Capetown of which he contacted the

Capetown RNA branch which was closed for the holiday season as well as the East London branch which was also closed, but the secretary there was able to put together a lunchtime meeting with John and the local shipmates before he moved on to Kwazulu Natal and made contact with our Secretary Mike Jackson.
Mike in his normal tradition invited John into his inn eh sorry house for Christmas day not allowing John to spend it at a lonely backpackers place or a barn and because he was such good company was invited back to celebrate New Year with Mike, wife, family and friends.
Three days before John left South Africa on the rest of the tour he was doing, several other local shipmates joined John at Mike's again for a bar-bee-que to bid him a fond farewell and God speed.
We would like to wish all shipmates a Happy and hopefully prosperous 2008
From the shipmates of Natal, South Africa.

Natal Branch Shipmates enjoy a Sunday mid-day barbeque or braai as we call it here