I joined at the tender age of 15 and a little bit in November 1954 leaving (Ganges) in 1956 after a wait of some considerable time having chosen a cruiser as my first ship and had to wait for HMS Ceylon to return to Portsmouth for a refit, during that time I was loaned to HMS Truelove in Harwich then straight off to Gib, Malta and the Gulf War. We boys were not taken off for some reason.
Ships: Bacchante, Ark Royal. Hermes, Intrepid, Fearless, RFA's Galahad, Percival, Geraint, Bedevire, RNO Staff Bermuda, Malta, Gibraltar, the Commcen in Portugal I can not think name of, all whilst on Mercury OXP Team, Ceylon, Cuxton and several others while on Trials Team, Grenville, Hecate (1st commission), Jufair, Mauritius, Troubridge, Dark Intruder, Chailey. I left (The Navy) in May 1979 while at Collingwood MSO.
I had a good run in my time, giving away several parts of QV's Commonwealth. I remember ships berthed 4 abreast in Portsmouth harbour in those days. I live in Fareham and see 3 maybe 4 now-a-days.