John was good at getting people busy. He then stood around complaining that he was feeling cold.

He had a way with words. Such as "I've got a little job for you", and "Do you want to work on the boat on Sunday?". It was impossible to refuse.

His little red ex-Post Office van was more of an Aladdin's toolbox containing all sorts of woodworking implements.

While working on the 'wooden' ASC, the side buoyancy tank tops needed to be cut from 3/4" thick plywood. The hardboard templates had been cut out. The plywood was laid across tables on the main deck and the template shape was traced onto it to show the inner curve of the boat. Next was to cut the curve. John said to use the jigsaw but I was already kneeling on the plywood and had started with a cross cut saw to give a smoother shape. John asked, "How does that work, then?" I replied, "You push it forward, pull it back and push it forward again", burst out laughing and nearly rolled off the table. John walked off in disgust.

John excelled at scrounging. Portsmouth Stores recoiled in terror when they knew that he was to pay a visit. They knew that he would clear them out of whatever he wanted.

It was probably after one such trip that the Unit was piled high with buoyancy aids.

British Telecom was another target. They had nice blue rope for knots and splicing practice as well as for boat fenders. But they hardly ever had any. Not surprising really, most of it was in the boatshed.

John was the only person who I ever naturally called "sir" and continued doing so long after I left the Unit, much to his irritation.

Thanks John for all that I learnt, I now await forever the call to work on the boat on a Sunday.

Sail away peacefully sir, you've earned it.

Peter Lewry.