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Jim Worlding | profile | all galleries >> Jim's Pro Galleries >> HMS GANGES and Shotley Gate tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

HMS GANGES and Shotley Gate

For those that do not know the old place please visit the HMS Ganges Association web site http://www.hmsgangesassoc.org/ and if you do know the old place or indeed if your a TROG you will find it interesting and nostalgic.
I Joined the RN at 15, in May 1965 and spent the next year, with very few breaks, at "the old place" I can't explain why we old boys feel so passionate about the place. After what we went through (yes I know that we had it easy in the 60's) we should be glad to see the back of it. But seeing it in its deliberately derelict and run down state makes me and others I have spoken to very angry.
The Mast is grade 2 listed, but this just means that the owners can not demolish it, they do not have to maintain it. So it is just being left to decay and when the new housing estate, that is on the drawing board, is built the mast will then be dangerous and the owners will get permission to take it down along with the few buildings now left on the site.
If you wish to buy prints of these shots please go to my Photobox gallery http://www.photoboxgallery.com/Reality-Images/collection?album_id=94159513
The Devils Elbow HMS GANGES Mast
The Devils Elbow HMS GANGES Mast		 Steps down to the foreshore
Steps down to the foreshore		 Steps down to the foreshore
Steps down to the foreshore		 The old Enright Block
The old Enright Block
The old Enright Block
The old Enright Block		 The old Enright Block
The old Enright Block		 The shipwreck bar
The shipwreck bar		 The shipwreck bar
The shipwreck bar
The old running track now a Marina
The old running track now a Marina		 The old running track now a Marina
The old running track now a Marina		 The old running track now a Marina
The old running track now a Marina		 The old running track now a Marina
The old running track now a Marina
The old running track now a Marina
The old running track now a Marina		 The Marina
The Marina		 The Marina
The Marina		 The Marina
The Marina
O'Bouy
O'Bouy		 The shipwreck bar
The shipwreck bar		 The Marina
The Marina		 O Happy Days (NOT)
O Happy Days (NOT)
Shotley Gate Post Office and Store
Shotley Gate Post Office and Store		 The Main Gate
The Main Gate		 The Mast
The Mast		 IMG_5374-50-47.jpg
IMG_5374-50-47.jpg
IMG_5375-51-48.jpg
IMG_5375-51-48.jpg		 IMG_5376-52-49.jpg
IMG_5376-52-49.jpg		 IMG_5378-54-51.jpg
IMG_5378-54-51.jpg		 The Mast
The Mast
The Mast
The Mast		 The Mast
The Mast		 The Mast
The Mast		 The Mast
The Mast
IMG_5386-62-59.jpg
IMG_5386-62-59.jpg		 IMG_5387-63-60.jpg
IMG_5387-63-60.jpg		 IMG_5388-64-61.jpg
IMG_5388-64-61.jpg		 IMG_5389-65-62.jpg
IMG_5389-65-62.jpg
The Mast
The Mast

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Guest 17-Mar-2013 10:24
My father, Robert Allin ( apparently knowns as 'sneering Bobby, wanted for murder') was an RPO at Ganges in 1957. I was six years old at the time but still remember the lads going up the mast and the filming of 'Yangtse Incident' with Richard Todd. They used our cat as the ship's cat in the film and my father was used as an extra in the film
Guest 26-Nov-2012 18:42
I am still in touch with one of my instructors from 1957. He is currently residing in Australia - and I am almost 71. Peter French is his name, which reminds me that I will have to phone him up before Christmas. PO French was a good instructor and treated all boys fairly and with respect and PO French won that respect back. I am still trying to contact a few old mates of mine: Robin Hodge, Roger Green, and Cyril Stapleton to mention but three. Most times at Ganges were happy times, but there was a few hiccups and I remember doing a stint of Number 9 punishment, yeah, and the 303 rifle above my head. But when I come to think about it - it kept one fit. My first seagoing ship was HMS Mounts Bay, with a further few weeks on HMS Ceylon, then there was the Duncan, Hermes, Lochinvar, Cochrane, Pembroke, Victory Barracks (at least three times.
Guest 14-Jun-2012 12:32
I was a RALEIGH lad but it breaks my heart to see what has happened to the ROYAL NAVY and ganges .my schoolmate William cattel joined ganges in 1965.great photos and memories for the ganges boys
Guest 02-May-2010 13:41
oh the days gone by! I first heaved up as a trog 1966, short covered way, what a place. Homesick and scared 15 years old. Place was a concentration camp really, still it taught me to put up and shut up! Sad days missed shame the place has gone so badly
Guest 22-Oct-2007 12:59
One evening, about 65 years ago, my father who was a trog at the time, got drunk and climbed to the top of Shotley mast and played his piano accordeon. The commanding officers were lenient, considering his stupidity to contain an element of bravery. His accordeon later saved his life by cushioning the blast of a german shell that penetrated the hull of his ship, the HMS Eskimo which was patrolling in a Norwegian Fjord. Years later he became chief of the parade ground and was known as "Rosie" Price.
Clive Glaister20-Aug-2007 20:04
You're right, Oh happy days (not) - It only seems not so long ago that I was manning the mast for parents day - So sad to see it like this, and all in the name of progress! (allegedly).
My first sea going draft chit being HMS Triumph and the last one HMS Reclaim
Clive ex: L/Stwd P117613W.
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