C.C.F. Notes

EXIT, PURSUED BY A BARE

The planned production of Macbeth with nude scenes will no doubt reveal deeper meanings in this stark tragedy, and should be good boxoffice. But what bad luck on the cast that this first cultural venture should be set on a blasted heath and in a drafty castle. They will be happier when the warmer climate plays take their turn, with some of the better ones suitably re-written to get over the disguise problems of Portia, Rosalind and Viola.

Bardman

A long week-end visit to H.M.S. Caledonia at Rosyth; afternoon flying from Church Fenton and night flying from Topcliffe; exercises on Strensall training area, including a night exercise planned by Captain Oxley, C.W.O. Harrison and Sgt. Elsworth; the Military Band working up to a standard of considerable self-assurance; all in all, membership of the C.C.F. has plenty to offer to the boy who wants some activity out of the routine. At the end of the Term there was a March Past which showed that a good deal of drill will be needed to bring the Contingent up to a proper standard of smartness.

Captain Bulcock has taken firm command of the Royal Navy Section with its wide ranging activities; Contingent Warrant Officer Harrison gave a very good lead as the Senior N.C.O., and Sergeant Hamshaw has organised the Band in a most promising way.

Adventurous Training, formerly known as Arduous Training, will be in March, in the Brecon Beacons area of Wales; this is open to members of all three Service Sections, and we are grateful to the Scouts for giving some useful instruction in outdoor cooking.

D.G.C.

R.N. SECTION

The following appointments were made at the start of the term, i/c section, L/S Young; 2i/c section, L/S Bell; i/c Collingwood Division, L/S Sherriff; i/c Nelson Division, L/S Pearson; i/c Rodney Division, L/S Craven.

The Section continues to thrive and thirty new recruits have joined this term which is a fine tribute to my predecessor's inspiration, Lt. Maw. Instruction has been varied and we are very grateful to Captain Le Tocq for coaching the new boys in shooting, and help from Lt. Maw, the late C.P.O. Keefe, L/S Craven, L/S Bell and L/S Slater has been most welcome.

The camp lists are now available and many cadets have made enquiries to avail themselves of the opportunities to see the Navy in the Easter and Summer holidays. An addition to our "fleet" has been promised by H.M.S. Caledonia in the form of a new 8hp diesel-engined, 16 foot slow motor boat. This boat has been built by the apprentices at Rosyth. This should be in operation in the Summer Term. 19

The highlight of the Term was a trip to our parent establishment of H.M.S. Caledonia at Rosyth for which a report has been prepared b A. B. Harrison. It appears below.

R.J.B.

It is with deep regret that we record the death of C.P.O. Keefe on January 4th. He gave most valuable help in our training; and those who knew the Chief at the splendid Loch Ewe camps will remember him as being so much at home in his Royal Navy environment, and will realise the more sharply that the Royal Navy has lost a fine representative in the schools, where he was able to impart to Cadets, with tolerance and with few words, all they needed to know about the senior service from the C.C.F. point of view.

D.G.C.

VISIT TO H.M.S. CALEDONIA

The following members of the C.C.F. (Naval Section) visited H.M.S. Caledonia, Rosyth for a training weekend, November 27th to 30th, with Lt. Maw, R.N.R. and Capt. Bulcock, RE.:— L/S Craven, L/S Bell, A.B. Harrison, Pette, Wormald, 0/D Beaulah, Bernard, Brown, Feeney, Clark, Lucas, Mcllroy, Ringrose, Cdt. Dimelow (Army).

The party left York by train for Edinburgh on the afternoon of November 27th and arrived on board H.M.S. Caledonia in time for late supper. The reasons for going were various; some had been before and therefore wished to go again; others had not, and wished to find out what it was like in the Navy. All were trying to see the Royal Navy at work.

On Saturday we were hauled out of our pits at 06.15 hours for an hour of drill from the Chief Gunnery Instructor. The same morning we had coffee in the Wardroom with the Officers; we then took part in Ceremonial Divisions for an hour, being inspected by a Staff Officer and marching to a Brass Band and to a Pipe Band. In the afternoon we had three hours on an MSMB on the River Forth, buoy-jumping and steering the boat.

On Sunday we rose at a more reasonable hour and went on a ship visit to H.M.S. Malcolm in Rosyth dockyard. H.M.S. Malcolm is a Class 14 Frigate used in anti-submarine activities. She was built about 1955 and she is going to be scrapped in April next year. We were shown around all the ship from stem to stern and the workings of the engine room were explained to us. In the afternoon we were due to have 7.62 mm shooting (SLR) but this was cancelled at the last moment due to poor visibility. Instead there was .22 and pistol shooting in the underground 25 yard range, Captain Bulcock excelling in the latter.

On Monday morning we started a day at sea (or at least the Firth o Forth) aboard H.M.S. Rapid. She is a Class 15 Frigate built around 1940 and now used as apprentices' training ship at Caledonia. It was hard, to believe that at one time she had been the fastest ship in the Fleet at 42 knots, but more easy to believe that she was not allowed out of sigh of land! We were also told that there was a "slight swell" and som were promptly sick. A RAS (Replenishment at Sea) was carried out wi 20

H.M.S. Malcolm and O/D Lucas and Cdt. Dimelow were transported across the narrow gap between the two ships. H.M.S. Malcolm then left us to go to Iceland on Fishery Protection duties and then H.M.S. Rapid mercifully anchored for lunch; if it had not some of us might still be feeling the consequences! On our way back to port some of us rowed the ship's boat for about two hundred yards round the ship after being launched using Robinson's Disengaging gear, which it was interesting to see used for once. We left the ship to the unison piping of L/S Craven and L/S Bell.

Our thanks are due to Captain Bulcock who accompanied us and Lt. Prior, Royal Navy, who was our host. J.P.H.H.

ARMY SECTION

Last summer a number of Army Section Cadets went to the Royal Navy camp at Loch Ewe, and found it a first class training of wide general interest. It is to be hoped that there Will be equal enthusiasm for Adventurous Training and for Army Camps where the training in recent years has become much more imaginative in keeping with the new training syllabus.

This syllabus, which we are now starting, includes such activities as Orienteering, Canoeing, Adventurous Training and Swimming, as well as the essential Drill and Shooting. The Cadet seeking to become proficient in this type of training will find it necessary to attend an Army Camp or Adventurous Training course where time and opportunity are available. J.N.G.

R.A.F. NOTES

During the Autumn Term the section was commanded by Sgt. Stow, assisted by J/Cpls. Cameron, Ramsden and Shepherd P. M. Ten recruits provisionally joined the Section and in addition to general training, took part in model building, dinghy drill and shooting.

Flights B and C, who are in their second year, have undertaken initiative tests and visited Army signals establishments. Five members of Flight B were able to enjoy navigational night trips in Varsity aircraft at R.A.F. Topcliffe.

Flight A has been mainly concerned with preparation for the Proficiency Examination taken in December.

Once again air experience flying has been possible at R.A.F. Church Fenton but it has been rather curtailed by unsuitable weather.

It is anticipated that the annual camp in the United Kingdom will take place from March 31st to April 7th, and in addition it is hoped that four cadets will be able to spend a week at an R.A.F. Station in Germany. P.L.H.