Chichester Men’s Shed

was Captain Peter Chapmanandrews whose illustrative talk was entitled Navigating the Royals.

He explained that he would be talking about Her Majesty’s Ship Ark Royal and Her Majesty’s yacht Britannia, ships with very different roles.

While the Ark Royal was a warship HMY Britannia was used to fly the flag around the world and by the royal family for cruise accommodation.

Ark Royal was an aircraft carrier with its main feature being its flight deck, offset bridge and a complement of Sea Harriers and Sea King helicopters.

Captain Allan described some world wide deployments and told about a visit to Charleston USA naval base where there was such a small roof clearance under a bridge that Ark Royal flew off the Harriers and took on fuel to give the ship a few inches more.

Mention was also made that Ark Royal was the first carrier to go through the Thames Barrier.

Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia was the 83rd such vessel to be named Britannia and the second royal yacht to carry the name.

Capt Allan said the ship had lovely lines and was designed with three masts

Chichester Men’s Shed meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Chichester Boy’s Club, 34A Little London, from 10am to midday. Apart from plenty of chat, tea, coffee and biscuits we want to turn our hands to practical things we can do in our temporary home. We are actively looking for our own premises where we will establish a fully equipped workshop and social space. On February 28 we made our first bird box (for a robin) and will make more when we meet on March 14. At our meeting on March 28 our member John Gibbs will be talking about silversmithing and jewellery and will be demonstrating tools and techniques. Anyone aged over 18 is very welcome to join us. You can email chichestermensshed@gmail.com or find us on Facebook.

with the officers and crew accommodation being forward including the engine room and the royal apartments aft.

The paintwork colours were impressive with high gloss paint and gold leaf.

To avoid any damage to its appearance Britannia only used tugs on a hawser with no

pushing by contact. The whole ship was spick and span, including the engine room.

The crew included a Royal Marine band who would play sailing in or leaving port and on occasions ashore when showing the flag.

We were shown photographs of the bridge and the chartroom and the officer and crew accommodation and also the Royal apartments including the Queen’s study and bedroom.

The yacht regularly went to Cowes in August when the Duke of Edinburgh competed in yacht races and the royal family then went on their annual cruise around the Islands in the west coast of Scotland.

After a very interesting talk there was a time for questions after which a vote of thanks was given.

If you are a retired professional gentleman who would like to visit the club with a view to possibly joining, please contact Roger Bennett on 01243 849358.

More information can be seen on our website at probusclub.net/bognorregis