MISSING . . .
THE DAILY MAIL offers readers a unique opportunity to re-establish contact with long-lost relatives and friends. Each week, MONICA PORTER features the story of someone trying to find a missing loved one, as well as a tale of people reunited. This column is produced in conjunction with the voluntary tracing service, Searching For A Memory, run by Gill and John Whitley.
Terry ‘ Ginge’ Fearnley tells us: ‘I am organising a reunion in July at the Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire, for all of the former crew of HMS Alliance, which is on display there.
‘I’m a guide on her, and served on her as a stoker from 1968 to 1971. My photo was taken in the stokers’ mess and shows (left to right) Dave Deeming, myself, someone whose name I sadly can’t recall and “Lazy” Lobb — all stokers who served with me.
‘We will be welcoming former crew members from as far away as Canada and Australia. However, there are many who don’t belong to associations, and it’s those I’m trying to contact.
‘I joined the Navy as a marine engineer (stoker) in 1964 and, after training, flew out to Singapore, aged 17, to join HMS Albion. I spent 18 months there and applied for submarines on the journey back.
‘I joined my first sub, HMS Astute, in 1977. Afterwards, I joined HMS Alliance and spent the next three-and-a-half years on her. We served during the Cold War, protecting our shores from russia.
‘I also had some good times ashore in Gibraltar, Malta, plus a fantastic time in Newcastle.
‘Then I joined HMS Sultan at Devonport and a year later transferred to the 1st Submarine Squadron and joined HMS Grampus.
‘The HMS Alliance grand reunion will start at 1500 hours with a tour of Fort Blockhouse — formerly HMS Dolphin SM1 — the home of the Submarine Service for 100 years, where we will be welcomed by the museum director.
‘There will be toasts, a buffet dinner and free access to HMS Alliance to recall past times with shipmates.’