Born in Eastbourne, the author aspired, at an early age but for no obvious reason, to go to sea, being accepted as a Cadet to the HMS Conway pre-sea nautical College on the Isle of Anglesey at the tender age of 15. Acceptance as a Cadet Apprentice to the mighty P & O. S.N. Co followed two years later, rising through the Officer ranks to eventually gain his Master Mariner qualification, and a Commission as a Royal Naval Reserve Officer. Marriage happily retrieved him from assumed bachelorhood, and shortly after to a decision to “swallow the anchor”, and seek a career ashore, which rather explains his choice of book title!
Please join him, as you travel his adventures from the relative safety of sea-going, through those deeper waters ashore, where buoyancy was never guaranteed!
Although the author’s graduation from his pre-sea nautical HMS Conway was both expected and anticipated, to be honoured at the same time with the Queen’s Gold Medal was certainly not, coming as it did as a deeply humbling surprise. Acceptance into the P. & O. Steam Navigation Company as a Cadet ...
