Charity Event

On 11/11/11 i will be playing Touch Rugby non-stop for 12 hours to Raise Money for Help for Heroes. The event will take place at Benfield Centre for Sporting Excellence in Newcastle upon Tyne. The event will begin at 11am with 2 minutes silence to commemorate the sacrifice our service personnel have made and continue to make on a daily basis.

People of all ages and abilities will take part throughout the day while myself and one other will play continuously. We have children in their scheduled PE lessons taking part, active serving members of the Armed Forces, players from local Community Clubs right up to people that have never picked up a rugby ball before.

I am an Ex Royal Navy Submariner and I will play on one team and we have an Ex RAF Regiment member playing for the other team for the entire 12 hour period without a break. For those of you that know me well, i am sure you will agree, 12 hours soild rugby will just about kill me!!!!!!
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
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http://www.justgiving.com/Mark-Watson5/

Are you missing life in the Royal Navy?

Are you missing life in the Royal Navy?

Here’s how to recapture the atmosphere of the good old days:-

1. Build a shelf on top of your wardrobe and sleep on it in a small sleeping bag. For added realism rig a fan so it blows warm air in your face.

2. Change all your curtains for ones that are too short.

3. Wash your underwear in a bucket every night then hang it over the water pipes to dry.

4. Four hours after you go to bed, get the wife to whip the covers back, shine a torch in your eyes and say “sorry mate”.

5. Renovate the bathroom – build a wall across the center of the bath and move the shower head to chest level. Store beer barrels in the shower enclosure.

6. When you shower (only once a week) remember to shout at the top of your voice “turning on” and “turning off” when finished.

7. Only use one sheet of toilet paper per visit.

8. Every time there is a thunderstorm, sit in a chair and rock as hard as you can until you feel sick (mandatory for skimmers).

9. Put oil instead of water in the dehumidifier and turn it up high.

10. Don’t watch TV – just old movies in the middle of the night. For added realism have the family vote for a movie then watch a different one.

11. Leave a lawn mower running 24/7 in the middle of the living room.

12. Have the paper boy cut your hair.

13. Once week blow compressed air up your chimney. Make sure the wind carries soot over your neighbours. (skimmers)

14 Buy a rubbish compactor and use it once a week. Store the rubbish on the other side of the bathroom.

15 Devise menus for the family for a week in advance without looking in the fridge or pantry.

16. Set the alarm clock to go off at random times in the night. When it goes off, leap out of bed (or off the wardrobe), run into the garden and run around with the garden hose.

17 Once a month take all the household appliances to bits and put them back together.

18. Use 4 spoons of coffee per cup, allow it to sit for 2 hours before drinking.

19. Invite 85 people you don’t like to come and stay for a month.

20. Install a small fluorescent light under your coffee table then lay underneath it and read a book.

21. Raise the threshold and lower the top sills of all your doors. Ensure you bang your shins and head when passing through them.

22. Every so often throw the cat in the bath, shout “man overboard” then run in the kitchen and sweep all the pots and pans on the floor. Give the wife a hard time for not securing for sea.

23. Nickname your shoes “steaming bats” and get the kids to hide one of them around the house on a random basis. For added realism, take out a shoe lace

24. Go out with a girl with Tourettes syndrome just to hear someone shout and scream at you for no apparent reason.

25. Get your kids to hide around a corner and when you walk by, throw a bucket of water on you.

26. Mix seven tins of different flavoured soups in a bucket and eat it while looking around to see if anyone else is eating it.

27. As you are about to eat dinner, get someone to shout “starboard 25”. Tip up the table to 30 degrees so everything slides off.

28. Set up 5 tape recorders to play the sounds of 5 different people snoring. Highest volume is mandatory. Play it all night.

Pebble Mill at One

Just a Common Sailor

Common Sailor

By Richard 'Kavz' Kavanagh

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

... And tho' sometimes, to his neighbours, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Jack has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a sailor died today.
He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a sailor died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a sailor goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives,
While the ordinary sailor, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.
It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Jacks of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a sailor, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common sailor and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the sailor's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honour while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, for a sailor died today

RIP Whisky Walker

 UPDATE : David Walker Service. info from Andrew

 Please note that I have spoken to David's wife Fiona today. She has given me details for his service which will be at St Mungos in the Vale of Leven on Saturday 15th October at 0900. Please note that there will be a wake after the service at the Commodore Hotel in Helensburgh. Fiona has advised that if friends and colleagues wish to send flowers, please send to St Mungos on Friday evening, otherwise donations to St Mungos. For more information please contact me.

Junior Rates one and all Whiskey......."You can take the Man from the Submarine Service, but you cant take the Submarine Service from the Man" !
Rest in Peace Whiskey.

Brendan Blackie ‎~~~ R.I.P David ~~~

John Turnbull R.I.P Whiskey

Mike Larry Lamb will be missed by all who knew him R.I.P MATE

Ian Vickers R.I.P Whiskey

Dave Gunner R.I.P Whiskey

Donald MacLeod Nice one Graham. R.I.P. mate, R.I.P.

Jimmy Dyke R.I.P Big Ski

Fred Flint O Father,hear our prayer to thee,your humble servants beneath the sea,
 In the depths of ocean oft we stray,so far from night so far from day,
 we would ask your guiding light to glow,to make sure our journey safe below,
 please oft times grant us patient mind,then ere the darkness ,won't us blind,
 We seek thy protection from the deep,and grant us peace whene're we sleep,
 Of our homes and loved ones far away ,we ask you care for them each day,
 until we surface once again ,to drink the air and feel the rain,
 We ask your guiding hand to show ,a safe progression ,sure and slow,
 Dear lord ,please hear our prayers to thee,from your humble servants beneath the sea.
 amen.
 the submariners prayer to our shipmate now crossed the bar .R.I.P. WHISKEY .GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN .

John Theotonio Rest your oar Sailor! RIP

Sean Courtney RIP Whiskey was a honour and a pleasure knowing you !

Paul Melbourne sorry you've gone RIP a sad loss

Alistair Slater R.I.P. Whiskey!

Steve Royce-Rogers Crossed the bar. *Raise your glasses* Whiskey RIP

John MacKenzie Eternal Rest Shipmate

Clive Broad Rest in Peace Whiskey, you are off watch now. You will be sadly missed by all who knew you

Craig Pauley R.I.P Whiskey. What a nice bloke!

Andy Sibbald Can't say much more than has already been said. Farewell mate, pleasure knowing you. Don't worry about Fiona, there are plenty who will look after her.

Fred Sayer Never knew you Whiskey , All the better for knowing of you R.I.P shipmate

Gary Pirrie A sad loss, RIP mate.

Franky Hayes R.I.P. Whiskey sleep well.

Fred West Resurgam Whiskey albeit our paths never cross

Geoffrey Theakstone R.I.P old friend,sad sad day for all who knows you,never forgotten

Robert Adler Obviously I never knew you, But given how your shipmates in the Royal Navy talk about you, You were well respected, and one of the best. It is a blessed Bond we Submariners have, between our two Navies. Your Shipmates will Pipe you "Across the Bar"....We will say in the US Navy...Fair winds and Following Seas, Shipmate.... Rest your Oar, We have the watch.... RIP

William Mcneil You are with your mates now that crossed the Bar( RIP), you are not forgotten and I am sure all those others called away from their loved ones will have a drink on the bar ready. God Bless mate.

Gary Middlemiss Rest in peace whiskey

Brendan Blackie Never even knew the guy, but sitting here with a lump In my throat and a tear In my eye... How amazing is the Submariner Bond!!!!

Paul Finn RIP Whiskey u will be sadly missed big guy my thoughts are with ur family

Andy Leatherday ‎"Not just anybody can be a submariner." we will never forget you. RIP

Steven Johnson RIP Whisky mate never forgotten

Michael Daniels RIP shippers, a sad loss for everyone.

Sharon-Anne Connell-Malcolm There will be an extra star in the sky tonight, it will be the brightest.

Mick Cheshire RIP Whiskey a fellow Submariner and kindred spirit.

John Carty R.I.P. Whiskey

Ned Nedders God bless, Whisky

Steve Worsfold R.I.P Shipmate God bless, a honour to of known you

Chas Cooke RIP Whiskey, stand down, watch over, a job well done. My thoughts are with your family. I hope they take some peace from the comments here from friends and fellow submariners.

Paul Marston RIP old friend.

Dan TheMan I've never met you whisky, but i feel i've known you all my life, rest in peace mate, and we all look forward to the big reunion in the sky

Sean Reader fair winds and following seas shipmate.

Malcolm Hogg RIP Shipmate - Thoughts with your Family

Alan Herbert R.I.P. whiskey our courses barely crossed. another good'un has crossed the bar.

Dean Elliott RIP shippers - thoughts with your nearest and dearest.

Tim Arnold RIP shipmate, drink a wee dram for us on the other side !

Andrew Broadbelt Very sad to hear that Whiskey has crossed the bar. I heard he passed at 7am this morning. I will keep shipmates posted about arrangements etc

Mark Mullins RIP Wobbly. One of the lads who makes me smile when I think of him

Shaun Perry RIP Whisky, deepest condolences to all the family.

Graham C. Smith RIP Whisky, one of the very best. I am proud to have served with you and to have known you. Will be toasting you this evening old friend. Deepest condolences to Fiona and the rest of your Family.

Lee Goldhill RIP Whiskey only the good die young ' God bless your family !

Jim Long Whiskey it's been an honour and privilege to of known you my old mate. Calm seas and fair winds on your final deployment. God bless your family

James Ellis So Sad, only the good die young my Mum used to say, never been truer....

Brian Maitland God bless you big fella, it was a pleasure to serve with you.

Vincent Carr Pleasure to have known u whisky R.I.P u will be sadly missed

Garry Carter RIP Shippers

Michael Morgan ‎"The Lord is my pilot, I shall not go adrift; He lighteth my passage across dark channels; He steereth me through the deep waters, He keepeth my log. He guideth me by the evening star for my safety's sake. Yea, though I sail mid the thunders and tempest of life, I shall fear no peril for Thou art with me. The vastness of thy sea upholds me. Surely fair winds and safe harbors shall be found all the days of my life; And I shall moor, fast, and secure, forever Amen.

Kenneth Nesbitt You've gone where the rest of us will some day follow. RIP shipmate.