Page 64 - It's a Rum Life Book One "In the Beginning 1947 to 1960"

After my initial year I chose to join the naval section. There
was an RAF section too and each unit faithfully followed the
principals of their ‘big brother’ military Organisation. We had
official inspections by active serving officers in our respective
military sections.

(Picture of typical CCF group.)
Our training followed the normal training manuals used in
the services and we took the same examinations. In my two
years in the Naval Section I attained Leading Seaman rank even
though during one period of training on HMS Vanguard based
then at Portsmouth, I did almost run a motor fishing vessel onto
a sandbank in the Solent during my spell at the helm!
My excuse was that as we were circling the liner Queen Mary
at the time which was awaiting the tide to enter Southampton
Water, there was on our Starboard bow a bulk tanker that was
aground on its way to the Fawley refinery; it had a smaller
tanker alongside lightening its load and I was momentarily
distracted by all the activity.
We did not touch the sand anyway, just took a starboard
hand buoy on the wrong side!
Back at the Radio School, I had taken my farewell of friends
at Scouts and departed to Bridlington on the coast of East

64