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It is with sadness that I am reporting the death of Bolton RNA President Frank Iddon after being in and out of hospital for the last few months Frank served RN as a Seaman from 1942 to 1949 in HMS Victory, HMS Phonecia, HMS St Angelo and HMS Chaplet. He was 88 years and will be much missed. He had a very Lancastrian sense of humour and was an avid fan of Bolton Wanderers.
We will all miss him very much. RIP Frank.
RIP Frank, we both served in Chaplet one of those great WWII built destroyers that in the latter part of their lives as training ships introduced many boy sailors to their first taste of life at sea.
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He would have been pleased to know that Ian.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ianmac
Off to Bolton for the funeral of Frank today, we will give him a good Navy send off, White Ensign, Standard etc, and have a little tot in memory of him.
Ian, lots of mentions, and photos, of the Chaplet today. It was Franks only sea going ship, and he loved it on there apparently.
HMS Chaplet D52 where I did my first Middle watch, watch on deck, lifebuoy ghost, seaboats crew, cable party, helmsman, Ops room watch, light jackstay, lookout, washing paintwork,' bluebelling' brightwork, cook of the mess (making your own 'clacker' and taking the 'cackleberries' etc up to the galley for the chef to hard boil for brekkies) and sleep in a hammock.
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...psqcscdzj0.jpg
Happy days eh Ian? And you followed a great bloke in Frank on board.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ianmac
Talking to Frank's son at the funeral I found out he played the drums around the dance halls in Bolton and was approached by a Bolton band leader called Alan Ainsworth, who you might have heard of, to go to London to play the drums in his band on things like the Goon Show. Frank turned the offer down apparently because of his young family, but what if he had taken up the offer I wonder? He never mentioned playing the drums at all, wish he had, as I play the drums too, but nowhere near Frank's standard, his son played a grainy recording of Frank doing a solo, and he was very good, then we could have bored the rest of the Branch rigid with drum talk.
Just a little sequel to the above about Frank, we found out that his wife, whose been in a home suffering from Dementia for a few years passed away yesterday, as if she was waiting for Frank to go first. I know she wasn't ex Lowie or RN but RIP to Mrs Frank. And thoughts to the family suffering both deaths within a couple of weeks or so.
Did my Ganges sea training on Chaplet in 1960. Pissed down all the time I was on her, sick as a pig in a force 8 and ended up at the exciting Barry Docks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ianmac
RIP Frank may you find safe anchorage
POSTD Chris Parkinson, I got in contact with Chris a couple of years ago and last month went for a drink with him at his RNA in Pendelton, Salford. yesterday at 1500 he posted a pic of himself on FB outside Winchester Cathederal as he was attending Admiral JJ BLacks Memorial Service, he then posted a pic of JJs medals and we had a quick chat about who had cleaned them most !!!
What a shock when I logged onto facebook this morning to find Chris had died after the Memorial Service. No further details known as yet, Im just glad I managed to go and see him last month after a 26 year break.
Hope he has a good time fluffing pillows up there, he always said he was POSTD to the stars. His Cabin Mate on the London left a great memory as Chris used to wind him up as he was Chief of the watch and looked after millions of pounds worth of equipment whilst on the same pay as Chris who just had to make sure he didnt scorch the skippers shirts
RIP old buddy