JOHN STANYER
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JOHN STANYER - Moray Sea School, Burghead Scotland, 1958

JAN/FEB 1958,MY MEMORIES INCLUDE RACING ACROSS A SNOW COVERED FIELD EARLY EVERY MORNING DRESSED IN PYJAMAS TO GET TO THE SHOWER BLOCK FOR THE EXTREMELEY COLD SHOWER.

THE BIKE RIDE TO GORDONSTOUN, THE SCHOOL THAT PRINCE CHARLES ATTENDED, WHERE WE WERE GIVEN LUNCH AND A TOUR AROUND WHAT SEEMED TO US VERY POSH SURROUNDINGS INDEED.

WE HAD THREE DAYS TRECKING IN THE CAIRNGORMS IN QUITE SEVERE CONDITIONS, I FOUND THIS QUITE PAINFUL BECAUSE TWO DAYS EARLIER I HAD SPRAINED MY ANKLE AND STRUGGLED TO GET MY WALKING BOOTS ON.

WE DID CANOOING PRACTICE IN THE HARBOUR AND THEN SPENT THREE DAYS SAILING THE MORAY FIRTH IN WHAT I SUPPOSE MUST HAVE BEEN AN OLD FISHING VESSEL, I REMEMBER ONE OF OUR PARTY BEING VERY SEA SICK WHILE WE WERE STILL ANCHORED IN THE HARBOUR. ON BOARD WE HAD TO HELP WITH THE GENERAL RUNNING OF THE SHIP INCLUDING GALLEY WORK, HOISTING SAILS TAKING DEPTH SOUNDINGS AND CLEANING THE DECKS.WE SAILED UP TOWARDS CROMARTY AND WITNESSED THE AURORA BOREALIS WHICH WE FOUND QUITE EXCITING.

POSSIBLY MY EVERLASTING MEMORY IS A LETTER THAT I RECEIVED FROM MY GIRL FRIEND INFORMING ME THAT THE BUSBY BABES HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A HORRIFIC PLANE CRASH AT MUNICH AND MANY OF THEM HAD BEEN KILLED.

WE FOUND THE SEA SCHOOL A QUITE DEMANDING BUT VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE AND I AM SURETHAT WE ALL BENEFITED IN DIFFERENT WAYS FROM THE COURSE.
JOHN STANYER