Topsy at HMS Cambrian Reunion 2004 at Chatham

                                HMS Cavalier                                                                    Wally Holstead, Taff Rees, Dave Stolworthy and Aylesbury's Topsy

Topsy went down to Chatham on the week end of the 9th May for a weekend reunion with the HMS Cambrian Association, which was held at The King Charles Hotel. Approximately 35 members plus guests had a great weekend which included a trip to the Maritime museum, and also a  guided tour on the sister ship of the Cambrian, HMS Cavalier which we all enjoyed immensely , (although at times I don't know whether the guide was guiding us or we were guiding him ). The Cambrian had three commissions during her life time between 1944 and 1969, and all three were well represented on the reunion. During the Gala dinner on the Saturday night there was a lot of lamp swinging going on, with the usual large amounts of  alcohol lubricating the vocal chords. The four chaps you see above met up for the first time in 38 years, and Wally Halstead on the left of the picture had come all the way from Perth in Australia with his wife Yvonne. Is this not a major part of what the RNA and ship associations are all about, just look at those smiles?