| old strawberry's profile |
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Username
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old strawberry
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Status
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active
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Joined
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Sep 16, 2009
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Location
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Portland, Dorset.
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Dates in RFA
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1958/1963 - 1996/2002
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RFA Department
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deck
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Biography/Remarks
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I joined the RFA after serving on the Training Ship Arethusa 1956/1958 berthed at Upnor, nr Rochester,kent. My first RFA Ship Was the RFA Tidereach, joining at Hebburn-on-Tyne April 1958. I was to spend five and half years in the RFA leaving in 1963 My last Ship being RFA Black Ranger. I moved to Portland in 1964 were I was to married. I worked in Various jobs ashore but in 1973 I was to be employed at the Naval Base on the "Boats" PAS/RMAS. My employment was to last for a very happy twenty two and half years but the bombshell was dropped in 1993 when We were informed by the Admiral That the Dockyard was to be closed in 1995 and the Air Station in 1999 I left the Dockyard Aug 1995. So knowing only seamanship My only option was try and Re-join the RFA which I did successfully at the age of 53 going on 54. After being ashore for eight month or so I joined an agency and asked for RFA as a preffered option and in April 1996 I was to join RFA Fort Austin under the Command of captain Waters, whom I might add was very helpful to me as my last time in the RFA was 36 years ago. During My time in Fort Austin I applied for a contract and was very gratefully accepted. So I was spend another six years until final retirement in 2002. I have said this, in another website and I don't mind admitting it, that I found those last six years quite challenging but that is another story but will end by saying that I will be for ever grateful to the RFA for giving Me those extra Years.
Regards Tony Straw.
PS During those first Years in the RFA I was known as "Jacky" Straw.
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files uploaded
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6
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