After the boys amazing visit to Portsmouth Dockyard last week with their parents, Chatham Dockyard in the rain today was a not as enthusiastically received. However, despite Covid closed areas policy it was an interesting visit. The submarine inside visit was closed and also some of the smaller exhibitions. The steam train was running though and it was interesting to see the operators cooking their lunch on the boiler fire, just like Grandad used to do. We did see the Ropery working which the boys enjoyed and we went on board HMS Gannet and HMS Cavalier.
I told the boys about the fire in a nuclear submarine undergoing a refit in 1977. I was in charge of the incident and I had to commit men to go inside which was a risky challenge as we thought at the time there were workers on board. Fortunately, there weren’t so all was well in the end. I could never remember the name of that sub but today I read about her refit, she was the “Conquerer”.
