Roger Walker TASO wrote on the 14th October 2008 

As for my own recollections' there are so many. The first Summer of the Commission, we were at times the only working destroyer in the Western Fleet. It meant the program was non-stop. I am sure I will remember more as time goes by but here are a couple.

 During a briefing for the Carysfort Wardroom by the Cdr of the Royal Yacht before taking up duties as guardship.

"On the yacht we do not wear hats aft of the mast"

Cheesed-off Simon M who at this stage was getting bored:

"On Carysfort, we don't wear hats aft of the mast, in fact we don't wear hats forward of the mast or anywhere else either "  

.... to the barely suppressed giggles of the Carysfort wardroom - the briefing was brought to a speedy conclusion.

The Ship's equipment was extraordinarily reliable largely thanks to the experience of Steve Bovey the Marine Engineer and the drive, brains and bubbly personality of Les Ayling our WEO but when, just as we were anchoring in a quiet bay in the Western Isles,  we were informed that we were to receive a visit from a young Prince Andrew, sod's law took over.

The Captain was on the bridge still. SSD were about to fall out. Britannia's signal had  a mixed reception. The Skipper (Dickie Bates) had  work to do so No. 1 was detailed off to arrange an "interesting programme". A diver was paraded on the Iron Deck with all his gear including his telephone. This fascinated the young prince who demanded the diver be put into the water to demonstrate how it worked. The diver duly obliged and the sea took over.

The time-honoured  "How do you hear me ?" elicited no response and the minutes dragged by.  Finally an impatient young prince seized the microphone and took charge.

"Diver, this is Andrew over ?" and answer came there none.

Diver this is Andrew,  Answer me immediately !!"  Titters from the assembled company, still no answer.

"Well" an embarassed XO  offers " Shall we try something else ?"

Sensitivity requires the story of the German loan officer and the Gibraltar gas chambers to be kept for a future re-union as does the sad and tragic end to Simon McCaskill's life. Your remarkable website ought however to record that Carysfort's last commission was another in a series of successful commissions and that she was rightly known for that and for the morale of her crew.  

 I could go on but in the weeks to come, I will look through the Photographs and see what memories might be of general interest.