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RADIO MARLBOROUGH 126

I remember the Radio 126 transmitter very well, I was the deejay. There were two REA apps involved in the construction, the record player (found in every mess) was connected into the TV circuitry which was modified as only REA's know how and then to one of the curtain rods as an antenna. This also limited transmission range. Records(Remember them?), were scrounged from every where. The enterprise lasted about a week. The Fisher Section Admin Office received a letter addressed to Jim the DJ at Radio 126. Apparently it was sent by a young girl who lived on the housing estate that bordered on Collingwood. I never got to read it , as it was intercepted and investigated by the Fisher Section Regulating staff. Nothing was found when 126 mess was searched as transmitter was dismantled every evening. 126 mess occupants had to muster in the mess on a couple of occasions for a kind of mass interrogation by the Regulating Staff. On the last round of questioning, an RPO asked if anyone had an interest in radio, lots of snickering while it was pointed out that a number of those present had been training in that field for about 3 years. Next question was about radio as a hobby. One soul volounteered that he was interested in radio controlled models, and did in fact have some components in his possession. One of the RPO's seized a battery operated motor about the size of a roll of mints and asked "Can this be used to broadcast a radio signal?". It was difficult for them to regain control of the situation with the whole of the mess roaring with laughter. As I recall that was the end of the matter, but Radio126 was off the air. Great fun while it lasted!!! Jim Hough.

THE KIWI's

On cars — Jim Stephen and I went halves in a nice Vauxhall Velox we bought from a PO (his accomm was just up the road from Fisher Section) for 75 quid. I couldn't drive and don't think Jim was too crash hot either, so with Jim Neville (designated driver) and Geoff Clark we went to the continent for an August leave.
When we got back just three weeks later we managed to limp it round to a junkyard where the guy looked at it and refused; then it died on the spot so he gave us "Yer bus fare back" for it.
Actually that 30 bob got us back to Collingwood and a couple of beers.
It was jumping that fourth red light in a row in Amsterdam that did us in ...
(John Hough RNZN)

BUZZ

Marlborough Division (126 Hut) decided to introduce themselves to to rural areas around Hampshire, probably during 7/8 class. Terry Radford and Jim Hough were the social secs and telephoned pubs and got agreement for a night out. They then laid on a coach and off we went.
I recall vaguely one night we decided to play Buzz, you know 1,2,3,4,5,6,buzz change direction 8,9,etc. Dusty Miller was an excellent chairman, adding spice to the game and inventing the rules as we went along. I believe we bought jugs of beer and filled the glasses freely. At one point we pleaded for a "comfort stop". We were allowed five minutes, with the last one back to buy the next round. I was soon back, and watched the squabbling through the door to get seated before the last. I think, I recall something like Jim Hough and ?? fighting across the pub, knocking over the locals pints, and causing havoc when they arrived at our table. The chairman decided they had to buy a round for the whole pub and while they were protesting about this, Mouse Walmsley came stolling through the door without a care in the world, we laughed and were treated to two rounds of ale.
I believe on the trip back we had to stop very often.

BREATHALYSER

A few dry weeks after the intro of the breathalizer, Len Munro and I with Denis Craig and a mate drove off to Pompey in my Cortina. After a few sherberts on route, we returned somewhat under the weather and decided to drive over C'Wood parade ground. Denis was feeling sick and decided to walk across to his mess. When I was changing into 3rd Len told me that Denis' sleeve was stuck in the door and we were dragging him across the parade ground. (Thanks Len). Denis ended up needing to buy a new suit after spending a week in Sick bay with bruised kidneys.
We of course knew nothing of this at the time, we had left Denis and his mate to make their own way, while Len and I drove to the milk machine outside Jellicoe(?) . Len shook/rocked said machine until it fell forward onto it's face. Because of the blast walls I couln't see Len and thought that the m/c was on top of him - I did laugh!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Martin Higgs)

JUST LIKE THAT(2)

Re App. (or not) in Tree in Fareham churchyard - but I remember it as a funeral (!) It was when we had returned to C'wood after sea training. Said tree jumper was AJCF and ended in Haslar where we took him Brandy (with the Guiness). He was unable to eat as his jaw was wired and they had knocked out his front teeth to allow a straw to be inserted. Suspected broken back (I seem to remember thru the haze!) and broken wrist (possibly two) and broken forearm also a possibility. "Killick" was D C from Belfast who was on Hermes where Al and I did sea training. (2 others whose names will come to me sometime.) Subsequent to the Haslar visit Denis returned to his ship in Pompey Dockyard and slipped on the icy rails and broke his leg!. (Martin Higgs)

It is hard to think that much time has passed, I can still remember returning to " Collingwood " from an night out and the milk and orange juice machine nearly killing me when it fell after I rocked it several times. (Len Munroe)

NORTHUMBERLAND ROAD

I remember a run ashore in Southampton, (probably the teachers training college again), when in the taxi on the way back, we had to stop so as one apprentice could relieve himself. he came running back two minutes later saying "hold this and get moving quick". It was the road sign for Northumberland Road" which will not fit across the back seats of any taxi. We chucked over the fence at Collingwood and collected it the same night. It sat well alongside the traffic cones etc.
(P.S.) I feel I must be careful in what we print, because some of us may still be trying to bring up teenage children, and trying to get them to act maturely. (Paul Merrett)

REMEMBER NAME TAGS

Just one quick ditty about Collingwood-there was a guy from the Channel Islands called" Le Grove", I remember one of the Fisher section RPO's giving him a the 3rd degree about the name tape on his #8 shirt, which read APPLEGROVE . (by Jim Hough)