It was the beginning of January 1973 that I first walked into
my new place of work, MoD Foxhill, Bath. Gone were the drawing boards I was familiar with in Portsmouth Dockyard Drawing Office;
now desks, in-trays, out-trays, and a very different view from the windows. No longer warships, new and old (The Victory was
located just across the way from the building housing the Drawing Office); now other hutments and leafy Combe Down. I had joined Portmouth Dockyard
in 1963 as a shipfitter apprentice and finally graduated to the Drawing Office. It was a natural progression to transfer to
Bath for those looking for a move.
The Foxhill hutments were considered "temporary" when first occupied by the Admiralty at the beginning
of the Second World War. They remain standing, though upgraded internally over the years, to this day some 70 years later.
The work involved technical issues
concerning various warships (both surface and submarine). Trips to HM Dockyards Portsmouth, Devonport and Chatham were necessary
along with establishments on the Clyde. My best memories though are those concerning work colleagues. I was fortunate in sharing
my working life with people who I got on with.
It was not long after joining my first "section" that I was invited to join the lunchtime joggers
at the Bath Civil Service Club in nearby rural Claverton. We enjoyed the various routes the area provided. The well trodden
paths enabled us to explore Rainbow Woods and its surroundings and the fields of Claverton. Runs lasted between half and three-quarters
of an hour and would certainly re-invigorate us for the afternoon's toil. Come rain, snow or summer heat, we would be out
there. Thanks especially to Dave, Mike, Malcolm, Ray, Pete, John, Norman and Brian for sharing the miles.
