mrbassbone
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Hosting 8 HMS ARK ROYAL BandsmenIn February 1986, just after the Challenger explosion, 8 Bandsmen from HMS ARK ROYAL stopped into the Naval Training Center Bandroom in Orlando to chat. They had several off days and were looking for a place to crash while visiting the area. My wife Barbara <Musician First Class & Oboist> and I had them stay at our house for the duration.
I went with them to the Kennedy Space Center that afternoon and we all looked <somberly> at the launch site that still had the launch platform on the pad.
The next day some of the lads went out to Walt Disney World and to EPCOT. They ate at the Rose & Crown Pub for lunch. When they returned to the house, we asked them how it compared to the real thing. They said other than "the lack of smoke and the air conditioning" it was pretty much near the real thing.
The only one from that group that we still communicate with is Gary Pumford.
Sheldon Levy
MU1 USN RET
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Co-admin
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I seem to remember a few of the lads mentioned you in the Blue Band after that trip Sheldon.
I often bump into people here that I have not seen for years and it is like we have never been apart. I'm sure the lads were more than grateful for the hospitality
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mrbassbone
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| admin@home wrote: | I seem to remember a few of the lads mentioned you in the Blue Band after that trip Sheldon.
I often bump into people here that I have not seen for years and it is like we have never been apart. I'm sure the lads were more than grateful for the hospitality |
It was a blast a week later when Barb & I went down to Ft Lauderdale where the ARK was. The ship held an open house and the band did a Beat Retreat on the flight deck for the visitors. Barb & I were ushered to the Band's Mess where 1) collected our uniform caps then 2) placed big cans of Beer into our hands....LOL. It was also Barb's birthday so they treated her quite well.
Shell
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FFoglamp
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Shell,
I bumped into Andy Hill last week. (He's here on the forum) He was on the Ark Royal FOF 3 1986 (I left that band Dec 1985), and maybe one of the 8 that stayed with you !!!!
Does this ring a bell ?
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mrbassbone
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| FFoglamp wrote: | Shell,
I bumped into Andy Hill last week. (He's here on the forum) He was on the Ark Royal FOF 3 1986 (I left that band Dec 1985), and maybe one of the 8 that stayed with you !!!!
Does this ring a bell ?
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Truthfully, the only one I recall by name was Gary Pumford. The 7 others who stayed with us would recall the experience of staying with us and having us come to the ship in Ft Lauderdale.
Shell
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