Training Boy Sailors at St Vincent (Event from 2024)

Post published:July 21, 2023
Post category:Accessible Parking on site or nearby / Book on line / Cafe on site or nearby / Illustrated Talk / In person events / Mobility Impaired / Past Events / Service Dogs Welcome / Toilets accessible on site or nearby / Toilets on Site or Nearby / Wheelchair accessible

IN PERSON

Illustrated Talk

First Light Café, 68 High Street, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1DR

Enjoy this light-hearted, musically entuned, presentation of professional photographs including the history of the site of Forton Barracks, latterly HMS St Vincent (now St Vincent College), and particularly the training the Boy Sailors endured.

From 1928 to 1968, 700 Boy Sailors aged 15 trained every year, for a year, to become the crème de la crème of the Royal Navy. Most failed!

The HMS St Vincent Association was bequeathed the entire photographic collection of the Admiralty contracted, Gosport-based photographers, J. Lawrence & Sons, and these are used to good effect in this light-hearted presentation by a former Boy who suffered there in 1959/60 yet lives to tell the tale.

Your speaker, affectionately known as ‘Darby Allen’, will also touch on the history of the site from its early 18th Century beginnings, including its 75-year occupation by the Royal Marine Light Infantry.

He will attempt to retain your attention for 60 minutes with his recollections, singing, dancing, wit, and armed sentries. Whether he succeeds will be up to you but it’ll be fun trying!

Duration 60 minutes.