the last association of the Vindicatrix

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Well the sad news had to come, Age has caught up with the many of the 70,000 lads who went to the biggest sea school in the UK. It is thirty years since the Vindicatrix Association was formed by Roy Derham, today on the Vindi News is the announcement that this is the last year, I have been a member for the thirty years, and the Vindi news letter has kept me informed of all the news about the members and the MN in general. Provision of funds has been made for the local Parish Council to look after the Vindi monument.
A sad day for many old Vindi boys.
Des

[Doc Vernon]

I did not attend of course , but can imagine it will be sad News for all who went there, and are still amongst us !

But at least you all that did attend will hold on to those Memories forever!

I know i sure will of the SASSAR Catering Training School i went to in South Africa so many Years back!
Cheers

[happy daze john in oz]

On reflection one of the best places then for young men.
We went in very wet behind the ears, complained about the food, well there was some at times, Codeine Annie and so many other aspects of living in huts that were five star. Mine was and at night I could see them from a hole in the deckhead.

But it made us what we are today, better men for it.
We were part of the lucky brigade who saw the world and got paid to do so.

The association may close but the memories will never die.

[cappy]

Only ever met one ex vindi boy we were on holiday in spain at gerona airport....i saw a guy in a vindi tea shirt ......over pat and i went .....got chattting did a vodka or two ......he was flying to newcastle i was flying to newcastle......the wives got chatting and the vodkas flowed .....my beloved goes to the loo just as the flights are called .....i can see the other vindi boy in the queue ahead and get aboard the flight there is great activity as counting and recounting comes around the plane .....they then call my name on the tannoy and ask me to disembark ......which i demand to know whats going on .....it only appears there where to flights one behind the other both going to newcastle .....and with the help of the vodka and good vindi company .....i and my beloved were on the wrong one .....oh happy days ......R683532 cappy

[j.sabourn]

Bet when your name was called Cappy you thought they had copped on to you not paying for the vodka ? Did you getaway with it ? JS

The only Vindi boy I know have already mentioned and is in the hospital here in the village he is well over 90. Before he went into care he was barred from the bar as kept falling over and they thought he was drunk , he was just getting old everyone falls over when they get old ,don’t they.? I’ve gone over3 times but blame tripping over someone’s feet , don’t have a rolling ship to blame anymore. JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

The thing is blokes were still joining the association last year, maybe a younger bloke can take it over to keep it going, some of the younger ones will still be in the early late 60s 70s.
Des

[Michael Bates]

Sad news indeed,im a member here in New Zealand and there is still a fewnof us around.

[Dudley Benfield]

The Vindictrix was my first time away from home, a time with no regrets. First ship Crystal Sapphire across the north Atlantic 60 years ago, sea sick for 10 days but life could not have been better after my first time ashore.
R 773738 Dudley Benfield

[Donald Carton]

The Vindi coco & dripping butty in 56
second trip a full round the world in one go 1957.
R65386

[Fred Saunders]

Happy New Year to you all on this site.
Well, the "Vindi" association has closed, thanks for the past hard work Roy Derham.
I was there July/September 1949, Hut B.2 then on board the "Vindi" catering department.
First ship s/s "J.Duncan".
Fred Saunders