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Subject: 1968: Deck quoits in a gale, hypnotism experiments and a first beer in Valetta

Author:
David Milne

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Date Posted: 17:50:28 08/18/13 Sun

I am impressed with everyone's memory for detail which makes my recall of the SS Uganda experience pale in comparison. Nonetheless I am pretty sure that it was Easter 1968 when a group of 28 girls and boys from Churston Ferrers Grammar School in South Devon boarded the 'Ug Tug' in Plymouth for our first maritime foray to the Med. Most of us were around 14 years old and bursting with hormones. I am forever grateful to my folks for stumping up the majority of the �56 it cost for our jaunt on the high seas which included stops at Gibraltar, Malta, Rhodes, Piraeus and Venice where we flew back home on 'Dangerous Dan Air'. Happy to be corrected re the itinerary and any other skewed perceptions that follow. My contribution to the trip would be considered to be loose change today but was earned working at the weekend on Brixham trawlers and as a farm hand. 2s/6d was the going hourly rate.

The Uganda cruise was definitely educational in all senses of the word. I suppose that being a teacher and head myself I ought to say that I remember the lessons on board, and the sights of St Marks Square, the North African coast and other cultural highlights. But I don't that much. It's the fun that we had that has stayed uppermost in my mind. My seafaring friend Mark ( Daisy) Day and I played deck quoits across the Bay of Biscay in a Force 6 gale working up a healthy appetite to consume at least three of our friends breakfasts who were in various stages of going pale green. I can safely say that I have never been so unpopular in my life.

Creativity below decks was a popular non-scheduled cruising activity. We were far from the only dorm up to high jinx. For some reason I'd read a book on how to hypnotise someone; trying this on my new found cruising companions seemed like a great idea at the time. To my amazement I seemed to have the knack and a queue of volunteers formed on successive nights who wanted to be taken back to their past lives. Teenage Chinese Whispers took hold, the Uganda crew found out and hypotonic nights were knocked on the head.

I've had many a beer in far flung corners of the world but fondly remember the first beer that I ever bought from a small bar in Valetta, enjoying the sight of Malta's Grand Harbour in the spring sunshine. Daisy and I felt ridiculously pleased with ourselves that we'd managed to pass the bartenders test that we were over 18 - not that I think he really cared. Heady days indeed in 1968 with 'White Room' 'All along the Watchtower' 'Hey Jude' and 'Waterloo Sunset' being played by the on board DJ. Mesmerising wave watching coincided with thinking about which record was ideal for asking for the last dance with that lovely blonde haired chick in the pink dress? I've always wondered whether Private Eye's adoption of the term ' Ugandan Discussions' (for non readers of this wonderful satirical mag this means sexual shenanigans) was created on the decks of this fantastically enriching educational cruise.

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Replies:

Subject	Author	Date
Re: 1968: Deck quoits in a gale, hypnotism experiments and a first beer in Valetta	Pat Furzer nee Cliffe (Happy)	16:29:47 09/24/15 Thu