Hello Shipmate

Way back in 1963 I was posted to HMS Gurkha as part of the Royal Marine Detachment and met a fellow Marine Bob Ackfield who became a good friend over our two years afloat.  In 1965 Mrs M and I got married and Bob was our best man but like many service friendship when your career leads you in different  directions it is hard to keep track of each other.  We next caught up with each other in Singapore in 1966 where Mrs M and I were living ashore and he was able to come to the Christening of our first daughter.
In 1967 Val, me  and our new addition were flown home as my service was ending. Bob in the mean time was still serving in Singapore. That was the last time we were able to keep in touch with him and several attempts to locate him failed. Until a year or so anther Marine who was known to both of us put us back in touch.  Today his route to Devon on holiday, passed close and after some 47 years we met again and were able to say "Hello" to his wife Pam. Me on the left, Pam, Mrs M,  Bob on right