Haze's strangers: No.80: Taff and Andy on Remembrance Sunday
The day was bright and sunny here this morning and we decided to go to Lee-on-Solent for a walk and breakfast. There were lots of people about on account of Remembrance Sunday and after the observation of the two minutes silence whilst we were still in Caffe Lee, we walked along the front as far as the Fleet Air Arm Memorial.**
Ray sat for a bit while I took some photos of the many poppies and tributes. I thought I heard somebody ask to have a photo taken and looked round to see Taff (on the left) asking Ray if he would take a photo of him and Andy. Anyone who has followed my strangers' project at all surely does not need me to detail what I said next. Taff and Andy were soon standing in front of a panel of the Fleet Air Arm Memorial for me to take their photo.
They told me that, from 1979, they served together as aircraft engineers for 28 years in the Fleet Air Arm in the following conflicts;
The Falklands
Gulf War One
Croatia
Bosnia
Kosovo
Iraq
Taff left the service as a Chief Petty Officer and now lives in his native Wales and works for a small telecommunications company in Ross on Wye.
Andy worked for 8 years at Virgin Atlantic but has just re-joined the Royal Navy full time and lives in Fareham. His current role at HMS Sultan Training Establishment, which supplies the Fleet with engineering officers and ratings, involves encouraging future engineers.
By chance Taff was in staying in Lee-on-Solent today babysitting for his daughter so was able to be out and about for the commemorations and spotted Andy in the Remembrance Day parade. I understand that they had met up once since they left the Fleet Air Arm (in Antigua at a friend's wedding) but to see each other today again was a surprise.
Before we all parted company, Taff and Andy each gave me their email addresses and I promised to send them photos and the link to this entry in my project.
**The Fleet Air Arm Memorial at Lee-on-Solent is one of the lesser known Memorials in the UK. It remembers 1,925 men of the Fleet Air Arm who have no known grave, most of them having been lost at sea.
Maggie, thank you for your comment. Taff and Andy are the names they gave me. Andy is sometimes short for Andrew and Welshmen are sometimes called Taff.
Maggie, thank you for your comment. Taff and Andy are the names they gave me. Andy is sometimes short for Andrew and Welshmen are sometimes called Taff.
And such smiles they had too!!!!!!!