Sea survival was one of the training course. It looks a little tame now and I’m sure it’s modern equivalent is somewhat more arduous.

I did the sea survival course in September 1969, I had my camera with me and had someone take a series of shots during the exercises.  Don’t think anyone was sick, and I guess we all had a good time.  These shots are all related to the activities with the crew life raft, I think the training with the individual life raft was done in January somewhere off the east coast.

The crew dinghy could take all five crew members, after you had got it inflated and the right way up.  Then you had to get in which most of us found pretty awkward. You can see the bum and the feet of one guy as he scrabbles in.  Myself and one other are waiting to get in, I am the life jacket on the left, you can’t see my head which is towards the dinghy.  I can’t remember what the white object is tethered and floating at the bottom of the photo.

Myself being winched up from the life raft.

The downdraught from the rotor was a bit cold while wet.

Being ‘lowered away gently’ on to the deck of the launch.  Don’t remember if we got a hot ‘tot’.

We all like bits of paper to prove we’ve done something ‘rigorous’, especially with ‘fortitude’.