One final celebration – 65 years of The Murray 2s

On the 17 September 1961 a group of lads, all around 18 years old and approximately 150 strong, met together on the platform at Dartmouth Station. 65 years later, with a variety of Naval careers under their belts, the group of now 82/83 year olds met once again – perhaps for the last time as a full group, at Leander Club, for a reunion and to toast Absent Friends, The King and Themselves.

Eric Thompson, who went on to become a nuclear submariner, still remembers that first day clearly. “I had come on the night sleeper from the Highlands of Scotland. Looking around me I could tell others on the train were headed the same way as me. It was my first departure from home and it ended up being everything I had hoped it would be – even though my immediate thoughts were would I be good enough!” Eric explained how they were asked to leave their bags and fall in. They then marched through the town and up the hill to the Naval College…their journey had begun!

The Murray Training Scheme was put in place in 1960; a combination of a university course and apprenticeship, the officer training was designed to mould 18 year olds into world class naval officers – and that it did. Creating a range of Executive officers, Engineers and Pussers, Sir Jeremy Blackham, senior surviving officer and Vice Admiral who served 41 years, explained proudly just what members of the Murray 2s (the name the group affectionately use for themselves), had gone on to achieve:

“Today, in our 80’s, we are still members of a proud group, which includes a Peer of the Realm, a Knight of the Garter, a Knight of the Thistle, a Dean of Christchurch, an Olympic double gold medallist, a Knight of the Bath, a Chief of the Defence Staff, three admirals, the author of a magisterial book on the RN’s role in stopping the Slave Trade, a Judge, and distinguished academics, businessmen and many other successful people in all walks of life.  Not a bad record really!”

Everyone started at the bottom, sleeping in hammocks, living as sailors, however in his esteemed Vice Admiral role, Jeremy had 4 commands, the last of which was aboard the Ark Royal. He said that the Navy had been the best decision he had ever made. Wonderful friends, amazing experiences and travel you just can’t believe – he’d also met his wife as he passed through South Africa!

“We were very lucky in the Navy we joined.  It was a huge worldwide Navy, still close in size, spirit and confidence to the WW2 Navy.  The second biggest but not, we thought, the second-best Navy in the world. Between us we served in many places world-wide and sailed the Seven Seas. How many people in today’s Navy have visited both Christmas Islands (Indian Ocean and Pacific), Australia and NZ, Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii, San Diego, Acapulco, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Tristan da Cunha, Rio de Janeiro, South Africa, Aden, Bahrain, Saigon and Bombay, as I was lucky enough to do before I was 26.”

Pre-lunch drinks were served along side the chance to catch up with old friends in the bar, courtesy of invitation by Leander club member David Bell. Simon Braidwood then brought out his Bosun Pipe – used to attract attention, as has been done for the last 800 years – and called Hands to Dinner. In the dining room over looking the river, lunch was served once Grace had been said by Lieutenant the Very Reverend Dr Christopher Lewis of Christ Church, Oxford. As is traditional, following the meal, toasts were made – with Port supplied by the Association of Royal Navy Officers – to The King (who had received a letter from The Murray 2’s and sent his best wishes in reply), Absent Friends – those that had passed and those too dispersed around the world to be able to participate and finally Themselves.

Also invited guests to the gathering were the naval wives and widows – many of whom’s husbands were at great pains to say what a lot a naval wife has to put up with! Veronica Fordham, who, as well as being David Fordham’s wife, also had a busy nursing career, as a lecturer and trainer in first aid, explained how she felt it was important to be independent with your husband away for long periods at a time. David still remembers meeting his son for the first time out in Singapore when he was 4 months old, having been deployed before the birth. Gill Morrison had travelled with a small group on the train from Edinburgh and explained how, despite losing her husband, the Murray Group kept everyone in touch. She was delighted to meet up with people that she hadn’t seen for years and explained how grateful she was to have been swept along in the Murray Family.

Some of The Murray 2’s also enjoyed viewing The Leander Club’s model of the frigate, HMS LEANDER, the lead ship of a class of 26 frigates in which many of those present have served.

In summation, Sir Jeremy asked the gathered: “Perhaps you will also allow me to claim a speaker’s privilege of thanking all of you for 65 years of comradeship, mutual support, friendship and fun.”