HMS Royal Oak remembered

[ricardian]

Remembered every year up here

[AtomKraft]

As a newbie Loganair F/O (on the Shed) we flew over the watery grave of the Royal Oak and saw the oil slick that floated above her on many occasions.
Orkney chat oft turned to the U-47 and Gunter Prien.
Personally, I found Orkney quite magical, although it's hard to say why.
Barrier 4 has something truly surreal about it.

Well remembered, ricardian.

[Undried Plum]

On a calm day you can still see a faint sheen of fuel oil leaking from her. In high summer around local noon you can just see the outline of the hull.

[CharlieOneSix]

Have often seen the sheen of oil whilst passing by to somewhere or other, but one very calm day we saw the faint outline of the hull. Quite sobering to look down on the graveyard of so many brave souls.

[Undried Plum]

Some years ago I worked on the project to de-oil Blucher. She was sunk in Oslo Fjord on the eve of the invasion of Norway. A very successful project and now she's pretty much clean except for some specialist lube oils in small barrels in the bo'sun's locker etc.

The firm went to HMG with a proposal to apply the same techniques and technology to Royal Oak. **** was the answer. Each relevant Department: MoD; Environment; etc, said that they didn't want the responsibility. Some wag suggested that the Kraut gumment might pick up the tab, but they declined too. So now she rots until someone realises that after an 'unexpected' storm of the century breaks plates open and sets off a gush, it's too late to do the special drilling and tapping and syphoning trick. What Orcadians are pleased to call "The Sooth Isles will be drenched in heavy fuel oil like that Alaskan bay and there won't be an oil company with deep pockets to sue for compensation.

[ian16th]

Didn't the number of boy seamen casualties cause parliament to change boys terms of service and conditions?

[ricardian]

Conning tower of UB-116 in Scapa Flow. Blown up by controlled mine while trying to enter Scapa Flow 28th October 1918.
Photo by Amanda Tickle

[talmacapt]

Along with several others I have seen the slick and the outline many times on the approach to 07 and 10 at Kirkwall in the budgie.

I heard 07/25 is not used any more but may be wrong, ricardian probably knows.

A delightful place Orkney, we used to have a long lunchtime stop and a car was always made available by "Roberts brother", the local used car dealer, who got the odd "extra crew" ride to Inverness to pick up stock.

"The keys are on the tyre, it's a Ford Escort".

One lunchtime I drove off to return a couple of hours later and Brian, the station manager, was quite relieved as I had taken the wrong car, the keys were on the tyre.

Perhaps the locals, to this day, leave the keys on the tyre!!

I was famous for a day with a starring role in a Scottish news item, taken in Orkney in the mid 80's, celebrating 5? years of BA Highland Division.

The interviewer was Frank? somebody who had , i think, been a boxer in his time.

Robert may still be at Kirkwall, Brian, I think has passed, was involved with the pork? butcher in the city - Kirkwall has a cathedral.

[CharlieOneSix]

………The interviewer was Frank? somebody who had , i think, been a boxer in his time…….

That will have been Grampian TV’s Frank Gilfeather who was Scotland amateur boxing champion at one time.

[ricardian]

Along with several others I have seen the slick and the outline many times on the approach to 07 and 10 at Kirkwall in the budgie.
I heard 07/25 is not used any more but may be wrong, ricardian probably knows.
A delightful place Orkney, we used to have a long lunchtime stop and a car was always made available by "Roberts brother", the local used car dealer, who got the odd "extra crew" ride to Inverness to pick up stock.
"The keys are on the tyre, it's a Ford Escort".
One lunchtime I drove off to return a couple of hours later and Brian, the station manager, was quite relieved as I had taken the wrong car, the keys were on the tyre.
Perhaps the locals, to this day, leave the keys on the tyre!!
I was famous for a day with a starring role in a Scottish news item, taken in Orkney in the mid 80's, celebrating 5? years of BA Highland Division.
The interviewer was Frank? somebody who had , i think, been a boxer in his time.
Robert may still be at Kirkwall, Brian, I think has passed, was involved with the pork? butcher in the city - Kirkwall has a cathedral.

Alas I have no information on Kirkwall airport (https://www.hial.co.uk/kirkwall-airport) but there is controversy over plans to remote the air traffic control facility. I have not flown on one of Loganair's Britten-Norman Islanders into mainland from Stronsay for nearly 10 years, I always take the ferry as I get 12 free trips per year; and I only visit mainland for hospital/dentist/optician appointments. Stronsay has two shops which supply all my needs.
I don't know about mainland but here on Stronsay most folk leave their keys in the ignition - and I've no idea where I could find the keys to the front & back door.
St Magnus cathedral (https://www.stmagnus.org) is Britain's most northerly cathedral.

[G-CPTN]

St Magnus cathedral (https://www.stmagnus.org) is Britain's most northerly cathedral.

It seems amazing that those many centuries ago, a building that inevitably involved 'specialists' could be conceived and constructed in a remote location with similarities of design with others many many miles away.

The communication alone would have been amazing, let alone the logistics for materials and labour, never mind the finance.

[ricardian]

It seems amazing that those many centuries ago, a building that inevitably involved 'specialists' could be conceived and constructed in a remote location with similarities of design with others many many miles away.
The communication alone would have been amazing, let alone the logistics for materials and labour, never mind the finance.

Much of the original external stonework was fashioned by medieval master masons who, it is generally believed, were trained at Durham Cathedral.

[talmacapt]

C16

That's the chap.

G-CPTN

I don't know whether you have been there, but the cathedral is quite inspiring being built of red (and yellow) sandstone.

I can recommend a holiday in the Orknies, if anyone is so minded.

In the 80s Kirkwall was a vor approach, decision altitude 700', to 25/28.

We were allowed to hold level, until passing the vor, if certain conditions were met (before gpws).

Easterly approaches required visual circling (1100'?) although if coming from the south one could make a vor/dme letdown at Wick and visually position over Scapa Flow for the easterlies.

From Sumburgh, with low cloud, it was often better to conduct the sector "vfr below" to obviate the neccesity of a missed approach/diversion.

Probably woke ricardian's house predecessor on the early morning flight from Sumburgh a few times.

Good fun in the budgie!!

I have the distinction? of commanding the inaugaral BA service from Kirkwall to Bergen, via Sumburgh.

Can't remember how many first day covers I signed!!

[G-CPTN]

G-CPTN
I don't know whether you have been there, but the cathedral is quite inspiring being built of red (and yellow) sandstone.

I have, indeed.

[ricardian]

C16

That's the chap.
G-CPTN
I don't know whether you have been there, but the cathedral is quite inspiring being built of red (and yellow) sandstone.
I can recommend a holiday in the Orknies, if anyone is so minded.
In the 80s Kirkwall was a vor approach, decision altitude 700', to 25/28.
We were allowed to hold level, until passing the vor, if certain conditions were met (before gpws).
Easterly approaches required visual circling (1100'?) although if coming from the south one could make a vor/dme letdown at Wick and visually position over Scapa Flow for the easterlies.
From Sumburgh, with low cloud, it was often better to conduct the sector "vfr below" to obviate the neccesity of a missed approach/diversion.
Probably woke ricardian's house predecessor on the early morning flight from Sumburgh a few times.
Good fun in the budgie!!
ve the distinction? of commanding the inaugaral BA service from Kirkwall to Bergen, via Sumburgh.
Can't remember how many first day covers I signed!!

The Loganair SAAB from Sumburgh to Kirkwall has just passed over Stronsay at about 3,000 ft and I didn't hear a thing. The only aircraft noise here is from the daily flights between Stronsay & Kirkwall and an occasional SAR helicopter.

[Boac]

talma - was Janet 'Firmfinger' there in ATC in your day?

[talmacapt]

Boac

You know very well who I am and yes we are still in communication.

The virus has prevented meeting the past year.

[Boac]

You know very well who I am

Well, I don't actually, unless I am being extremely thick (not unusual). However, my interest is 'piqued' so I shall be diving into the murky waters of the internet.............

A lovely lady. Hope she is well.

[talmacapt]

When or were you on the budgie?

If you were, you can probably work it out.

I don't think she was there in Viscount days.

[talmacapt]

My initials are A and G.