I joined the Combined Cadet Force in 1954 and all students started in the Army section. I recall several night exercises in places like Wimbledon Common and Banstead Heath, as well as silent marching in the Quad.

Eventually, I joined the Naval section, with Derek Drury as Commanding Officer, and improved my Able Seaman rank to Petty Officer. At that time the section was small with around twenty seven members which enabled us to visit a number of training stations. I was allowed to take charge of the section’s collapsible canoe and along with a friend went to various locations along the Thames between Putney and Richmond. The canoe itself was assembled to a crowd of intrigued onlookers followed by our departure along the river for fun trips.

In 1955 a contingent from the Naval section took a trip to Gosport to HMS St Vincent, a naval training station opposite Portsmouth Harbour. We viewed a number of naval crafts including HMS Redpole and HMS Jupiter with the highlight of our trip being a sea voyage on HMS Vanguard, a fully armed WWII battleship. We sailed out into the Solent and English Channel, a part way round the Isle of Wight.

In the following year, 1956, I went on a summer camp to Gareloch in Scotland. I was the only Emanuel student and the loch was merely a naval training station unlike its current status as a nuclear submarine base. The loch was, at that time, being used as a decommissioning location (breakers yard) with 2 World War II aircraft carriers being dismantled for scrap. These were HMS Indefatigable and HMS Implacable, both of which had all flight deck superstructures removed. I remember having a fantastic time sailing and/or rowing out as well as clambering all over these ships; there was no health and safety at that time. Standing on the flight deck overlooking the loch was a breathtaking experience.

I also participated in a sea trip on a naval trawler to the Kyles of Bute. Under the command of a team of full-time officers, approximately thirty cadets took over control of the vessel – it was certainly an exciting trip. We all had to sling hammocks in the forward hold, so it was miraculous that we managed to sleep.

In 1957 I took part in the Outward Bound Sea School course in Aberdovey, along with a further 5 students from Emanuel. The course was tough but rewarding.

On arrival at ITCRM Lympstone in 1958, the home of the Royal Marines, I recall seeing troops belly-crawling across the ground. All the while there was live ammunition being shot approximately 450/600 mms above them to ensure the recruits kept themselves close to the ground. Fortunately for me, schoolboy cadets were not required to face what seemed an extreme ordeal.

Later in 1958, I left the Naval section and joined the RAF section as I was considering this as a career. I remember my first flight in an RAF Hanson aircraft and the exhilaration this gave. For many reasons I gave up the idea of the RAF as a career and started in business when I left school.

I often wondered whether there were other students who had served in all three services during their time at school. I enjoyed all my activities in the CCF which I am sure helped me grow as a person.

Mike Lewis (OE1953–58)