14th February 2006 - Roy Underdown Pavilion

At our meeting in February, David Muffett told us more about his experiences at TS Mercury, and in particular, HMS Gannett. She became the 'Drill Ship,' and they built a 'tin hut' on the upper deck. Working and sleeping on board was ok, especially in the engine room, but the 'tin hut' was another story. It was ok in the summer, but in winter condensation formed in the roof and they had to erect a blanket tent to catch the drops. According to David, the whole TS Mercury attendance was a life changing experience, and this was confirmed by other 'old boys' in the audience. So much so, that when the school closed, they formed the Gannett Society with the objective of restoring the ship to it's original condition. This was eventually achieved in 2004, and she is now based in Chatham and open to the public. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the locality!

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