38.
June 1, 2020

I have just discovered this message board. I joined her in March 1966, as the recently qualified Met Officer and "Schoolie." She was in the final stages of construction at Upper Clyde Shipbuilders, Govan,  Glasgow and eventually commissioned in  late May, before sailing to Pompey, where, over the next 15-18months, she spent considerable time alongside at Fountain Lake, as the computer guided weapons system faults were sorted.

I also became FDO and it was a very happy commission under Captain Robin Graham, who had "Endurance" in the Antarctic. He used to test my fledgling Met Skills, by betting his "Seaman's Experience"  against my freshly learned Meteorological knowledge. More often that not he won, but I did learn a great deal, the most important of which was "find out the ship's position during the period of the forecast, BEFORE you issue the forecast," because not only is the weather is moving but so is the ship!

Fife was the first ship of the line to carry the name, and although she was "County class" according to their Lordships, to the Ship's company she was the "FIRST OF THE KINGDOM CLASS". I served in her for the entire first commission, which included east and west coast USA, Panama canal transit , Pearl Harbour, Singapore, HK, Sydney, Auckland and on the way home a dramatic Helicopter rescue of the entire crew and passengers of a small inter Island ferry that ran aground on a reef near Fiji.

That last year was under Captain Peter Lachlan, and it was not a happy time as FDO, because, unlike Captain Graham who had vast experience of operating aircraft from the flight deck, the new Captain was sadly lacking in that area, and it was only due to skill and bravery of the Flight team that there was not a serious incident. It was a thrilling time and I wonder how many of my former shipmates are around today to "swing the lamp"?

Ron Lobeck

37.
Dec. 6, 2019

This is Richard Scott, son of Captain David Scott as he then was when in command of HMS Fife from 1969-71.  Just to inform anyone who was in the Ship's Company during that time who might have missed it, a chap from Nigeria has very obligingly posted on YouTube a short clip of the Fife visiting Lagos in April 1970. Most of it does feature my Dad welcoming the head of the Nigerian Navy, Admiral Jo Wey, on board, and Commander David Nairn doing the same for the Archbishop of Lagos, but there are a couple of shots of some guys who I guess drew the short straw scrubbing the decks and milling around the ship's Land Rover, as well as some general pan shots of the ship in Lagos harbour, so might bring back some memories. I don't have the actual link address to hand, but if you go to YouTube and type in "HMS Fife visits Lagos 1970", that should do the trick. I have no doubt that my Dad would want to join me "from the other side" in sending Very Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year to one and all.

Richard Scott

36.
Nov. 7, 2019

I was an engineer (lieutenant) on board HMS Fife from October 1969 until July 1971. Recently I commissioned a local seascape artist to paint a watercolour of the ship for me. The picture is titled - 
HMS Fife: Preparing to refuel sailing south under a threatening sky. Watercolour by Peter Livesay. 
(Showing here.)

The original watercolour is hanging on a wall in my house. I have not seen a painting of Fife showing as much detail and so well presented anywhere else. I maintain continual touch with Richard Scott who is the son of Rear Admiral David Scott - the captain of Fife when I served. I have sent hime a copy of the picture.

Many thanks,
Rupert Berryman
Canterbury, Kent, U.K.

35.
May 26, 2019

Served on HMS Fife 76 to 79 as Radio operator.

Philip Tatham (Spud)

34.
Aug. 24, 2018

I served on Fife from 1977 to 1978. With regard to Mike Swains disappointment about missing royal yacht escort (message 16), you didn't miss anything Mike, it only went as far as Northern Ireland (August 11, 1977) and the western isles. Certainly didn't last 9 months. We were dry dock for 3 months in the January!

Graham "Ginger" Helstern

33.
May 8, 2018

I am a retired member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, working in British Columbia Canada. I was trailing my wife around an antiques shop in West Vancouver the other day and came across this silver dish (showing below) for sale in the shop. I assume this is from the Officer's mess on board, not the "Other Ranks". Upon seeing this, I googled the name and read about the HMS Fife. Luckily it is the only ship ever named that, as far as I can tell. Thought it might be of interest to you and your members/associates. This dish is a long way from home!

Roy Bergerman

32.
June 22, 2017

I'm looking for an old boyfriend who was serving on HMS Fife in 1983 called Paul Davies (Jan), I think he was a chef and was originally from Cornwall,I also remember him having a so called Kevin,I think.Any news would be appreciated.

Many thanks,
Evelyn O'Neill

31.
May 1, 2017

I was on H.M.S. Fife 69/71, I also remember the big fire, and the refit in Malta. I too remember Pete Hubble, Fred Mckay, Knobby Clarke, Zombie Pitcher, Buck Taylor, Jono Johnstone and many more. Also my brother
in-law ,Paddy Ed Kiely ex AB, sadly passed away in 1999, who also served on the Fife from 68/71. I also remember Captain Scott, as I was the youngest on board in 69, so cut the commissioning cake in Chatham, with his wife.

Chris (pusser) Hills

30
Apr. 11, 2017

We were sister ships up the Far East in the early seventies. Had a group of lads off the Fife on board. Special mate was a 3 badgeman nicknamed Huggie,  gunner, who got pissed on squirt on the day he was meant to rejoin Fife, happened 24hrs later. Love to meet with those guys sometime,  have a photo somewhere.

Ian Jacques (Jake) ex Signalman
My opponent on Waikato was Bones, gunner.

29.
July 26, 2016

I joined the Fife September 1970 in Malta just as she was finishing the round the world cruise expo 70. Had the engine room fire after an exercise not long after I joined. When we got back to Pompy was in dry dock for what seemed like years me. Steve Roles and Phil Bradshaw ran the beer boat in the forward seaman's mess, ended up going AWOL for a couple of weeks. 14 days number 9s 30 days stoppage of leave and pay and a hundred pound fine. Steve got 60 days and Brad, I think he got dishonorable discharge after serving in dq s, I'm still in touch with Steve.

Paul "Yorky" Gilbey
A/B Radar

28.
Apr. 29, 2016

Most interested to read your blogs from ex "Fifers". I served on her from 1976 to 1978 as a Sickbay Petty Officer my MA was Eddie Baines and my Doctors were Peter Brown followed by Sean Bennett. I lived in 4 Mess at the forward end of the Burma Way until my B13 came through then I had to move into the Chiefs Mess a few metres aft on the opposite side. I had a really happy time onboard and we had some good visits although not too far abroad. Quite a bit of time in the Med and I also found the Queens Jubilee Royal Yacht escort duties and visits very interesting. My run ashore "oppo" was usually Billy Budden the PO Reg.

Malcolm Baldwin
Dorset, U.K.

27.
Apr. 5, 2016

I was on HMS Fife as well buck Taylor and his guitar solos, spent many a watch on bridge with Jim Reeves he usually got weather right lol he guys I'm trying to recall date and year when we had that major fire off cypress fill me in if you can seaman Steve Foley now in California since 1985 all the best shipmates.

Stephen Foley

26.
Feb. 27, 2016

I was on the Fife for the round world trip in 1970 what a great ship that was, with a fantastic crew. The trip was great expo 70 Osaka, last ship in the navy to have the rum (Hawaii) last call Malta families flown out, only to be ruined if you like by a fire. Someone put about the POGI being injured, that was Ron Shindler, I was Gunners party and he was my boss, and yes being tied up in Malta was great. Would luv to hear from Pusser Hill, Fred Macky, Buck Taylor, or anyone else who wants to get in touch.

A.B. Barney Hubble
Gunners party

25.
Nov. 29, 2015

I was on the Fife for the 1st commission. I joined her after leaving HMS Cambridge gunnery school at Wembridge. I started on Fife in 1967 in Glasgow and left her in 1969 to go to HMS Osprey in Portland.

Bryan Mitchell
P/086644 ex seaman gunner