Gentlemen Who Lunch

14 Feb 2025 - Many thanks to MCDOA Chairman Martin Mackey for hosting several members of our community to the traditional weekly curry lunch in HMS EXCELLENT’s wardroom yesterday.

Attendees included MCDOA President Ben Vickery plus MCDOA members Geoff Goodwin, Martyn Holloway, MCDOA co-founding Vice Chairman & Webmaster Rob Hoole, Bill Kerr, affiliate member Capt Ed Martin RE, MCDOA co-founding Chairman David Sandiford, MCDOA past-Secretary Mark Shaw and affiliate member former WO(D) Peter Still. Other members of our community comprised WO(D) Les Cockerton, Capt Rob Green RE, Maj Ed Martin RE, Lt Cdr Jim Pearson and Lt Cdr Carl Perry,

The MCDOA presented this Siebe Gorman Admiralty Pattern 6-bolt diving helmet to the mess in 1997.

Thanks again, Martin, for providing such a pleasant and historic venue.

N.B. In 1844, Colonel Charles Pasley (later Maj Gen Sir Charles William Pasley FRS KCB) of the Royal Engineers detached Lance Corporal Jones to HMS EXCELLENT to train a party of 13 petty officers and seamen in the use of August Siebe's new-fangled enclosed 'standard' diving dress. A Royal Navy diving school was established at Whale Island and RN diving became the responsibility of the Gunnery Branch at HMS EXCELLENT while Army diving continued to be the responsibility of the Royal Engineers.