Brian Wood – Joining the Royal Navy

I left school at 15 and joined the Navy at 15 ½ years old. My father wanted me to go in the Butcher’s Shop but I wanted to see a little bit of the world before I sort of committed my life to being a Butcher.

Simon: What made you aware that one, there’s a wider world outside Barry or that maybe the Navy would let you see that?

Well, Barry at the time was a very busy Docks. Barry itself has got the second highest tide in the world believe it or not, and there was lots of ships coming in and out. There was a few visits by Royal Naval ships and you’d see the chaps in uniform enjoying themselves, so it was a bit of a tossup before do I join this sort of … the Merchant Fleet or the Royal Navy.

I thought well Merchant ships only go to one port and back again, I’ll join the Royal Navy and see a bit of the world.

My dad wasn’t keen on it but I managed to persuade him that I would sign on for 12 years, which was 9 years Active and 3 years Reserve at the time, with a proviso that I’d come out and go in the Butcher’s Shop  … at that time. Didn’t quite work out that way, but there you go.