Dream come true for HMS Ganges veterans as they return to Shotley Gate site, near Ipswich, after six decades

A group of veterans who underwent basic training at a former Royal Navy training base near Ipswich have made their triumphant return – 60 years to the day since they first arrived.

Bernard Harrison, Nigel Guilfoyle, Jeff Fox, David Carter, Mick Hudson and Jim Creasy all served with Drake 39 Mess at HMS Ganges, in Shotley Gate, from August 24, 1964 to July 21, 1965.

They were some of the 160,000 boys – aged as young as 15 and many from troubled backgrounds – who passed through the establishment between 1905 and 1976.

On Saturday, they walked through its iron gates for the first time since they were boys, which Mr Harrison, who organised the trip, said he had been planning for 12 months.

He did so alongside Wavensmere Homes, which is building 303 houses at the site as part of its £130 million Barrelmans Point development.

In addition to the homes, three historic buildings at the site, including the old swimming pool, could be given new life alongside two ancient monuments plus two heritage assets.

Mr Harrison served in the Royal Navy for 25 years, retiring as a chief communications yeoman.

Assignments during his career included Singapore aboard HMS Loch Fada and the Falkland Islands as part of HMS Hermes.

Mr Harrison said: “For six of us to have the opportunity to meet up 60 years to the day has been one of the greatest highlights of my retirement.

“We were all 15 when we left home to commence our naval training. At Ganges, we learnt the basics of seamanship, a solid grounding in our different trades, while also cramming in school lessons in maths, English, navigation and naval history.

“The swimming and sports training was intensive and being able to step back inside the now grade II-listed swimming pool brought memories flooding back.”

The group were among the first to take hold of the restored HMS Ganges mast, taken from a Victorian training vessel which predated the site.

They inspected both the swimming pool site and the historic Nelson Hall, the former drill hall set to be restored and converted into a public library.

Mr Harrison said the group were grateful to Wavensmere for making their dreams of a reunion come true.

He described it as a ‘real trip down memory lane’.

“While most of the abandoned training base is still out of bounds and awaiting redevelopment, I am especially thrilled that their passion and knowledge of the living history here is meticulously shaping their redevelopment strategy,” Mr Harrison said.

“The six of us are all very motivated to stay fit and healthy, so that we can return in years to come when all the restoration work is complete.”

Mr Guilfoyle, who left the Navy in 1972, recalled the first time he had a dental check-up at the naval training base.

“My appointment turned out to be rather painful,” he said.

“Having been to my local dentist prior to joining, I thought that I was all clear and needed no treatment. Unfortunately not. My civvy street fillings did not reach the service standards, so the dentist then proceeded to remove and replace them.

“As my appointment was late afternoon, they had run out of cocaine so this was done without any anaesthetic. I was only 15.”

He spoke of his time at HMS Ganges, which was famed for being harsh.

Mr Guilfoyle said: “It was compulsory that all recruits had to climb the mast as far as the half-moon, which is about 120 feet up.

“All those that were scared were given a little help of a hard broom up the backside.

“All of us here for the Drake 39 Mess reunion took part in the filmed ceremonial manning of the mast in 1965.”