The Second
HMS Manchester Association
All phots courtesy of Nick Athawes
Vidal Baboons salon Vidal Baboon, aka the late Ernie Earnshaw at work in his salon doing magical things to Nick Athawes's already luxuriant mane
The other "Mighty M" USS Missouri on patrol in the Gulf 1991 - most of the time she was firing shells the size of minis over our heads!
Gulf Mine watch The loneliness of the Mine look out. Taken in the Gulf February 1991. Unknown hero ever alert complete with action duffle bag to his right.
CPO's big run ashore in Singapore in 1991 getting ripped off in a camera shop. L to R - Taff Rees, Andy Green, Sel Patch, Jay Muir and Nick Athawes (looking better blurred!!)
Gunnery practice Nick Athawes walks away secure in the knowledge that there is one less oil barrel in the world to cause harm to the poor and innocent, after gunnery practice on the port after Oerlikon mounting. Andy Green also proved to be a bit of a marksman.
Hear no evil, see no evil & speak no evil - CPO's Mess with Kev Viggers, Chris Baker and Wafoo ? - I think Chris is after a sub for his duty, so watch out Kev he's going to pop the question!!
Red Sea - 1991 Master Chefs, Andy Holbrow, Andy Green, Nick Athawes & Sel Patch. Nick holds the patternised BBQ lighting equipment, i.e. 1 gallon of Avcat and a match! Method for use - Pour liberally, strike match and stand back, about 100 yards back, actually!! Also note the Webber BBQ set, the half 45 gallon drum model!
Gulf BBQ - Red Sea - 1991 During the gastronomic feast a full blown RAS(L) was occurring on the Port side. The Master Chefs are - L to R - Sel Patch, Andy Holbrow (the well hung Cowboy) and Nick Athawes. I bet that's a Wafoo at the front of the queue!! That is not smoke it is the heady aroma of Michelin star cooking.
Just out of shot is that nice Ian Sheridan in the stocks. Bloody big queue to have a chuck at him!!
The PO's Mess Human Fruit Machine. Names please L to R??
The observer, or pilot, proudly shows off his condom, piece of carrot and precious drinking water - oops sorry "gold fish", that he won from one of the many "stalls of dreams" on the flight deck.
Eyes down for a full house. Who says that Tombola is just a game. Try telling that to Andy Holbrow and Ian Sheridan as they go head to head for the big prize. With the spectator on edge you could cut the atmosphere with a knife, a blunt one at that!
All phots courtesy of Nick Athawes
Archie Dickie in his very controversial BT Telecoms top, what bad taste!! Chris Baker in his standard run ashore threads, just bad really!!
The fashion police swooped just after this picture was taken. Many being sent down for a 10 stretch. Habitual fashion offenders had their outfits confiscated and given to the Chinese laundryman where they had all the buttons broken off and the seams rotted away (nothing new there then!!)
Nick Athawes, in Mini Coopers best run ashore outfit and Andy Green in God knows what!
Bad Taste Night - Tioman 1991 Location of the filming for South Pacific
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A confused Nick Athawes! This does not look like a Dieso, Fresh Water, Avcat or Trimming Tank to me!!
Nick Athawes musters himself in the CPO's Mess after a particularly harrowing run ashore. The eyes tell the tale! - 1991
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Diego Garcia - 1990 at the US Navy's SR's Mess. The fun just goes on and on as the Manchester's SR's piggy back team warm up!! On top Al "two beers" Denham, Nick Athawes and an under pressure Dan Daly takes the weight!!
Emirates Golf Team - 1990 Jeff Lindsay, Nick Athawes & Andy Green Prepare to split the fairways at the world famous Emirates golf course, at that time the only grass course in Dubai and the Gulf.
"It was working earlier Chief" Nick Athawes attempts to unravel the weird and wonderful world of Olympus gas turbines. Mind you he almost looks like he knows what he is doing. Just don't pull the red lever as it makes all the noise go away!!
Mike Till Run - 1990 Nick Athawes at full tilt-ish during the race, around the upper scupper. PTI Nick Stoogley in attendance and your friendly neighbourhood dabbers keep time.
Aerial jolly, late 1991. Although I am not sure that the ship should be visible through that window! Surely the ship should be below us and not in front of us? CWEM(O) Happy Day in the front seat. He will probably tell you that he was bomb aiming or flying it!!
