Peter, The mast at RN shore establishment HMS GANGES had a lightening rod that extended about 18 inches (50 cms) above the button, and the button boy used to grip it between his knees as he stood to attention saluting! It takes a special type of person to do that, no doubt with the same lack of fear for heights, and the same sense of balance as steeple jacks. A school friend of mine, Les Smith, was the button boy at GANGES in about 1961, and he received 5 shillings from the Captain after doing it at the ceremonial passing out parade. The ceremonial mast at my old school had safety nets, but that was long after it decommissioned and removed when I was there! Bernard de Neumann -------Original Message------- From: Peter Monks Date: 08/25/11 00:04:50 To: MARINERS@rootsweb.com Subject: [MAR] Main mast of the PEKING ex ARETHUSA As an ex ARETHUSA lad, I am intrigued by the deeds of daring-do. I have the main mast as 52 mtr deck to truck. As a petrified youth I made it up the fore mast to touch the button at the mast head. Now visiting my wife in a nursing home in Edmonton, they have a 15 floor building adjacent that must be almost the height, approx. 150 ft. ? It makes my blood run cold to think of scaling that height some 50 odd years ago. Quite apart from the "button boy" on the top with nothing to hold on to. Other thoughts? Peter ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MARINERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Greetings, What a delight to hear from you again. It would seem that we might have lived somewhat similar lives? I was on HMS ST. VINCENT basic training establishment after the ARETHUSA. I raced against HMS GANGES. Our mast also had a safety net, if one should fall within it's reach. Perhaps the ARETHUSA had lightening rods also? I for one was not going to inspect it! Many thanks, Peter On 2011-08-25, at 3:32 AM, "Bernard de Neumann" <de.Neumann@btinternet.com> wrote: > Peter, The mast at RN shore establishment HMS GANGES had a lightening rod > that extended about 18 inches (50 cms) above the button, and the button boy > used to grip it between his knees as he stood to attention saluting! It > takes a special type of person to do that, no doubt with the same lack of > fear for heights, and the same sense of balance as steeple jacks. A school > friend of mine, Les Smith, was the button boy at GANGES in about 1961, and > he received 5 shillings from the Captain after doing it at the ceremonial > passing out parade. The ceremonial mast at my old school had safety nets, > but that was long after it decommissioned and removed when I was there! > > Bernard de Neumann > > > -------Original Message------- > > From: Peter Monks > Date: 08/25/11 00:04:50 > To: MARINERS@rootsweb.com > Subject: [MAR] Main mast of the PEKING ex ARETHUSA > > As an ex ARETHUSA lad, I am intrigued by the deeds of daring-do. I have the > main mast as 52 mtr deck to truck. As a petrified youth I made it up the > fore mast to touch the button at the mast head. > > Now visiting my wife in a nursing home in Edmonton, they have a 15 floor > building adjacent that must be almost the height, approx. 150 ft. ? It > makes my blood run cold to think of scaling that height some 50 odd years > ago. Quite apart from the "button boy" on the top with nothing to hold on > to. > > Other thoughts? > > Peter > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > MARINERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MARINERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message