Tim Winter originally posted this explanation a few years ago in the "Spin Dits" Section - it deserves a page to itself. Many folk continue to be surprised to find out this happened, and that around 40 of our number were sent off to mark time before re-joining BRNC in January 1986. The group are well represented at reunions and efforts continue to encourage more participation and sign up to the website. Well done Tim for your perseverance! 

Operation HOLDOVER 1985 was the brain-child of Adm Mike Gretton, in a bid to keep us interested in joining up while waiting to start training at Dartmouth on Jan 86. 

Having joined BRNC  on 23 Sep 85 to collect our uniform and complete the joining admin, living in C Block, we were bussed to HMS DOLPHIN to be made "fit for sea". Living in ARROGANT Block, we were cared for by Lt Cdr Dansen-Hatcher RN and Lt MacIntosh  RN (the former on holdover before navigating ex-HERMES to India; the latter on holdover before training fixed-wing).

The PTIs seemed to have stopped listening at "made fit", so there was plenty of exercise, with a nod towards being prepared to go to sea with some seamanship lessons over in HMS VERNON.  We also completed dunker training at HMS VERNON, Light Rescue training and Basic Sea Survival  at HMS PHOENIX before joining HMS INTREPID in the Solent for a 4-week  "deployment" to Gib, Cadiz and Lisbon. On return to the UK, we were sent to RNAS YEOVIL for 2 weeks of extended "air acquaint", accommodated in an empty WRNS block and eating in JRDH, wearing officers uniform without rank , all very fit and mysteriously going off flying each day, a number of sailors thought we were special forces - we weren't about to correct them!

Finally back to HMS DOLPHIN for a mini-Passing Out Parade, with Captain SM1 as the inspecting officer, then to Christmas Leave before starting our training at BRNC in Jan 86 - no wonder we weren't the most compliant OUTs!  We met up with the rest of the Sep 85 entry on their return from DTS.