Robin Collins talks about 'Service on Brittania'.

Robin Collins served on the Royal Yacht for 4 years, and told us of his experiences.

Serving on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Robin Collins, a member of the Rotary Club Of Lancaster Loyne was our speaker on 8th November. He spoke about his 4 years service on Britannia as a Quater Master. It was a working vessel roughly half the size of the Queen Mary. The cost to build her was born by the Commonwealth. HM Queen Elizabeth 11 chose the furniture which was simple but of good quality. The yacht had a fully equipped medical bay and a large cold room with food store. Robin was knitted out overnight by Chinese tailors with 2 suits and then flown out by the RAF to join the ship in Malta. All the crew members were trusted to make no noise on board. The yacht then embarked on its first sailing to the Pacific Islands taking the Duke of Edinburgh on tour. Robin recalled many occasions when the vessel was used to take members of the Royal family to carry out ceremonial duties. One of these was in 1959 when The Queen officially opened the 200 miles long St Lawrence Seaway. Every 2 years a Royal would come to talk to the crew. These days she is moored at Leith and is a big tourist attraction.

Every 2 years there is a "yachty" reunion in Portsmouth.