HMS Ganges, Shotley Suffolk

Walk around the outside of abandoned HMS ganges, Feb 2008. Traffic is passing through the site while work rebuilding the marina road is carried out, hence the large fences. Most of the buildings appear securely boarded, with suprisingly little vandalism, although the blocks near the gate look in a bad way.

[@bodicatudor]

When my ship (MV St Edmunds) pulled out of Parkstone quay in the 1970's I would like across and see the great mast of HMS Ganges. This video is a great representation of what England is like today, rundown,sad and unhappy

[@ruprecht8507]

My brother trained there in 1967 and i saw him climb the mast. That place used to be spotless so it's so sad to see it falling apart like this.

[@ayeesea]

I filmed this over 13 years ago, AFAIK the site still hasn't been redeveloped, the usual wranglings over planning I think. The mast was due to be restored as the centre piece of the planned development, but there won't be much left to restore at current rate of progress. Last I heard there were attempts by locals to save to pool, but probably left the campaign too late.

[@mikewood3487]

I was at Ganges 34 recruitment in 1972,what a shame to see the place in such a mess. I played the last post and sunset under that mast as a bugle boy.

[@paulnicholson7604]

Was there in 67 Blake division, I went back to have look a few years ago to have a look at the ruins .Nelson hall was still standing and the mast .The Training at Ganges was tough but that's why we ruled the Seas and won Wars

[@petsouthern8809]

Was at Ganges in 1975 one of the last intakes to go through the place, remember that the inspecting officer on final parade was Lord Mountbatten, fond memories Leander class.

[@jangreen5618]

My Brother Gerald Evison went to HMS Ganges in 1963. Went on to serve aboard HMS Grafton, HMS Ganges, HMS Diamond, HMS Forth.

[@minerthree]

GRR Joined 9/6/1954 85th recruitment, First stop the Annexe Tyhritt 1, 4weeks later the main establishment,97 class Rodney 11, halfway down the covered way, 8weeks later upgraded to 122 class Collingwood 42, beside the parade ground and Hawke division (tin shacks). I can honestly say that i spent a lot of happy moments and times, met some great mates, two of whom i still meet up with at GANGES,

[@garyrowley7134]

My father was a LSBA Chief in 72-3 My mum worked in the NAAFI. I swam in that pool and will remember the Navy fondly. All my life. It makes me cry to see it like this.

[@johnhanks7792]

Was at Ganges 1958-59.CPO Nick Carter was instructor for Duncan 13 mess,19 class.Saw the old place in 2016..Shame to see it like it is.It turned boys into men.I hope there are some of my messmates alive and kicking

[@PeterAnthony1999]

This brought back so many memories. I joined Ganges in November '71, 30 Recruitment, Blake 10 Mess. The Lomg Covered way is long gone in the vid but I can still remember it like it was yesterday.

[@khutt19]

I left Ganges in Novemebr 71,O.N.D118076J,I went to the Ulster as my first draft,it was Ganges training ship.

[@derekstill6086]

Blake 7 Mess - joined Sept 5th 1955. Aged just 15 years. Our instructors were CPO Brotherton (known behind his back as Pusser) who was a superb instructor that I admired immensely. and P.O. Parham. So sad to see the old place in such a state, It was the best school I ever went to, although I admit that I didn't recognize it as such at the time. They meant it didn't they when they said... "We'll take you as boys and send you to the fleet as men"."

[@WELLBRAN]

Dad was a POW for 3.5 yrs in Nagasaki WW2 after HMS Exeter was sunk in the Java Sea...He LOVED the place and said it helped him survive the POW camps.

[@dabtoe48]

Glad you nozzers respect it, entered the annexe gates 12th October 1948, then over to Blake, Matapan 8 Mess. Like everyone, set me up for a real life

[@louisgunn]

Wisdom is Strength, as they say

[@gillybob333]

Really sad to see that magnificent mast decaying , I was there in 69.

[@krisfirth]

Oh what a state this place is very sad I started in the Annexe as a nozzer in Oct 67 then transferred to Granville division mess 25 It was hard graft but I look back on it very fondly it surely shaped my life I still use some of the same values to this day. Also joined the Bugle Band Sgt Rickard from the Royal Marines was the musical dorector he was a great guy and like anything else you did if you put the effort in the PO's CPO's noticed and would help you out CPO Ritchie was our Leader

[@Green1812Arrow]

I was there 64/65. Tiger in the Annex and Exmouth in the main camp. They should never have closed the place.

[@johnwhitehead3311]

One more left, John Whitehead, I was D 13 mess class 17, 58-59 start of 34 years in the mob, now surviving in France, all remembered with fondness, still inspired by 15 year olds climbing the mast without any safety !

[@rob6102]

041class 1976, Leander div, loved it, hated it! Remember our passing out parade an elephant took the salute. There were some Iranian navy personel there at the time just didn't get the joke. Seem to remember two midget submarines in the drill shed. Do hope the mast is restored.

[@minerthree]

One was a German 4 man submersible, The other an Italian two man chariot.

[@Purplepulcritude]

Was there in 63- Keppel 2 mess- happy days

[@bilbobagins1951]

so sad to see ganges like this ??

[@gotland483]

16 September 1975.......Lovely.

[@chaplinbooks]

If you were a Ganges boy, you might like to know that there's a new ebook out about what it was like to endure 386 days at the place! It's called HMS Ganges Days and it's a memoir by Peter Broadbent who was there in 1959/60. (he went to visit the site after it was closed down, too - and took a little souvenir!)

[@rnf1227]

How can he have been there when he used the command ATTENTION! It was (and still is) HO! Even members of the other forces know how the Navy used HO!

[@gazzer56]

what more is ther to say love the place or hate the place its where a lot of us where taught lots of lessons in life and to see it like this is just so sad. i was there in 71/72 25th recruitment

[@alancooper9348]

Ten years on and the site still remains undeveloped, although things do appear to be moving forward now: www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/plan-for-former-hms-ganges-site-at-shotley-gate-moves-forward-1-5478724

[@AlanIvideos]

So pleased I happened upon this post and as a result have just purchased the eBook mentioned by chaplinbooks.

[@rnf1227]

Another new Kindle book is out regards Ganges, well, the first part is dedicated to Ganges, judging from the cover

[@tamar5261]

1972, 39 recruitment 38 mess Hawke division.

[@dazjvans]

40 recruitment 72/73....Hard but bloody good fun at times!...Set me up for being able to look after myself and have respect for others. If this sort of place was in existance today,it would make the street 'gangs' look like right nonces!

[@catchelot]

Very sad to watch. Frobisher div, Benbow Lane. 32 mess, 87 rec. 1966

[@zlister415]

thats just wrong, something like that to go to waste...it was closed before i was even born, but why not clean it up and re-open it as a new sea cadet unit? it certainly would be used well, although i think on climbing the mast a little more than a shilling may need to be given to the 'button boy'

[@superpeploe]

" Walk around the outside"???????? the cameraman is walking along the hallowed Quarter-deck, where I was fell in as part of the guard to welcome the new CO, Captain Geoffrey Place VC in 1964. The building on the left was officers admin. The long covered way was to the right. Shame to see it in such a state now...........Jim Peggie

[@paulnicholson7604]

You doubled on the Quarter deck no walking ha ha

[@IRememberTheOldDays]

@WELLBRAN As much as I hate to admit our country is in such a disgusting state, it is mostly so. Every thing is about profit profit profit and no consideration given to the common man. I would rather sacrifice a new government building or give bonuses and give the money to a decent tax paying person who has delivered unto the system their whole life. I am trying to break into politics now and hopefully one day I will be in a position when I can stand for the common man. I will never forget this.

[@blagger56]

@Llamehtdos2 I remember having to run up and down Faith, Hope and Charity...that was bloody murder.

[@WELLBRAN]

@krisfirth my dad taught me how to clean and polish my shoes a la ganges style..i still do it...i am 56! also alot of other life lessons which i TRY to adhere to...ganges dads must be all the same.... someone to look up to, dad always sorted out the school bullies...which also included the teachers!...( just joking) but RN Ganges trained men were scared of no one!...i really mean NOTHING AND NOBODY in life

[@HENRYFOLEY]

anyone there 1960 to 1961

[@WELLBRAN]

@IRememberTheOldDays My dad went to ganges and i learnt alot about life through him and his wisdom he was a button boy in 1939/40 and to see this icon here is just disgusting, even as an old mast it should be preserved and yet the marie rose, a hunk of wood was saved and thousands spent on it.....the pride of the RN climbed all over this mast...but no one cares about that anymore..you are right...fucking miserable.

[@IRememberTheOldDays]

@WELLBRAN It is absolutely absurd. I though that with this new Conservative led government we'd have a bit more money rolling into the traditions and values which we should hold dear to in this country, after all we have an illustrious history to say the least. But no, Cameron is just a penny pinching basket.

[@IRememberTheOldDays]

@blagger56 all three women at once!? Christ!

[@topbanana4013]

stand still lol

[@donjones5793]

I was stationed there as ships company sad to see it like it is now

[@F72ariadne]

I visited around the same time and took the walk from the maingate to the sailing centre. I doubled across the quarterdeck just incase the 'screaming skull' was hiding by the Admin block! the plan is to develope the site with retirement type housing retaining the mast as a community focal point. The Joss, 38 recruitment 72