May 2025
Our speaker at May’s meeting was Jay Sowerby who gave his presentation ‘A Yotties tale-A serving Sailor on the Royal Yacht Britannia’.
Jay, a former Royal Yacht sailor, regaled the branch with anecdotes of life aboard the Royal Yacht. He brought along his former uniform and kit and explained some of Royal Navy customs. The main difference between a RY sailor and one in general service was that the cap Tally had Royal Yacht with the Queen’s crown between it. The sailor’s tunic has a neat bow at the back and also sported shoulder flashes. Serving sailors on the yacht had to be of exemplary character with no blemishes on their record. Instead of black leather shoes, sailors wore white plimsoles, this was not only to save the wooden deck from marks and scratches by to walk around silently whenever members of the Royal Family were aboard.