00:00These experiences served me well when five years later I ended up commanding one of the last wooden walled ships in the Royal Naval, the ton-class minehunter, and desperately tried to avoid becoming yet another headline in the tabloid usemakers by running into the jetty during a birthing operation in a force-line gale.
00:30This was all character-building stuff, which has stood me in good stead ever since.
00:38I went on to serve in seven ships during my time in the Navy, and earlier this year I'd hosted a large reunion at Buckingham Palace with my former shipmates from these ships.
00:54Seeing all my old associates reminded me of just how old I am, as well as of the lasting value of friendships forged in a common core.
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