God bless you Granddad.

From Alan Hayden RN Rtd. BILL CARAVAN I first met Bill in 1960 in HMS Dolphin in 1960,Bill was then a serving CPO Coxswain and myself a PO 2nd coxn(better known in the submarine world as a scratcher.)I am glad to say that we immediately hit it off together and quickly became firm friends. It was obvious from the beginning that he was a person who took a keen interest in those subordinate to himself whether they were another senior or junior rate and was always available for help or advice. In all the time I knew him I never heard him s=raise his voice in anger and had this happy go lucky attitude to life. The next time I met up with Bill was in 1965, I had just passed my coxswains qualifying course and was drafted to s/m Tiptoe for my sea qualification and on arriving onboard found Bill was the boats coxn. After passing over to me the relevant paper work he informed me he was off and I proceeded to sea for 2 weeks as Tiptoe,s Coxn .On return from sea Bill came back on board and my remark to him was :you dropped me in the deep end; to which he replied I would not have left if I thought you would find it difficult. That really summed up Bill he had confidence in those he called friend and also instilled confidence. Ithen left to join my own submarine I Faslane whilst Bill remained in the Gosport squadron. IN 1965 I joined the Submarine Escape Training Tank as an instructor and had a pleasant surprise to find Bill already there. We continued our friendship together until Bill left to become a civilian. We still managed to meet up twice a year at the Submarine Service annual reunion and the Submarine Coxswain reunion and spent many a happy hour downing numerous pints talking about old times.The last time I saw Bill was onboard HMS Victory in Portsmouth dockyard at a reunion in about 2002. Bill it was an honor to know you and a privilege to call you a friend R.I.P. you will not be forgotten Alan (Sterling) Hayden

A poem by Mary Elizabeth Frye Do not stand at my grave and weep I am no there I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sun on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you wake in the mornings hush I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds of circled flight, I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not here; I did not die.