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.

Dear darling Daddy, Thank you for all the fun and adventure you gave us, the education, the travel, the 15 course Chinese dinners, even the disgusting sharks fin soup, the nice things, the hand made shoes, the songs, the discipline, even though you made our behinds sting on many occasion... I even thank you for making us swim around the boat 3 times in a freezing English channel for supper. Thank you for supporting me and your youngest grandchild when my husband wouldnt, for loving us unconditionally, for never letting me down, ever. For never ever complaining about your loneliness of these past few years, but always telling me how much you loved me " very very much". I'm so proud of you Daddy, for who you are and all you did while you were here, and I am so truly thankful and blessed I had you here as my father for so long. I know you are safe and well now with Mummy, but I will miss your reassuring voice, your generous love and your protection. Thank you for everything Daddy, you did a marvellous job! You know I will always "love you very very much".......

Darling Daddy, Missing you every moment but know that you with Mummy and your boys; all safe in God's loving arms.

Thank you for setting up this memorial to William. We hope that you find it a positive experience developing the site and that it becomes a place of comfort and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.

I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other that we still are. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? Life means all that it ever meant, it is the same as it ever was.