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ALex Gibb
Hello I am OM(MW)1 Alex (`Gibbo’) Gibb. I’m 23 years old and come from Wakefield in Yorkshire. I left school at 16 and worked as a trainee HGV mechanic for 3 years but then decided I needed a challenge so I started to look at joining the Navy which I don’t regret for a minute.
Alex Gibb
I joined the Royal Navy in July 2002 and after passing out of basic training at HMS RALEIGH I started a 7 month mine clearance and disposal coarse at HMS DRYAD near Portsmouth. The course gave me all the basic skills I needed to join my first ship and included subjects such as how to identify different types of mines and the correct way to dispose of them, how to be part of a operations room team at mine hunting stations and how to use the sonar systems used to find and classify mines. I really enjoyed the training and to complete the course I had to pass numerous exams on the different ways to sweep mine fields.
After I passed all of my training I joined my first ship HMS DULVERTON, a Northern Ireland patrol ship, where I learned the basics of being a sailor. My next draft was to HMS QUORN where I took part in fishery protection patrols around the UK and various mine clearance exercises around Scotland.
SSEP Training
In October 2005 I joined HMS ENDURANCE just before she deployed. At the moment I’m SSEP which stands for Standing Sea Emergency Party and involves being part of a 16 man team that reacts to any fires, floods or other emergencies as quickly as possible. My position in the team is `Support Party Hydrant Operator’ which means as soon as an incident occurs I go to the nearest fire equipment point, get dressed in full fire fighting and breathing apparatus and then go to the scene of the incident. I receive a quick brief on the situation and then go in and deal with it.
A typical day onboard for me at the moment consists of waking up with `call the hands’ at 0700, having a wash then off for breakfast. At 0800 I `turn to’ and start working for the buffers party, which involves all of the upper deck maintenance, all aspects of seamanship e.g. bringing the ship alongside a jetty, anchorages and launching all of the sea boats and driving them as necessary.
At 1000 it is time to have a break for 30 mins before having lectures about seamanship or first aid until lunch at 1200. I have 1 hour 30 mins for lunch which usually involves a quick sleep. At 1330 it is back to work for the rest of the afternoon doing general work like painting, de rusting or splicing and making fancy things with ropes. We normally finish work at 1600.
I give guitar lessons to a few of the Ship’s Company for an hour before having a shower and getting changed into night rig. It is then time to head to the mess to have my 2 tins of beer and unwind with the lads before having scran. After my evening meal I go down to the fwd hold and practice with the band for the rest of the evening.
My plans for the future are to hopefully go on promotion course next year when the ship gets back home and then just see what happens and hopefully see the rest of the world.
The Growlers playing for Children in Need
My main pastime and interest onboard is being part of the Ship’s band `The Growlers’; we are a 5 piece band which consists of myself, WO2 `Slinger’ Woods, Lt Lee Vessey (Navs), OM(C) (The Icon) Hendy and OM(W)Al Craige. We started the band last deployment and have since played for the Ship’s Company at a number of different gigs. We play a wide variety of music which includes Oasis, Ocean Colour Scene, T-Rex, Radio head, Jet, The Clash and loads more. I’ve played the guitar for about 10 years and love playing with The Growlers. Having started giving guitar lessons to a few of the Ship’s Company this trip, it is good to see people progressing their abilities and being keen to learn.
Alex on guitar
I am looking forward to seeing all of my family and friends again when I get home again in June 2007. Most of all I can’t wait to meet my godson or daughter who will be born in March (congratulations to Bobby and Lucy, good luck and see you soon). Its hard being away for Christmas but being with all my ship mates and being in Brazil helps a bit too.
To everyone back home, have a great Christmas, love you and see you next year.
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