Nostalgia is not what it used to ge so how very good to see those Colin Stokes Cartoons, he did so many, (Remember "Nicely judged Dudley" & "Bank on a bang with Banks"? Did he ever do a book, if so is it still in print or available? Any more of these? 
Whilst the spirit of nostalgia is about us 60 years on etc etc here's a thought

I wonder what happened to him?

This is with apologies to the late Noel Coward.

The sailing one has read about
And may have been misled about
In one respect has kept itself intact
Though Merlin traditions may have cracked
And thinned
The good old class is still a fact
That famous monumental man
The Merlin Rocket sailing man
Still lives and breaths from Aberdeen to Truro
At any moment one may glimpse
Matured or embryonic “Blimps”
Vivacously speculating as to what became of who?
Though Sussex sounds may fascinate your ear
When class meets class you’re always sure to hear-

Whatever became of old Bagot?
I haven’t seen him for years
Is it true that young Forbes had to marry the Faggot
He met on the beach last year?
Have had any news of that chap from Croydon
Was it Prosser or Pyecroft or Roydon?
He was based on the Thames or was the Adur?
I know he got tight at a ball in Porthcall
And wrote several rude words on the wall
I wonder what happened to him?

I wonder what happened to Angelica
It it true that young Briggs was de-hired
For parading quite nude in America
The day the new Chairman appeared?
Have you heard any word
Of that bloke from  Westward
Was it Southerby, Sedgewick or Sim?
They had him thrown out the club in South Bay
For apart from the bar bill exceeding his pay
He took to roll tacking in quite the wrong way.
I wonder what happened to him.

One must admit that by and large
Upholders of the Merlin Raj
Don’t shine in conversation as a breed
Though most Merlin sailors can read
A bit
Their verbal wit has rather run to seed.
Their splendid insularity
And roguish jocularity
Was echoing when Winston was PM
In restaurants and dodgy bars
They try to maintain tradition in the way it’s always been
Though times may change and classes disappear
Above the shrieking chaos you will hear-

Whatever became of old what's-his-face?
Have you heard any word of young Howes
Who ruptured himself at the end of a race
And had to be sent to Cowes?
They say that young Lees
Had a go of DT’s
And his hopes of success are but slim
According to Stubbs who’s a bit of a louse
The silly young blight went out on a souse
And took two old tarts into the Club House
I wonder what happened to him?

What ever became of old Keeling
I hear he got back from France
And frightened some nuns in Someling
By stripping and waving his lance!
Do you remember Munro
Of the P & O?
He was tallish and mentally dim
The talk of heredity can’t be quite true
He was dropped on his head by his mother at two
I assume by now he’ll be P. M.
Yes I’m sure that’s what happened to him!

A few of Colins cartoons here.

Also with apologies to Noel Coward 

Mad Dogs and Merlinmen

Mad dogs and Merlinmen go out in the midday sun, 
The GP’s don´t care to, the Scorpions wouldn´t dare to, 
Fireballs and National 12’s sleep firmly from twelve to one 
But Merlinmen detest-a siesta. 
In Salcombe Bay they have lovely screens to protect you from the glare. 
At Tamesis there are hats like plates which the Merlin helms won't wear. 
At twelve noon other classes  swoon and no further work is done, 
But mad dogs and Merlinmen go out in the midday sun. 
Mad dogs and Merlin crews go out in the midday sun. 
The toughest Laser bandit can never understand it. 
In Tenby the heat of noon is just what Flying Fifteens shun, 
They put their Scotch or Rye down, and lie down. 
In Babury where the sun beats down to the rage of man and beast 
The drysuit of the Merlin brute merely gets a bit more creased. 
At Ranelagh at twelve o'clock they foam at the mouth and run, 
But mad dogs and Merlin lads go out in the midday sun. 

Mad dogs and Merlinmen go out in the midday sun.
The smallest Topper rabbit deplores this foolish habit. 
At Upper Thames they strike a gong and fire off a noonday gun, 
To reprimand each inmate who starts late. 
At Thames SC  where the Raters romp 
there is peace from twelve till two. 
Helmsmen boozed lie around and snooze, for there's nothing else to do. 
In Porthcawl to move at all is seldom ever done, 
But mad dogs and Merlinmen go out in the midday sun.

DVC......how many names do you appear under? that could be our new competition, so far AG and Connoseur.........anyone spot any others?

I am not DVC!!!!

NOT YOU YOU CLOWN. THE OTHER GUY!

NOT YOU YOU CLOWN. THE OTHER GUY!

And you eh Splutter, spotter, historian .............?

AG is AG Conosseur is just that the two faces of..... no more!

Had we but World enough, and Time,
This coyness, Oldie, were no crime.
We would sit down and think which way
To talk, and post our long spring Day.
Thou by the Adur side?
Should'st Rubies find: I by the Tide
Of North Sea would complain. I would
Befriend you ten years before the Flood:
And you should if you please refuse
Till the Conversion of the Jews.
My vegetable Thoughts should grow
Vaster than Empires and more slow.
An hundred years should go to praise
Thine Boat, and on thy Genoa Gaze.
Two hundred to adore each sail,
But thirty thousand to the rest.
An Age at least to every part,
And the last Age should show your face.
For Oldie you deserve this State,
Nor would I love at lower rate.
But at my back I alwaies hear
Times winged Chariot hurrying near:
And yonder all before us lye
Desarts of vast Eternity.
Thy Merlin shall no more be found;
Nor, in thy marble Vault, shall sound
My echoing Song: then Worms shall try
That long preserv'd Virginity:
And your quaint Honour turn to dust;
And into ashes all my Lust.
The Grave's a fine and private place,
But none I think do there yacht race.
Now therefore, while the "youthful" hew
Sits on thy skin like morning dew,
And while thy willing Soul transpires
At every pore with instant Fires,
Now let us sport us while we may;
And now, like am'rous birds of prey,
Rather at once our Time devour,
Than languish in his slow-chapt pow'r.
Let us roll all our strength and all
Our sweetness up into one Ball:
And tear our Pleasures with rough strife,
Thorough the Iron gates of Life:
Thus, though we cannot make our Sun
Stand still, yet we will make him run.
Apologies to Andrew Marvell & His to his coy mistress!
After the Baltic Exchange Bomb I rather ceased to lunch in the City.

Colin is alive and well. He and other Oldies were at the London Pirates AGM yesterday. Our hosts and providers of delicious food and drink were Alison and Chris Edwards. Chris is a Nat 12 ace who sometimes sails Merlin Rockets. Mike Jackson designed fast boats in the 60s and invented the Merlin 'gaff rig' for his 'March Hare' no. 1723. Also there were Billy Allen - ex-Merlin crew, Richard Winter, John Stokes, my brother John, Tim Barrett - sails Brown Boats on the Broads and Tony Davis who was helming 'Kelpy' no. 719 in the famous photo in the Sussex Sailing Club.

Oh Robert - how could you call SMYC, Sussex Sailing Club !!!

The picture is still there in the bar of the now named Shoreham Sailing Club .  But you are still welcome

Sorry Alan. Just another senior moment.

Having been a visitor at Tamesis a couple of times a year, mostly in a Rater it has to be said, I have become a fan of those Colin Stokes cartoons on the wall there, particularly the 'Stringbag' one.  Something all we crews can empathise with, I think!  It would be great if we could get some printed onto postcards - I know many people, sailors and landlubbers alike, who would appreciate them.  My mother has never sailed in a merlin rocket, but she's certainly witnessed the string!

How about a collection of Colin's 12 favourites - one for every month?

Colin has recently joined the internet world but he may not have found this forum yet so I'll let him know about the interest in his cartoons.