THIS RECORDS MY MEMORIES OF "UNCLE DICK", CHIEF PETTY OFFICER LATIMER FROM HMAS ALBATROSS, A POPULAR & REGULAR VISITOR AT BOMADERRY. I WAS VERY SENSITIVE & SHY, BUT UNLIKE THE CREEPY-CRAWLY SENSATIONS I GOT FROM MY FUTURE "DAD", UNCLE DICK ALWAYS MADE ME FEEL SAFE & SECURE. FOR SOME REASON HE TOOK A SHINE TO ME & ALWAYS PICKED ME UP & CARRIED ME ON HIS SHOULDERS.

I THINK HE ORGANIZED AN ANNUAL BUS TRIP & PICNIC COURTESY OF THE NAVY. THE BOYS COULDN'T KEEP STILL, BEYOND EXCITEMENT ANTICIPATING THE JOY OF A RARE OUTING. EVERY XMAS, THE NAVY INVITED US TO THE WHITE ENSIGN CLUB FOR THEIR CHRISTMAS TREAT. UNCLE DICK CAME TO SEE ME ONCE AFTER MY ADOPTION, BUT MY JEALOUS "DAD", ALLEN COOK, DROVE HIM AWAY FROM ME. 18 MONTHS LATER HE WAS KILLED ON HIS MOTORBIKE. AS A LEGAL SECRETARY, I FOUND HIS ESTATE PAPERS & READ THAT HIS WIFE IN ENGLAND DIVORCED HIM & HAD CUSTODY OF HIS 2 LITTLE GIRLS. WHENEVER I SEE HIS SMILING FACE IN THE MIRROR OF MY MIND, IT REMINDS ME OF A WISE & KNOWING GU-GU BURRA.