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 WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING AN ANNUAL BUS TRIP & PICNIC COURTESY OF THE NAVY. THE BOYS WERE BEYOND EXCITEMENT & COULDN'T KEEP STILL, ANTICIPATING THE JOYS AHEAD. EVERY XMAS, THE NAVY INVITED US TO THE WHITE ENSIGN CLUB FOR A CHRISTMAS TREAT.

UNCLE DICK CAME TO SEE ME ONCE AFTER MY ADOPTION, BUT MY JEALOUS "DAD" DROVE HIM AWAY. 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 GUGU BURRA.