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Old Borlasians
by pro-Gadaffi forces in their main shipping port,” said Lt
Cdr Dennis.
“That type of action really focuses the crew’s minds, that
going to the Gulf to train is not just training for training’s sake
– but essential for us to take part in operations around the
world.
It was a great chance to take the ship out there – it gives the
ship’s company the chance to build on their experience in the
UK and also come together as a crew.”
The minehunters are based in the tiny kingdom of Bahrain
where they train in the warm shallow waters, practising
clearing mines alongside partner nations such as the US.
The warmth of the water compared to that around the UK
means that the sonar works in a different manner from that
in the cooler Atlantic waters – creating a more challenging
picture for the ship’s company to work with.
As well as training, the minehunters take part in exercises
with coalition partners and regional navies – with Lt Cdr
Dennis and HMS Quorn working alongside the Japanese
Navy for some of their Gulf deployment.
“Whenwe went through the Suez Canal it was quite poignant
for me,”
added Lt Cdr Dennis.
“My grandfather had been based on a mine hunter during
the Second World War where he helped sweep shipping
lanes for mines in the lead-up to the Yalta conference in the
Dardanelles.
He was very interested to hear all about what we had been
doing and even more delighted when I presented him with a
picture of the ship on his 90th birthday.”
The former Sir William Borlase Grammar School pupil
is now on a staff course at the Defence Academy in
Shrivenham where he will be based for at least the next
12 months.
“It’s nice to be in the UK for a while,”
he added.
“My wife is very pleased as well.”
Former ships have included appointments on HMS
Newcastle, HMS Illustrious and HMS Lancaster.
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order
of chivalry for anyone who makes a significant impact
while in Service of the UK.
Reproduced by courtesy of Navy News.
Since this article was published Philip has told us that he
has been selected for promotion to Commander and in
May next year will be appointed Captain of a destroyer.
Though we have had several articles on ‘Snakehips’ in the
past, it is always pleasing to hear someone else’s narration.
Besides, there are always new generations of Borlasians
who probably have never heard of him!
One of the most remarkable Old
Boys ???
Kenrick Reginald Huymans Johnson
was born in British
Guiana on September 10 1914. The Johnson family was
one of the elite in the British colony, and Ken’s father was a
prominent doctor in the community. He attended Queens
College in Guiana, and at the age of 15, he was sent to
The
William Borlase School
in Marlow, Buckinghamshire by
his parents.
Ken did well in his studies, and also played for the school
cricket and football teams. He was tall as a youth, well on
the way to his full height of 6 foot four inches, making him
an ideal choice as a goalkeeper. Naturally, Ken stood out in
the team. This would not be the only time that he would
find himself breaking down barriers in his own pioneering
way. But althoughhis family harbouredmedical aspirations
for their son, the young Ken had other ideas.
Having been exposed to the music and dance of the
West Indies, his interest continued in England, where he
sought out the American choreographer,
Buddy Bradley
.
Bradley, six years older than Johnson, first appeared in a
NewYork revue in 1926 and became the dance director for
many musicals there in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. He
coached stars such as
Ruby Keeler
,
Lucille Ball
,
Eleanor
Powell
and
Fred Astaire
. Astaire it was who suggested to
theatre impresario C B Cochran that he brought Bradley
over to England to work with Britain’s bright young dance
star,
Jessie Matthews
, in her 1930 stage show ‘Ever Green’.
Thus, it was Buddy Bradley who taught Ken Johnson
to dance. As fellow West Indian musician
Frank Deniz
,
brother of Joey, one of Ken’s band members, was later
to recount, it was Johnson’s fluid and flexible style that
earned him the nickname
Snakehips
. He would always be
dressed immaculately, often in a white suit with a flower
in the lapel.
Johnson went on to form his own orchestra, originally
billed as
Ken Johnson and his Rhythm Swingers
. The
rhythm section of Tom Wilson (drums), Abe Clare (bass)
and Joey Deniz (guitar) stayed with Johnson from the
Emperors Of Jazz, as did trombonist Freddie Greenslade.
Also amongst the musicians was Leslie ‘Jiver’ Hutchinson,
who was a close friend of Johnson. Hutchinson asked
Johnson to be godfather to his daughter, current jazz
singer Elaine Delmar, when she was born in 1939.
