The Jimmy's Page 

Lt Cdr JB Lean was Minerva's first lieutenant from 1968-70. I am delighted to publish a selection of his photos and, at my request, a few words about the view from (almost) the top.

The spirit of the ship's company stands out in my memory. You rose to every challenge and enjoyed the challenges. Of course, you wouldn't have been sailors if you hadn't grumbled, but it used to amuse me to be told that when ashore in the company of other ships' companies you stood that much taller and chided them for being in slack ships, saying "You wouldn't get away with that in Min". Mind you, I'm not fool enough to imagine that you didn't get away with this and that, and all these years later I would love to hear from you what you did get away with. For my part I enjoyed the shadow boxing with the ship's company. I recall a mildly scurrilous magazine appearing from the mess decks and, not surprisingly, Jim was one of the easier targets. My response was to feed the authors a little bait which they could seize. Some were slightly disappointed that "authority" appeared to be amused. We had a grand ship's company and from the engine room to the helicopter (bottom to top) the ship performed extremely well - not just my opinion but that expressed by captains and admirals in command of us. We were lucky to have a superb programme and in all it was the most memorable commission of my career

J.B.Lean 2nd May 2003

The new Jimmy joins, Sept 1968

"GI's Dream Sept 1968" (SNOWI - Senior Naval Officer West Indies - wore his hair long. The GI was also the ship's barber.)

Recommissioning ceremony, the Captain, Commander David Armytage Oct 1968

Officers hard at work invading Anguilla, 1969. L-R, Lt Nigel Dark (pilot); Lt Mike Clarke, Supply Officer); S/Lt Brian Ward, Bosun PR; Lt (later Admiral) Peter Abbott, Navigator;

 Anguilla cartoon, 1969

The Captain (Cdr D Armytage), & Jimmy (Lt Cdr JB Lean) installed as honorary citizens of Mobile, Alabama, 1969.

Mayan Village in British Honduras, 1969

Puerto Cortes, 1969, managing the throng of visitors

Return to Portsmouth, July 1969

Return to Chatham, July 1969

Minerva (left) and Eagle, Med, Jan 1970

Moskva from the Wasp, Jan 1970 (Moskva was the first Russian carrier)

Tromso Fjord, 1970

Coral Sea, 1970

Coral Sea 1970

Gizo, British Solomon Islands, met by war canoes. 1970

Kira Kira (Solomon Islands) children, 1970

Yandina, Solomon Islands 1970, dancers

Prep for RAS, 1970

Minerva, from aloft. Sept 1970

Wasp landing on Minerva, Sept 1970

Banyan, Singapore, 1970

In the Wardroom, 1970. L-R Lt Roger Bryant, pilot; Lt Simon Sloot, Supply Officer; Lt Simon Newsom, DWEO.

Geyser at Rotorua, New Zealand, 1970

Page updated 16-05-03

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