My first ship was a Triang Vanguard from Debenhams in Southsea on a Saturday. I persuaded my father to buy it for me, I must have been particularly persuasive (or absolutely annoying, although my brother had died several months previously), I had just turned 6. It cost 6/6! Dad worked in the Dockyard so it was a lot of money to us then, (My pocket money was 6d a week). This would have been in 1959. Its very playworn but I still have it.

The next couple were an Eagle Ajax and Exeter when I was about 7 From Cantoys in North End when Eaglewall went bust. The Ajax turned out OK but the Exeter was terrible. And yes I still have both of those as well.

Ian