'Deep Affection'
By Barrie Arch, bgarch@btinternet.com (Plymouth Sound BSAC)
It must be 20 years ago now, that I first started coming down to Plymouth with a group of friends on diving weekends. We had our own RIB, so we could pick and choose when, where, or even if, we dived.
We were all single at that time, and there were some weekends when we would just spend the days relaxing, integrating into the local community, and soaking up the local "culture" - glasses of which were consumed in vast quantities.
It was on maybe the second or third trip, on a warm sunny afternoon, that after having dived Hat Rock in the morning, we decided to take it easy in the afternoon, and my friends introduced me to one of the "locals".
She was very impressive, a lady of endless pleasure, who had become something of a local celebrity during the time that she had been in Plymouth.
I realised of course that I was not her only admirer - she had a constant stream of suitors, and more than her fair share of attention.
However, whenever I was in the area and the opportunity arose I made every effort to visit her, and to be truthful, I was never disappointed.
Each time I saw her was as exciting and wonderful as the first time, and even though my visits became more infrequent over the years, I never tired of her.
Although she originally came from America, she had spent most of her life in the Plymouth area, and must have only been a few months old when she had embarked on that fateful journey across the Atlantic.
It was towards the end of the war when she left the States, and during the crossing en route to Europe, she endured a most traumatic experience, from which she never fully recovered.
She never reached Europe, or returned home, and finally settled in the Whitsand Bay area, where she immediately became a firm favourite with both the locals and visitors to the region.
A few weeks ago, when early morning fog and mist had upset my original plans for the day, I took the opportuntiy to seek out my old friend, to see what had become of her.
What I saw saddened me, to see how time had not been as kind to her as one would have hoped.
Where once she had stood tall and proud, it appeared that she could no longer keep her head above water, and that wonderous fine profile that I remembered so well, had become scarred and broken, and was little more than a hollow shell, misformed with the ravages of time.
She was no longer the beauty that she once had been, but there still existed some evidence of her old self, that charisma that had entertained and enthralled so many of her admirers over the years.
I was pleased to find that even though she was no longer in her prime, she hadn't been forgotten entirely.
She was still very popular, but since a new girl had moved into the area, a few years ago, she no longer drew the attention that she once did.
After 40 minutes or so I left, and returned to Plymouth with a slightly heavier heart.
I realised of course that nothing ever stays the same, particularly memories, which become blurred with the passing of time, but I do know that I will never forget the immense pleasure that I once derived from visiting this particular "lady".
- Diving the JAMES EAGAN LAYNE was, and still is, a real pleasure.
It's the 70th anniversary of her sinking in a few years time.
Make the most of her now, before she disappears forever.
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