At the end of the commission such as ours it is difficult to write a few words which can sum up all that has happened in the last seventeen months. Probably due to the time we have spent on our own, I feel that we have been living almost in a seperate world; where international, and even some of the home news has been of little interest, and the rest of the Fleet have been only names. Our cruises have taken us to places seldom visited by other ships; and we have been more fortunate than most in the selection of ports.
Now the end is near, and the interlude in our lives spend in St Brides Bay will soon be no more than a memory; for me a very pleasant one, and I hope for all of you too. We may not have come top in every competition, but the overall reputation of St Brides Bay is second to none in the Far East. And with the satisfaction of knowing that the job has been done well, I wish you the happiest of Christmases, and good drafts in the New Year, and I hope that the money lasts out the full five weeks.
God bless you all, and your families who have been waiting for you.
Commander J O Roberts
Captain