Anybody who knows, or was, a trainee on the Arethusa is welcome to make themselves known.

I was on the Arethusa for 3 years in the 60's and am constantly reminded of those formative years. Come on board and share your stories. Geoff (234 '63-'66)

The Training Ship Arethusa (circa 1940-1968) was a four masted steel sailing ship, originally the 'Peking', built early this century. Permanently moored at Lower Upnor (Kent UK) on the river Medway she was a strict boarding school run by Shaftesbury Homes for two hundred & fourty boys aged from twelve to sixteen years. Many boys were from broken homes or in need of rehabilitation. They wore Naval uniform, slept in hammocks, went to school on board and were generally trained for a career in the Royal or Merchant Navy. Arethusa boys (now men), by virtue of their home life and seafaring careers, are spread far and wide. Most were profoundly influenced by their time (average 3 years) on board and this forum hopes to reunite old mates, rekindle memories and document life as an 'Arra'.