South Yorkshire Times February 1, 1947

Birthday Present For Mexborough Sailor

When the Royal Family leaves for South Africa in HMS Vanguard this week end, on board will be Able Seaman Colin White of Mexborough, who on Wednesday will be 20.

This is a tiptop birthday present for Colin, who has been “mad on the Navy” since he was a boy.

Younger of two sons of Mrs F White, 98, Martin Rd, Mexborough, he is an old boy of Mexborough Adwick Road school, and up to 9 months ago, when he joined the Navy, he was working on the pit top at Cadeby.

He has already made a preliminary cruise to Gibraltar; plans to bring nylons back from the Cape and his mother and only sister, Mrs May Burns.

Only shadow on such an exciting birthday present is the death of his father, which occurred in November last year. Like his father, who played for Chesterfield in his younger day, Colin is keen on football.

“Vanguard” is Colin’s first ship.