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The Navy whilst inducting New Entries had also to continue with general routine for the rest of the establishment.
To ensure that the ship was kept clean and in a wholesome state, the Captain did his rounds weekly on alternate sides of the establishment's living quarters to ensure that we had not turned Feral, so during this period we "SPROGS" , as we were known by the classes above us, were introduced to Housekeeping Naval Style.
The toil began on a Thursday evening, commencing with the dusting of the ceiling beams by clambering up and ensuring all the 2" angle iron trusses were totally devoid of all mundungus. The windows were washed with soapy water, dried and polished with newspaper to a streak free finish and the floor polished to a shine reminiscent of a Guardsmans boots. This process carried on during all free time until Saturday morning, which for us Sprogs meant 4am. We were to ensure the floors were started on to get a head start. We had to lift each sleeping apprentice /bed and locker to the center of the dormitory without disturbing their sleep so as to do the area some 7 feet wide the full length down each side.
Retribution for awakening them could be fatal.
The Cortisene flooring was duly dawbed with wax Floor polish and rubbed in, then with a blanket folded in block form polished on ones hands and knees from end to end all furniture returned to normal position and the opposite side done. The whole process had to be completed by at least 0630 (6-30am). Fires were emptied and dusted out and the Stove pipes and Pot Bellied stoves Zeeboed with black lead polish to a gleaming near new finish. After Breakfast and before 0800 the central walkway floor had to be at least half finished and all the furniture washed and polished ready for placement by the remaining P.O. Apprentice (Hook) in charge of the 'ut and his gang of helpers from the senior class who were allowed to skip Saturday morning classes for the purpose.
Each Apprentice was also responsible for his own locker/bed area and beds had to be made up with the regulation anchor pattern bedcover "White side" uppermost surmounted by a brilliant white sheet and folded blankets at the head with a pillow on top and ones locker had a towel on its outside drying rail with name stamped on it . All Apprentices then made off to Divisions and marched to class hoping that their efforts would not be in vain. Anything found by the Captain in his " White Gloves" and his merry band of Admin Officers could and would be taken very seriously and result in stoppage of leave until the dormitory was " Up to Standard".
You can imagine the relief when returning after morning classes to hear that all was O.K and if we had hopefully received a commendation or just a mere pass.
It would mean that changing into ones Number 1's ( Best Clothes ) and being allowed out known as "Catching the Liberty Boat", which was only allowed once an hour, if the division wasn't Duty watch, and IF and we all know IF is a big word, one had the money to fund it a "Run Ashore", could be indulged in. Other passtimes for those that didn't wish to " Go Ashore" included field sports, Idling ones time away, Sailing Etc Etc All Leave expired by 2300 (11pm) and woe betide anyone late back on board, it could result in as much as 14 days Punishment
Sundays were always reserved for Divisions , A parade where one was Inspected in ones Number 1's, and then marched past the Captain by ones Divisional Officers and on to Church. Leave and Passtimes being available, on the same terms as before, after 1200 ( Noon).
Of course during our first month Shore leave was not allowed so the other methods of entertainment had to be subscribed to plus there was always a film showing in the Cinema of the Establishment on the opposie side of the Road H.M.S. Raleigh, known to us "Tiffs" as BUCK, where for the princely sum of 1/- One Shilling (5 p in todays money) we could while away an evening in a fantasy world. Attendance at the Cinema could be fraught with problems however. H.M>S Raleigh in those days was the reception and traing centr for Stokers who in a later life would become our Workforce and their was little goodwill between us, so separation in the queues at he door had to be maintained at all cost merely to maintain good order and Naval Dicipline.
Eventually after 4 weeks and many inspections later we were deemed to be fit to include into the Fine body of apprentices to be known as BOIARTS and granted leave outsie of the establishment un-accompanied.
Now at the rate of pay in 1954 -17/6d (seventeen shillings and six pence or 87.5p) per week of which we received 10/-(50p) paid fortnightly after the retention of 7/6d(37.5p) per week for boot and laundry money, Laundry being the only concession that Apprentices got due to the intensive training and lack of FREE time, "Living it up" on our "Emoluments" as pay was known. rarely ran to 10 Woodbines, a night at the pictures, a Penny(1d) bus ride to the Torpoint Ferry and a Penny(1d) on the Ferry and of course back again at night, walking into Plymouth through Devenport Park, a 2/3d Meal at the N.A.A.F.I on Plymouth Hoe and a walk around taking in the air. It did however make space to relax ones brain. Unbeknown to us then, things were to improve dramatically in the future and in another place.