Speaker meeting

The Rev Howard Drysdale works as a port chaplain in Scotland's busiest port, Aberdeen, with the interdenominational ministry Sailors' Society.

Around 90 per cent of the goods imported into the UK each year arrive by ship, but with modern ports being far more removed from towns and cities, the hard reality of a life spent at sea can be easily missed.

The average seafarer spends six to nine months, sometimes even a year at sea, often with no means to communicate with their families.

Their needs when they arrive in port can be as varied as the weather out at sea, meaning that the port chaplains have to be ready for anything.

I was born in July 1955 the youngest of three children to my Father (coal miner) and mum (nurse) in Blackburn West Lothian. I had a miserable childhood - we were poor, my father an alcoholic and I left school at 15 with no qualifications. I completed 1 year course at a Technical College in Bathgate before commencing a 4 year apprenticeship with Ferranti's in Edinburgh. During this tome, I also became an alcoholic, a DJ and had lots of girlfriend.

At age 20 I left home and job to join the Royal Navy where I services the Radio equipments on the Sea King Helicopter. I travelled the world, and during this period, I became a committed Christian. I left the RN in 1980 to train for the Baptist Ministry and during that time met and married Anne.

I served as pastor to two Churches in England, Cinderford, Gloucestershire, and Hammersmith London. Two Churches in Scotland, Sanquhar in Dumfriesshire mad Bathgate.

In 2001 our family moved to Newtonhill where I now serve the Sailors Society as Port Chaplain for Aberdeen and ports north as well as being Chaplain for The Nautical College in Banff & Buchan Marine dept. Anne and I have been married tor 26 years and have 4 children.

My eldest two Phil (27) & Naomi (25) are in California training for the Ministry; whilst my youngest two live at home, Neil (23) being a Sushi Chef at a top restaurant in Aberdeen whilst David (21) currently works as a custody officer with Reliance at the court in Aberdeen and has his police force entrance exam this coming Thursday.

In November 2009 we adopted Byron who will be 10 on the 28th November 2010.

Our speaker, Howard gave the club a detailed report of what his job consisted of.

A very interesting talk illustrated by some very funny jokes and a slide show.