THE NORTH SEA and GREAT MUSIC!

After picking up several Workers on the route to the Heliport at a Place Called Beccles, (which is about 15 Miles from where I was Living), we had Arrived!


It was still about 2 Hours to take-Off and still Dark, but we all had to go through a Safety Film and Talk, they tell you all about what to do if the Helicopter goes down in the North-Sea, that was Riveting, and I think it was about this time, I was wondering what I had got myself into! 


After about 2 Hours of sitting around and listening to someone tell you "How Not To Drown, if you Fall in the Sea" the Call came over
the Intercom, Please get your Lifejackets on and get ready for the Flight to "The Leman Field"


By this time I wouldn't say I was Scared, but I was about Half a Stone Less in Weight then when I first Arrived at the Heliport!

I remember going through all these different Checks, until we were moved to another part of the Heliport, we could now see in the Winter Day-Light (November 1983) the Helicopter's through the windows, they were Noisy as Hell!


Then we Finally got the word and we were walking over the Tarmac, towards the "Paraffin Budgie"


I Finally got on the Helicopter and to my seat, the First thing I always remember thinking "Christ, its Stinks in here" the Aviation Fuel was so Strong, you could Taste it!


So with the Terrible Smell and the Deafening Noise, it was something I would not recommend, but, I suppose now over 25 Years later, that aspect has no doubt improved! 

After what seemed Hours (probably only minutes) of just sitting there , looking out of the windows, we finally started to move, we moved right along the tarmac area and then back again, what the hell was going on! I thought.


Then we sat there again for ages, then suddenly, the Rotor Blades, seemed to go 10 times Quicker (and noisier), and we just went up in the Air!


It was Fantastic, I know I was not there for the Helicopter Ride (but, to go to work) but it was Marvelous, and all my Fears, just went, like that, the Sights down Below were Great!

I remember looking out of the windows, trying to spot a Landmark I knew, as we only about 15 Miles from my Town, and to my surprise in about 10 minutes we were actually over the Back-Way to our House, we backed on the a Large playing Field's, and I spotted them and in turn I see our House!


It turned out that the Helicopter's Flight Path, went from Beccles Heliport over to Great Yarmouth (near where we lived) and then out to the "Leman Gas Field" in the North Sea.


Next I could see was the  Seafront at Great Yarmouth and then just Sea for Miles and Miles!

As for Music in 1983, some Great 12" Singles were Released including "All Night Long" by Lionel Richie, "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume, "Crazy" by the Manhattans, "Aint Nobody" by Rufus and Chaka Khan. My favorite out of those 4 , would be "Rufus"

I remember back then, I used to record my Vinyl onto Tape, to listen to through my Walkman, well I say Walkman, actually I never had one of those (could not afford one) I had a Cheaper Version, but I always had the "Rufus" Track back to Back with the Dennis Edwards  Track, "Don't Look Any Further" (which came out the following Year) Great Music!