For the first time in 14 years the Royal Yacht Britannia has been removed from the water to have her hull painted.

But throughout the year maintenance is always carried out on the ship including former servicemen, the yotties, who return each year for their annual working holiday to share their knowledge and experience.

Ex-serviceman and LeitherTom McCallion shares his memories of his time on the Yacht and of his childhood close to the Docks.

Tom spent the first 11 years of his life in Leith until his dad’s work took the family to Manchester, where he lost his Scottish accent.

In 1953 at the age of 17 he joined the British Royal Navy and served 12 years the last of those six years was spent on Britannia.

When asked about his time on the Royal Yacht he said: “Well I’ve got to keep quiet about them. We worked hard, we played hard.”

He explained a little bit about what life was like on Britannia, “There were two services on board the Yacht, the sea service where everybody is involved in looking after the Yacht from stem to stern but when you were on Royal duty that was a different part of the game all together.

“It was cramped but very, very pleasant because as I say you worked hard and played hard and the Royal family accepted that.”

The Association of Royal Yachtsmen was founded in 1989 by Albert ‘Dixie’ Deane with the aim of reuniting former Yotties for social events including a working holiday to their old home where they help with the maintenance of the vessel.

Mr McCallion said: “When we found out the ship was coming to Leith I was quite proud about it because I thought looking at Leith Docks and where it was berthed when I came here to visit the Yacht, I did notice surprisingly enough that I’m only ten minutes away from where I was born in 40 Yard Heads, Henderson Gardens, Leith.

“My church was St Mary’s Star of the Sea where I was baptised and confirmed so everything came back to me.

“I went to the church on the Sunday saw the Priest and he said, ‘come in you pagan son’ like come back. We went round the church and it brought back memories from when I was on the altar there.

He added: “It brought back the memories so much so that I decided now frequently I shall come up to Edinburgh to view and this was very opportune for me to have working parties.

“The first year I was walking round and everyone was asking where do you come from and I was proud to say I’m a Leither and I had to show them my passport because nobody believed me.

“All it said was Edinburgh but at least I could say I am a Scot.”

From his experience both from serving on the Yacht and returning for the working parties he gives talks about the vessel and life of board to various groups in Lancashire where he lives.

IN DETAIL

• Royal Yacht Britannia on the move after leak is fixed

• Facts about the Royal Yacht Britannia

• Listen to Tom McCallion, the proud Leither part I

• Listen to Tom McCallion, the proud Leither part II