Illston-on-the-Hill WI – Apr ’26
Illston-on-the-Hill WI prepared themselves for a luxury cruise around the Royal Yacht Britannia – and were not disappointed.
Bill Hayley spent 27 years in the Royal Navy and many of those years working on the Royal Yacht. There was very little he didn’t know about the vessel or it’s distinguished passengers. His knowledge brought the subject vividly to life.
Britannia was in service from 1954 to 1997. She was designed with three masts, cleverly hinged so the ship could pass beneath bridges. The various state rooms were magnificent while some of the small rooms were cosy and welcoming – likely favourites of the late Queen Elizabeth II. One can easily imagine these more intimate spaces as places where she relaxed, perhaps kicking off her shoes and enjoying her favourite James Bond films.
On Her Majesty’s final departure from the yacht, the clocks were stopped at 3.01 and have never been restarted. This marked the exact moment she left the vessel for the last time – an undoubtedly emotional occasion. The yacht was decommissioned later that same year.
Bedding, kitchens and numerous voyages
Britannia was also the last ship in the Royal Navy where the crew slept in hammocks, while officers and guests enjoyed bunks or proper beds. With around 200 crew members on board, in addition to important passengers, the kitchens must have been incredibly busy.
During her years of service, the vessel undertook numerous voyages, including trips to the Antarctic and through the St. Lawrence Seaway. She played a role in the evacuation of refugees from Aden and was present at the formal handover of Hong Kong to China. Many U.S presidents were welcomed aboard and more recently Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall chose the yacht for their honeymoon.
Today Britannia is permanently berthed in Edinburgh where she attracts of 300,000 visitors each year.
This was a fascinating and highly enjoyable talk. It was made all the more interesting by Bill’s engaging delivery and wicked sense of humour. If you get the opportunity to hear Bill Hayley speak, it is certainly one worth taking.
We completed our meeting with lovely refreshments and social chat – catching up with everyone’s news. Once again, a really interesting, entertaining and bonding meeting.
Jane Shute
