THIS IS MY STORY - Ray McNeill

THIS IS

MY STORY!

Ray McNeill

As I was “Senior of the Month” in July 2026, some of my story was told in that edition of "The Senior Times". 

"Ziggy", my best mate over the years!

I bought property in the early 80's in the County of Somerset from His Royal Highness Charles Philip Arthur George Prince of Wales. It included a house, a large garden and some other buildings. The garden is mainly grass which suits me as I am not a proper gardener and mowing the grass is an easy way to keep the garden tidy. Ziggy didn't let anyone near me; and she kept all the rabbits out of the garden.

Somewhere in my house is what I think is called a time capsule. In it I have put a few items that may be of interest to another owner in a hundred years or so. Some of the items include an electric train engine - the Flying Scotsman, a red Ferrari car, photos and a letter, a wind-up chirograph watch that I bought in Singapore in 1964 and a gold Dunhill lighter that will be worth money in years to come - that is, if anyone finds it.

As a hobby, besides being a volunteer engineer and helping keep the railway running, I build live steam engines at home. Some are capable of pulling about 40 people. I have 2 at home - one in the hall and a bigger one in the living room.

But many memories have come from my association with “M”.

It all started in 1982 when the Royal Navy ship I was on arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I was helping to put the helicopter away when there standing on the flight deck was a woman watching every move. Something about her attracted me.

Later, she and friends of hers were onboard the ship welcoming the British to America. Her name started with an "M" and since almost everyone called me "Mac", we became known as "M&M". This was the beginning of a long friendship. We became so close in Fort Lauderdale. We even took her sons with us many places like the zoo. The boys enjoyed learning about the ship and loved being in the cockpit of the helicopter. "Mac" was their friend!

Soon it was time to sail again although we would make one more stop in the States before heading home. That was the Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia. "M" agreed to fly there so we could spend a little more time together. When she arrived, we rented a red Mustang and went on a drive for a few days along Skyline Drive in the Blueridge Mountains of Virginia. I have never forgotten that trip - M & M alone and together!

Back to reality and it looked like the Falklands were going to be invaded! I left the car with "M" and boarded the ship. I was on the deck as we sailed; "M" was on the shore. We waved Good-by. What will the future be?

I went to the Falklands; but "M" and I wrote to each other daily.

IN DANGEROUS WATERS OFF THE FALKLANDS!

I arrived back in England; and "M" and I were in touch for a while. But we eventually lost track of each other as we lived in 2 different worlds. I tried to find her many times; but she had moved all over the United States and sometimes did not leave a forwarding address.

30 years later, in 2012, I decided to try one more time to reach "M". I found someone by her name living in Fort Lauderdale and wrote her a letter, apologizing if I had written to the wrong person. I understand that her son saw the envelope first and recognized my handwriting after all these years.

M&M were back in touch! She had moved back to Fort Lauderdale, and I sent this letter at the right time. We have not seen each other but after 44 years, we are in touch! (And if someone opens that time capsule someday, they will find pictures and stories of a wonderful relationship!)