South Yorkshire Times, November 17th, 1951
It was a proud moment for Mrs. G. Lowther of Silverdale, Church Street, Mexborough, as she stood on Plymouth Hoe on Monday and watched Britain’s newest aircraft carrier, Eagle, move into Plymouth Sound. On board the carrier was her eldest son John who, at 18 ½ is one of the youngest of the crew.
Had it not been for a change of mind earlier this year, John would have missed this chance of serving on the greatest warship ever produced from Belfast.
Joining the Navy at 17 ½ for 12 years, ex-N.C.B. clerk John Lowther became Able Seaman Lowther and successfully sat for an engineering course. He then applied for a transfer to the writers’ branch and after a course at Wetherby, passed out in August.
John was stationed at Devonport, when, a month ago, he was sent up to Belfast and was one of the first to join the ship onboard for the ceremony of hoisting the White Ensign, which took place in Bangor Bay at the conclusion of the acceptance trials.
Last week a special invitation was received at the Lowther home inviting one of John’s parents to tea aboard the ship at Devonport. Mrs. Lowther made the journey south, and on Sunday was allowed on board and was shown around the Eagle by her son.
John will be board on when the Eagle sails for a fortnight’s speed trials on the Clyde. The carrier will be attached to the Home Fleet for a year.
An old boy of Mexborough Schofield Technical College, John is “very happy” in his new sphere. Before joining the Navy, he was employed at Denaby N.C.B. offices, in the supplies department.