Thread: Navy Family quarters

My husband joined the Navy in May and is currently down at HMS Sultan in Portsmouth doing engineering training. I am in Cumbria and 6 weeks ago gave birth to our first child. Eventually he is hoping to be based at Faslane in Scotland and we will apply for family quarters so that i will move up there. I was wondering if anyone knows what they are like and also what the town of Helensburgh is like?
I have only just joined this site so would be very grateful if anyone can give me some advice about being a navy wife, especially if there husbands are working on the submarines. I am still not sure how long my husband is going to be away and thought of no contact for months is scaring the hell out of me.

Hi there Jux, welcome aboard

I'm a RN wife-to-be with an OH at sea a lot. You get the hang of the separation after a while and with a little one in tow, you'll have no time to worry about your lad! The submariners are an even closer family than the surface boys, so get to know the other families close by when you can because you, like the boys, are all in the same boat.

I'm afraid apart from a fleeting visit through Rhu and Gareloch last month, I've not been to Faslane for about ten years (and it was snowing then, so I'll not go into further detail) but I'm told that the quarters have improved.

Helensburgh isn't the most up and coming place, but if you make sure you get a car, the countryside is flipping amazing. (It's not too great if you don't have your own transport.) It'll be a great place to bring up your youngster. Glasgow, Edinburgh and the beautiful Stirling are all in reach, as are the Highlands and Loch Lomond. Regular trains from Helensburgh back to civilisation, and into the Highlands up to Oban - a route which is on my to-do list when I'm next up there next year!

You're a rare and very special breed being a submariner's wife. Drop in for support any time

Hi, thank you for replying so quickly. Ive heard that the family quarters are not very nice and that Helensburgh is a nice town but theres not alot there.
I do drive which is something and i will travel back here alot when my husband goes away.
This is all very knew to us both and its going to take time to get used to so any advice is greatly appeciated.
Thanks again.

I lived in Helensburgh for two years and loved it! It's so nice, everyone is very friendly, 'Churchill' the mod estate in Helensburgh has its good streets and bad streets, depending where you are but i'd say 99% is good.

The 2 bed house i was in was lovely and id move back there (to that house) tomorrow if i didn't now have 2 kiddies.

If you can drive, theres plenty to do and if not the trains from Helensburgh station into Glasgow are every 30 mins and coincide with the bus that services the churchill estate.

Helensburgh frequently has fairs and markets in the town square, the farmers market at loch lomond shores is wonderful too (5 mins drive). Helensburgh has a beer festival every year, puts on pantomimes, firework displays in november, a christmas lights switch on ceremony etc.

Im hoping hubby gets posted back there after our next posting to Rosyth.

The doctors and nurses at the dr's surgery are lovely and my dentists were really nice too. I dont know about childcare because we left before i needed that. I got married in Helensburgh registry office which is beautiful too.

All in all, i made some lifelong friends in helensburgh and after 18 months here in London im yet to meet someone I'd call more than an acquaintance

If you want any info such as docs numbers, good hairdressers, etc please get in touch

oops

i have just seen the dat that you posted that so you probably have made ur own mind up about the 'burgh'

sorry

Hey,

I am off up to Helensburgh end of August/start of Sept, so any info that anyone could help out with would be great! I would like as much heads up as possible for both the area and the housing. Would be nice to know what I am letting myself in for hehe

Hi Missezem

Just reading these post's and as someone who is in the process of applying to live in Helensburgh I would love to have recommended hair dressers and doctors etc. Would save a lot of hassel. Plus where to find a job if possible

many thanks xx

Originally Posted by LoubyST

Hi Missezem

Just reading these post's and as someone who is in the process of applying to live in Helensburgh I would love to have recommended hair dressers and doctors etc. Would save a lot of hassel. Plus where to find a job if possible

many thanks xx

Patchpedia? Not sure if theres a H'burgh page yet but if not some of the info on this thread would be exactly the kind of thing we're looking for on it.

Jux if you're still about fancy letting us know how you're getting on up there?

Edit to add Patchpedia page Some info but not a huge amount yet, any one who fancies giving it a go can try adding some of the stuff from the thread to it, or anyone whos up there can add some local knowledge (I'd give it a bash but don't have the time and shouldn't really even be online today).

Originally Posted by scuba_angel

Patchpedia? Not sure if theres a H'burgh page yet but if not some of the info on this thread would be exactly the kind of thing we're looking for on it.

Jux if you're still about fancy letting us know how you're getting on up there?

Edit to add Patchpedia page Some info but not a huge amount yet, any one who fancies giving it a go can try adding some of the stuff from the thread to it, or anyone whos up there can add some local knowledge (I'd give it a bash but don't have the time and shouldn't really even be online today).

I will give it a bash as soon as I can, I am off up there on Sunday so once I am on the internet I shall start updating patchpedia once I get some local knowledge!

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Originally Posted by scuba_angel

Patchpedia? Not sure if theres a H'burgh page yet but if not some of the info on this thread would be exactly the kind of thing we're looking for on it.

Jux if you're still about fancy letting us know how you're getting on up there?

Edit to add Patchpedia page Some info but not a huge amount yet, any one who fancies giving it a go can try adding some of the stuff from the thread to it, or anyone whos up there can add some local knowledge (I'd give it a bash but don't have the time and shouldn't really even be online today).

I will give it a bash as soon as I can, I am off up there on Sunday so once I am on the internet I shall start updating patchpedia once I get some local knowledge!

Thanks Kayleigh, the more we use and add to it the more use it will be in future, been having a play with the page for Camberley last night and don't seem to have broken it - so if I can do it am sure anyone can!

Hi kayleigh

Did you get to Helensburgh? I move in January. Hoping to meet friends quick ;o)

Hi Louby,

Yes, I moved in about 6 weeks ago

Oooo sounds good - do you know where in Helensburgh you're going to be living yet?

Hiya Kayleigh

Sorry for the late reply, I move early next month onto Colgrain where are you?

Did your wedding go well? I was up there all last week actually got snowed in ha ha.

xxx

Hi Louby. No worries!

Yes, wedding went really well thank you.

I shall PM you now.

Hi all

Just joined this site my hubby is an RM at Faslane and after much consideration we are planning on moving lock stock to MQ's can anyone let me know what they are like and the best locations to apply for. We have a LO of 4 months as well I believe there is a creche on one of the MQs

Any advice much appreciated

Cheers

Kat

Hi Kat, welcome to RP. Have a poke around the Patchpedia section. My hubby is Portsmouth-based but from the Faslane area and we still have family up there, so I know a bit about the area but not the quarters themselves. I'm sure the other RN ladies will be along soon to help!

Hi Kat, any info you need on Helensburgh give me a shout! I am married to a RM and living in Helensburgh at the moment. Yes, there is a crèche at Churchill in where the chill out group is in Churchill. There are two parts (Churchill/Colgrain) for the MQ's. I am not sure if there is a crèche in Colgrain though.

If you need any info, do give me a shout as i am here I can get you any info you need.

Oh, and welcome!