NAVY NEWS. APRIL 1991
Royal Navab4ssoeiation /ff!1!/ Commun ity GIFTS FOR THE GULF spirit alive in Gosport
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CONCEALED behind the modest facade of Gosport head' uarters, is a successful fund-raising branch, acclai.m ed locally for its work in the commitnityv and its spirit of caring. The generosity of its members (over 600 ex-sailors, Wrens and Royal Marines), results in huge sums of money raised annually for local, national and naval charities. In one year alone sufficient cash was raised to provide five guide does forthe blind named, appropriately, Jack, Jenny, Royal, Skipper and Sultan. During the past months £500 was raised for the children's cancer ward of the Royal Marsden Hospital, £750 for a similar unit at Southampton General
AT an inaugural meeting of cxnaval personnel, presided over by Shipmate Ron Tremlctt, national council member No 4 Area, it was agreed to form a St Mawgan branch. Members meet on the second Wednesday of the month at 7.30 pm, at the Airways Hotel, St Mawgan, and extend a warm welcome to new recruits. DOD
Shipmate Cecil Matthews, who held the post of secretary No 10 Area for the past 25 years, resigned at the Area annual general meeting. His loyal service won the gratitude of shipmates who, to mark his resignation, presented him with a carriage clock and a cheque made up of donations from branches throughout the area. Shipmate Matthews will continue to work for the association as a vice-president of the RNA and a life vice-president of No 10 Area. He also sits on the Charities and Welfare committee.
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Hospital, £850 for the Children in Need Appeal and a further £350 for Gosport Sea Cadet Corps, a sum donated annually. The branch7 which celebrated its golden jubilee in 1988, started life as the Royal Naval Old Comrades association with its members moving from one temporary headquarters to the next until it went under the umbrella of the RNA in 1950 and set about building its present headquarters.
Loyalty
What makes Gosport so successful is the readiness of members to support one another, regardless of rate or rank and their loyalty to their club. Presiding over them is Mrs Rita Lock, the branch chairman, ably supported by husband, Jan, who, throughout his 30 years membership of the branch, has held every office from vice-president and club secretary to standard bearer.
GOODIES galore are displayed, above, by members of Bodmin branch before being dispatched to the Gulf. A Bums Night supper, organised by Shipmates Marge Reed and Rena Roberts, raised £221 towards the cost of the items, while Shipmate Bill
Kynes raided local stores and wrote to numerous football clubs for anything they could offer. As a result six large parcels were sent to Servicemen and women in HMS Brilliant and in the mine countermeasures vessels HM ships Duiverton, Cattistock and Bicester. In addition £100 was sent to Head-
quarters for the Gulf Appeal. Pictured before the parcels were packed are, from left, Shipmates Mick Hamilton and wife, Lome, who have a son serving in HMS Brilliant, Rena Roberts, Bill Kynes, Betty Tilley and husband, Bernard. Picture: Clemens Photography.
Runners find a resting place at Shrewsbury
TO raise funds for Leukaemia Research, a team of runners from the Leander class frigate HMS Penelope took to the road covering the distance from Portsmouth to Blackpool, the ship's adopted city, and en route the 15 man team enjoyed an overnight
BRANCH NEWS
stay at Shrewsbury.
Members of Shrewsbury met the runners five miles from the town and escorted them back to Shrewsbury. The branch laid on a party in their honour with the ladies providing an iced cake bearing the crest of the Penelope. The encounter was greatly enjoyed by shipmates and visiting sailors. DOD Mr. Norman Fookes who for over 30 years was chiet sponsor of the Devonport Field Gun Team, has accepted the invitation to be president of Caerphilly branch. DOD At Yeovil annual general meeting, Shipmate Douge Farge stood down as chairman
to be replaced by Shipmate Alex Pacey. Shipmate Frank Kime took over as vice-chairman and Shipmate Tommy Cox as treasurer. As a mark of appreciation for his years of service to the branch, Shipmate Farge was presented with an inscribed salver and there was a bouquet of flowers for his wife, Vera. ODD
The newly formed Barnsley branch, affiliated with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, Fort Victoria, dedicated their standard in York Minster. The branch extends a warm welcome to prospective recruits in the area.
worth, on May 12. The parade start at the RNA Club at 1430 and following the service the salute at the march past will be taken by Flag Officer Naval Aviation Rear-Admiral Cohn Cooke-Priest. A good turn-out is expected and all are welcome.
will
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The Fleet Air Arm section of Hanworth branch are dedicating their standard at All Saints Church, Uxbridge Road, Han-
SHIPMATE HONOURED
RUMOUR has it Shipmate Dennis Abbott, of Cardiff branch, is rarely lost for words, but he was knocked speechless at a recent branch meeting when it was announced he was nominated Shipmate of the Year for his work for charity. Pictured at the presentation of the shield of honour are, from left,111 Shipmate Abbott, Shipmate Tom Davies, chairman of the national council and president No 7 Area, his daughter Mary, and Shipmate Lofty Cobbold, area chairman. The shield was presented by Shipmate Davies in honour of his late wife, Joan.
Members of Wisbech were pleased to learn that their fundraising efforts over the last year had raised almost £1,200 for naval charities. There was also a donation for Chatham Marine Cadets and almost £320 was presented to the local Sea Cadet Corps Unit to help towards the development of their new headquarters.
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