NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2007
29
ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION
Funding boost for Veterans Day cities
SHORTLY before Christmas, representatives from 15 UK cities gathered in Birmingham to hear the Veterans Minister Derek Twigg announce plans to mark the second national Veterans Day on June 17 2007. The Minister pledged to 10,000 to each provide up to of 15 'flagship' cities which are invited to draw up plans to mark Veterans Day. The events will focus on engaging the local community, particularly young people. The MOD will continue to support smaller community events around the UK, many of which will be linked to the 25th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict. The 15 flagship cities are: London, Newcastle, Hull, Leeds, Blackpool, Birmingham, Nottingham, Norwich, Southend, Portsmouth, Weymouth, Plymouth, Cardiff, Dundee and Pontypass in Northern Ireland.
Busy time in Cornwall
MEMBERS of Redruth and Camborne branch and their two branch standard bearers were kept busy throughout November attending commemorative and Remembrance and parades wreath-laying ceremonies in a number of venues. As guests of the Camborne Conservative Club, they attended a veterans evening which included a parade of standards followed by entertainment and an excellent raffle. They also attended the layingup of the Penzance standard in Madron Church. The branch has sadly closed due to a decrease in membership.
.. --------------------------------------------------------------------._ -- -move to rompey Never too HQ study recommenus move A STUDY into the location of the Association's headquarters has resulted in a recommendation to move to Portsmouth. The National Council had directed General Secretary Cdr Paddy McClurg to analyse the HQ in Chelsea, and he concluded that the premises and the location were inappropriate. With a much smaller RN presence in London, a base in the capital was becoming less and less attractive. The HQ consists of an adapted flat in
a shared building; the five small rooms all interconnect (reducing privacy) and the largest meeting room can only cater for nine people, meaning outside venues had to be hired. With rudimentary IT facilities and no training rooms or storage space for RNA-linked merchandise, as well as higher costs associated with London, S/M McClurg's report came up with a wish list for accommodation and locations. Among the locations considered were
Leith, Birkenhead, Chatham, Portland and Plymouth, but all failed on at least one criteria, leaving Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard as the recommended choice, with the sale of the Chelsea lease helping to fund any move. New premises would probably provide a reception area, a meeting/training facility, an information centre, a retail sales outlet and office accommodation. A Relocation Working Group has been set up to take a relocation plan forward.
Bernard is VIP guest of Royals
A SINGULAR honour was conferred on 88-year-old S/M Bernard Hallas PM, secretary of the York branch.
He was invited by Col Paul Denning RM, Commanding Officer of the Fleet Protection Group RM at Faslane, for a threeday visit and attendance at their Remembrance service. The visit, instigated by the Group's chaplain, the Rev Mike Hill, surpassed S/M Bernard's wildest expectations. In keeping with the status conferred on him, he was met on arrival by a Royal Marines staff car, taken to the Group's reception centre, introduced to the officers and later ensconced in a three-room apartment in the Officers' Quarters. During the following days, with the Rev Mike Hill by his side, he was granted permission by Maj John Dowd RM, OC of Fardrum Squadron, to go 'inside the wire' and meet Royal Marines of the Rapid Support Group. Members of this specialist force eat, sleep and relax with their weapons by their sides, and can secure an area within seconds.
On the invitation of the Commanding Officer of HMS Vengeance, he had a tour of a Trident submarine which S/M Bernard said was "like entering another world". Later, placed in the Cox'n's seat of a ten-seater inflatable, he traversed the loch at a high rate of knots. Throughout his stay, former Cpl Bernard Hallas RM dined daily in the Mess Wardroom, toured various sections of the base and met Marines of all ranks. On thefinal day, feeling reluctant to return home, he attended the Remembrance Service of the FPGRM and gave a short talk on the past, and how it was when he joined the Corps. The final evening was given over to a celebration organised by the 'Seniors', where he was feted like a king, and showered with gifts, including a framed photo of his first detachment parade, a photo of his first ship in 1936, and a framed colour photo of HMS Warspite, the second love of Bernard's life. S/M Hallas says his visit to Faslane will stay with him for the rest of his life.
Ramsgate twins with Dutch group
He thanked Lt Col Mark Maddock Rlv1 for his farewell gift of an FPGRM plaque, Rev Michael Hill RN for never leaving his side, and the Royal Marines for the welcome and hospitality extended to him. S/M Hallas ran away from home and enlisted in the Royal Marines in 1935. Following training he joined HMS Resolution as a gunner on the massive l5in turrets and served on contraband control around Spanish waters during the Civil War. During World War 2 he was posted to the Flagship of the Mediterranean, HMS Warspite, serving more than four years aboard her. For his service in the Royal Marines, which took him around the world twice, he boasts a chestful of service medals.
THE PLYMOUTH branch annual dinner dance, held in the WOs and CPOs' Mess of HMS Drake, was a stylish and enjoyable occasion. Guests included Lord Mayor ClIr Michael Fletcher, Mayoress Mrs Sally Cresswell, Association Chairman S/M David White and his wife Monica, and branch president Cdre Simon Lister. Following a superb meal and the traditional toasts, S/M Eric Rattle was honoured with life membership in of his recognition long service to the branch. Members and guests then danced to music by Le Band. Chairman S/M Bob Palmer thanked all who had contributed to the success of the evening, especially social secretary Sue Gutteridge and her committee and her husband Arthur, the branch secretary, and to the Sea cadets of TS Golden Hind, as well as Mess President S/M Harry Hooper for the use of the excellent venue.
IT IS never too late, as S/M George Fleming, secretary of the Ireland branch of the National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association (NMBVA) confirms,
to apply to the Medals Office of the MOD for Service medals. It was 42 years before he sent in an application and, having proved his eligibility, he has received the GSM (Borneo) and the NGSM (Brunei). Having convinced Philip Price, a fellow shipmate who served with him in HMS Lincoln in the Far East, to apply for the medals which are due to him, Philip has now - 43 years on - received the same medals as George. He is also due a third - the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) medal - when the Malaysian High Commission visits Belfast to present this medal to other veterans.
In a Pickle
THE PICKLE Night held annually in Gibraltar is regarded as one of the Navy's foremost celebrations, and this year it fell to the Royal Naval contingent of DCSA to organise. The event was presided over by Mess President WO 1 Brian Parry (OC DCSA Gibraltar CDA). The Mess was transformed into HMS Pickle by a team of volunteers led by W01 David Walker - and the result was fantastic. The ship's company and guests enjoyed an evening of excellent food, music by the Rooke Volunteer Band, more than a little Naval theatre and excellent speeches.
NAVY NEWS 2007 CALENDAR
From the icy Antarctic to the sizzling tropics: The Navy Worldwide" is the theme of the 2007 Navy News calendar. Full colour photographs of ships, submarines, helicopters and hovercrafts are featured against a variety of stunning and atmospheric global locations. Each of the photographs is accompanied by a table of interesting facts and figures.
THE TWINNING of Ramsgate branch with that of the Zeeland branch of the (AVOM) Netherlands was a happy occasion for shipmates, who welcomed a party of 24 Dutch sailors to the ceremony. Friendships forged will be renewed when members of the branch visit their Dutch oppos in the near future. S/M Peter Fox was invited to London to receive his Veterans badge from the Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingrain. Peter, who served in the Navy from 1962 to 1985, saw service in numerous vessels, including HM Ships Alderney, Ocelot, Orpheus, Enterprise, Endurance and Hydra.
-NAWNEWS
£149
Concerns are voiced over Haslar remains
Manchester branch member S/M John Donnelly is concerned about the closure of St Luke's Church and the Royal Hospital Haslar, and what may happen to the caskets containing the ashes of the men and women who died in the service of their country which are held there. They are, he believes, deserving of a proper and fitting RN burial, and to ensure that the remains of these men and women are treated in a proper and dignified way a list of all the caskets containing their ashes should be made available. If the ashes of a family member, or someone known to you, are still in the crypt of the church, please ring the Haslar Chaplaincy on 023 9276 2266 as soon as possible.
Dinner is delight for Plymouth
late for a medal
£4.49
EU & 0/S
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NORTH
" From left: S/Ms Arthur Norman, Brian Webster and Peter Johnson - Peter, the secretary of the Derby branch of the Submariners Association, was acting RPO to ensure no sleight of hand between measure and glass - a thankless task
Late news of Trafalgar
BETTER late than never comes this report on the Derby branch gala Trafalgar dinner, enjoyed by 132 shipmates and their wives. The guests of honour included the Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr John and Mrs Pamela Ahern, and Rear Admiral Sir David Haslam, the branch president. Mess president was S/M Len Owen, a member of the branch
and national chairman of the Fleet Air Arm Association and chairman of Derby FAA Association, whose guest was Cdr Bill Dean RN, Commander Joint Force Harrier at RAE Cottesmore, who proposed the toast to the Immortal Memory. S/MTom Smith, branch chairman, proposed the Loyal Toast. Cadets fromTS Kenya provided the piping party.
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