NAVY NEWS, MARCH 2008 31
Sods Opera
THE chairman of Southport
Pair celebrate RN’s
Different
aids research
bearing for
competition
branch, S/M Noel Williams,
DUE to circumstances beyond the
presented a cheque for £600 to
RNA’s control, arrangements for
Maggie Blanks of the Pancreatic
Cancer Research Fund in
Southport Town Hall.
Maggie, the founder of the fund,
Maltese heritage
the National Standard Bearer’s
competition have been changed.
The contest will now take place
on Saturday June 7 at the Royal
visited members of the association
Engineers Gymnasium, Chatham,
to pass on her personal thanks.
starting at 10am.
Little is known about pancreatic
The weekend programme will
cancer, and Maggie is determined
begin at 8pm on Friday June 6 with
to raise awareness and money for
Now 82, during the war John village of Xghajra, a bone-shaking capital ships.
a get-together at the Pembroke
research. Information is available
A NUMBER of shipmates
was a teenaged schoolboy, and he 30-minute bus ride from Valletta. “A visit to this collection is a
Suite of the King Charles Hotel.
at www.pcrf.org.uk
from the Norwich branch
recounted his memories of living This is the lifetime’s work of must for any ex-RN group, or
The gym should be available for
Southport shipmates raised the
visited Malta to renew their
through the siege. another man who is totally in indeed individuals, visiting Malta.
practice on the Saturday morning,
money at their Trafalgar Night
He also has an expert knowledge love with the Royal Navy and its “It is, however, a private
with the competition itself taking
dinner and at a social night with a
ties with the George Cross
of the part played by the Royal Maltese connections. collection in a private home, and
place at 2pm. A social event and
Sods Opera provided by Crosby island, having served there
Navy, and is not only able to The collection is quite viewing is by appointment, but a
awards evening is also planned.
branch members, a fun evening
at some time in their naval
name all the ships which served in remarkable, according to the warm welcome is assured.
On Sunday, at 10.45am, there
bringing back happy memories.
the Mediterranean, but also their visitors. “Victor has also indicated that
will be a parade to the Chatham
For information on the
careers.
commanding officers. “Victor Wickman was well he is continually on the look-out
Naval Memorial for an 11am
Crosby Sods Opera team contact
During the course of their
John has an encyclopaedic known and closely associated with for Royal Navy memorabilia with
service, followed by a buffet lunch.
DaveTollerton at dave_tollerton@
stay they met John Mizzi,
btinternet.com one-time editor of the Times
knowledge of the war in general, Lord Mountbatten, and was with a Maltese connection.
For competition enquiries
contact S/M Alan Robinson on
of Malta, and now of a bi-
but in particular the North African him a few days prior to his tragic “If any branch has any items
Friends of Vidal
campaign and Maltese convoys. death in Ireland,” said S/M Brian
then the Wickman Collection is a
07813 910479, and for all other
monthly publication, Malta at
He is known personally to two Fuller, Area 5 PRO.
safe resting place.” enquiries contact S/M Bill Murray
THE 2008 reunion of the Friends
Wa r .
Norwich shipmates, and other “He has many items of
To contact John Mizzi, email on 01634 304973 or email him at
of HMS Vidal will be held at
On one evening John joined the
members felt he would be a Mountbatten memorabilia,
jam2@maltanet.net and for bill.murray@blueyonder.co.uk
the Burlington Palm Hotel, Great
Norwich contingent for dinner,
fascinating guest speaker to other including personal family items.
Victor Wickman telephone (00 Entries must be with S/M
Yarmouth, on September 6.
after which they adjourned to a
ex-RN groups who visit the island. “There is also the binnacle from
356) 21 69 02 54. Robinson by May 10.
Contact David Parker, 28 The room where he spoke to them for As well as John, the shipmates HMS Magpie which was delivered
Sanctuary, Green Lane, Morden, two hours without notes about visited the home and private
to the museum courtesy of the
Surrey CM4 5NX, telephone how the island fared during World maritime museum of Victor
Duke of Edinburgh.
0208 648 0160, for full details. War 2. Wickman which is situated in the
“The downstairs part of the
collection is mainly commercial
shipping, with many large-scale
models.
“There is a complete wardrobe
of Admirals’ uniforms donated by
Flag Officers who served in Malta.
“Upstairs, in what he describes
as the Royal Navy Room, are
many items of RN memorabilia,
much of which has been donated
by senior officers now retired, and
there is a large library.
“RN cap tallies are displayed ● Vic and Linda Taylor, formerly of Plymouth, present a painting of
under headings ‘Destroyer’, HMS Ark Royal to the chairman of Eastern Cyprus branch, S/M
‘Cruiser’ etc. Eric Hirst, and vice chairman S/M Trevor Moulden at an ex-pats’
“Also spotted were a cap tally evening. The painting will adorn shields engraved with details of
from the German warship Graf any member who crosses the bar. The shield shown above was for
Spee, and from other German former chairman S/M Peter Hill, who died last October
● HANWORTH shipmates staged their annual Sods Opera, raising a total of £1,500 for Age Concern,
Breast Cancer, Parkinsons and the Hanworth Club. The branch also hosted a visit by Whitstable branch,
who brought a coach-load of members along for the fun. Funds from the latest Sods Opera, pictured
above in full swing, bring the total raised since 2002 to almost £10,800.
The Royal Naval Association
££50 PRIZE PUZZLE50 PRIZE PUZZLE
Once Navy Always Navy
Unity, Loyalty, Patriotism and Comradeship
Who can join?
• Full Members
Serving and Ex-Service members of
RN, RM, QARNNS, WRNS, Reserves
RFA and RNXS
• Associate members
Others in sympathy with our objects
especially families
THE mystery ship in our
What does the
January edition (right) was HMS
● S/M Harold Chalkley
Fleetwood.
Association do?
The £50 prize-winning entry We:
came from Mr P Cooter, of
Cheshunt • Support the Royal Navy
Frimley in Surrey.
This month’s vessel was
• Maintain Naval traditions
engaged on official duties in
go into a prize draw to establish a
• Enjoy social activities
the Goodwin Sands area when
winner.
founder
pictured above.
Closing date for entries is April
• Re-unite shipmates
She was the first of a class of
11. More than one entry can be
submitted, but photocopies cannot
dies at 84 • Remember the fallen
three, built at Cowes on the Isle
be accepted. Do not include
of Wight around 50 years ago. anything else in your envelope: no
• Help the disabled
A FOUNDER member of the
Can you name her? The right correspondence can be entered into
Cheshunt branch has died at the • Look after the needy
answers could win you £50.
and no entry returned.
age of 84.
Complete the coupon and send
The winner will be announced in • Cheer up the distressed
it to Mystery Picture, Navy News, our May edition. The competition is
S/M Harold Chalkley had been
HMS Nelson, Portsmouth PO1 3HH. not open to Navy News employees
president of the branch since 1996, • Stand together in unity
Coupons giving correct answers will or their families.
and was also president of the local
Sea Cadet unit TS Intrepid until
he moved five years ago. How to join
MYSTERY PICTURE 157 Harold suffered from Parkinsons
Disease, and moved from his
Write to RNA HQ
home in Cheshunt to Suffolk, to 82 Chelsea Manor Street
Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . be cared for by his daughters.
As well as branch RNA duties
London SW3 5QJ
and his links with the Sea Cadets, Tel: 020 7352 6764
Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S/M Chalkley was a long-term
Area and National representative
Fax: 020 7352 7385
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . for the Association, was a member
www.royal-naval-association.co.uk
of the Royal British Legion and
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . supported the RNLI.
He was also a member of the
Haverhill branch.
My answer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S/M Chalkley died in hospital
following a fall at home.
0030-031_NN_Mar.indd 230-031_NN_Mar.indd 2 118/2/08 13:22:238/2/08 13:22:23
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