32 NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2007
Destroyer
team visits
Farnham closes down
Memorial
plaque
namesake
moved
– but Beccles thrives
A MEMORIAL plaque to
A PARTY from HMS York, led
merchant seamen killed in action
by Commanding Officer Cdr Tim
during World War 2 is to be moved
Cryar, paid a visit to their ship’s
to its natural home.
namesake city – and managed to
The Prince of Wales Sea
find time in a busy programme to
Training School (PWSTS)
visit members of the York branch.
plaque, listing 83 PWSTS old boys
The 19-strong team presented
THE decommissioning
Admiral John McAnally, Admiral birthday of the Beccles branch, treasurer and George Gator took
who died, went to the Seafarers
a cheque for £1,380 to staff at of the Farnham branch
Sir Derek Reffell, president of the second largest in the Area, with on the role of secretary.
Centre in Dover when the school
Applefields School, decorated a
and the laying-up of its
No 3 Area, and Lady Reffell, the a growing membership including In due course they were joined
closed in 1975.
community centre and did some
Mayors of Waverley and Farnham, many serving personnel. by S/Ms Richard Ling, Ron
Now the PWSTS Society has
gardening at a primary school.
standard in the local parish and the only surviving founder The active Beccles branch was Andrews, Maggie Capps and
permission to transfer the plaque
As well as meeting civic heads
church of St Andrew was a
member of the branch, S/M launched by S/M George Gator Frank Sparham.
back to Ingham, where it was first
and dignitaries, the RN team also
sad occasion.
George Parker. on putting his telephone number Today S.M Ling is branch located at the school in 1946.
spliced the mainbrace at the RNA.
That was particularly the
Following the service, the parade, in the local press. president, S/M Frank Sparham A dedication service will take
PR Officer Bernard Hallas (not
led by the National Standard and He was contacted by S/Ms Tony is standard bearer, and the only
case for the last three members
place on Sunday May 20 at Holy
branch secretary, as we reported
that of No 3 Area, accompanied Moore, Taff Davis, George Oxby, other founding member to actively Trinity Church in Ingham, and a
in our February edition) said: “It
of the branch, who had the
by some 15 branch standards Stan Lawrence, Hughy Aldred support the branch is S/M Ron commemorative plaque will also
is not an overstatement to say
solemn task of shutting up
plus other ex-Service associations, and Percy Kent. Andrew. be unveiled at Ingham Old Hall.
that the traditional visit, passed
shop and closing the door. paraded to the Town Hall, to music The fledgling branch met From this modest beginning All PWSTS boys, members
on from previous captains and
In tribute to this once-flourishing by the band of TS Swiftsure. unofficially in November 1981, the branch has grown in strength of the RN and other seafaring
representatives of HMS York’s crew,
branch and the contribution it After the parade, shipmates and with Percy Kent the only surviving and can now boast at almost 150 organisations are invited to attend.
has endeared the ship’s company to
made in the local community, there guests attended a reception in the founder member today. members from all over East Anglia, See
www.pwsts.org.uk for
the citizens of the city of York.” was a big turn-out of shipmates, Liberal Club. Members signed the
many of them still serving. information, or call 01980 676256.
One of the previous COs of the their standards and friends at the As the curtain fell on the Commissioning Certificate in
destroyer, the popular Cdr Paul decommissioning service. Farnham branch, preparations March 1982; S/M Tony Moore
Porter, has accepted an invitation Those present included the were under way in No 5 Area became the first president of the
to be the president of the branch. President of the RNA, Vice for the celebration of the 25th branch, George Oxby the first
Aden
veterans
lay plans
A GROUP representing Aden
Keep up to date
veterans in the West Country
● Members of the West Country Association of RN Writers gathered
are raising funds to help
for their annual reunion dinner at HMS Drake – and mourned the
mark the 40th anniversary
with news from
passing of their title
of the withdrawal of troops
from the Protectorate.
The British arrived in 1839,
Writing the last
£50 PRIZE PUZZLE
RNA branches
fighting pirates attacking
ships bound for India.
The port later developed as
around the world
an important coaling station,
following the bloody Aden
Emergency, UK forces pulled
out in November 1967.
page of history
Available at your local newsagent
Members of the South
and selected supermarkets,
West Branch of the Aden
THERE have been Writers in the changed to ‘L’ with ‘PERS’ below
Veterans Association are
Navy for 140 years – but now, the star.
or subscribe with us and receive
organising these events:
no more, reports Graham Jewell, A Writer is now a Logistics
your copy by post ‘hot off the press’
Sunday Aug 11: A memorial marina
Archivist of the West Country (Personnel) and, after a number of
service in Exeter Cathedral
Association of RN Writers. changes, what used to be the S&S
Thursday Nov 29:marina
Originally recruited to write out School (the College of Knowledge
Take advantage of
Dedicating a memorial stone in
fair copies of the scrawls of officers’ by many) now operates under
the Garden of Remembrance
reports, it soon became apparent the grand title of the Defence
our offer exclusively for
on Plymouth Hoe
that these men were capable of Maritime Logistics School.
Saturday Dec 8: Holding marina
far more demanding work, and To mourn the passing of the
new RNA subscribers
a memorial and dedication
were soon keeping accounts and ancient title, ex-Chief Writer
dinner at Honiton.
records. Jewell proposed the last formal
An appeal to raise £5,460
When branch badges were toast of ‘The Writer Branch’ at
for these events is halfway
introduced in 1890, Writers wore their annual reunion dinner in the
One Year’s Subscription
there, and further donations
a plain six-pointed star. WO&SR Mess at HMS Drake last
will be gratefully received.
This lasted until 1932, when a month.
Contact Martin Musgrave
‘W’ was inserted into the centre With so many changes of title
£17.50
on 01752 550365 or at email
of the star. on the Lower Deck over the
uk
martin.mus5@tiscali.co.uk
Now, 75 years later, the letter is past few decades, one wonders if
£21.50
officers may one day be required
Former president dies
to standardise their titles.
Overseas
Instead of the Arabic-derived
(Normal price £20.50 UK & £24.50 Overseas)
title of Admiral, revert to ‘General-
Please phone for details of Airmail prices
MEMBERS of Kingston-upon- (Ops) East Atlantic area, SBNO
at-Sea’, as used in Cromwell’s
Thames branch are mourning the South Africa, RN War College,
Commonwealth Navy…
023 9273 4448
loss of their former president, Rear Senior Officer, War Course 1976
Admiral William Dunbar-Cook, and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff
subscriptions@navynews.co.uk
who was honoured with Life Vice (Ops).
Worth the wait
Presidency in 1997. S/M Bill was subsequently IF IT took 46 years and the
When ordering
S/M Bill joined the Royal Navy Director of Fundraising, Royal Internet to organise a reunion of
at the former HMS Worcester Star and Garter Home, Richmond, former shipmates of HMS Alert
please quote RNA06 in 1940 and went on to serve between 1984 and 1986, and (1958-60), it was worth the wait
in HM ships Mull of Kintyre, President of Age Concern, as it proved a great success.
Indomitable, Barrosa, Venus, Dido Haslemere from 1990. Ex-ship’s company will find a
and Norfolk. He crossed the bar on January warm welcome awaiting them from
Before retiring from the Navy 26 at the age of 85. Roy Harfield, Jack Hind, Gabby
in 1975, he served as SO(O) to Secretary Gordon Tucker said Hayes, Frank Burton, Johno
Flag Officer 5 Cruiser Squadron that not only was S/M Bill a Johnson,Taff Jenkins and Dodger
and 2i/c Far East Station, HMS “very special person to us all” but Long if they were to contact
Belfast, Naval Staff, Plans Div, that he also exemplified the term Dodger on 01323 891389, email
Admiralty, Assistant Chief of Staff “officer and a gentleman.”
davlev@talktalk.net
032-033_NN_apr.indd 1 16/3/07 10:52:44 032-033_NN_apr.indd 2 16/3/07 10:53:22
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61