28 NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2009
Plans to
Norwich veterans
Only one
finish are
discount
premature
site has
A GROUP of shipmates gathered
for one last hurrah – but had such
a good time that they decided
MOD’s
there was still plenty of petrol in
the tank. enlist frigate’s help
The men of HMS Ulster’s
approval
1958-60 commission staged what
was billed as their 50th and final NORWICH shipmates have
board Northumberland, has been “We visit the schools frequently Northumberland is female – I
reunion last October. taken their campaign to raise
‘detailed’ to liaise directly with and, on the last visit, the children believe some 30 in all – which of
HAVE you paid or considered
The rationale behind the
awareness of veterans a step
two nominated teachers at the were able to point directly to course is extremely interesting to
paying a subscription for an
decision was that the organiser,
further.
school (I have to say both female, points on the map and discuss the girls we speak to.
eligibility card in order to gain
as the second youngest aboard
young and attractive!) to whom the features of the area without “The First Sea Lord is fully
access to discounts?
In our November edition we
the “unique” commission, had
he submits weekly emails couched prompting. aware of our visits and has written
Please be aware that any ID
told how members of the branch
reached his 67th year and felt that
in a language that the children “This interesting way to learn to the head teachers of both
card you have or may receive as a
felt that Veterans Awareness Day
older and more senior shipmates
readily understand. about the subject has been picked schools thanking them for their
result of subscribing to unofficial
in the city “did anything but create
would be content to call it a day.
“This, then, provides a unique, up by the local education authority support.
discount websites is unlikely to
awareness”, a point which they
How wrong he was!
absorbing and interesting and our visits are now part of the “There are schools that do not
be accepted as adequate proof of
relayed back to the MOD Veterans
All attendees had such a good
geography lesson and, indeed, a curriculum. welcome our talks and we have
ID by the companies operating
Policy Unit.
time at the weekend reunion that a
lesson in modern history. “The children are living the experienced one or two who have
through the official Ministry of
Taking the initiative themselves,
unanimous decision was made to
“The children follow the route dream, feel they are part of the declined the offer of our team of
Defence discount scheme.
the East Anglian shipmates formed
stage another reunion in October
of the ship on the world map and ship and are experiencing first- speakers.
In other words, there is no need
a team of speakers prepared to go
this year.
deal with the geography of the hand what life is like on board one “However, on the plus side
to pay for discounts as the MOD
into schools to tell the youngsters
HMS Ulster created an unbeaten
ports visited and the area the ship of Her Majesty’s ships. we have been invited to several
scheme is totally free to access.
how it was – and how it is.
record in 1959 when at the lake
is operating in. “Also, part of the crew of schools for next term.”
As valid proof of identity there
It prompted one 11-year-
head of Lake Superior in Canada
are three things that companies
old to observe that, contrary to
during the official opening of the
look for:
expectation, “not all veterans are
St Lawrence Seaway, a system of
marina An official Forces ID card;
old and confused, a lot are young
canals which opened up the Great
A Veterans badge – see an marina
and fit.”
lakes to larger seagoing vessels.
example of these by going to www.
According to branch secretary
The Commanding Officer of
veterans-uk.info/vets_badge/
S/M Ken Baish: “We now take
Ulster, Cdr Cameron Rusby,
vets_badge.htm
part in their World War 2 history
signalled the Admiralty claiming
A Certificate of Eligibility;
lessons and use speakers who
marina
these can only be downloaded
the world altitude record for a actually created the history.”
from www.forcesdiscounts-
British warship as the Type 15 But the forward-thinking
mod.co.uk
frigate was 600ft above sea level shipmates did not rest there.
There is only one military
and some 2,000 miles inland. Two schools which supported
discount website which is officially
the branch from the outset – the
Group still alert
endorsed by the MOD, and that
Sir Thomas More Catholic Junior
is www.forcesdiscounts-mod.
School and Costessey Junior
after 50 years
co.uk
School, both in Norwich – have
No other website is allowed
each been given a large-scale
to use the –mod suffix in their
DECEMBER 15 1958 saw the
laminated wall map of the world.
web address, and you will not be
start of a new commission on
But that is just a start.
asked to pay a subscription for
board HMS Alert in Singapore.
“The current Commanding
registering on this website.
Fifty years on to the day, a group
Officer of HMS Northumberland
The scheme was established
of old shipmates from the despatch
is Cdr Martin Simpson, who is
for regulars, reserves, veterans,
vessel celebrated the anniversary
a member of our branch and
cadets, MOD civil servants and
with a Christmas dinner and the
has agreed to ‘adopt’ these two
their families, and gives the
obligatory Up Spirits.
schools, sending them frequent
opportunity for savings on many
The shipmates are still
emails which describe in great
everyday purchases.
looking for colleagues from that
detail and with accompanying
National companies provide
commission, so if you served on
photographs the ship’s journey,
special discounts and savings for
board between 1958 and 1960 let
places visited and any incident the
the Defence community in areas
them know they are not the sole
ship becomes involved in,” said
such as finance, health and fitness,
survivors – contact Dave Long
S/M Ken. ● The Karen Clarke Dancers and veterans organisations’ standard bearers fl ank the Surrey Army cadets
Corps of Drums at Woking Town Square for the launch of the Poppy Appeal at the end of last year
holidays, theme parks, attractions,
on davlev30@talktalk.net or call
“In addition, Lt James Taylor,
days out, home and garden,
01323 891389.
one of the two helicopter pilots on
computers, phones, insurance,
motoring, sport and outdoors.
New memorial to
(Thirty) grand effort by Woking
Deals are updated daily, and
more than 1,000 discounts and
special deals are available.
SHIPMATES at the Woking Cadets’ Corps of Drums and The drummers then staged
Penelope victims
Newsletters featuring savings
branch raised a grand total of dancers from the Karen Clarke a display, followed by a
updates and competitions are sent
£30,300 between the Poppy School of Dancing. performance of modern dance
to members monthly.
Day launch and Remembrance Launching the appeal, Cllr from the Karen Clarke troupe.
And a new section of the
A NEW war memorial dedicated did the service proud by parading
Sunday last year. Ankers reminded the gathered To close the ceremony the
website is being rolled out over
to the men who died when the
standards.
The tremendous effort by the crowds of the tremendous help spotlight moved on to the
the next few months, providing an
cruiser HMS Penelope was sunk
Members then went back to the
Woking shipmates was boosted and support given to British veterans, who marched behind
opportunity for businesses close to
in the Mediterranean has been
Home Club where they were met
by the local Army Cadet Corps, Service personnel and their the standard bearers.
defence establishments to provide
dedicated in St Ann’s Church in
by another survivor, S/M Albert
which raked in £1,000 on the families by the Legion. Many returned to the Town
and promote special discounts for
Portsmouth Naval Base.
day of the launch. He went on to say, bearing Square for the Remembrance
Martin, and his wife Pauline –
the defence community.
The ship had left Naples and
That day centred on the Town in mind the great debt owed to Sunday parade, led by the
their daughter had brought them
If you would like a copy of
was heading for Anzio at over
Square and an official ceremony the Armed Forces in two world British Airways Band, and
the Defence Discount Directory
25 knots when she was struck
down from Basildon to spend a
attended by the Mayor of wars and subsequent conflicts shipmates were also out in
and do not receive one through
by torpedoes fired by U410 on
few hours with Albert’s mates.
Woking, Cllr Peter Ankers. – especially now in Iraq and force at the War Memorial in the
the normal channels call SP Pol
February 18 1944.
Thanks were due to Mike
He was greeted by standard Afghanistan – people should square on Armistice Day, when
Pay and Allowances on 0207 807
More than 400 men, including
Noonan who organised the bearers from veterans try to give generously, in spite they were joined by Duty Watch
0016.
her CO Capt G D Belben, were
weekend. associations, the Surrey Army of economic strictures. of the Woking Fire Brigade.
lost with her, while more than 200
Bright spark
survived.
The names of the victims of
the sinking were read out by
Brook lookers, ale tasters and shipmates
wins bulbs
Association vice president David
A COMPETITION to identify a
Belben and S/M Mike Noonan,
MEMBERS of Warwick branch Criminal justice is no longer part Alongside him is S/M Derek behaviour – are no longer needed.
naval signal at the Orkney branch
watched by two survivors, S/Ms
take their civic duties seriously – of its remit, but the advisory role Fletcher, Sergeant at Mace The title of brook looker, for
Christmas dinner did not carry
Bob Freeman and Reg Taylor.
especially the three who sit on the persists in the shape of a group of and Beadle for the Court (and example, just about describes the
with it the prize one might have
A new plaque was approved
jury of the city’s Court Leet. people who have particular areas of secretary of the Warwick branch of job of the person who had to
expected.
at the association’s last AGM in
The court dates back to the responsibility, depending on their the RNA for good measure).
check that sewage was not choking
Chairman S/M Dave Hughes
Blackpool, as the original one was
middle of the 16th Century, when local knowledge and contribution And S/M Terry Gardner fulfils
sewage streams as they made their
had Alpha Delta Two Eight
incorrect and incomplete.
it dispensed summary justice and to the life of the city. the role of Yeoman in the Court.
way to the Thames.
hoisted, and S/M Fred Johnston
S/M Leo Whisstock and the attended to matters of concern to S/M Roger Higgins is one of These days the Court meets
The ale taster had, on the face of
correctly identified it as ‘splice the
standard bearer from the Royal townspeople for the improvement these 24 jurors, revelling in the quarterly, and some of the old
it, one of the worst jobs around –
mainbrace.’
Marines Association in Portsmouth of Warwick as a whole. title Herald/ Leet. skills – as denoted by their titles or
ensuring the quality of ale coming
into Warwick was sufficiently high,
But there was no extra tot of
as well as in sufficient quantities.
rum for S/M Fred – his prize was
He had colleagues who did
six high-quality low-energy light
similar jobs with meat and fish. bulbs as the branch pursues a
Members of the Court still green policy.
ensure ales meet the required A raffle organised by treasurer
standards, presenting certificates S/M Daran Brown raised almost
to all who do so. £100 for branch funds.
Party time after solemnities
AFTER a busy Remembrance period for the standard bearers and
members of Redruth and Camborne branch their December meeting
was a chance to let their hair down.
November had seen attendances at Penryn, Falmouth, Redruth,
Illogan, Pool, Portreath and Camborne, including a parade and social
event at Camborne Conservative Club.
The December gathering, at Redruth Royal British Legion, saw an
excellent turn-out of members, and after a short meeting they enjoyed
a bring-and-share supper – plenty of party food, accompanied by the
usual Up Spirits.
Instead of handing Christmas cards to each other, members were
invited to make a donation to Help for Heroes.
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