NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2009 31
Wetherby
Sheppey pays tribute
VIP day for
party get
Marshland
sea time on
Museum
River Tees
BIGGER, yet still perfectly
formed – the Marshland Maritime
Museum, according to S/M
Keith Norton, of the City of Ely
WETHERBY shipmates enjoyed a branch.
busy summer programme, starting S/M Ken was referring in
with a trip to Stockton-on-Tees particular to the red, white and
for 20 members of the branch. blue-letter day for Mike and Jo
They were hosted by the RNA Smith, who created the museum
Club in Stockton before taking at Clenchwarton, to the west of
lunch on a river cruiser along the King’s Lynn, to house Mike’s
Tees. considerable collection of Naval
Social secretary S/M Vince memorabilia.
Parks said: “Everybody enjoyed a
The size of the collection meant
fine day, a good meal and a chance
there was a need for expansion –
to get some sea time in.”
hence the gathering of 60 or so
Attention then turned to the
people representing groups such
HMS Ceres reunion, which was
as the Ganges Association, the
● Standards on parade as the village of Eastchurch, on the Isle of Sheppey, celebrates the centenary of Naval aviation
based at the Crown Hotel in
Ton Class Association, Norwich
Harrogate and included a day trip YEARS of hard work paid
the Whitstable Sea Cadet Band, the Three standard bearers stood in the salute at the arena, and after branch, King’s Lynn branch, City
to the Beamish open air museum. off when the centenary of the
FAAA national standard and RNA the churchyard, where the victims colours there was a chance to of Ely branch and the D Boats
Branch secretary S/M Richard
Fleet Air Arm was celebrated
Area 2 standard. of several early air accidents were enjoy a range of activities and Association, of which Mike is
Knight said: “Over 140 veterans
at the village of Eastchurch on
There followed some buried. entertainment, including a display president.
and their partners attended,
34 standards from various Three buglers took positions on of handling a field gun by the On cue at eight bells the Mayor
representing the WRNS and
the Isle of Sheppey.
organisations, including four ship’s top of the church tower, allowing Sheppey cadets. of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk,
male colleagues who had trained
The local parish council
association standards, representing the Last Post to carry across the The day closed with Sunset, Cllr Michael Pitcher, did the
at HMS Ceres in Wetherby prior
instigated the event five year
– among others – HMS Glory, graveyard and memorial. and with a number of individuals honours by cutting the ribbon,
to its closure in 1958, RNR
ago, and the RNA and Fleet Air
the Bulwark, Albion and Centaur As the parade moved off to the receiving presentations, including followed by “splicers and canteen
personnel from Ceres Division,
Arm Association helped develop
Association, HMS Cavalier and arena the Sheppey Sea Cadets, S/M Peter Roalfe – born and bred messing of the highest order,
HMS Sherwood, Carlton
it, taking a leading role on the
HMS Phoebe; around 60 to 80 with their field gun, took their at Eastchurch – who was given his with a superb raffle to follow,”
Barracks, Leeds and RNA
second day.
‘hands’ marched and helped to fill place at the rear – their support life membership. according to S/M Keith.
members from Wetherby and
Saturday had been about manning the church to capacity.
for the event, and that of the The success of the weekend The raffle raised more than
Harrogate.”
the Isle of Sheppey branch stall, On leaving the church the Whitstable Sea Cadet Band, was owed much to the efforts of the £800, which will be split between
Then it was time to pay tribute
but Sunday saw the Association participants moved across the much appreciated by all involved. Area 2 Parade and Ceremonial Help for Heroes and the provision
to one of their own – S/M Reg
join with the FAAA to start the ball road to the memorial where a Former Second Sea Lord Vice Officer and of the various RNA and of a new roof for his original
Maycock, who over the past ten
rolling with a church parade, led by service was held. Admiral Sir Adrian Johns took FAAA branches which helped out.
museum building.
years has held the post of secretary,
standard bearer, representative on
Wealstun Social Club and now
Spirit of the Beehive recalled
vice chairman.
President S/M Eric Drummond TWO memorials to the Coastal Forces’ part in The basin is now being filled in as part of an
presented Reg with a ship’s crest, the fight against fascism have been unveiled in expansion project.
supported by a written citation Felixstowe, home of the shore establishment HMS Almost 1,000 operations were carried out by
– and Eric added that “Reg’s Beehive from July 1940. motor torpedo boats, motor gunboats and motor
duties as standard bearer have One is at Landguard, a viewing area for shipping launches from Beehive during the war, engaging the
been a credit to the branch due using the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich, Mistley and enemy in the North Sea and Channel.
to his immaculate turn-out on all Ipswich, the other – a commemorative plaque – was Among those attending the Landguard ceremony
occasions.” dedicated within the Port of Felixstowe close to the were Antony and Robert Hitchens, sons of the celebrated
Dock Basin, the actual site of HMS Beehive. wartime MTB officer Lt Cdr Robert Hitchens.
Terry is tops
THE Hanworth branch Shipmate
of the Year award has been
presented to branch chairman
S/M Terry Lowden by No 1 Area
chairman S/M Alan Robinson.
The award reflects S/M Terry’s
service as chairman of his branch,
vice chairman of No 1 Area, branch
delegate and RNA representative ● Area 4 Chairman S/M John Stuart (centre) presented jewels of
at the return of those Service offi ce to Saltash branch president S/M Bill Dent (right) and branch
personnel killed in the Iraq and chairman S/M David ‘Tiny’ Lockwood. S/M Stuart is also a member
Afghanistan conflicts. of Saltash branch
£50 PRIZE PUZZLE
The winner of
our Wood’s 100
Old Navy Rum
prize was Mr
M Gilhespy of
Hartlepool.
He too sent
us the correct
Caribbean-
influenced
THE mystery ship in our August
answer to our
edition (right) was HMS Jamaica.
puzzle in
She featured in The Battle of
the August
the River Plate (known in the USA
edition, and
as Pursuit of the Graf Spee).
will shortly
Mr M Dyer, of Gosport,
be receiving
answered correctly, and wins our
his bottle of
£50 prize. rum and two
This month’s ship (above) was
Coupons giving the correct answer
glasses.
one of a class of six post-war will go into a prize draw to establish
ships which proved useful in later a winner.
frigate designs.
Closing date for entries is
What was her name, and can
November 13. More than one entry
you identify her sister ship, which
can be submitted, but photocopies
gave her name to the class and
cannot be accepted. Do not include
anything else in your envelope: no
shares a Yorkshire connection?
correspondence can be entered into
We have removed her pennant and no entry returned.
number from the picture. The winner will be announced
Complete the coupon and send
in our December edition. The
it to Mystery Picture, Navy News,
competition is not open to Navy
HMS Nelson, Portsmouth PO1 3HH.
News employees or their families.
MYSTERY PICTURE 176
Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
See next month’s
Prize Puzzle for
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
a chance to win
£50 or bottles
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
of Wadworth’s
Swordfish, a
My answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
five per cent ale
which blends
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wadworth 6X
and Pusser’s
Rum.
030-031_NN_oct.indd 2 15/9/09 12:43:56
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