30 NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2009
Spanish
Men of Renown gather in Plymouth
branch
A GROUP of veterans from the included a coach trip to Bodmin
only battlecruiser to see action in Moor and as usual ex-Royal
and survive both world wars were S/M Don Ligertwood decorated
cruises
reunited in Plymouth to remember the Commonwealth suite in the
their fallen shipmates. Holiday Inn, and entertained
Members of the HMS Renown veterans on two evenings with
the Med
Association, many over 90 years World War 2 music, including his
old, gathered in warm sunshine on George Formby act in air raid
the Hoe to lay wreaths. warden’s uniform.
MEMBERS of Torrevieja branch
The occasion was the 70th The success of the weekend
enjoyed an autumn cruise in the
anniversary of the recommissioning has prompted S/M John Roche
Mediterranean.
of the ship for duty in World War to reconsider his plan to end the
The party voyaged from
2 and attracted some 60 people, annual reunion – despite the ages
Valencia, 100 miles north of
including family members and of some members, many well into
their home city, to France, Italy,
guests of the veterans. their 90s, he said although the
Sardinia and Minorca on a trip
The service, at the city’s Royal writing was on the wall it would
organised by S/M Gerry England,
Naval Memorial, was conducted be business as usual for the time
the branch social secretary.
by chairman John Roche (86). being.
Members and their wives
“It is always a lovely occasion Renown, completed in 1916,
enjoyed magnificent weather as
and we remember all the shipmates was extensively refitted in the late
they visited various historical
who were lost at sea,” said S/M 1930s and served off Norway, in
sites.
John, who spent more than five the Med and on Russian convoys
Several port visits brought back
years on the 32,000-ton warship prior to 1943.
memories of various runs ashore
during World War 2. In that year she carried Churchill
● Margaret Green and Rose Southworth, the niece of a Renown
during their time with the Grey
“It was a very happy ship – she from the Quebec Conference back
veteran, with members of the Renown Association at the Royal
Funnel Line, although on this
always had a good crew on board.” to the UK, and she ended the war
Naval Memorial on Plymouth Hoe
occasion the members behaved
This year’s reunion also in Far Eastern waters.
with a little more decorum than
they may have done when they
went ashore in rig decades ago.
Shipmates honour
● S/M Maurice Hobbs
Shortly after they returned, the
branch held its annual Trafalgar
Night buffet and dance.
And as Navy News went to
Maurice is
press, the branch was preparing
to hold an auction in aid of Help
for Heroes at their November
meeting.
This year’s Christmas party, in
the form of a dinner and dance,
will be on December 12.
Immortal Memory
Freeman of
City of Ely
AT a magnificent ceremony in
Ely Cathedral S/M Maurice
Hobbs, life vice president of the
EX-NAVAL associations
City of Ely branch, was made an
the first time at Brightlingsea
in Derbyshire staged a busy
Honorary Freeman of the City.
branch’s Trafalgar Day dinner.
To date only two others have
programme of events for the Secretary S/M Ron Underwood
been so honoured.
week around Trafalgar Day.
produced an RNA Trafalgar
Maurice, delighted to have
On October 21 itself a
Medal which, he said, would be
Joyce, his wife, and his son Richard
service was held at the Trafalgar
given annually to the shipmate
with him, along with 27 other
200 Memorial, on the banks
who had contributed most to the
relatives, commented that Sunday
of the Derwent, which also
branch over the preceding 12
lunch was a tad expensive...
commemorates all those from the
months.
He was supported by several
county who lost their lives at sea.
The recipient was a surprised S/M
shipmates from the branch, which
S/M Tom Smith, Derby branch
Vreda Goouge, wife of the branch
he helped to establish some 22
chairman, took the parade, S/M Baz
chairman, whose admin skills have
years ago.
Bowyer, Submariners Association
“contributed immeasurably to the
Maurice who was a telegraphist
(Derbyshire) chairman, was in
smooth running of the branch.”
air gunner, was a great friend of
charge of standards, Adrian Harper
A raffle and donation at the
Les Sayer, another TAG who died
(RMA) played the Last Post and S/M
event, attended by some 50
last year.
Ralph Eales, RMA (Derbyshire)
● Northwich branch’s fi nal Trafalgar Dinner shipmates, realised the sum of
Shipmates know they can
president, led the Naval Prayer.
£200 for the RNBT.
S/M Len Owen, chairman of the
FAA Association (Derbyshire),
Northwich closes down
always count on Maurice to lend
Cheshunt members joined
a hand – including branch Sods
with shipmates from other
Operas, where his supreme role
laid a wreath on behalf of the
branches to celebrate Nelson’s
was ‘Michelle of the Resistance’.
Derby contingent of the RNA,
NORTHWICH and District members have held their final Trafalgar
victory with a messdeck supper,
while Margaret Allen laid a wreath
Dinner – when you read this the branch will be no more.
followed by a special service at
for her husband, killed in HMS
The final dinner was attended by 18 members and their guests,
Trinity church.
● Former Sgt George Francis,
Argonaut in the Falklands.
and the branch formally disbanded soon after, as it had insufficient
The service was taken by
Coach fi rm
who served in HMS Eagle 1938-41
and on D-Day landing craft as a
Almost 180 shipmates sat down
members to fill all the necessary roles of officers.
Cheshunt’s padre, Rev Jane Dicker,
cox’n, is seen preparing to tackle
for the Trafalgar Dinner, while Sea
Members gave the branch standard a final outing at remembrance
while S/Ms George and Steve
his 90th birthday cake at the
Cadets from TS Kenya performed
services in Northwich and Weaverham, and it was due to be
Duke took part in the service.
helps veterans
Mount Maunganui Retired and
the Colours ceremony and
handed over to the Middlewich, Northwich and Winsford Sea
York and District branch
NATIONAL Express laid on a
Services’ Association (RSA).
provided a pipe and side party.
Cadets for safekeeping as Navy News went to press.
invited RNA deputy president
fleet of coaches to convey D-Day
Mt Maunganui is a resort on the
The room was dressed overall
S/M Doug Shingler thanked members, past and present, for their
S/M Adrian Nance and his
veterans to London for what could
Bay of Plenty in New Zealand, but
with White Ensigns for the
friendship and support during his five years as branch chairman
wife Barbara to their Trafalgar
be their last official service of
George and his late wife Edna, an
occasion and two superb model
and 18 years as a member.
Dinner, and both were presented
ships – HMS Victory and HMS
with engraved spirit glasses as
remembrance.
ex-Wren, fi rst moved to Australia
Eagle, complete with air squadron,
mementos of the event.
Coaches collected more than
in 1949 before crossing the
S/M Noyes then gave an battle and mused on some of
made by S/M Tony Ferne of Derby
York Sea Cadet drummers
700 veterans, all aged over 80,
Tasman Sea four years later.
overview of Britain and England in the difficulties Nelson would have
branch – took centre stage.
performed mess beating to
from 20 locations and took them,
The Cyprus branch Trafalgar
the latter half of the 18th century, faced under modern health and welcome guests, who were given
free of charge, to Westminster
Local hero
Night dinner, held at the Club
which neatly set the stage for Col safety regimes. an insight into the Battle of
Abbey.
Aphrodite in Erimi, attracted
Trevor Brewster’s fine speech on The CO of Ceres Division HMS Trafalgar through readings taken
Peter Hodge, general secretary
HASTINGS chairman S/M Alan
almost 50 shipmates and guests,
the significance of Trafalgar and Sherwood – the former training from ships’ logs.
of the Normandy Veterans
Kemp has hit the headlines – or at
Market Harborough branch
Association, said: “We are so
including branch president S/M
on Nelson’s character. establishment HMS Ceres was
least featured in his local paper.
welcomed CINCFLEET Admiral
grateful to National Express
Sir Edward du Cann and Mrs
Sir Edward was presented with based at Wetherby – also outlined
The former telegraphist with
Sir Trevor Soar and his wife Lady
for stepping in to help our
Maureen Wynne-Hope.
copies of two books, A Life One the role of the RNR in current
the SBS in the Aegean during
Soar as guests of honour to their
members reach the last official
World War 2 was the subject of
Chairman S/M Andrew Noyes
Up on the Ocean Wave by Charles military operations.
formal dinner, attended by 60
commemoration of D-Day.
a Hastings Heroes feature in the
read out a message from honorary
Saxby and The Crossing, which was Wolverhampton branch held
members and their guests.
“The special coach services
Hastings and St Leonards Observer,
life vice president S/M Nobby
given to the guest of honour by an enjoyable Trafalgar Night
Admiral Soar outlined events meant members could travel
talking of his wartime duties –
Hall, who told of his determination
the authoress, Faith Mortimer. dinner at The Lindens.
leading up to the battle before comfortably to Westminster Abbey
and a narrow escape from the to hold a proper Trafalgar Night
Back in the UK, Wetherby Shipmates and families were
proposing the Toast to the as a group, without worrying about
Gestapo on an occupied Greek dinner in the Turks and Caicos
branch welcomed guest of honour joined by a party of officers and
Immortal Memory. travel expenses or connections.”
island when, in a café with his Islands this year and mentioned
Lt Cdr John Northcott RNR to cadets from TS Newfoundland,
Greek comrades, he laid his head his success in persuading the
their Trafalgar Night dinner. named after the ship adopted by
on a table to pretend he was drunk Governor to propose the Immortal
Lt Cdr Northcott spoke of the Wolverhampton in 1942.
to avoid being questioned. Memory.
respect between all parties at the A new award was presented for
● September 12 1949 saw 184 15- and 16-year-olds join HMS
Fisgard as Series 7 Artifi cer Apprentices. Over the years many stayed
in contact, although some rather faded from the scene. However,
memories were refreshed when 36 of the original group, together
with various ‘minders’, met in Bristol to celebrate 60 years at a
‘Diamond Do’ weekend. Much swinging of the lamp was conducted,
and recollections of absent friends recounted, with all coming to the
conclusion that they really were the Magnifi cent Seven...
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