30 NAVY NEWS, JULY 2010


‘Listen and learn from


sailors of today’


WITH membership remaining a problematic issue, National Chairman S/M David White spoke to delegates and observers on the subject of the MOU. “Areas and branches need to


work hard on our part of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Royal Navy with a view to signalling to the serving Navy they need to do likewise in order to match our endeavours,” he said.


“As we try to improve our


profile, we must also show interest in, and learn more about, our Navy. “It is important to remember while there are shipmates with good recollections of conflicts past, that over the past 20 years, most of those serving in the Navy today also have experiences of their own. “So while we talk of those challenging times in the past, in the hope of enlightening them, let us be prepared to listen, and learn, from those serving today.” S/M Jeremy Owens, chairman of the Standing Orders Committee, confirmed that there were 69 delegates at the start of business – that reduced to 66 after the lunch break – and 80 observers. Honorary Treasurer S/M


Ray Barraclough told delegates that the main source of income remained subscriptions, which had – as expected – fallen from £201,000 in 2008 to £192,000 in 2009, in part down to the demise of 15 branches. He added that “there was a disappointing decrease in £2,800 over the 2008 figure in the level of tax reclaimed through the Gift Aid scheme,” and reminded delegates that the National Council still strongly recommends the scheme to all members who pay any tax. There was some good news,


however, in the announcement of a net surplus of over £83,000 – although the operational deficit of the Association (expenditure over income) was £117,000, net movement in other reserves, including legacies, was nearly £106,000 and the unrealised gain on investments was £94,400 as a result of a “rewarding year” for the RNA’s investments. There was a also a vote of thanks to Brooms Professional Services Ltd for their help with data input and hands-on training for new recruits – much of the extra work provided at no extra cost to the Association.


l National standard bearer S/M Bob Coburn and FAMMAC standard bearer Jacques Jouve on duty at the National Conference in Ouistreham


4 is the number for top recruiting


l Outgoing General Secretary S/M Paddy McClurg (right) hands over to S/M Paul Quinn on the beach at Ouistreham on June 6 following the National Conference in Normandy. In the background is the graduation ceremony for French commandos from the L’Orient school, who remember their comrades amongst the first ashore 66 years ago. RNA National President S/M John McAnally inspected the French troops and made presentations


Conference picture: S/M Nigel Huxtable


OUISTREHAM 2010 saw a number of significant farewells as some of the big hitters left


Stalwarts draw a line in the sand


the field of play. Archdeacon the Ven John


Green, Chaplain of the Fleet, said although it was his last Conference, the RNA would still have a part to play in his life. S/M David


White stood


down as National Chairman at end of Conference after nearly 20 years as member for 4 Area, Vice Chairman and National Chairman, during which time he enjoyed strong support from his wife Monica. National President S/M John McAnally said: “I owe David a great debt personally for all the support, advice and comradeship he has given me.


“He has made a huge


contribution to our association, recognised by the award of the MBE last year, and his calm nature


and wise counsel will be missed.” A new National Chairman will be elected in September. And it was also time for General Secretary S/M Paddy McClurg to call it a day – and, as S/M David White said: “Now, what shall we do about Paddy? “Paddy retires as General Secretary on Sunday afternoon with the objective, as he puts it, to drink himself into insensibility – which I am sure he doesn’t really mean.


“This will be after a wonderful


contribution to our association, and really playing a major part in helping it get back on its feet.” Later in proceedings, National Vice Chairman S/M Chris Dovey remarked to S/M White that “it is certainly time to let the old bugger go.” S/M Dovey also noted that


the outgoing General Secretary had “set the trend for the future,


because this new guy Paul Quinn is exactly the same size and shape...” Conference saw S/M Paddy on


his way with a framed letter from Buckingham Palace announcing that the Queen was pleased to be kept informed of matters at RNA HQ, and that she sent warm good wishes.


S/M David White described


how S/M Paddy had done an “immense amount of work” for the RNA since being initially taken on as an executive assistant on a fixed-term consultancy contract to carry out a study of the association’s management processes and procedures. He was then invited by the


National Council to implement his recommendations – a standard business practice, it was pointed out – and he made the most decisive contribution to a vibrant future for the Association. It was also noted by S/M Dovey


l Veterans – including members of the RNA – and the general public pay their respects at the Landing Craft Memorial at Ouistreham ferry port. The event was one of several attended by officials, delegates and observers over the Conference period. The main, official events included a battlefield tour on Saturday June 5, followed by an Act of Remembrance in Caen, and a ceremony at the 4 Commando Memorial before all gathered at the ferry port. Other members attended smaller-scale events, such as that at Hermanville-sur-Mer (see opposite). For non-delegates who did not wish to sit through the Conference there was a visit to Bayeux, courtesy of FAMMAC


IN his keynote speech, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope underlined the importance he places on the Association in terms of spreading the RN message. “Your understanding of where your Navy is going is important to me, and to the Navy Board, because I seek, and we seek, your support in getting across to others the fundamental importance of maintaining globally-deployed, operationally capable maritime forces,” he told delegates and observers. The admiral said that there were currently 900 sailors and Royal Marines fighting in Afghanistan – ten per cent of the UK’s armed forces contributing to that land campaign. And this time next year, with 3 Cdo Brigade as lead brigade, 3,500 members of the Naval Service – or ten per cent of “our people” and one-third of the total UK contribution – will be in Afghanistan. In addition, 1,500 Naval personnel were helping protect trade and security and promote stability in the Middle East, and there are considerable Naval presences in the Caribbean, South Atlantic, and around our own home shores, not fogetting the submarine-based UK national nuclear deterrent. As an example of the work done, the First Sea Lord told delegates that last year HMS Iron


Duke seized more illegal drugs than the UK combined police, customs and enforcement agencies. There was also a task group to the West Atlantic – task groups being “inherently flexible and very powerful, giving to the Government considerable choice in choosing how to respond to any developing crisis.” He observed that “warfighting is our benchmark; utility and agility are what I call our hallmarks.”


And he urged shipmates to guard against “the tyranny of pessimism” about the future of the Navy; “maritime power and economic growth go hand-in-hand,” he said. The Navy has new Type 45 destroyers and Astute-class submarines, and the new carriers are on track, he said – £1.5bn has already been spent on them, and 10,000 people in the UK are employed in building them. “The people in your Navy have the same qualities, the same commitment, the same professionalism, the same grit and the same determination that all of you had when you joined the Navy – yes, society is slightly different; yes, we have to deliver in a slightly different way, but, ladies and gentlemen, they are quality, absolutely quality, and they will deliver the grit and determination to do what


NUMBER 4 area once again proved the most adept at recruiting full members, retaining the Sword of Honour for 2009 which it won at Londonderry last year. And Plymouth branch made it a double for No 4 Area by taking the Brigg’s Dirk award for recruitment by large branches. The Brigg’s Rose Bowl award for small branches went to Nottingham. The Overseas certificate for large branches was won for the second year running by Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, while Natal in South Africa took the honours for overseas small branches. And No 4 Area also retained


the Tasker Bowl, presented to the area which achieves most Gift Aid returns. Two other special awards were made before delegates got down to business. One was made to Jacques Jouve


that he had contributed fully to the RNA’s charitable work, and also participated in branch events all over the UK, “usually entirely at his own expense.” S/Ms White and Dovey, warming to their stand-up routine, also expressed their appreciation for the support given by S/M Paddy’s wife Kate.


In his reply, S/M Paddy said it had been an interesting third career, but he now felt he had taken the Association as far as he could, and “what it needs now is a young chap, vibrant, keen, ignorant of the facts ... and we’ve found one – an old respected colleague, and you couldn’t get a better one.” He finished by echoing the last


words written by Capt Robert Falcon Scott in his diary as he faced death in the Antarctic: “For God’s sake, look after our people, because that’s what we are about, that’s what we are here for.”


of the Fédération des Association de Marins et de Marins Anciens Combattants (FAMMAC) – the nearest French equivalent to the RNA – who played a major role in helping to organise the conference on his home patch, and who carried a FAMMAC standard at ceremonies during Conference and the weekend’s ceremonies. The other was a Golden Jubilee


certificate, presented to National Council member and National Welfare Adviser S/M Rita Lock, marking 50 years of continuous membership of the RNA.


Too generous!


A COLLECTION was held during the Conference dinner for the RN Benevolent Trust – and proved so lucrative that an extra receptacle had to be sought. The


‘Inform the nation about our Navy’


proved too modest, and a sizeable bag was also filled, to the delight of RNBT representatives.


original collecting tin


this country needs of them should they be called upon to do so.


“I am hugely proud of being the First Sea


Lord, but by golly am I proud of the people I command.” Of the Navy in the future, against a backdrop of economic woes, the Admiral said “warships and nuclear submarines don’t come cheap, but they offer unmatched versatility, agility and capability, and, of course, once commissioned, they are relatively cheap to run and serve our nation for decades.” He also said there would be more effort in conflict prevention in the future – again, putting a premium on maritime forces out there in the world, “doing what navies do,” reassuring friends and deterring potential aggressors. In conclusion, the Admiral said: “Your


Association, and you, the shipmates in it, have an important part to play in informing the national debate about armed forces and, of course, the maritime contribution therein. “True, the Senior Service never shouts, it


whispers, but when hundreds of whispers come together in pubs and clubs and societies and meetings around the world, especially in the United Kingdom, and when you come together and pass on the message to your colleagues, then they can have a profound effect.”


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