THE MOORINGS ISSUE 56
25 October 2017
Core Values: Unity, Loyalty, Patriotism & Comradeship - Once Navy, always Navy
COUNTDOWN TO REMEMBRANCE
On Sunday 12 November, Rayleigh will again host the act of remembrance organised by Rayleigh Town Council and The Royal British Legion.
Incorporated by Royal Charter
Patron: HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION RAYLEIGH BRANCH (No.5 Area)
BRANCH CONTACTS RNArayleigh@outlook.com President:
Bob Hill
01268 780449
Chairman:
Jim Hammond
01268 414616
Vice Chairman:
Terry Barker
01268 456165
Hon. Secretary:
Gary Daisley
01268 555570
Hon. Treasurer:
Margaret Day
01702 524561
Membership Secretary:
Bill Vernon
01268 772775
Standard Bearer:
Dave Bishop
01268 770521
Welfare Officer:
Dave Mead
01702 307922
Social Secretary:
Audrey Blomfield
01268 781116
Gangway:
Mike Sandbrook
01702 801103
Padre:
Revd. Canon Mike Lodge
01268 742151
PR Officer:
Vacant
BRANCH DETAILS Bank Details: email: RNArayleigh@outlook.com HSBC Rayleigh Royal Naval Association Rayleigh Branch. A/C: 81065955 Sort Code: 40-38-24. Meeting Venue: Royal British Legion 2 London Hill, Rayleigh SS6 7HP Tel: 01268 776503 Meeting Dates: Fortnightly (see back cover). Registered Charity: Registration Number 1069148 2
Len’s story: During conversations with Len Hobbs (Rayleigh Branch life member), Len recalled that Frank Paxton was responsible for starting Rayleigh RNA. Frank had been a member of Basildon Branch before starting the branch in Rayleigh, with George Mead as Secretary. When Frank Paxton stood down as Chairman, the then Vice Chairman Len was elected to Chairman, a position that he held until stepping down in 2007 when he was replaced by S/M Bob Hill. Read more of Len’s story on page 8.
Operation Sweet Pea DVD The DVD of the 2017 Operation Sweet Pea Memorial Bench dedication on 8 August is now available to buy. Covering both the dedication service and buffet, the 36 minute DVD is priced at £8.50 per copy from S/M Jim Hammond, or can be posted to you for an additional £2.50 (cheques payable to Royal Naval Association Rayleigh Branch please).
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Extract from the Semaphore Circular November 2017. Dear Shipmates, Welcome to the November Circular, this is a bumper edition – our biggest yet with lots of branch news, Central Office dits and preparation stuff for the end of year and next year’s Conference. Now that Andy is back from leave the groan-worthy jokes are back! First off, we are all getting used to Queen Elizabeth in the Dockyard – we had our last Open Day of the year and the Shipmates got a great view of the size and look of our biggest ever warship. She sails for the second phase of build sea trials very soon and is out until early December when she is back in to commission and become HMS Queen Elizabeth. So have a look for the Open Days next year – no guarantee of course that QEZ will be in – she has her first of class flying trials and meeting up with her F35 aircraft in the USA later in the year. Most important of all, may I ask that you start to book your accommodation for the Dublin Conference. The hotel will start the release of rooms we have reserved very soon and you may miss out on being in the Conference hotel and the great deal CONA Travel has arranged. This is a very nice 4 star hotel and makes a nice ‘treat’ visit. If you would like details of B&B options that CONA Travel have arranged nearby, then email conatravelservices@justforgroups.co.uk. Their great brochure also has details of ferries etc. Can I ask you please to get cracking on other preps for Conference particularly: • Delegate registration forms. • Election forms for NCM/DNCM and SOC members. Remember the deadline for branch motions is 16 February 2018. A huge thank you to all the Shipmates who turned out for the 4
Biennial Parade. It was a great day! I have written a report for you to read what happened. The higher levels of security did not get in the way too much and the new arrangements mean we can tighten the timings next year to reduce the ‘standing time’. It was such a privilege to meet three highly decorated gallantry award holders for the dedication of our LIBOR buses. The buses are now in Base Port (like QEZ) so please book them and get them on the road – details in the circular. The National Chairman covers the CONA cruise, which I hear was made very special by a great comradely effort by Dublin Branch – BZ to them!! As we approach the season of Remembrance there are some details to take account of: • Field of Remembrance tickets are being issued now. • You must have a ticket for the Cenotaph to march – please talk to Nigel. • Don’t forget your RNA poppy pin – they have sold really well. Nigel will get them to you in time! • Standard bearers should wear the cloth beret badge, other shipmates may wear either cloth or metal beret badges. • Don’t forget that this is a great time to be commemorating a shipmate with the Jutland Wood. Details at: www.woodlandtrust.org. Nigel is looking forward to your orders for our excellent QE Christmas cards and the 2018 diary with the Royal Yacht featured. Project Semaphore - bringing digitally isolated veterans into the wonderful online world is moving along very well and this month we have seen our 400th iPad go out. The Project Manager’s report makes very encouraging reading. She is looking for dedicated volunteers for this important work to form part of her ATeam. Please send her an email if you are interested. We don’t need computer geeks (not that anyone in the RNA can be a geek), since total experts can forget how hard it is to start, so a reasonable working knowledge of Google, emails and Skype/ FaceTime is a great starter for 10. This is all about getting lonely and isolated people back in contact with friends and family and looking up old ships and shipmates. I was at a Conference this 5
week and learned that being lonely has the same health effect as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day! Please see the article about Cdr Jane Allen who is walking around the UK for Naval Charities – she may be passing your branch – she needs parking for her motorhome – water (and I suspect a tot would go down well!!) Please be in contact or through Central Office. Our beloved Hon Treasurer S/M Ray Barraclough is standing down after thirty years service in that role at the Dublin Conference. The National Council will be looking to appoint a Hon Treasurer in his place. If you would like to learn more, please give the GS a ring, or to put yourself forward please email GS with your CV and reasons for wanting to take on the role. On that subject, I have informed the National Council that I intend to retire in September 2018 after the post-Conference NC meeting. The search for a new GS will start in the New Year. Finally, the National President and the Second Sea Lord signed our new Collaboration Agreement and Charter. The Charter is new and is a one-page summary of the relationship between the Royal Navy and the RNA and is available on the website. Feel free to print and have at your meeting venue. Kindest regards from me and all at Central Office, Paul Quinn General Secretary
RNA Membership Renewal A note to remind anyone that doesn’t currently pay their RNA annual subscriptions by Direct Debit, that S/M Bill Vernon is now collecting your £14 renewal fee in time for the 2018 deadline. The 2018 validation stickers will be issued when received from HQ early in the new year. Further details and information from S/M Bill Vernon. 6
Navy News The Royal Naval Association has negotiated a 30% discount on Navy News subscriptions. The offer means that we can order a full year’s subscription of 12 issues for just £21 including postage, (normally £30 or £3.20 per copy). Further details and information from S/M Mike Sandbrook (contact details on page 2).
The voice of the fleet!
RNA BERET BADGE The RNA General Secretary has reminded us that we are permitted to wear the unofficial metal RNA beret badge. However, Standard Bearers are required to wear the official RNA cloth badge until further notice.
The “official” RNA cloth beret badge is available from the HQ website, or by calling Nigel on 02392 723747 - £8 inc. P&P. The alternative metal badge (gilt & chrome), is available from Forever-Jack.com or by calling 01207 283693 - £7.45 inc. P&P. 7
Len’s story: Nobby Clark was the Signalman on the Bridge of HMS Halstead when they took a torpedo off the coast of France and it hit the fo'c'sle, on our second escort (HMS Fernie) after D-Day. To cut a long story short, I was serving in HMS Fernie and being an escort in the same convoy, we went immediately to her assistance. Nobby had a bad head injury and likewise their Captain with I think another couple of their shipmates and after sweeping the area we went alongside and took off the badly injured stood by HMS Halstead overnight and towed her back stern-first until the tugs came out to take over. We took the badly wounded to a hospital ship. Many years later as Chairman of Rayleigh Branch, my wife and I were invited to Folkstone by Joe Darlison. On the last night of our stay as we went into dinner, they wanted to know what ships I served on during the WW2 and naturally I wrote down HMS Fernie. Before I had sat down for dinner Nobby came rushing over to me asking if I was on HMS Fernie on the day in question and as I answered yes Nobby immediately grabbed my hand saying 'You saved my life'. From that day we became firm friends and shipmates and both Joe and Nobby eventually joined the Normandy Veterans Branch at Southend.
Rayleigh shipmates and best of friends Nobby Clark (left) & Len Hobbs at the 70th Normandy Veteran’s reunion - Juno Beach, Normandy in 2014. . 8
We also benefitted greatly from having our very own tour guide S/M Ray Fenn who is a volunteer guide at IWM Duxford. He gave a very informative talk on the history of IWM Duxford and then went on to impart his vast knowledge of the various exhibits on display throughout the site. There were 18 shipmates in our group and we all thoroughly enjoyed the day. For many of us it was a trip down memory lane as S/M Cliff Severn worked on the guns of some of the Fleet Air Arm aircraft. S/M Les Holyome had flown in a Sunderland like the one on display and S/M Mike Sandbrook was reunited with a Mk6 Sea King helicopter from his time served on 814 NAS. This was the third visit organised by S/M Mike Sandbrook this year. The location of the next visit is yet to be decided, so if you think of a place that our members would like to visit, let S/M Mike Sandbrook know.
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E ER 2 C I CTOVEMB A R 8N L P DAY
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Guess Who? Can anyone put a name to this young WW2 Matelot? As a clue, our mystery man served on a Tank Landing Craft converted to fire rockets at land-based targets during D-Day. There aren’t any prizes for guessing correctly, it’s just for fun! The answer will be published in the next issue of The Moorings. Last issue’s Guess Who was Shipmate Tom Hurley.
Holding the fort Shipmate Bill Vernon was left to hold the fort as everyone else headed to the London Cenotaph Biennial Parade on 10 September. Following a last minute invitation from Rayleigh’s RBL Club, we had just a few days to pull together a display and marketing materials for the Branch and its activities. Although the stand was to remain unmanned for the day, the London Hill RBL club Open Day was heralded as a success, with dozens of visitors sampling the delights of various events and activities enjoyed by club members throughout the day. We wait to see if Bill’s efforts bear any fruit. Thanks for stepping up Bill. 10
Diary Dates
HIGH STREET POPPY SALES Wednesday 8 November 2017 S/M Ray Fenn and his team will be in Rayleigh High Street selling RBL Poppies
Remembrance pre-meeting Saturday 11 November 2017 5:30pm Holy Trinity Church Briefing for Marshals & wreath layers
Remembrance Parade & Service Sunday 12 November 2017 Muster: Websters Way car park 09:30 Service: Holy Trinity Church 10:00-10:15 start
TURKEY & TINSEL 27 November - 1 December 2017 A festive Christmas break to the Isle of Wight. Details from S/M Margaret Day.
RNA Rayleigh Christmas Social Wednesday 6 December 2017 Enjoy letting your hair down and spending the evening with StarStruck Disco.
UCKERS TOURNAMENT Saturday 16 December 2017 (10:30 - 16:30) £5.00 entry. Contact S/M Gary Daisley. 11
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