The Moorings, Issue #61

THE MOORINGS ISSUE 61

24 January 2018

Core Values: Unity, Loyalty, Patriotism & Comradeship - Once Navy, always Navy

HEADS-UP! IT’S AGM SEASON

Rayleigh Branch’s AGM in 2017 with the Top Table in full flow L to R: SM’s Dave Bishop, Margaret Day, Jim Hammond & Gary Daisley.

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

Crossed the Bar It is our sad duty to report that Shipmate Tony Belford crossed the bar on 8 January 2018. Tony was a full member of the RNA, having joined Rayleigh Branch in 2011.

Tony’s funeral service will be at St. Nicholas Church, Long Road, Canvey at 11:00 on 2 February, followed by a cremation at Pitsea Crematorium at 12:40. The wake will be held at the Canvey Conservative Club.

Rayleigh Branch Shipmate Dave Mead has requested Standard Bearers from RNA Rayleigh and Basildon, together with the Royal British Legion.

Cutty Sark visit update Shipmate Mike Sandbrook informs us of the following changes to details for the branch visit to Greenwich on Thursday 22 February.

Our day out starts with the Cutty Sark where S/M Mike Sandbrook will obtain tickets and then we will have tea or coffee in the café (the cost of this is not included in the ticket) before starting our tour which will be unguided and at your own pace.

Once everyone has completed their tour of the Cutty Sark we will meet in the café area and then set off towards the National Maritime Museum which is a short 0.3 mile walk.

On the way we pass the Royal Naval College (painted ceilings) and the Greenwich Market (on Thursday it will be antique and collector stalls). At this point the group may separate as required.

There are many restaurants and cafés in and around the market area so this will be an ideal place for lunch, although you can bring your own packed lunch if you prefer.

As there are 150 stalls in the market the intention is to split up and make our own way to the National Maritime Museum and spend the rest of the afternoon looking at the many exhibits on display. The coach will pick us up outside the museum for our return journey at 16:30 (4.30pm).

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Although wheelchairs are provided at the Cutty Sark and National Maritime Museum free of charge, we will be walking the short distance between the two sites and visiting the market, therefore we may need to provide our own wheelchairs. I can provide one and we may be able to source another within the branch. Please let S/M Mike Sandbrook know if you need one.

The first pick up will be 08:30 at Rayleigh Weir, 08:40 at the Royal British Legion and then if required Trafford house (Basildon).

The cost of the visit including entry to the Cutty Sark (National Maritime Museum is free) and coach will be approximately £27 each. As always, the more members that go on the visit the cheaper the coach will be, so feel free to invite family members or friends. Names and payment for those wanting to attend are to be given to S/M Mike Sandbrook as soon as possible so that the right size coach can be booked.

Royal Navy Rugby Union Navy v RAF 2018 Match Tickets Friday 20 April 2018 The Twickenham Stoop Standard Ticket Prices: Adult £10.00 | Child £5.00 Tickets available from the online shop at www.royalnavyrugby.co.uk or by calling 02392 816255

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St. George’s Day Parade Shipmate Tony Reekie has been hot on the trail finding out about this year’s parade with our friends at the Naval & Military Club in Southend and the Royal Society of Saint George.

I can now confirm that there will NOT be a parade for St. George's Day. Sadly, like a lot of organisations, the membership is continuing to dwindle, also Verina Weaver's husband is experiencing ill health, so she is unable to organise a parade. She said that last year's parade was such a success, she “wanted to go out on a high.”

I can also tell you that this year's Battle of Britain Parade, commemorating the Centenary of the Royal Air Force, (16 September, to be confirmed), will be the last to be held in Southend at St. John's Church. Next year they are planning to hold a comparatively low key affair at St. Lawrence Church, which is the little old Church at the end of the runway at Southend Airport.

The Saint George’s Day Parade and church service in Southend has been previously well attended by Rayleigh Branch members, as seen here in 2017 with Shipmates Terry Barker, Tony Reekie, Jim Hammond, Dave Bishop, Gary Daisley and Phil Edwards.

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Rayleigh Branch Annual Mess Dinner Saturday 28 July 2018 Last year’s Annual Mess Dinner was a very successful event with 90 people attending, not only from our own branch but also from Dagenham, Romford and Southend. The feedback received from all those who attended was very positive: this year we aim to make the event just as good. The Jubilee Suite at Saxon Hall is being used once again as the venue, as it was felt that the service given fully met our expectations.

As always, priority will be given to our own Branch members first.

The tickets for this event will therefore be on sale to our members, including guests they wish to accompany them, from 21 February until 4 April 2018 (Menu/booking forms will be given out from 24 Jan 2018). After this date tickets will then be offered to other Branches. We would ask you to ensure that you book early to avoid disappointment, as seats may not be available at a later date.

Once again the Saxon Hall will provide us with a menu of three choices for each course. The wine list for pre-ordered wine will be available, showing that the 2017 prices have been maintained.

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The Mess Dinner Working Group want to make this event as accessible as possible to all our members and their guests by keeping the costs down. Last year tickets were ÂŁ40 each and we have looked to keep the price the same this year. In order to achieve this and in accordance with the vote held on Wednesday 10 Jan 2018 proceeds from the Christmas Social Raffle and the monies raised at the RNA Rayleigh Annual Auction Night will be allocated to the Mess Dinner Fund.

As last year, we would ask that you make your own way to the Saxon Hall. However, if you cannot make your own arrangements and need a taxi, you will need to give your name to S/M Mike Sandbrook. He will then collate a list of names and addresses and then liaise with the taxi company with details of those needing pickups and returns. This will ensure that all will get the cheapest fare to and from the venue. Please do not leave this until the last minute as once the taxi service has been booked it cannot be changed and you will then need to make your own arrangements.

More information will be given nearer the time, but if you have any questions please see one of the Mess Dinner Working Group 7

S/M Chairman Jim Hammond, S/M Mike Sandbrook, S/M Cherry Ablitt and S/M Joan Crick. However, we would ask that you put this date in your diaries, now please.

Yours Aye, Mike Sandbrook

Shipmate Hon.Treasurer Margaret Day at the 2017 Mess Dinner - CHEERS!.

Whilst on the subject of the Mess Dinner, Rayleigh Branch has now bought its very own House Flag. A copy of the RNA ‘Branch Standard’ which bears the Rayleigh name and which we are able to use as a decoration to adorn the venue of future meetings and events.

The new ‘House Flag’ made its inaugural appearance adorning the top table at the first branch meeting of 2018 on 10 January.

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Rayleigh Branch Annual General Meeting Wednesday 7 February 2018 This year’s AGM will follow the tried and tested format of previous years, where each of the committee members presents their annual reports to the meeting for approval.

In addition to the usual ‘Birthday tot’, it’ll be well worth turning up to support your branch candidates being nominated and elected to fill the following positions: ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒

Chairman Hon. Treasurer Membership Secretary Minutes Secretary Public Relations Officer

Committee positions are automatically subject to a staggered reelection every two years to prevent a huge hole forming on the top table at any given time. From time to time however, it is necessary to depart from the bi-annual elections in order to accommodate personal circumstances. Such is the case this year with S/M Audrey Blomfield who is to step down as Social Secretary and S/M Mike Sandbrook as Gangway Bosun.

Nominations for any of the above positions will be accepted up to and including on the day of the AGM. If uncontested, a candidate will automatically assume the committee position, but will expect to receive a vote of confidence in a show of hands from the floor.

If there are multiple nominations for a given position, the Secretary will immediately call for a vote to be taken. The ballot will take place in accordance with the rules and constitution of the RNA in accordance with the Royal Charter.

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No.5 Area AGM & Quarterly Meeting The AGM and Quarterly meeting for No.5 Area is to be held on Saturday 3 February at 2pm at the Southend RNA Club, 73-79 East Street, Southend.

For anyone who’s not yet been to one of the Area meetings, I thoroughly recommend taking a couple of hours to see how business is handled at Area level.

In addition to the usual Area business and end-of-year round up, they will also be holding elections for Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. Nominations for these positions should have been submitted no later that 16 January, so it’s too late if you fancied any of the positions this time around. Our branch Delegate (S/M Terry Barker) will keep us abreast of updates as they develop.

In addition, RNA Rayleigh will host the Area meeting on 3 November later this year at the RBL Hall in London Hill, Rayleigh.

If you are unable to get to the February meeting in Southend, please show your support for our branch by attending to November meeting.

The Area Quarterly Meeting in Stowmarket in 2017, with (L to R) S/M Secretary Paulette Rose, Chairman Tim Jarvis, National Council Member Jim Hammond and Welfare Advisor Graham Dunnill-Gosling.

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Diary Dates

Branch Visit: Cutty Sark & Maritime Museum Thursday 22 February 2018 Greenwich, London.

HMS MTB667 Memorial Service Sunday 4 March 2018 All Saints Church, Brightlingsea.

Mess Deck Supper Friday 16 March 2018 (8pm) S/M Audrey Blomfield.

D St. George’s DayEParade L L E C

Sunday 21 April 2018 Naval & Military Club, Southend-on-Sea.

N CA

St. George’s Day Dance Saturday 21 April 2018 Basildon RNA - S/M Audrey Blomfield

RNA v RBL Darts Match Friday 4 May 2018 S/Ms Dave Bishop & Dave Harding

Rayleigh Trinity Fair Sunday 10th June 2018 High Street, Rayleigh 11

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