The Moorings, Issue #68

THE MOORINGS ISSUE 68

AUGUST 2018

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

PORTSMOUTH BOUND

Rayleigh Branch members enjoying the sunshine and a trip on the oggin during their visit to Portsmouth Dockyard and RNA Central Office.

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:

Joan Crick

01268 741303

Membership Secretary:

Bill Vernon

01268 772775

Standard Bearer:

Dave Bishop

01268 770521

Welfare Officer:

Dave Mead

01702 307922

Social Secretary:

Mike Sandbrook

01702 801103

Padre:

Rev. David Oxtoby

01268 971814

BRANCH DETAILS Bank Details: HSBC Rayleigh

email: RNArayleigh@outlook.com

Royal Naval Association Rayleigh Branch Account number & sort code from Hon. Treasurer.

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

Message from Mike: Dear Shipmates, Please be aware that I am cancelling the visit to WW1 Battlefields next year. This visit was only in the planning stage but having discussed it with a number of members, the majority had either already been, or are no longer in a position to go either financially or physically.

Also, our social programme next year is likely to be a busy one, so I need to focus on what can actually be provided.

If anyone does want to go I can provide a Ledger Battlefields magazine that covers all tours.

Mike Sandbrook

Crossed the bar: It is with deep sadness that we report the sad loss of former Rayleigh Branch S/M Larry Kettley.

Larry was for many years a strong member of the branch. It was only in later years that he was unable to attend. He will certainly be missed by all that knew him.

We received notification from Larry’s daughter Anne, that her father had served on a Minesweeper in the Royal Naval Patrol Service at Dover during the second World War. He had been well looked after in a local Care Home, but died peacefully in his sleep on 13 July at the age of 93. A life well lived.

Larry’s cremation and Service of Celebration will be held on 9 August.

More details available from S/M Dave Mead (Welfare Officer).

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Extract from the Semaphore Circular August 2018 Dear Shipmates, Welcome to the August Semaphore Circular. It’s 33 degrees today and the MoD has just started the steam heating for Winter (only joking). The HMS QE is giving summer leave at present, ready to deploy at the end of August to Westlant to do the first fixed wing flying trials. It is very noticeable how much busier the Dockyard is when the QE is in, mostly with contractors. Work has now started in earnest on the Victory Jetty which will be the second carrier jetty for when Prince of Wales and QE are in at the same time. Work has been stopped for some eels, but when the jelly arrives they can get on with it.

During this work, access by car to Semaphore Tower is more difficult.

Thank you so very much for the marvellous stories from Armed Forces Day, very impressive setups and great to see a £250 grant being used to such good effect. A great big Bravo Zulu for those who gave their time.

The Lamp Light of Peace parade is now in an advanced state of planning. Our National Chair, Keith Ridley will speak at Westminster Abbey on the evening of 4 August (18:20) with the Chaplain of the Fleet saying the Naval Prayer. Warrant Officer Paul Jackson will accept the LLOP on behalf of the RN and RNA. The LLOP arrives by sea at 11:00 at the Historic Dockyard, finger jetty and an honour guard of RNA will accompany it to the Jutland 100 exhibition hall, where there will be a short ceremony. The LLOP will then be taken to the museum and the 4-inch gun of HMS LANCE, that fired the first shot, at sea, of the First World War, 104 years to the day since that fateful shot. Standard bearers, RNA and RN are then invited for tea/coffee/pastries/tot at the Princess Royal Gallery, courtesy of the National Museum of the RN, with complementary day tickets given to those who would like them (doesn’t cover Mary Rose).

If you are interested, please send Andy an email – he will be 4

Parade Commander on the day. We’ll need to know the numbers, to ensure that the Museum has enough rum!!!

After Portsmouth the LLOP goes to the Chapel at Sandhurst on 29 August.

Bits and pieces: • There is a very important announcement about tickets for Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph – this is the 100th anniversary of the Armistice, so demand will be high, get you bid in asap.

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You might be interested to know that work on the Vets ID card is proceeding apace, happy to brief informally, but we hope for an announcement soon.

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Shipmate Gareth Booth has now started work as the Branch Recruitment and Retention Advisor (BRRA), he lives in 7 Area.

He will be looking for Area contacts and branches who think they know how good recruiting is done.

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The NC is looking to co-opt a fourth member of the Standing Orders Committee. If you are interested, please contact GS. The SOC are responsible for the Governance issues of Conference and are vital to protect and defend the democratic systems we have.

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We do not, currently, have DNCM for 1, 4 or 5 Areas. The NC is seeking nominations from those Areas by 3 September 18.

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Our previous General Secretary, Paddy McLurg has agreed to write a history of the RNA. If you have anything that you think might help him, please pass to me and I’ll give it to him. He is presently working through the annual conference minutes since 1947!

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Mike Gray (ex-editor of Navy News) is our Digital Communications Manager. Please pass stories for FB or website etc to him at mike@royalnavalassoc.com

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You may see a new article for ‘A thousand good deeds a Day’ if you have an example of something that your branch has done, please let us have it. We need to blow our trumpet! You are brilliant and the world needs to know!

We are now well into the summer leave period with Nigel off on

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Cadet leadership training courses all over the country and routine summer leave for the rest of Central Office staff. Please be patient if we are a little slower in answering the phones or getting back to you on your other questions.

Best wishes from the Central Office staff Paul Quinn General Secretary

Operation Sweet Pea: Gardening detail update

Shipmate Iain Hendry reported that “all is fine at the memorial venue, with much less to do compared with last year. Peter and Fran Theobald who own ‘The Living Memorial’ at Rettendon, have planted out much hardier plants which are well spaced out.

The lack of rain has kept the weeds down and unless we get a lot of rain, I will not need any work parties in August.”

Iain made his report whilst sitting on the Frank Paxton memorial bench, under the shelter in a very calm setting listening to TalkSport radio. Alright for some, eh?

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Annual Sea Service: A very warm welcome was extended to all and sundry at the parade and service on Sunday 15 July at RNA Maidstone.

Everyone sweltered in the heat and a wonderful buffet was provided at the end of the parade. The bar staff at the club worked tirelessly to help quench the thirsts of the participants.

The day concluded with the Sunset ceremony and an inspection of the troops by Vice Admiral McAnally.

Words by Tony Reekie Photos by Brian Ryan

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HM Dockyard Portsmouth and RNA Central Office visit : 28-29 June 2018 Our first day started with an early minibus pickup for the journey down to Portsmouth. We had a few delays on the M25, arriving approximately 11:00 and were met by SM Bob Jones from RNA Portsmouth who works as a guide on HMS Warrior. After obtaining our day tickets we boarded HMS Warrior and were greeted with complimentary tea/coffee and biscuits while Bob Jones spun a few dits on the history of HMS Warrior. We then had a guided tour of the ship whilst Bob told us some very interesting facts about the Warrior such as; she never actually saw action and although she went a long way to making sailing ships redundant as she had both engines and sail, she soon became obsolete herself due to the fast inventions and changes in ship design at the time.

On completion of our tour on HMS Warrior, we entered the public areas of HM Dockyard Portsmouth and bomb-bursted in all directions so everyone could see the attractions they wanted to see; HMS Victory, the Mary Rose, M33, Action Stations and the Museum. We all met back at the minibus at 15:00 to travel to our accommodation.

Some of our group stayed in the Royal Maritime Club, whilst the remainder stayed in the Warrant Officers and Senior Rates Mess HMS Nelson. Both groups made the most of the evening but 8

surprisingly all ended up in the bar area where many dits were spun into the night.

On the second day we arrived at Semaphore Tower at 11:00 and we were greeted by the RNA Central Office team with tea/coffee and sandwiches whilst introductions were made. We then received a brief on the current state and achievements of the RNA from General Secretary (GS) Paul Quinn. We were then

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invited to take a boat tour around the dockyard areas. The boat tour was very enjoyable as the weather was very warm and the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth was alongside and stole the show as the star attraction for many. GS Paul Quinn gave us a running commentary on the historical features of the dockyard, the surrounding areas and ships alongside. The boat tour took about an hour and was very much appreciated by the whole group, I think even those who were not exNavy seemed to spring sea legs. When we came alongside to disembark everyone had smiles on their faces as they had thoroughly enjoyed the tour.

We thanked our hosts for their hospitality and said our goodbyes as we knew we had to contend with the M25 again on the way back.

Mike Sandbrook Social Secretary

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Rayleigh Poppy Installation: In November this year, Rayleigh Town Council along with Holy Trinity (and others) will be producing a "weeping poppies window" on the tower of Holy Trinity (on a netting so as not to actually touch the tower brickwork) as part of the Town's annual Remembrance commemorations.

The plan is for this poppy window to contain as many knitted poppies as possible, stretching towards the British Legion Hall.

The aim is to have up to 10,000 poppies (2,000 are already complete) and this note is to ask for your help.

These are a guideline, but please feel free to use your own design if you wish. Size to be in the region of a tennis ball with a red poppy, green leaf, and either a black button or black cloth button whichever you prefer. Knitting patterns available from your Branch Secretary.

Why stop at just one? Some contributors have already made over half a dozen.

There are a number of local groups who are taking part, such as local WI groups and Knit and Natter clubs, and I would like the Museum to play our part within the community as well.

Please bring poppies in as soon as they are complete to the Museum and then we will pass them over in one go.

If you are a member of a local club, group, organisation please feel free to pass this note on as the more poppies that can be produced the more impressive the town's display will be.

Many Thanks Mike Davies Rayleigh Town Museum 11

Games Night: 27 June 2018

Shipmate Dave Smith recently treated Rayleigh Branch members to a taste of a Cine Racing evening. Even though there was no money changing hands or shirts being lost, the thrill and excitement of a ‘day at the races’ lead to raucaus shouting and encouragement of the horses, as we had each received a number of ‘free bets’ to help us cheer on our randomly selected steeds.

Winners of each race were treated to chocolate and snacks.

Between races, members were selected by a raffle ticketed lottery to take part in the higher/lower card game by shipmate Eddie Dray, with a cash prize eventually being won.

The taster eveing was put together and run by S/Ms Dave & Eddie to give members an insight ahead of the planned Race Night on Friday 31 August and Games Night on Friday 9 November.

Hopefully, the next horse I back won’t be another three legged donkey!

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WRNS in action:

Maintenance Detail: RN Torpedo Range Greenock, Scotland March 1943.

Photos courtesy of the IWM

Did you know..?

In 1911, the R.G.F. factory in Woolwich shut down, and transferred its operations to the new Royal Navy Torpedo Factory in Greenock. The nation's torpedoes would henceforth bear the "R.N.T.F." stamp.

The RN Torpedo Range officially opened in April 1912, under the control of Chief Gunner J O’Meara, MBE, to support the manufacture and testing of torpedoes produced by the first RN Torpedo Factory, which opened in Greenock in 1910.

Previous torpedoes within the Royal Navy Department were manufactured only at the Royal Navy Gun Factory, Woolwich, and ranged at Bincleaves near Weymouth.

During the first 40 years, 18” Mk17 and 21” torpedoes of various Mks and designs were tested locally. The first 21” Mk8 was fired as an experimental weapon as long ago as 1934 and virtually the same torpedo is still in use today. The last 18” Mk17 torpedo was fired in 1955.

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Diary Dates

RACE NIGHT!!!

Cine Horse Racing Friday 31 August 2018 (7:30pm) tickets from S/M Mike Sandbrook. ÂŁ10 includes fish (or chicken) & chip supper

Merchant Navy Day Flag Raising Ceremony Monday 3 September 2018 (10am) Rayleigh Town Pavilion.

Paradise Wildlife Park Thursday 13 September 2018 Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.

S/M Mike Sandbrook for details

Battle of Britain Parade Sunday 16 September 2018 Naval & Military Club, Royal Terrace, Southend-on-Sea. Muster at 10:45am

RNA vs RBL Darts Match Friday 5 October 2018 First arrows at 8pm - free admission Royal British Legion, London Hill, Rayleigh.

Nelson Church Service

Sunday 7 October 2018 LED L E C All Saints Church, CAN Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk - 10:30am (S/M Terry Barker)

WW1 Armistice Commemoration Sunday 7 October 2018 Lowestoft, Suffolk.

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