The Moorings, Issue #79

THE MOORINGS ISSUE 79

JULY 2019

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

S/Ms Eddie Dray, Iain Hendry, Jack Lawmon, Ray Fenn & Gary Daisley with the Chairman of Rochford District Council, Cllr Robin Dray and his wife Yvonne with the RNA stand at this year’s Rayleigh Trinity Fair in June.

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 INFORMATION email: RNArayleigh@outlook.com tweet: @RNArayleigh

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

The big news this month is the Rayleigh Branch Open Evening planned for 24 July. It’s an open house and everyone is invited to bring along friends and family to see us showcase the branch, who we are, what we do and of course, what we get up to on a day to day basis. It’s also a chance to salute branch members as we commemorate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. We will also be drawing the Free Rum Raffle for those who took part during the Rayleigh Trinity Fair.

As usual, Rayleigh Branch had been out and about in June, at the Royal British Legion Memorial in Rayleigh for the D-Day75 Anniversary Service, the RNA National Conference in Wyboston between 7-9 June, the Rayleigh Trinity Fair on 9 June, the Korean War Veteran’s Service at the Living Memorial in Rettendon on 27 June, the Mess Deck Supper on 28 June and the Canvey Island Armed Forces Day Parade on the 29th. It’s certainly been a busy month for us all.

Full membership of the RNA is open to current and former Naval Service personnel including: RN, RM, WRNS, QARNS, RNR, RMR, RFA, and RNXS. Associate membership is also available for families, friends and anyone who supports our Naval Service and core values of Unity, Loyalty, Patriotism and Comradeship.

Gary Daisley Hon. Secretary

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Extract from the Semaphore Circular June 2019 Dear Shipmates, Well it’s all happening in Portsmouth with the announcement that President Trump is coming on 5th June to accompany Royalty for a Heads of State national event to commemorate D-Day 75. There is more detail later in the circular about how veterans can take part but judging by the activity on Southsea Common, it promises to be a big show and, politics aside, it’s absolutely right that these Heads of State who are visiting should respect and commemorate the sacrifice made during that monumental and crucial opening of the Western front.

Portsmouth City Council has published an invitation to veterans to march and parade standards – see the flier at the end of the Circular – so I hope that local Branches will be able to come down and take part.

The outline published programme is: · 11:30 National Commemorative event on Southsea Common with veterans, armed forces and VIP's for a BBC program of live music, performance and flypasts. Tight security will prevent general public viewing so large screens will be provided. ·

12:45 Royal Navy Frigate will fire a Naval gun salute followed by a fly-past of up to 25 historic and modern aircraft.

·

16:00 Red Arrows air display. • 1825 Royal British Legion's specially chartered ship MV Boudicca will set sail from Portsmouth for Normandy with 300 veterans on board. She will be escorted by Type 23 Frigate HMS St. Albans. Ships docked in port will pay their respects before the ship emerges into the Solent to be met by a flotilla of Royal Navy vessels who will sail past her and Cheer Ship in the traditional manner.

The public have been encouraged to line key vantage points to wave off the veterans as they re-trace the journey they 4

made in 1944. ·

19:40 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will fly over Portsmouth to mark the departure of the Royal British Legion ship.

A useful link is here https://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/d-day-75 Of course back in 2014 when it was the 70th Anniversary of DDay everyone was telling us that this would be the last large scale commemoration of these sort of events. How wrong they were and had we realised that the whole Centenary commemorations of WW1 would peak such interest – even without surviving participants – we probably wouldn’t have arranged our Annual Conference at the same time or, indeed, would have organised it in Portsmouth. Notwithstanding, I’m very glad to report that there has been a late charge with delegates for Conference at Wyboston and, as I write, we are up to 67 delegates, so thank you to the Branches that have responded to our call to come along. There’s a ton of work gone into the organisation by No 6 Area and I’m sure it’s going to be a great Conference.

Don’t forget to discuss the annual report, financial statements and Conference agenda in branch meetings. Remember that if you have any questions at all – I am delighted to answer them before Conference – or have notice of a question so I can get the best answer to you. This is your Association and Central Office staff are here to assist you, so please feel free to ask. Here in the Dockyard, the yanks have arrived already! Wyboston will mark the handover of the National Standard from Bob Coburn to David Corrigan. Bob has been our proud National Standard bearer since 2008 barring a couple of years 2012-14 when Steve Susans held the post. Bob takes up the post of National Ceremonial Advisor and is very much looking forward to keeping us all in line at the Cenotaph for our Biennial Parade.

The 2019 Biennial Parade will be held on Sunday 8 September 2019 at the Cenotaph. Can I ask that Branch and Area committees include this in their planning and keep the weekend free for attendance at the RNA very special event.

Field Gun Day: 1 June, HMS Collingwood. Even before all of the above, it’s well worth considering a day out this weekend to HMS Collingwood for the annual Field Gun Day. The RNA has a well positioned pitch adjacent to the Parade Ground which it will 5

establish alongside the RNRMC and with the able assistance of Pusser’s Rum, it will serve as a natural hub for any ex-matelot to take a seat and he or she might even be fortunate enough to find a wee tot waiting for them. Rather than overt recruitment, the tent will serve more as a ‘benefit of membership.’ Of course, it is hoped that this passive seduction might prove a more enticing recruitment model.

Open Days: We have had the first of our open days on Friday 17 May with members from Edinburgh, Manchester, Aylesbury and Horsham. We have a full programme of Open Days over the summer season however there are still places so please assist in spreading the word that these opportunities exist.

LIBOR Minibuses: A reminder to get booking the LIBOR buses for your summer trips. Anyone wanting the bus to shift to their area for a longer period – please give a shout and we’ll take a serious look.

Mentors: I had the privilege of visiting the mentors at HMS Raleigh a few weeks back and it’s just super to see the work that this programme delivers and the confidence it brings to the youngsters joining up in Phase 1 of their training. BZ to all involved!! Please note the advert later in the Circular for new mentors.

Finally, a big thank you to Rayleigh Branch for inviting me along to their outing at the Bluebell Railway last month, what fun! You just can’t beat the smell of hot oil and steam (do I have a problem?). It’s my claim to fame that I could drive a steam engine before I could drive a car so it’s no surprise that I started in the Andrew as a clanky Tiffy apprentice!

Jim Hammond (NCM 5 Area) and I found the recruiting sign in the photograph – I’ve signed Jim up for another 22!

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Best wishes from the Central Office Team, Bill Oliphant

General Secretary

No.2 Area Standard Bearer Competition 25 May 2019

S/Ms Jim Hammond, Terry Barker and Dave Mead were invited down to Bromley in Kent to see how the Standard Bearers from No.2 Area (Kent, East Sussex & Surrey) were being put through their paces.

CHAMPION: S/M Colin Rikard (No.2 Area Chairman) with Steve Champion (No.2 Area Standard Bearer).

As Standard Bearers themselves, S/M Barker and Mead were super impressed with the display of professionalism and expertise shown by those taking part. The overall standard was second to none and the judges were inspecting the finest detail of performance, including the souls and heels of the participants!

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D-Day75 Anniversary Service: 6 June 2019

The Rayleigh Branch of the Royal British Legion hosted a Service at the Rayleigh War Memorial to commemorate the D-Day actions of 1944.

(pictured above) RBL Rayleigh Branch Chairman Steve Cowland and (below) with some of the attendees from RNA Rayleigh including S/Ms Arthur Haslam, Eddie Dray & Standard Bearer Dave Mead. S/M John Kingsley from RNA Basildon also joined us for the Service.

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RNA Reunion & National Conference: 7-9 June 2019

Set in the beautiful surroundings of the Wyboston Lakes Hotel between Cambridge and Milton Keynes, this year’s Reunion and Conference was geographically the closest we’ve seen to No.5 Area (East Anglia) in recent years.

This annual event presents a tremendous opportunity to ‘network’ with RNA Branches from all over the UK and encourages frank and open discussion with ‘the great and the good’ at the very top of the Royal Naval Association.

There is a great feeling of comradery amongst all those attending, particularly when there’s a tot of rum in the offing.

However there is also the serious business of the Conference itself and as a first-timer to this event, I can report that the business side of the weekend was conducted in a most professional manner and even though I was unable to attend the Gala Dinner or Sunday Church Service, I left the event feeling optimistic about the future of the RNA and knowing that the Association is in good hands. We’ve a lot of work ahead of us, but we seem to be moving in the right direction!

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Rayleigh Trinity Fair: 9 June 2019

At this year’s Trinity Fair, we were again blessed with fantastic weather. Preparations were made well in advance and the team of S/M Mike Sandbrook, Joan Crick, Bill Vernon and Gary Daisley were able to hit the ground running and avoid the pitfalls which can sometimes occur when the organisation of such an event is out of our control.

Setting up was made a lot simpler this year as Mike Sandbrook took on the responsibility for the display boards.

The drive for the event was to promote awareness of the RNA in Rayleigh as the town’s only active Military Veterans Association and were grabbing interest from the general public by promoting our FREE RUM Raffle.

Teams of volunteers from Rayleigh Branch were let loose amongst the general public, tackling them head-on, informing them of our Open Evening on 24 July and enticing them to sign up to enter our FREE RUM Raffle draw, which will be drawn on that night. Many of those approached soon put pen to paper at the mention of free rum!

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S/M Ray Fenn still hasn’t lost his animal magnetism, launching himself on to Rayleigh’s unsuspecting female population, whilst S/M Mike Burnham proved to also have something of a Midas touch when it comes to grasping the public’s attention.

Above: Cllr Mrs June Lumley succumbs to S/M Mike Burnham’s charm and persistence.

Right: For S/M Jack Lawmon, old habits die hard, as he is seen here taking down someone else’s particulars, all in the line of duty and for the Free Rum Raffle!

Although it may have had something to do with the paper hat and gizzits that were on offer too!

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Above: “Meet the gang ‘cos the boys are here…” The RNA Concert Party, promoting the Royal Naval Association in Rayleigh.

Below: S/M Mike Sandbrook grabbing a photo opportunity with Rayleigh & Wickford MP and fellow RNA Rayleigh Branch Member S/M Mark Francois, who was able to spare some time from his busy schedule to be at the event.

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CELEBRATE OUR

D-DAY VETERANS RNA Rayleigh OPEN EVENING WEDNESDAY

24th July 2019 8-10pm

Royal British Legion Memorial Hall, 2 London Hill, Rayleigh, Essex. SS6 7HP

ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION

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1982 RNA YEAR BOOK:

In 1981, RNA HQ launched its first Yearbook, by 1982 the format was starting to mature and details of Area & Branch membership was being shared nationally for the first time.

The chart shows how many members were registered to each branch within No.5 Area (East Anglia) in 1982. The categories of membership are shown as F (Full), A (Associate), L (Life) and O (Other):

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*RNA Rayleigh Branch was not formed until 1986. **Branches shown in grey text have since been de-commissioned.

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Diary Dates

Annual Sea Service

Sunday 14 July 2019 (2:30pm) RNA Maidstone (No.2 Area) Kent.

S/M Mike Sandbrook for details

New Hall Vineyard Visit

Tuesday 23 July 2019 Producers of fine English wine since 1969.

S/M Mike Sandbrook for details

Rayleigh Branch Open Evening

Wednesday 24 July 2019 (8-10pm) All hands on deck as Rayleigh Branch salutes our D-Day veterans & showcases our heritage to the general public.

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RNA No.5 Area AGM

Saturday 3 August 2019 (2pm start) Hosted by RNA Rayleigh RBL Hall, London Hill, Rayleigh SS6 7HP

Annual Mess Dinner

Saturday 3 August 2019 (6pm - 11:45pm) The Saxon Hall, Aviation Way Rochford, SS2 6UN. SOLD OUT

Merchant Navy Day

Flag Raising Ceremony Tuesday 3 September 2019 (10am) Rayleigh Town Pavilion, KGV Playing Field.

Mess Deck Supper

Friday 6 September 2018 (8pm) Fish/Chicken & Chips S/M Mike Sandbrook for details.

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