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H.M.S. Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2014 CONTENTS Chairman/Editor's Remarks Archivist Report Sir Henry Harwood – Biography Armistice Day at the NMA Membership Secretary Report 2014 - A Year to Remember HMS Ajax Bells Town of Ajax Street Dedication First Day Cover AGM Agenda NEC QUISQUAM NISI AJAX 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. Association Standard CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST I am very pleased to report on the wonderful work that Alf Larkin and members in the Weymouth and NEWSLETTER EDITOR Malcolm Collis Portland area are doing to highlight the Association by parading the Standard at several events. On Peter Danks ‘The Bewicks’, Station Road 9th November there was a big parade in Portland, with members of service organisations marching 104 Kelsey Avenue Ten Mile Bank, from Easton up to the Cenotaph for a service in front of the Portland Heights, followed by 'Up Spirits' Southbourne Downham Market at the British Legion. HMS PORTLAND was in harbour and about 40 crew were marching and they Emsworth Norfolk PE38 0EU later visited the British Legion. Hampshire PO10 8NQ Tel: 01366 377945 Tel: 01243 371947 [email protected] The Standard was also paraded twice in October. On the 11th at the Sailing Academy in Portland [email protected] Harbour a service was held to commemorate the loss of 29 sailors from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS when MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY the liberty was lost in bad weather. TREASURER Mrs Judi Collis Alf Larkin ‘The Bewicks’, Station Road The next occasion was on the 13th October at the Chesil Centre on Chesil Beach. A new stone Lime Kiln Cottage Ten Mile Bank, dedication was unveiled to commemorate the loss of 15 sailors and 2 coastguards in rough seas off No 2 Easton Lane Downham Market Chesil Beach when their landing craft sank. Portland DT5 1BW Norfolk PE38 0EU Tel: 01305457259 Tel: 01366 377945 [email protected] Mobile: 07736 929641 [email protected] www.hmsajax.org CHAIRMAN/EDITOR'S REMARKS As we near the end of a very busy year for the Association, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. As we come to the end of the 75th Sad news from Canada anniversary year we will be working towards marking the 50th anniversary of the forming of the In September I learnt of the sad news of the death of William (Bill) Lumsden from Cherry Sevigny. I Association. May I please ask again for your thoughts on how to mark this achievement – I say am very grateful to Cherry who sent me the following words. achievement because as will be seen from Judi Collis' reports, the membership is growing, and we “On 14th September 2014, the Association lost a friend. Mr William (Bill) Lumsden lost a hear of many other Associations who through reducing numbers, have had to bring their membership courageous battle with Lung Cancer, at the age of 65. His wife, Jackie, whom many of you will to a close. and for this reason we must look ahead. remember, is a current member of the Ajax Town staff. She and Bill served as our hosts and wonderful supporters during the visits by HMS AJAX Association members to the Town of Ajax and Elections in Ajax they truly were among our very close friends. Bill and Jackie attended two of the Reunions in Members will be pleased to learn that Mayor Steve Parish together with Pat Brown and Colleen Gillingham. Bill will be missed by his former colleagues with the Post Office, the Town of Ajax Jordan were re-elected in October and we are very much looking forward to seeing them all in Recreation Department and by his many friends and family.” December. Bill and I shared a love for the Arsenal Football team and I am sure he will have been pleased to see 75th Anniversary Lunch at Portsmouth on 13th December 2014 them win the FA Cup Final earlier in the year. Elizabeth and I had a most enjoyable lunch with Bill, Plans have progressed for this important lunch. Numbers of guests are almost up to 150 and many Jackie, Reid and Cherry when we called in to Fort Lauderdale on our way to Cape Town in Queen who attended the Dedication in April will be attending plus many others who will be attending their Mary. See attached photo. first gathering of members and families. I look forward to meeting you all at what will be a most interesting occasion. I have been in touch with several members who will be unable to attend the lunch and I am looking forward to seeing them at our next Reunion – details of which will be confirmed at the AGM. So if you need to put the date in your diary please contact one of the committee later in the month. Could I please pass on this information from the Hotel. Disabled access and parking The Royal Beach Hotel has disabled access at the rear of the hotel via a ramp to their staff entrance; upon ringing the bell on the left hand side a member of staff will greet guests and bring them up in a lift. Hotel parking is very limited but public on-street parking in the area is free of charge and there is also a public pay and display car park five minutes' walk from the Hotel at Canoe Lake, Southsea Esplanade, PO4 0ST. Left to right: Reid Sevigny, Bill Lumsden, Jackie Lumsden, Elizabeth Danks, Cherry Sevigny and Peter Danks. 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. Association Standard CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST I am very pleased to report on the wonderful work that Alf Larkin and members in the Weymouth and NEWSLETTER EDITOR Malcolm Collis Portland area are doing to highlight the Association by parading the Standard at several events. On Peter Danks ‘The Bewicks’, Station Road 9th November there was a big parade in Portland, with members of service organisations marching 104 Kelsey Avenue Ten Mile Bank, from Easton up to the Cenotaph for a service in front of the Portland Heights, followed by 'Up Spirits' Southbourne Downham Market at the British Legion. HMS PORTLAND was in harbour and about 40 crew were marching and they Emsworth Norfolk PE38 0EU later visited the British Legion. Hampshire PO10 8NQ Tel: 01366 377945 Tel: 01243 371947 [email protected] The Standard was also paraded twice in October. On the 11th at the Sailing Academy in Portland [email protected] Harbour a service was held to commemorate the loss of 29 sailors from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS when MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY the liberty was lost in bad weather. TREASURER Mrs Judi Collis Alf Larkin ‘The Bewicks’, Station Road The next occasion was on the 13th October at the Chesil Centre on Chesil Beach. A new stone Lime Kiln Cottage Ten Mile Bank, dedication was unveiled to commemorate the loss of 15 sailors and 2 coastguards in rough seas off No 2 Easton Lane Downham Market Chesil Beach when their landing craft sank. Portland DT5 1BW Norfolk PE38 0EU Tel: 01305457259 Tel: 01366 377945 [email protected] Mobile: 07736 929641 [email protected] www.hmsajax.org CHAIRMAN/EDITOR'S REMARKS As we near the end of a very busy year for the Association, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. As we come to the end of the 75th Sad news from Canada anniversary year we will be working towards marking the 50th anniversary of the forming of the In September I learnt of the sad news of the death of William (Bill) Lumsden from Cherry Sevigny. I Association. May I please ask again for your thoughts on how to mark this achievement – I say am very grateful to Cherry who sent me the following words. achievement because as will be seen from Judi Collis' reports, the membership is growing, and we “On 14th September 2014, the Association lost a friend. Mr William (Bill) Lumsden lost a hear of many other Associations who through reducing numbers, have had to bring their membership courageous battle with Lung Cancer, at the age of 65. His wife, Jackie, whom many of you will to a close. and for this reason we must look ahead. remember, is a current member of the Ajax Town staff. She and Bill served as our hosts and wonderful supporters during the visits by HMS AJAX Association members to the Town of Ajax and Elections in Ajax they truly were among our very close friends. Bill and Jackie attended two of the Reunions in Members will be pleased to learn that Mayor Steve Parish together with Pat Brown and Colleen Gillingham. Bill will be missed by his former colleagues with the Post Office, the Town of Ajax Jordan were re-elected in October and we are very much looking forward to seeing them all in Recreation Department and by his many friends and family.” December. Bill and I shared a love for the Arsenal Football team and I am sure he will have been pleased to see 75th Anniversary Lunch at Portsmouth on 13th December 2014 them win the FA Cup Final earlier in the year. Elizabeth and I had a most enjoyable lunch with Bill, Plans have progressed for this important lunch. Numbers of guests are almost up to 150 and many Jackie, Reid and Cherry when we called in to Fort Lauderdale on our way to Cape Town in Queen who attended the Dedication in April will be attending plus many others who will be attending their Mary.