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Ajax New Past up For H.M.S. Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association NEWSLETTER JUNE 2016 CONTENTS Chairman's Remarks Newsletter Editor's Remarks Canada Itinerary NMA Report – Malcolm Collis Personal and Abiding Memories of 2016 Remembrance Service – Bob Adams NMA Speech – Ben Harwood Ringing another Ajax bell – Clive Sharplin Life on the Flight Deck – Bing Crosby Blood Donor – C.J. Sanders News from the Town of Ajax – Colleen Jordan Battle for Crete 75th Anniversary – Clive Sharplin 100th Anniversary Battle of Jutland – Malcolm Collis 74th Anniversary Operation Biting – Ken Holden Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur Award – John Garrard Membership Secretary's Report Archivist Update 1st October 2016 Reunion Hotel Booking Form – separate sheet NEC QUISQUAM NISI AJAX 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST/WEBMASTER/ NEWSLETTER EDITOR'S REMARKS Peter Danks NEWSLETTER EDITOR 104 Kelsey Avenue Malcolm Collis Once again, huge thanks to all contributors, directly or indirectly; you/they are vitally important to Southbourne The Bewicks, Station Road keeping your Newsletter going. You will see that the contributions range from serious historical Emsworth Ten Mile Bank, articles to the amusing and I think it is this balance that keeps the publication going. If you have any Hampshire PO10 8NQ Norfolk PE38 0EU material or snippets, serious or light, please do send them to me in whatever format you have. I would Tel: 01243 371947 Tel: 01366 377945 much rather have too much than too little material as I can always carry items over to subsequent [email protected] [email protected] editions as I have had to do this time as the NMA and anniversaries have taken a large portion of space. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE TREASURER/ In the last Newsletter article on Matapan I posed the question about Ajax's planes; unfortunately no SECRETARY MEMBER STANDARD BEARER Cruiser members came back to me but Alan Strachan (see Chairman's Remarks regarding talk by Mrs Judi Collis John (Vic) Wilson Alf Larkin Alan) confirmed that he believes she only had Seafoxes. I have now posed a similar question Lime Kiln Cottage The Bewicks, Station Road 9 Ashleigh Avenue regarding Achilles' planes in the Membership Secretary's Update for the Cruiser members to trawl Ten Mile Bank 2 Easton Lane their memory banks. Norfolk PE38 0EU Egham Portland Tel: 01366 377945 Surrey TW20 8LB Dorset DT5 1BW As lead, along with Nigel Masters, on the Canada trip I would like to say a special thank you to Debbie Mobile: 07736 929641 Tel: 01784 439630 Tel: 01305 457259 Steer and Town officials for organising the itinerary for our trip in August, it certainly promises to be [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] an action-packed week. As mentioned elsewhere, a lot of effort is going in to the trip and we would like to see as many members and associates as possible there to share the experience with the Town. www.hmsajax.org The Association is planning to present a bench to the Town to mark our visit. The below Itinerary should whet your appetite! CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS I hope all our members are not too wet and looking forward to a good summer. Itinerary - 40th Anniversary of Visit of 8th HMS Ajax Frigate Tuesday August 23rd – Main group arrive Toronto Airport for pick-up and transfer to Hilton Garden Remembrance Service - 9th April. What a wonderful event which was so well organised by Malcolm Inn, Ajax. Cherry Sevigny joining us for dinner. and Judi Collis. It was good to see so many of you in attendance and supporting the event; especially Wednesday August 24th – Travel to Hamilton to visit HMCS Hiada; followed by trip to Niagara Ted Wicks and Jim London, two of our Plate veterans and Don Birrell who make excellent Falls with evening meal at Keg Fallsview restaurant before returning to Ajax ambassadors for the Association. The weather was good and the support from the NMA staff first class. For a full summary of events please see the link http://www.hmsajax.org/#/2016-nma- Thursday August 25th – Travel to Toronto for Lake Cruise followed by visit to CN Tower or memorial-service/4592211968 to read Malcolm's full report and see some of the excellent pictures Aquarium or Brewery. Evening game at Blue Jays Baseball stadium. which Cliff Hoppe took on the day. Thank you Cliff for your efforts on the day and also to Bob Friday August 26th – Morning visit to historic Uxbridge and lunch at Port Perry. Adams for his personal reflections on the day. 2 p.m. The Town of Ajax will unveil a two-piece memorial wall, spanning over four meters in length Reunion Dinner. This is to be held on Saturday 1st October. Please see booking form with this each, it is reflective of Ajax's naval history, with architects incorporating the design of the wall to newsletter. The AGM will be held at 1630 prior to the Dinner and Alan Strachan MA Maritime resemble a ship, street lights serving to appear like masts, and the information area designed with History, an associate member, will deliver a lecture on Ajax during the afternoon. Please can I features common to a ship's bow – (see Colleen Jordan's report for full details.) remind members that the hotel will be the point of contact for both accommodation and dinner Provisional – Dedication of Association Bench. requests. Please ensure names of your guests are included together with seating preferences. Dinner at Macguire's. 2016 AGM. The committee welcomes items for the agenda with accompanying comment. Saturday August 27th – Town of Ajax Street Dedication ceremonies featuring '76 Frigate crew Nominations for the Committee with proposer and seconder should be sent to the Secretary. Both members. items are required by the 10th August for inclusion in the September newsletter. BBQ at Debbie Steer's. Members of the Association on reading the Canada Itinerary will realise what a tremendous amount Sunday August 28th–March by '76 crew and others from Town Hall, down Harwood Avenue to Ajax of work is being conducted to perpetuate and strengthen the exceptionally strong ties and links the Royal Canadian Legion followed by rededication of Frigate HMS Ajax's anchor situated outside Town has with our Association. For those of you who have yet to plan your summer holidays, could I Legion. Full course dinner and reception at the Royal Canadian Legion to mark the end of the Town's request you give thought to joining the party of members who are visiting in August. Official weekend celebrations. Monday August 29th – Visit to Whitby Yacht Club. Agenda being developed but likely to include tour of facilities, lunch, boat trip to Oshawa Harbour with stroll in town, brief remembrance ceremony on the water off Veterans Point, return to Yacht Club for more refreshments Tuesday August 30th – Main group travel to Toronto airport for departure 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST/WEBMASTER/ NEWSLETTER EDITOR'S REMARKS Peter Danks NEWSLETTER EDITOR 104 Kelsey Avenue Malcolm Collis Once again, huge thanks to all contributors, directly or indirectly; you/they are vitally important to Southbourne The Bewicks, Station Road keeping your Newsletter going. You will see that the contributions range from serious historical Emsworth Ten Mile Bank, articles to the amusing and I think it is this balance that keeps the publication going. If you have any Hampshire PO10 8NQ Norfolk PE38 0EU material or snippets, serious or light, please do send them to me in whatever format you have. I would Tel: 01243 371947 Tel: 01366 377945 much rather have too much than too little material as I can always carry items over to subsequent [email protected] [email protected] editions as I have had to do this time as the NMA and anniversaries have taken a large portion of space. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE TREASURER/ In the last Newsletter article on Matapan I posed the question about Ajax's planes; unfortunately no SECRETARY MEMBER STANDARD BEARER Cruiser members came back to me but Alan Strachan (see Chairman's Remarks regarding talk by Mrs Judi Collis John (Vic) Wilson Alf Larkin Alan) confirmed that he believes she only had Seafoxes. I have now posed a similar question Lime Kiln Cottage The Bewicks, Station Road 9 Ashleigh Avenue regarding Achilles' planes in the Membership Secretary's Update for the Cruiser members to trawl Ten Mile Bank 2 Easton Lane their memory banks. Norfolk PE38 0EU Egham Portland Tel: 01366 377945 Surrey TW20 8LB Dorset DT5 1BW As lead, along with Nigel Masters, on the Canada trip I would like to say a special thank you to Debbie Mobile: 07736 929641 Tel: 01784 439630 Tel: 01305 457259 Steer and Town officials for organising the itinerary for our trip in August, it certainly promises to be [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] an action-packed week. As mentioned elsewhere, a lot of effort is going in to the trip and we would like to see as many members and associates as possible there to share the experience with the Town. www.hmsajax.org The Association is planning to present a bench to the Town to mark our visit. The below Itinerary should whet your appetite! CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS I hope all our members are not too wet and looking forward to a good summer. Itinerary - 40th Anniversary of Visit of 8th HMS Ajax Frigate Tuesday August 23rd – Main group arrive Toronto Airport for pick-up and transfer to Hilton Garden Remembrance Service - 9th April. What a wonderful event which was so well organised by Malcolm Inn, Ajax.
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