THE SEVEN SEAS MAGAZINE The Official Organ of the Seven Seas Club Volume 10, No 5 AUTUMN 2007 EDITORIAL: Another huge chunk of time has disappeared since the last edition. Strange, isn't it, that, when we're very young, the next school playtime seems to be a lifetime away - then, fifty, sixty, seventy years down the line, ten years appear to go as quickly as a school playtime!! Sad to say, we have lost more old Shipmates in the intervening months. Our thoughts are with their loved ones - and many of us treasure happy memories of the departed, and are privileged to have known them. Whilst on a whisky tour in June, I was lucky enough to get to John O'Groats - for the first time in my life. What a beautiful place - and what a wonderful sunset had been arranged to coincide with our visit. Lynne and I are off to Cornwall very soon, and I look forward to having been to J O'G and Land's End in the same calendar year - without having had to walk, or cycle, or ride on a donkey to do it!! I hope that you have enjoyed the start to the current "season", and that you will get much pleasure from the events scheduled over the next few months. Please keep your magazine contributions coming - they are always welcome. BARRY HOLLAND Honorary Editor Congratulations to Richard Shuttleworth on being the first to take away the crossword prize - he is the only person outside of the Pinner family to win anything via the magazine since I became Editor. You're not related, are you Richard?! 1 A Message From The President Gentlemen I feel very privileged to have been elected to the position of President of the Seven Seas Club. I am mindful of the aims of the club, and will do my best to uphold them at all times. I follow in the footsteps of Keith Hanson, who has taken the Club from strength to strength. As he sits on my port side at Club dinners, I know I can turn to him for guidance. I would like to thank the committee members who give freely of their time, and would welcome contributions from members, with regard to suggestions for future club activities, and guest speakers. Graham Painter President 2 Dates for your Diary Dinners and Events 2007 21 October (Sun) Club Church service in the Chapel in the Tower of London (nb - This event is in addition to those published in the last magazine. Unfortunately the Yeoman Warders' Mess will not be available for refreshments on completion. I suspect most of us attending will retire to Wetherspoon's. Hon Sec) 25 October (Thu) Club Dinner. Speaker: Cdre Jamie Miller 11 November (Sun) Club Wreath laid at the Merchant Navy Memorial 22 November (Thu) Club Dinner. Speaker: Ken Cast: Sub-sea exploration 20 December (Thu) Christmas Party Club Dinners, Ladies' Night, and Christmas Party will all be held in the National Liberal Club - at 1800 for 1900. Times for other events will be notified in due course. *********************** Dates for 2008 The functions booked at the National Liberal Club are:- Thursday 31 January Dinner Thursday 28 February Dinner Thursday 27 March Dinner Friday 25 April Ladies' Night Thursday 29 May AGM Thursday 25 September Dinner Thursday 23 October Trafalgar Night Thursday 20 November Dinner Thursday 18 December Christmas Party -------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SECRETARY’S CORNER Since the publication of the last magazine one member has re-joined:- Mr R Quirk – 56 B Bessborough Place, LONDON, SW1V 3SG (H) 020 7233 8434 (M) 07803 756435 Changes of Address: Justin Miller: 184 Avenue Road Extension, LEICESTER. LE2 3EL Tristan Miller: 2 School Villas, Stortford Road, LEADEN RODING, Essex. CM6 1GY At the 83rd AGM held on the 24th May this year, Capt Richard Woodman raised a proposal for the membership to consider the Club making a sizeable donation to the fund supporting the restoration of the Cutty Sark. As promised by the President, this proposal was discussed at the October Committee meeting. The Committee agreed that although the Cutty Sark restoration is a most worthy cause, the maximum amount the Club could afford would be ‘a drop ocean’ to the total donations required; the Club was unlikely to receive any recognition even for a very large sum of money. Members are encouraged to make their own individual contributions, advising the fund that they are members of the Seven Seas Club. To donate on line, go to www.cuttysark.co.uk, where a number of options can be found. If you prefer to do it by post, send to: The Cutty Sark Trust, 2 Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich, London SE10 9BG (cheques to Cutty Sark) I am sad to report that two of our members have slipped their cables:- Douglas Robert Allen on 25 June 2007 Ron Pallant on 11 September 2007 Members of the club attended both services The following letter has been received from Iris Allen:- “Dear John, How very kind of the Seven Seas Club to send the £50 cheque via you towards the tree, etc, to be planted in the garden at Trinity Hospice in memory of my dear Doug. The garden will have to be re-landscaped next year, after the new building is finished in what was a beautiful garden. It will become that again. I am enclosing a copy of the Order of Service for the Celebration of Life which Doug requested me to organise for him. It was so very nice to see so many of our family and friends present, and particularly the contingent from the 4 Seven Seas Club. Please do thank them for me and also for the wonderful support and kind messages I have received from members of the Club and especially Bill Richards. I keep thinking how much Doug would have loved the day. He always wanted everybody to be happy together. The singing was great! I hope to come to the Christmas Party with my brother Ron. Warmest wishes to all. Iris (Allen)” John Mankerty O.B.E. Hon. Secretary --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extracts from the Memorial Service to Doug Allen The Doug Allen Memorial Service 15 August 2007 St James, Clapham Park (Editor's Note:- Paul Thomas kindly provided me with details of the tribute to Doug - a precis of that tribute follows. Please contact me if you would like a copy of the whole article, which I would be pleased to provide.) "Just once in a while you meet someone who is just plain "good" - such a man was Doug. He looked for the best in people. He and Iris had a glorious relationship, and last year they celebrated their Golden Wedding - Iris having collected him from hospital to take him to the gathering. After having a leg amputated at the age of 50, he survived (with Iris's immeasurable help), some 47 operations! He remained cheerful and positive throughout - an amazing man. He joined the RN at 18, and very quickly joined the Russian convoys, (he survived five of these), and then the convoys to Malta. Once reported as "missing in action", he proved to be a survivor. After the war, he went back into local government in Epsom. As Secretary of the Social Club, he organised a dance at Surbiton Town Hall - met Iris, and proposed - fast work!! He later worked for Middlesex County Council, and the GLC. He was a Freeman of the City of London. A member of the Wire Workers' Livery Company; the Royal Society of St George; the Seven Seas Club; the London Maritime Association; the City Livery Company United Wards Club; three Masonic Lodges; also King Arthur's Champion with the Hon Society of the Knights of the Round Table; an active volunteer at Trinity House Hospice for over 30 years. He and Iris made a great team of mutual: help; support, giving; and love. We miss you immensely, and are so glad to have known and loved you." 5 Functions Report of the AGM Dinner 81 Members and guests attended the AGM Dinner in May 2007, and George Heslop performed extremely well as the “squeeze box player”. There was concern over one bottle of port which was “corked”. The Dinner Secretary will discuss with the Club a back-up plan should this happen in the future. Our new President with George Heslop, at the AGM Dinner Tower and Ahoy Centre Functions Everyone seemed pleased with the Ahoy Centre function, and the food was exceptionally good - although the Secretary reported that it had been ordered as “small eats”, and suggested the following for next year, should the President wish to return to the Centre:- The date be changed to a Saturday, with members and their guests arriving in the forenoon, possibly by river, to Greenwich Pier. They could take lunch in the many eating places available, and spend the afternoon in the museum, markets, Observatory, or Queen’s House, with the Ahoy Centre being available slightly earlier, and with a substantial meal available, as well as wine and soft drinks. 6 September Dinner Our speaker at the September dinner was Lt Cdr Vic Smith, who gave a very interesting and informative talk on the development of lights for navigation of the Suez Canal in the dark. He joined the Royal Navy on 10 September 1951 as an Artificer Apprentice, qualifying and progressing to Chief Electrical Artificer. He was given a Commission in January 1963, serving first of all on Polaris submarines and ending up after 27 years as Senior Engineer of Nuclear Submarines with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.