ISSUE TWO. MAY 2015

FEDERATION OF AND DISTRICT EX-SERVICES ASSOCIATIONS CEREMONIES, ANNIVERSARIES AND EVENTS 2015

This list of Anniversaries, Ceremonies and Events for 2015 is compiled from best available information by Commander Charles Crichton OBE RN, Patron of the Federation. Event organisers are invited to send input and update information to Charles by email: [email protected] . A third issue will be distributed later in the year.

Federation Standards. Requests for parade of standards will be annotated against events along with the “ assemble” time. Confirmed events are shown in BOLD and events awaiting information for 2015 are shown in normal type. Completed events are shown in ITALICS

JANUARY Sun 25 Standard Plymouth Branch British Korean Veterans laid up at the Minster Church of St Andrew Plymouth. FEBRUARY Sun 22 0730 Plymouth East Girlguiding World Thinking Day Celebration. Plymouth Hoe. MARCH Mon 9 1000 Commonwealth Day Flag Raising at the Guildhall Flag Pole STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLE 0930 Sun 22 1000-1700 Devonport Naval Heritage Centre “Open Day” with a Polish Theme. APRIL Sat 4 1100 On the 75 th Anniversary of Dunkirk, a rededication of the restored Dunkirk Veterans Association Memorial at the Belvedere Memorial Garden, Plymouth Hoe. STANDARDS REQUESTED. ASSEMBLE 1030. Wed 15 1915 Film “The Railway Man” Holiday Inn in aid of RM and VJ Day Charities. £5. Contact Lisa Delar on 07582 6769233 or [email protected] Sat 25 1100 A National Service of Commemoration at the Cenotaph in London to mark the centenary of the Gallipoli and Anzac Campaigns followed by a march past the Cenotaph along Whitehall. See www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/first-world-war-centenary . Sun 26 1430.Annual Memorial Service at the Tank Memorial Site at Torcross, , for those who lost their lives during Exercise Tiger at Slapton Sands on 28 April 1944. Conducted by the Royal Tank Regiment Association, Plymouth Branch. For further details contact Mr Dave Taylor [email protected] See www.Exercisetigermemorial.co.uk Sun 26 1500. Plymouth District Scouts St George’s Day Service. Minster Church of St Andrew Tue 28 Exercise Tiger Landings Memorial Service at the Tank Memorial Site at Torcross, Devon. See www.exercisetigerslapton.org for announcements .

PATRONS of THE FEDERATION 1

THE LORD MAYOR OF PLYMOUTH. FLAG OFFICER SEA TRAINING PLYMOUTH. COMMANDER C W CRICHTON OBE ROYAL NAVY.

MAY May PLYMOUTH HISTORY FESTIVAL MONTH See www.Plymouth.gov.uk/whatson Includes a substantial programme of events at the Devonport Naval Heritage Centre.

2 May 1300-2030. Launch Sat 2 May of an exhibition “Tanks and Tablecloths” - 13 June at the Plymouth Arts Centre, Looe Street, Plymouth. Open Tuesdays to Saturdays until 13 June. Exhibition includes victual ling artefacts on loan from the Devonport Naval Heritage Centre.

3 May Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery exhibition ”Napoleon in the Sound 1812 - 26 Sept

2-4 May Daily 1100-1600. RAF HARROWBEER ARCHIVE WEEKEND. KNIGHTSONE TEAROOMS, ROAD, YELVERTON Free entry and parking. For information contact Michael Hayes 01822 853679 or visit: www.rafharrowbeer-.org.uk

Thur 7 1900 “THE -A CLOSE RUN THING”. Presentation by Cdr Jeff Tall OBE RN at the Officers’ Mess, 29 Commando Regiment Royal , Royal Citadel, Plymouth. Tickets £15. Details-SSAFA on 01752 or [email protected]

Fri 8 VE DAY-70 th ANNIVERSARY

1200-1600 “Let the Memory Live On”. A celebration of “VE70” at the Royal British Legion, “Pop-In”, 174 Armada Way, Plymouth, Pl1 1LB. Music, song, home-made cakes and refreshments. All welcome. See WWW.VEDAY.ORG.UK

2125. Short Service of Dedication and lighting of the beacon on the SW Bastion Royal Citadel Plymouth PL1 2PD. Invited guests. Hosted by 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery. STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLE 2030

14-27 May Joint Services Hosanna House Pilgrimage to Lourdes incorporating International Military Pilgrimage.

Sun 17th 1100. HMS GLOUCESTER Association Memorial Service Naval War Memorial Plymouth Hoe. STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLE 1030

Fri 22 1020 Lord Mayor of Plymouth Choosing Ceremony Plymouth Guildhall STANDARDS REQUESTED.ASSEMBLE 0950

Fri 22 1930 for 2000 Lord Mayor of Plymouth Choosing Dinner. Warrant Officer and Senior rates Mess, HMS DRAKE.

Sun 24 1030 Lord Mayor of Plymouth Civic Church Service, Minster Church of St Andrew, including a commemoration of the 70 th anniversary of VE and VJ days. STANDARDS REQUESTED: assemble 1030

PATRONS of THE FEDERATION 2

THE LORD MAYOR OF PLYMOUTH. FLAG OFFICER SEA TRAINING PLYMOUTH. COMMANDER C W CRICHTON OBE ROYAL NAVY.

Sun 24 1200 Plymouth and Southwest Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association Commemoration at the Belvedere Memorial Garden, Plymouth Hoe. STANDARDS REQUESTED. ASSEMBLE AT 1130

Mon 25 1000-1600 DEVONPORT NAVAL HERITAGE CENTRE “OPEN DAY” See note at end of page 6.

Fri 29 1900 for 2000. Devonport Field Gun Association Ladies Night and Sponsors’ Dinner at the Moorland Garden Hotel, Yelverton. Tickets: Members of the Association £25 per person and non-members £35 per person. Dress: Black tie. For details and information on ticket purchase see: www.Devonport-command-fieldgun.co.uk

Sun 31 1100-1700 Friends of Devonport Park Summer Fayre. See: www.friendsofdevonportpark.com

JUNE

Tue 2 1130 Door of Unity Service, Minster Church of St Andrew, Plymouth RN, RM & MN STANDARDS REQUESTED. ASSEMBLE 1100

Fri 5 1200 Memorial Service at the US Naval Memorial- Tamar Bridge Car Park STANDARDS REQUESTED. ASSEMBLE 1130.

Sat 6 CITY OF PLYMOUTH LORD MAYOR’S DAY . Parade leaves Drake Place at 1300.

To celebrate and introduce the new Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress to the people of Plymouth, and visitors, it is planned to hold a massive carnival event in the heart of the city. This will include a costumed walking parade around the city centre streets, led by the famous City of Plymouth Pipe Band, starting at the Plymouth University and ending at the city centre Piazza. The theme for Lord Mayor’s Day 2015 will be “HMS BELLEROPHON and Napoleon.”. See www.visitplymouth.co.uk/events for programme announcements.

Sat 13 1930 for 2000. SSAFA Charity Ball Commando Forces Officers’ Mess, RM Barracks, Stonehouse PL1 3QS. (Tickets £50-details from SSAFA 01752 553414)

Sun 14 0930 at the end of the Service, Laying up of the Standard of the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLE 1000 (TBC)

Sat 20 ARMED FORCES DAY, Thanckes Park, Torpoint, Cornwall. Veterans Parade at 1100 followed by a full day of activities and events with Fireworks Display at 2200. For information see www.cornwallarmedforcesday.co.uk and www.torpointtowncouncil.gov.uk or contact Colin Prideaux [email protected] or 01752 813182

Sun 21 1000 Royal Navy Mass with the Bishop of the Armed Forces at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Mary and St Boniface, Plymouth.

PATRONS of THE FEDERATION 3

THE LORD MAYOR OF PLYMOUTH. FLAG OFFICER SEA TRAINING PLYMOUTH. COMMANDER C W CRICHTON OBE ROYAL NAVY.

Mon 22 1000 Armed Forces Day Flag Raising Ceremony Plymouth Guildhall STANDARDS REQUESTED. ASSEMBLE 0930

Sat 27 0930-1700 PLYMOUTH ARMED FORCES DAY-PLYMOUTH HOE Including the RAF and Allied Air Forces Monument Service. See www.visitplymouth.co.uk/events for programme detail announcements. STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLY TIME TO BE ANNOUNCED

20-28 June SEAFARERS AWARENESS WEEK. Promote the UK’s dependence on seafarers and Shipping, from the Merchant Fleet handling 98% of imports and 75% of exports to the Royal Navy protecting shipping lanes and British interests overseas. See WWW.seafarersawarenessweek.org

Sun 28 1100-1700 Friends of Devonport Park Summer Fayre. See: www.friendsofdevonportpark.com

JULY

Sun 5 1000-1600 DEVONPORT NAVAL HERITAGE CENTRE “OPEN DAY”. See note at the end of page 6.

Sat 4/Sun 5 Devonport Field Gun Association Reunion Weekend. See www.devonport-command-fieldgun.co.uk

Sun 12 SEA SUNDAY. 1100 The congregation of the Minster Church of St Andrew, Plymouth, will welcome everyone to join together in a Service to give thanks for our Seafarers. STANDARDS REQUESTED:ASSEMBLE 1030

Sea Sunday is the day set aside for us to come together to remember the brave and dedicated Merchant Seafarers who we rely on to sustain our global economy, all those who go down to the seas in ships, and the work of the Royal Navy. For information on National Sea Sunday see www.seasunday.org

Sun 12 Norman Hartnell cream tea (details from SSAFA 01752 553414 )

Sun 26 1100-1700 Friends of Devonport Park Summer Fayre. See: www.friendsofdevonportpark.com

AUGUST

Fri 7 1900 for 1930. A Fund Raising Dinner at the Holiday Inn in support of the Federation of Plymouth and District Ex-Services Associations. Three course meal with menu choice for £30. Live duo to suit all ages. Free hotel parking. For information call Betty on 01752 201308 or Lisa 07582 679233. Tickets available from British Home Stores first floor restaurant every Saturday from 30 May until Sat 25 July. 1000 until 1400.

PATRONS of THE FEDERATION 4

THE LORD MAYOR OF PLYMOUTH. FLAG OFFICER SEA TRAINING PLYMOUTH. COMMANDER C W CRICHTON OBE ROYAL NAVY.

Sat 15 VJ DAY 70 TH ANNIVERSARY. 1015. A short Service of Remembrance at the Rowan Tree, Minster Church of St Andrew, Plymouth.

1030. A Service of Remembrance at the Minster Church of St Andrew. Attended by the Lord Mayor of Plymouth. All welcome, please be seated by 1045. Both events arranged by the Far East Prisoners of War Association. STANDARDS OF THE THREE SERVICES REQUESTED. ASSEMBLE 1015.

Sat 15 1100. Burma Star VJ Day Commemoration- Belvedere Gardens, Plymouth Hoe STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLE 1030

Sun 30 1100-1700 Friends of Devonport Park Summer Fayre. See: www.friendsofdevonportpark.com

SEPTEMBER

Thur 3 1100 Merchant Navy Day-Barbican, Mayflower Steps STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLE 1030

10-13 Sep. National Heritage Open Days. A celebration of local history, architecture and culture. See www.heritageopendays.org.uk

Sun 20 1100 75 TH anniversary Battle of Britain Day Memorial Service, Minster Church of St Andrew, Plymouth. STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLE tbd

Sun 27 1000-1600 DEVONPORT NAVAL HERITAGE CENTRE “OPEN DAY” See note at the end of page 6

Sun 27 1100-1700 Friends of Devonport Park Summer Fayre. See: www.friendsofdevonportpark.com

OCTOBER

Sat 3 1100 Battle of the River Plate Veterans and Families Association Annual Commemoration. Plymouth Hoe Naval War Memorial. STANDARDS REQUESTED. ASSEMBLE 1030

Sat 24 1100. Captain Henry VC Commemoration at Ford Park Cemetery. Organised by the Royal Artillery Association. STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLE 1030

Sat 24 Royal British Legion Devon County launch Poppy Appeal – Exeter

Sat 31 1900 Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal concert Devonport Guildhall.

NOVEMBER

Mon 2 TBC 1800 Federation Remembrance Festival Rehearsals-Plymouth Pavilions

PATRONS of THE FEDERATION 5

THE LORD MAYOR OF PLYMOUTH. FLAG OFFICER SEA TRAINING PLYMOUTH. COMMANDER C W CRICHTON OBE ROYAL NAVY.

STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLE 1800

Tue 3 SSAFA Winter Fair (details from SSAFA 01752 553414)

Fri 6 1900 for 1930 FEDERATION ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE FESTIVAL PLYMOUTH PAVILIONS. STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLE 1900

Sun 8 1030 for 1100 Royal British Legion Remembrance Day Parade Ivybridge.

Sun 8 1100 CITY OF PLYMOUTH REMEMBRANCE DAY PARADE-PLYMOUTH HOE STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLY TIME AND PARKING ARRANGEMENTS TO BE NOTIFIED.

Sun 8 1230 MERCHANT NAVY REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE at the Merchant Navy Memorial Stone, Plymouth Barbican, opposite the Mayflower Steps.

Sun 8 1500. Remembrance Ceremony at the Rowan Tree, Minster Church of St Andrew, Plymouth-to the memory of Prisoners of War held by the Japanese 1941-1945.

Wed 11 1100 Burma Star Commemoration. Fort Free buffet lunch on completion at Royal British Legion Crownhill Branch. STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLE 1030

Sun 15 1000-1600 DEVONPORT NAVAL HERITAGE CENTRE “OPEN DAY” See note at the end of page 6

Thur 26 Thanksgiving Day. Details for ceremony at the Mayflower steps to be announced. For other Barbican Waterfront 2015 events see www.barbicanwaterfront.com/events

DECEMBER

Sun 6 1000 Devonport North Corner Commemoration Service. Organised by the Royal Marines Association. STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLE 0930

Fri 18 1930. The Lord Mayor of Plymouth’s Carol Service-Minster Church of St Andrew, STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLE 1900

Thur 31 1100. Hinkley VC Commemoration at Ford Park Cemetery. Organised by the Royal Naval Association. STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLE 1030

NOTE DEVONPORT NAVAL HERITAGE CENTRE “OPEN DAYS” Entry off Granby Way, Devonport, Plymouth PL1 4HG Visit the Naval Heritage Centre and discover how the Dockyard of the 1690s has grown into the largest Naval Base in Western Europe. Take a guided tour of the decommissioned nuclear powered submarine COURAGEOUS. Free entry and nearby free parking off Granby Way. For information call 01752 554200 or email [email protected]

Federation Events Diary 2015 Issue 2 May 2015 PATRONS of THE FEDERATION 6

THE LORD MAYOR OF PLYMOUTH. FLAG OFFICER SEA TRAINING PLYMOUTH. COMMANDER C W CRICHTON OBE ROYAL NAVY.