Submariners Association (Derbyshire)

Branch Newsletter Issue Number 141 JULY 2011

Freedom of the City of Derby to RN Service Granted 28 April 2002

EDITORIAL LIST OF CONTENTS

As we approach the end of June I look forward to the Page 1 EDITORIAL & CONTENT Armed Forces celebrations in Derby with the D&D Coffee Morning and Lunch at the Spot where the Page 2 MARITIME FORCES NEWS

Submariners have there own table of ten. Next week APPEAL TO NONE DERBYSHIRE we have twenty for meals booked for the monthly Page 3 MEMBERS . Trenchant out of refit luncheon club. Booking continue to come in for the Trafalgar Dinner and Affiliated boats dinner with Page 4 FIRE ALARMS/BUS PASSES bookings now at the half way mark, with the Ambush, Page 5 MAYOR OF DERBY FAREWELL Vanguard and Sovereign invites still to be formalised. Whispers from Oakwood We will proudly dine out Lady Anne Soar and Sir Trevor, CinCFleet and Gillian Molyneux, and I am proud and Page 6 ADMIRAL SIR JOHN WARREN grateful for many submariners as friends of the Frankton Memorial Unveiled Derbyshire Branch sharing our special day. Page 7/8 UN PC PAGE HUMOUR Unfortunately the date of 5 November does of course clash with Firework Night, and the Submariners Page 9 SUBMARINERS UNDER PRESSURE Embankment Parade and this is regretted but our date Lunch Clubs and Vanguard replacement was set by circumstances. SUBMARINE MUSEUM NEWS Page 10 My birthday was advertised as my 30 th based on my Holland Award & Alliance News wife advising me that I never do anything by halves; for Page 11 HMS INDEFENSIBLE once I thought I would. This brought the immediate Sat-Navs and Points of View response of why don’t you halve it again, and you will not be old enough to pay on the bus. A clear dig at the Page 12 IAN MOLYNEUX TRIAL & Fish Heads – A Point Of View bus passes no longer issued automatically at 60!! However, my deferred Pension has now Page 13 BRANCH OUTING NMA ALREWAS kicked in, and I treated myself to a personal number TAX AND FINANCE FROM MONEYWISE plate. The number plate bears the number 60 for my Page 14 Share Military History birthday, and came with an all singing and dancing White Ford Mondeo Zetec with many extras which Page 15 ADM SIR TREVOR SOAR INTERVIEW makes the car a joy to drive. Another comment to my Page 16 SICK BAY REPORTS/TS KENYA birthday invite was; ‘ What happened to the little cherub between 5 and 60 then? Actually you haven’t GILLIAN MOLYNEUX MESSAGE Page 17 changed much from your first to last photo (seriously) Branch Bits & Bobs only hair a little thinner, tummy a little fatter and Page 18 BRANCH DIARY 2011 glasses; but still smiling (that is good to see). I don't apologise for the mickey taking. Thanks People . Page MINS JUNE MEETING (EGM DETAILS) On the none Submariner front the branch is undertaking 19/20 a collection for ‘Poppy Appeal’ at the famous Derby Page 21 LUNCHEON CLUB JULY Cat & Fiddle Beer Festival, and I hope many of you can support the W5795 Bomber Memorial in Stanley, where with my BIRTHDAYS 2011 Poppy Appeal Organiser (PAO) hat on I have organised A POSITIVE THOUGHT the usual service, with Pax Liberations (Doves of Peace 23 July Max Horton FOR THE MONTH

Release) from the NMA, and a flypast of the Battle of 19 Aug Kevin Gilbert There is no Britain Memorial Flight Hurricane Fighter Plane now 26 Aug Ken Holtham (88) cure for birth scheduled for 14:05hrs to conclude the service. I hope Branch President you enjoy this issue of Derbyshire Deeps and the little and death, 08 Sep Charles Blakey (90) change of format should not confuse a submariner. Save to enjoy Both Ken & Charles are WWII Terry Hall, Derbyshire Newsletter Editor Submariners – BZ to both The INTERVAL Hon Secretary, Submariners Assn (Derbyshire) 1 DEFENCE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD IRAN DISPATCHED TO RED SEA Courtesy of Canadian Office Asia-Pacific Advisor Defence News, 07 June 2011 With sincere thanks for copyright permission Although the information should be regarded with some scepticism given Iran's tendency to exaggerate, the navy reportedly dispatched submarines in May to "collect data" in the Red Sea. The submarines apparently completed a mission in the Gulf of Aden to gather information on the sea bed and nearby warships, likely international warships conducting anti-piracy missions, and are accompanying a surface fleet; no details on the subs were given, though CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN ON US NAVY'S they could be Russian-made Kilo s or domestically- NEWEST SUBMARINE developed Nahang s or Ghadir mini-subs. In February, Iran Naval Technology, 23 May 2011 & Defence Aerospace dispatched two warships to the Mediterranean Sea via the The US Navy laid the keel for its tenth Virginia -class Suez Canal to visit Syria, the first such mission since the submarine on Friday. The sub, USS Minnesota (SSN-783), 1979 revolution. will be the first built under the USN's new two-sub-per-year build cycle, the first time that such an accelerated build GREEK SUBMARINE PROBLEMS schedule has been implemented since the end of the Cold HDW exits contract amid continuously rough seas in War; construction on another yet-unnamed sub will begin Greece's submarine programme. Another chapter has later this year in September. Officials said they hoped that been opened in the quarrel between the German Minnesota will continue the Virginia -class' track record of shipbuilding industry and the Greek Defence Ministry over delivering subs ahead of schedule and under budget. Total the construction of submarines for the financially burdened build time is expected to last 60 months. country’s navy. According to AFP, the Greek Minister of National Defence, Prof. Dr. Evangelos Venizelos,

NEW SUBS SUSPENDED LAST YEAR DUE TO announced on Monday that the German shipbuilding group Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) pulled out of a WEAK BOLTS programme to build two submarines at the Hellenic Korea Herald, 18 May 2011 Shipyards near Athens. The Greek shipyard is controlled South Korean media reported last week that the country's by UAE-based Abu Dhabi MAR, which holds 75.1 per cent latest Son Won-il -class diesel-electric submarines were of the shares, according to an agreement signed in March suspended last year due to faulty bolts that broke or 2010 with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, the parent loosened during sub-surface operations last year. The company of HDW. Hellenic Shipyards is the country's main bolts in question were used to fix the bridge and upper shipbuilding facility, though it has experienced structural decks, with a total of 20 bolts either breaking or coming and financial troubles during the past decade, fuelled by loose on all three of the navy's 1,800-ton subs, which are Greece’s increasing economic problems. based on the German Type-214 design. ROK Navy officials reportedly called in engineers from HDW, the German firm ALTERNATIVE FUELS FOR THE NAVY that designed the subs, and found that a subcontractor CNN, 03 June 2011 used by Hyundai Heavy Industries, which built the subs Turanor , the world's largest solar-powered ship, arrived in locally, used sub-standard bolts during construction. HDW Brisbane, Australia, earlier this week as part of its goal to has reportedly fixed the issue, and the subs have become the first all-solar vessel to circumnavigate the continued regular operations. globe. Turanor has an average speed of 7.5 knots and is equipped with over 536 square metres of photovoltaic solar NATO EXERCISE BOLD MONARCH 2011 panels, which are supported by backup power in the Naval Technology, 02 June 2011 world's largest rechargeable lithium battery, and can sail for Bold Monarch 2011, the world's largest submarine escape- up to five days without direct sunlight; the skipper reported and-rescue exercise, began near the Spanish port of that the ship's battery has never decreased below 20 Cartagena on May 30th and will run until June 10th. The percent capacity. The catamaran's proponents are trying triennial exercise involves subs from Portugal, Spain and to demonstrate that sailing can be more ecologically Turkey, as well as a Russian Kilo boat for the first time; sustainable, and no doubt navies such as the United and surface rescue vehicles from the US, UK, France and States' are keeping an eye on the project's progress, in Italy, with 20 surface and sub-surface ships participating in part since US Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus outlined all. As well, activities are being observed by countries such plans in October 2009 to increase the Navy's fuel efficiency, as Australia, Brazil, India, South Korea and Vietnam, with including increasing the Navy's use of alternative fuels from the Asian nations perhaps doubly interested due to the 17 percent to half of the total by 2020. increasing number of subs being acquired and operated in Editor: Our Branch Defence Experts held an ‘In Depth’ the region. discussion on solar panels and there suitability for the

Submarine Fleet at the well known all military forum TWO CANADIAN SUBMARINERS HURT university; The Oak and Acorn in Derby. It was suggested CBC News, 06 June 2011 the tiles could be replaced with solar panels and only Two sailors suffered minor injuries when the submarine being able to do 7 and a ‘alf knots was good enough for the HMCS Corner Brook struck bottom during advanced officer diesel boats. One bright spark did state the boats could training exercises in Nootka Sound off the west coast of surface in the dark to charge their batteries like they used Vancouver Island on Saturday. No fuel was leaked and the to! One discussion thread was that given some of the crew surfaced the boat to conduct safety checks before crack pot discussions on saving money and cutting down returning to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt, near on the Armed Forces was that they would not be surprised Victoria. Navy divers are inspecting the boat and an if a politician decided it, especially to save money, no investigation has been ordered by a board of inquiry. matter what the cost! The importance of the discussion Corner Brook , stationed in Halifax, arrived at CFB was concluded on the entry to the pub of a National Lottery Esquimalt in early May and is slated to go into an extended winner in his Lamborghini which was of little interest; but refit this fall. the very pretty young girl on his arm was!!

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WHAT NO POLITICALY INCORRECT PAGE 3! WHAT NO POLITICALY INCORRECT PAGE 3! DON’T PANIC - WE’RE BRITISH – PLEASE KEEP READING I know many of our readers dive straight for page 3 for the Politically Incorrect Pages!! Do not go off frantically stating he’s stopped the best part of the newsletter, (Your feedback), because, I have not; I just moved it to try and get NONE Derbyshire members, Affiliated Boats Ambush and Vanguard readers to keep reading.

We have no problem sharing our newsletter with other submariners, or anyone else for that matter, and it is a large part of our branch budget to produce. Unfortunately, our hope was the newsletter would attract submariners who live in the Derby and Derbyshire proximity would join our branch, but this has not been the case. We know of at least two large firms in Derby who have many ex submariners who do read this newsletter, and fro m feedback enjoy it? However, nice though it would be for you to join us; you obviously do not want to and that’s fine. This is an appeal to see if you would make a small contribution to our branch to continue our charity work.

On 5 November 2011 we wil l be holding our Annual Trafalgar Dinner at the Spot Banqueting Suite in Derby. This year the event will be enhanced with a special guest; Lady Anne Soar who launched HMS/M Ambush and her husband and some of the ships company’s of both our branch affiliat ed submarines, Ambush and Vanguard. We have also invited submariners who served on HMS/M So vereign which from the early 1970’s up until her decommissioning in the early 2000’s was our previous affiliated boat. The administration costs of this venture are considerable, as are the enhancements we undertake to make this night special. Equally as important is our branch charity work we undertake such as helping raise funds for our local Sea Cadets, for which we recently donated £100 to their boating fund to get the cadets on the river . Obviously we are seeking new ways of fundraising to carry on this type of work at branch level. We have unfortunately, due to renovation of the Derby City Council House, lost our main fundraising annual coffee morning, which enabled us to raise between £300- £400 annually; a very large blow to our branch income , and alternative venues are not proving so popular to equal the past efforts which we generally excelled at.

BOTTOM LINE : As stated this appeal is NOT directed at our Derbyshire members or Affiliated Boats, but anyone else who shares our newsletter; to which you are welcom e. However Would You as a READER of this newsletter be willing to make a small donation to boost our We lfare Funds? If you donated 25p per on-line c opy for a year it would be £3, or go rash at 50p a copy at £6; or because you are donating for a year; discount for quantity; £5? Any donation no matter how small would be appreciated; and I assure you our Branch auditors would ensure it was well spent for the benefit of the Submarine Community, their families, or recognised charity’s such as the Sea Cadets.

If you would consider this appeal, you can send a cheque to myself as Treasurer (address bottom of page 16) ensuring all cheques are made out to The Submariners Assn (Derbyshire). If you wish to pay in direct to HSBC either at a bank or do an on-line transfer the details are: HSBC Sort Code 40-25--29 Account No 31436686 SA Derbyshire, and put your name, assn, or other info as the reference or just leave blank or mark donation.

If anyone does take offence at the nature of this appeal, I make no apology. My job as treasurer is to look after the Derbyshire Branch Members, for whom I produce this newsletter. As stated it is offered out free to everyone via the web to share, http://www.godfreydykes.info/DERBYSHIRE_SUBMARINERS_ASSOCIATIO N_PAGE.htm , and we have no problem with you continuing to enjoy it! However, if we do not make this request, you will not know of our need. The choice is yours, as to whether you, or your group, should wish to make a token thank you donation of appreciation of reading Derbyshire Deeps.

Terry Hall, Hon Treasurer, Submariners Assn (Derbyshire)

KILLER SUB WELCOMED BACK TO FLEET Cdr Lindsay said: "This is a very special day for HMS Saturday, 04 June 2011: Source: BFBS Trenchant and her ship's company. It is a testament to the The RN's most capable and up-to-date Trafalgar Class commitment of the crew and their families and of the hunter-killer submarine HMS Trenchant has been support and service of the local workforce that HMS ceremonially welcomed back into the operational fleet. Trenchant returns to the Royal Naval fleet a more capable Beneath a hot sun and clear sky the submarine crew and deadly vessel than ever. 'She is packed with the latest hosted 200 hundred of their family and friends in HM Naval equipment and weaponry and will be a potent presence Base, Devonport, Plymouth, to mark the vessel's worldwide for many years to come and whilst the hardware reintegration into the fleet after an extended upgrade is impressive it is the ship’s company who are the key period. Her CO, Commander Irvine Lindsay, addressed component in HMS Trenchant. It is an absolute honour to the ship's company on the parade ground. He be in command of such a fine body of men.' Lady Meriel acknowledged they were very keen to get to sea after the Hunt was guest of honour at the rededication ceremony. refit and praised them as the 'finest' in the Royal Navy. He She became the submarine’s sponsor in 1989 at its launch. thanked his crew's families for their support back home, Her husband, Admiral Sir Nicholas Hunt was the CinC of giving sailors the reassurance to concentrate on being as the Fleet at the time. A rededication ceremony is a operationally effective as possible away at sea. The traditional part of any Royal Naval unit’s life as she submarine entered the Devonport submarine refit complex completes a period of refit and improvement. The upgrade late in 2009; it has taken shape as one of the most ensures the submarine is ready and able to meet the capable and powerful vessels in the fleet. The submarine 's varied commitments across the world. has also undergone a number of significant improvements The crew begins a period of training and testing, ready to to her sonar suite and Cruise Missile capability. start operating around the world. 3 HAVE YOU TESTED YOURS THIS WEEK? FREE BUS PASSES & GOLD CARDS Research shows that having a working smoke alarm can As previously reported in the newsletter, you do not now give vital seconds and minutes to help you escape if a fire automatically get a Gold Card on your 60 th Birthday and breaks out in your home. Make sure that you have a there are changes to age eligibility which are now being smoke alarm fitted to each floor of your house and that rolled out countrywide. So if you are turning 60 please they work. Test them regularly - why not do it every be aware that there are changes to when you can apply Tuesday on what fire and rescue services have dubbed for a Gold Card. Before April 6 2010 (Note the date is Test it Tuesday. Go to http://www.derbys- before the last election before the politically minded fire.gov.uk/keeping-safe/fire-safety-advice-for-the- start blaming different political parties – and also note home/smoke-alarms-save-lives for more information about the present coalition have not recinded the decision by how smoke alarms save lives. Smoke Alarms DO Save Labour nor had the courtesy to let those approaching 60 Lives. The easiest way to protect your home and family from fire is with a smoke alarm. Fit smoke alarms on every know of the changes) you automatically qualified for a level of your home. Smoke alarms are cheap and easy to Gold Card on your 60th birthday. But if you are born install and they are available form DIY stores, electrical on or after April 6 1950 you will stores and most high street supermarkets. There are a have to wait longer to get your card. variety of different models to choose from. Your local Fire The changes affect anyone born on & Rescue Service will be happy to give you advice on or after April 6 1950 to April 5 1955. which one is best suited for you. Look out for one of these These changes are being brought in symbols, which shows the alarm is approved and safe. across the country, not just in Derbyshire. They are to Test the batteries in your smoke alarm every week. do with bringing age-related benefits, like free bus travel, Change them in line with the state pension age of 65 for both men and every year. Never women. If you were 60 before 6 April 2010 but still do disconnect or take not have a Gold Card then you can apply for one the batteries out straight away. If you qualify for Gold Card because of of your alarm. disability, regardless of your age you can apply Standard battery immediately. Anyone born on or after April 6 1955 operated alarms are the cheapest option, but the batteries will get their Gold Card on their 65th birthday. need to be replaced every year. A lot of people forget to There is an on line calculator on check the batteries, so longer life batteries are better. An http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/community/goldcard/eligibi alarm with ten-year batteries in the best option. Main powered alarms are powered by your home power supply. lity/online-calculator/default.asp?Submit=True to find out Generally they don't need replaceable batteries, but need when you become eligible for a Gold Card. For more to be installed by a qualified electrician. information about Gold Card contact Call Derbyshire 08 456 058 058 for more information. Those already in Alarms that plug into a light socket use a rechargable receipt of a bus pass are not affected. battery which is charged when the light is on. You can even have linked alarms installed, so that when one alarm AFM NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM detects a fire they all go off together. This is useful if you One of our submariner members was wondering why an live in a large house or over several levels. Strobe light Oppo of his who was killed whilst in Dolphin in 1947 and vibrating pad alarms are was recorded on the Submariners Memorial in Dolphin available for those who are deaf or but not on the AFM at the NMA? Apparently he was hard of hearing. Contact the Royal swimming in the harbour and tragically got run over by a Institute for Deaf People boat. The body was repatriated to his home town of Information Line on 0808 808 0123. Fitting your smoke alarm Don't Hull and our member was part of the burial party. We put alarms in or near kitchens or found all his details on the Commonwealth War Graves bathrooms where smoke or steam web page and made the enquiry to the NMA as to why can set them off by accident. The he was not listed and the following is the official reply. ideal position is on the ceiling, in the middle of a room, or in The effective start date for the Armed Forces Memorial the hallway and landing, so you can hear the alarm is 1 January 1948, which follows on directly from the throughout your home. If it is difficult for you to fit your alarm yourself contact your local Fire and Rescue Service Commonwealth War Graves Commission which for help. They'll be happy to install it for you. Make commemorates those who died up to 31 December checking your smoke alarm part of your regular household 1947. There is however one exception which is for routine. Test it by pressing the button until the alarm those members of HM Armed Forces killed in Palestine sounds. If it doesn't sound, you need to replace the battery. who are included on the Memorial. The reason for the If your smoke alarm starts to beep on a regular basis, you exception is that the Palestine Campaign is the only need to replace the battery immediately. If it is a ten year medal earning theatre which straddled the above dates. alarm, you will need to replace the whole alarm every ten This does mean that Ordinary Seaman Leaf falls years. outside the scope of the Armed Forces Memorial.

Many of the enquiries I receive from our members and The charity HELP FOR HEROES has raised nearly £100m others, have insufficient information to answer the from public donations, just three-and-a-half years after it question, and these are often re-directed to either the was formed. Help for Heroes was founded in October submarine museum, NMA or other such charity 2007 by Bryn and Emma Parry after they visited the Selly supported organisations. Please bear this in mind when Oak Hospital in Birmingham and met young patients. Their you consider your charity giving; or when voting for original aim was to raise £8m to build a new rehabilitation whom the recipients of branch charity donations are complex at Headley Court, the hospital that treats injured considered. No one minds helping; but it does cost in servicemen and women. Since the charity was founded, time and effort, of the staff of these organisations. almost £90m has been spent on various projects. 4 THE MAYOR OF DERBY FAREWELL WHISPERS FROM OAKWOOD

The branch was honoured to receive a grant from the I am never going to talk to you again Peter! departing Mayor’s Fund to further our administrative and You just have Maureen was the immediate response! liaison work with our various submarine affiliations. Cllr Amar Nath has been involved with multi events This was a notice put up in The Oak & Acorn. involving the branch over the year, and he was well impressed to be hosted by HMS Ambush, Derby’s Due to a printing error the wine list is Affiliated Submarine in Barrow in February this year. unavailable. Please ask at the bar for help. The Mayor attended our WWI submariners services on We are very sorry for the incontinence. Armistice Day, and persevered despite the appalling torrential rain, and thence moved onto the Soldiers As the age of the ‘Oakwood’ group increases so does Corner event. We have met up on events such as the the conversation on health. As per normal Jolly Jack is th Cadets 150, RBL 90 , Concerts, Coffee mornings and always willing to lend a sympathetic ear to the pain and this presentation event allowed me to say a personal suffering of fellow Matelots, and the following enquiry of thank you on behalf of the branch as I had skived off to “How long have you been suffering from Farmer Giles” watch the Windsor Tattoo the week previously, thus was made with good intent. The response, after deep missing the traditional D&D Presentation to the Mayor, thought and calculation was “About ten years, or for which I sent my apologies. whenever I met the wife”. The rest of the conversation

I asked permission for Ron and Jean Slater to attend degenerated from this point onwards; but only after the and the three of us turned up to the Derby City Registry laughter had calmed down was it was counteracted by Office where the temporary Mayor’s Office is during the his wife that they had in fact been together for 12 years, Council House two years renovation. We reported to and the fact that it had nothing whatsoever to do with reception half an hour early, and the receptionist asked haemorrhoids because all you Navy chaps have them! ‘How can I help’. I somehow managed to keep a straight face and introduced Mr Ron and Jean Slater Did you know the Oak & and I wonder if you could arrange for my Mum and Dad Acorn is about to be taken It’s Gen you over by a large popular pub to be married please? The result of this request given know; both Ron and Jean are in their 80’s was astounding, They are chain. Where did you hear with the receptionist speechless, Jean in stitches with going to that she was asked? “I’ve take over been told by good ears” we the giggles, and Ron beaming a big smile. A gentleman very soon! who we later learnt was from an Army Charity stated to were advised! Ron that he considered his Son to be a very rude chap. Ron advised that I was not One of our member’s wives his Son, and thence stated had been suffering from a very bad flu and eventually that if he was, what did it went to the doctor for help. When asked what she had make me? Besides he said taken for the problem she advised “I have been putting “The request was a bit late on that Albatross Oil several times a day to help me as him & Jean had already breathe. Being a little slow I had to ask what on earth been married for 61 years! Albatross Oil was? Apparently it was ‘Obas’ Oil she had This started me laughing, been using. Close enough wouldn’t you think? and the realisation of the wind up settled on everyone. A regular was showing his paper advertising special The receptionist was still confused by the humour, and matches of Tennis and exorbitant prices being charged. phoned the Mayors Office that they were busy and This prompted the question of ‘Where do these could you collect people from reception immediately and Wimbledon Players Play? Errr!! inferred they had better things to do than be wound up.

We adjoined to the room used for Civil Weddings (A A none regular joined the happy group in the bay misowner if ever I have heard one) and we enjoyed a window at the Oak and Acorn one lunch time. He was good old chin wag with the army gentleman prior to the soon integrated into the normal dit spinning group, until ceremony by the Mayor of Derby. he was (as normal with everyone) interrupted by a The Mayor had a talk with us after the presentations young lady. His response of ‘Let me finish!’ was met and it was obvious his support for the Armed Forces with mirth and a general cry of ‘Who do you think you was genuine. He stated he missed the Coffee Mornings are, God? Wishful thinking making impossible demands since the closure of the Council House, and had fond like that mate!! However, same certain lady once memories of the presentations to both the crews of caused hysterical laughter by stating to me ‘I can’t get a Ambush and Vanguard and had thoroughly enjoyed the word in edge-ways’. Me, I could not possibly comment. company, and pleasure of the socials we had arranged. We have wished him a happy one month holiday on Coming back from the bar one regular asked of his stepping down as Mayor at the end of May, and we mate; ‘Can you lend me 20p for a pint?’ His mate dug presented him with a set of Dolphins as a keep sake of his hand in his pocket and gave him 40p saying, at that the various events we has attended and supported, and price, get me a pint too please’. wish him and his family well for the future. Isn’t it your round was a question asked in the Oak? OXFORD SA CALL IT A DAY The response of ‘I can’t play golf now due to a bad Another SA Branch has called it a day. The official shoulder’ was as positive an answer to this silly announcement was released in the April NMC Minutes. question as could be expected!!!

5 ADMIRAL SIR JOHN BORLASE WARREN FRANKTON MEMORIAL UNVEILED Unfortunately I was unable to attend the unveiling and Navy News May 2011 dedication of the commemorative plaque at the Walter A presentation to this memorial was given at the AGM in Parker VC Memorial Square in Stapleford on Weds 18 Weymouth last year. The branch made a donation to May due to other commitments. I did have an input into the project as well as one made from the National SA. some of the planning of the day, which was satisfying. It is nice to read that the project has been brought to There are many Sir John Warren pubs still remaining in fruition is such a short time in honour of 12 brave men the area, including Ilkeston, though ironically the and the crew of HMS/M Tuna. Stapleford one has now been closed for some years. I understand the ceremony was well attended and went A memorial to has been very well. The local Joint Forces Assn Stapleford and unveiled at la Pointe de Grave on the in many other ex Service Assns including D&D were also France. The ceremony to unveil the memorial to the well represented. The following by Alan Clayton was , who took part in in included on the Ceremonial Programmes December 1942, was attended by the First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, who spoke of the qualities Born in Stapleford Hall on 2 September 1753 and baptised shown by the men of the Naval Service then as now. ‘In at St Helen’s Church on 5 Oct 1753. The Hall remained his this memorial we witness the story of courage, home, although the greater part of his life was serving the leadership and professionalism unfold, so that the quiet country elsewhere. He inherited the lapsed Borlase heroism displayed by previous generations might serve baronetcy in 1775. He first entered the Navy 1771 to 1774, as a source of inspiration for current and future from Able Seaman to Midshipman, splitting his time with generations’ said studying at Cambridge, gaining an MA in 1776. It was in Admiral Stanhope. ‘In 1777 however, that he really began a serious career as a this memorial we naval officer. He was to rise through the officer ranks by observe the enduring years of very distinguished service. From Lieutenant 1778, (as First Lieutenant he served on the Victory in 1779, then qualities of the Royal under Sir Charles Hardy and well before it was Lord Marines and Royal Nelson’s flagship), Captain 1781, Commodore 1794, Rear- Navy. This site is Admiral 1799, Vice-Admiral 1805 to Admiral of the White particularly poignant. on 31 July 1810. Much of his time at sea was fighting the Not just for its exposure to the raw elements, felt so French where he achieved some spectacular successes in acutely by the ten young Royal Marines involved in this the Channel and off the French coasts. In 1794 his capture operation in the winter of 1942, but because of this of three French led to him being honoured as a site’s proximity to the place where these brave men Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath (KB) by King were together for the last time. This memorial George III. In 1796 his squadron captured or destroyed commemorates the sacrifices made by the eight men some 220 vessels. In 1798, off the Irish coast, he defeated who gave their lives for the freedom of others. Qualities a French fleet and so thwarted its plan to invade Ireland, a which, in the pursuit of freedom continue to be special medallion was struck to mark this success, bearing demonstrated in abundance, across the world, by Warren’s effigy on one face. One could go on. Amongst courageous individuals today.’ The Admiral also the many ships at one time under his command was the thanked the people who had helped create the Temeraire later; to be immortalised in Turner’s great monument, saying ‘Memorials don’t build themselves. painting. After a few years away from the sea he returned They are a product of people’s vision, commitment, to the Navy, first to the Channel then from 1807 to 1810 he energy and financial generosity’. was Commander-in-Chief of the North American Station again at war with the French. He returned to a similar In particular he thanked the Bordeaux Port Authority, command as Commander-in-Chief of the combined North Erick Poineau and Malcolm Cavan for their efforts is American and West Indian Station from September 1812 to seeing the project come to fruition. Operation Frankton April 1814 at the time of hostilities with the Americans. involved a 60 mile journey in December 1942 Away from the navy, as a politician, he was MP for Great undertaken by a team of Marlow from 1774 (at age of 21) until 1784, for Nottingham ten Royal Marines in 1797 to1806 and for Buckingham in 1807. He was sworn fragile two man canoes, as a Privy Councillor in 1802 and then, as Admiral the Rt Hon Sir John Borlase Warren, he saw diplomatic service as to destroy ships in the British Ambassador to the Russian Court at St Petersburg port of Bordeaux by from 1802 to 1804. As a freemason he achieved high attaching limpet mines; a office, as the Provincial Grand Master for Derbyshire from sixth canoe was 1792 to 1801 then as the Provincial Grand Master for damaged while being Nottinghamshire from 1802 until his death in 1822. He was unloaded from the awarded the GCB (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Submarine HMS Tuna off the mouth of the Gironde. Bath) in 1815 and an Honorary DCL (Oxford) in 1814. He The mission was described as suicidal, but which was also a Justice of the Peace for the County of Winston Churchill said shortened the war by six months. Nottingham and in earlier years he was appointed Groom Of the ten men actually involved, two died of of the Bedchamber to his friend HRH the Duke of Clarence. hypothermia before reaching their target, six were Nottingham Corporation made him a Freeman of the town captured and executed, while the mission leader, Major in 1794 and as a young man he even owned Lundy Island ‘Blondie’ Haslar and his shipmate Marine in the Bristol Channel for six years from 1775. He married finally escaped to Spain and were repatriated. Six ships Caroline Clavering on 12 Dec 1780. Of their five children, were damaged by mines during the raid immortalised in two died in infancy and only a daughter survived him. He the 1950’s film The Cockleshell Heroes. Hasler and died on 27 Feb 1822 whilst on a visit to a friend in Sparks’ route on foot to Spain is now marked by the 100 Greenwich Hospital and is buried at Stratton Audley in mile Frankton Trail. Oxfordshire.

6 THE UNUN----PCPC PAGPAGESESESES The Hotel Bill An elderly lady decided to give herself a big treat for her significant birthday by staying overnight The Old Submariner A woman decides to have a face in one of 's most expensive hotels. When she lift for her 50th birthday. She spends £15,000 and feels checked out next morning, the desk clerk handed her a pretty good about the results. On her way home, she bill for £250.00. She exploded and demanded to know stops at a Paper shop to buy a newspaper. Before why the charge was so high. "It's a nice hotel but the leaving, she says to the shopkeeper, 'I hope you don't rooms certainly aren't worth £250.00 for just an mind my asking, but how old do you think I am? 'About overnight stop without even breakfast." The clerk told 32,' is the reply.' 'Nope! I'm exactly 50,' the woman says her that £250.00 is the 'standard rate' so she insisted on happily. A little while later she goes into Asda and asks speaking to the Manager. The Manager appeared and the counter girl the very same question. The girl replies, forewarned by the desk clerk announced: "the hotel has 'I'd guess about 29.' The woman replies with a big smile, an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference centre 'No, I'm 50.' Now she's feeling really good about which are available for use." 'But I didn't use them," she herself.. She stops at a Chemists on her way down the said. ''Well, they are here, and you could have," street. She goes up to the counter to get some explained the Manager. He went on to toothpaste and asks the counter girl this same burning explain that she could also have seen question. The girl responds, 'Oh, I'd say 30.' Again she one of the in-hotel shows for which the proudly responds, 'I'm 50, but thank you!' While waiting hotel is famous. "We have the best for the bus to go home, she asks an old submariner entertainers from Edinburgh, Glasgow, waiting next to her the same question. He replies, 'Lady, and Aberdeen performing here," the Manager said. "But I'm 78 and my eyesight is going. Although, when I was I didn't go to any of those shows," she said. "Well, we young there was a spot on way to tell how old a woman have them, and you could have," the Manager replied. was. It sounds very forward, but it requires you to let No matter what amenity the Manager mentioned, she me put my hands under your bra. Then, and only then replied, "But I didn't use it!" The Manager was unmoved, can I tell you exactly how old you are.' They wait in so she decided to pay, wrote a cheque and gave it to silence on the empty street until her curiosity gets the the Manager. The Manager was surprised when he best of her. She finally blurts out, 'What the hell, go looked at the cheque. "But madam, this cheque is only ahead.' He slips both of his hands under her blouse made out for £50.00." ''That's correct. I charged you and begins to feel around very slowly and carefully. He £200.00 for sleeping with me," she replied. "But I bounces and weighs each breast and he gently pinches didn't!" exclaims the very surprised Manager. "Well, too each nipple. He pushes her breasts together and rubs bad, I was here, and you could have." them against each other. After a couple of minutes of this, she says, 'Okay, okay, How old am I?' He 40 Years Of Marriage . A married couple in their early completes one last squeeze of her breasts, removes his 60s was celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in a hands, and says, 'Madam, you are 50.' Stunned and quiet, romantic little restaurant. Suddenly, a tiny yet amazed, the woman says, 'That was incredible, how beautiful fairy appeared on their table. She said, 'For could you tell?' The submariner says, 'Promise you being such an exemplary married couple and for being won't get angry?' 'I promise I won't' she says. 'I was loving to each other for all this time, I will grant you each stood behind you in the queue at Asda!’ a wish.' The wife answered, 'Oh, I want to Some Facts Of Life . Man who wants pretty nurse, travel around the world with my darling must be patient. Passionate kiss, like spider web, leads husband. The fairy waved her magic to undoing of fly. Lady who goes camping must beware wand and, poof! Two tickets for the of evil intent. Squirrel who runs up woman's' leg will not Queen Mary II appeared in her hands. find nuts. Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion. The husband thought for a moment: 'Well, Man who runs in front of car gets tired, man who runs this is all very romantic, but an opportunity like this will behind car gets exhausted. Man who eats many prunes never come again. I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to get good run for money. War does not determine who have a wife 30 years younger than me. The wife, and is right, it determines who is left. Man who fight with the fairy, were deeply disappointed, but a wish is a wish. wife all day get no piece at night. It takes many nails to So the fairy waved her magic wand and poof! The build a crib, but one screw to fill it. Man who drives like husband became 92 years old. The moral of this story: hell is bound to get there. Man who stands on toilet is Men who are ungrateful sods should remember fairies high on pot. Man who live in glass house should are female. change clothes in basement. Man who fish in other man's well often catch crabs. And finally "A lion will not Photo Opportunity . Got a phone call from my mate cheat on his wife, but a Tiger Wood! last night. He had just got back from a day out in London and told me that whilst there he'd acquired a Women As Worked Out By A Tiff ! brand new top of the range camera absolutely free. I asked, ''Where did you get that?'' He said, ''I met a very nice family from Japan whilst I was in Trafalgar square and was just passing the time of day with them. After a few minutes I was about to go when the male member of the family asked me if I would mind taking a photograph of them and handed me his camera. They lined up as a group against one of the lions and were all smiling at the camera. Just as I was about to click the button I shouted to them, ‘WAVE!’ and they all rushed past me and I never saw them again!!''

7 Ladies Talking in Heaven 1st woman : Hi! Wanda. Chances Of Winning An Argument 2nd woman : Hi! Sylvia. How did you die? 1st woman : I froze to death. 2nd woman : How horrible! 1st woman :; It wasn't so bad. After I quit shaking from the cold, I began to get warm & sleepy, and finally died a peaceful death. What about you? 2nd woman : I died of a massive heart attack. I suspected that my husband was cheating, so I came home early to catch him in the act. But instead, I found him all by himself watching TV. 1st woman : So, what happened? 2nd woman : I was so sure there was another woman there somewhere that I started running all over the house looking. I ran up into the attic and searched, and down into the basement. Then I went through every wardrobe and checked under all the beds. I kept this up until I had looked everywhere, and finally I became so exhausted Various Views On Marriage that I just keeled over with a heart attack and died. 1st woman : Too bad you didn't look in the freeze, we'd both You have choices in life: You can stay single and be still be alive. miserable, or get married and wish you were dead.

At a cocktail party, one woman said to another, 'Aren't you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?' Viagra. A woman asks her husband at breakfast time, 'Yes, I am. I married the wrong man.’ "Would you like a full English, bacon and eggs, a slice of toast, and maybe some grapefruit juice and tea?" He A lady inserted an ad in the classifieds: 'Husband declines. "Thanks for asking, but I'm not hungry right Wanted'. Next day she received a hundred letters. now. It's this Viagra," he says. "It's really taken the They all said the same thing: 'You can have mine.’ edge off my appetite." At lunchtime, she asks him if When a woman steals your husband, there is no better he'd like something. "How about a bowl of soup, revenge than to let her keep him. homemade bread rolls, or a cheese sandwich?" He declines. "The Viagra," he says, "really trashes my A woman is incomplete until she is married. desire for food. Come dinner time, she asks if he wants Then she is finished. anything to eat "Would you like a juicy T-Bone steak A little boy asked his father, 'Daddy, how much does it and chips? Or maybe a Pizza or Chinese Take-away?" cost to get married?' Father replied, 'I don't know son, He declines again. "No," he says, "it's got to be the I'm still paying.’ Viagra. I'm still not hungry." The following breakfast the husband is still declining all offers of food and the wife A young son asked, 'Is it true Dad, that in some parts of snaps, "Well," she said, "Would you mind getting off me Africa a man doesn't know his wife until he marries her?' for a while? I happen to be starving." Dad replied, 'That happens in every country, son.’

Then there was a woman who said, 'I never knew what

real happiness was until I got married, and by then, it A Queensland Stockman and his wife had just got was too late.’ married and found a nice hotel for their wedding night. The man approached the front desk, and asked for a Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence. room. He said, 'We're on our honeymoon and we need If you want your spouse to listen and pay strict attention a nice room, with a good strong bed." The clerk winked, to every word you say, talk in your sleep. 'You want the 'Bridal'? The drover reflected on this for a moment and then replied, "Nah, I Reckon not. I'll just Just think, if it weren't for marriage, men would go hold onto her ears until she gets used to it." through life thinking they had no faults at all.

First man says, 'My wife's an angel!' Second man remarks, 'You're lucky, mine's still alive.’ A Small Boy says to his father "Dad, what's the difference between 'theoretically' and 'realistically'?" His A Woman's Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray for: Wisdom, to dad thinks, and then says "Right-ho son, go and ask understand a man, to love and forgive him, and for your mother if she'd sleep with David Beckham for a Patience, for his moods. Because Lord, if I pray for million quid." The boy toddles off and comes back Strength, I'll just beat him to death' saying "Dad, dad, she said she would! She would sleep with David Beckham for a million pounds." "OK son," Husband and wife are waiting at the bus stop with their says his dad. "Now go and ask your sister the same nine children. A blind man joins them after a few question." The boy toddles off, and comes back saying minutes. When the bus arrives, they find it overloaded "Dad, dad, she said she would too!" So then his dad and only the wife and the nine kids are able to fit onto says "Right, son, now go and ask your brother if he'd the bus. So the husband and the blind man decide to sleep with David Beckham for a million pounds." The walk. After a while, the husband gets irritated by the son comes back excitedly saying "Dad! Dad! He said he ticking of the stick of the blind man as he taps it on the would too!" "Well there you have it, son," said his dad. footpath, and says to him, 'Why don't you put a piece of Theoretically we could be sitting on three million quid. rubber at the end of your stick? That ticking sound is Realistically we're living with two tarts and a poof. driving me crazy.' The blind man replies, 'If you had put a rubber at the end of your stick, we'd both be on the bus, so give it a rest will you'

8 BRITISH FORCES NEWS This will deliver a longer-lasting and more cost-effective SUBMARINE CREWS FEEL PRESSURE capability. Dr Fox said: "The continuous at sea 20 May 2011 By Tim Cooper deterrent is the ultimate guarantee of our national It is known as the Silent Service frequently performing security and for the past 42 years the Royal Navy has its secret duties out of view of the public, and often the operated continuous patrols to ensure just that. "We do rest of the Royal Navy. But concerns about crew not know how the international environment will change welfare have begun to surface as Submariners begin to over the next 50 years and we cannot dismiss the feel the strain. Crewmembers have to deploy more possibility that a direct nuclear threat to the UK might frequently, because replacements for them are not there. emerge. "It is simply not the right time to unilaterally The navy admit recruiting sailors for the submarine give this capability up. This programme of great national service has always been difficult and in some years, importance will also secure the future of one of Britain's targets have not been reached. New marketing and major manufacturing sectors." The approval of this recruitment strategy’s are now being tried, including an early phase of design, known as Initial Gate, ensures Ipod app stressing the virtues of a life beneath the that while the main build decision for the submarines will waves and are starting to make a difference. But from not be taken until 2016, more detailed design work will the recruitment of marine engineers or junior officers, it be undertaken and long-lead items ordered so that the is several years before they can come on stream first submarine is delivered in 2028. The MOD's operationally and go out to sea. At HMS Sultan in Director Submarines, Rear Admiral Simon Lister, said: Gosport, highly specialised training for the next "While the Pressurised Water Reactor used in our generation of submarine engineers is taking place, existing submarines is a robust, highly controlled which is a hopeful sign for the overworked current crews. system that meets our stringent safety standards, the There’s no doubt with the new generation of Astute new Pressurised Water Reactor 3 (PWR3) will deliver class submarines coming on stream, the submarine further improvements such as ease of operation and service will continue to offer a challenging and lower costs over its extended life." Thousands of jobs potentially extremely rewarding career going forward. will be secured across the country as a result of However, while recruitment targets are now being met, successor nuclear deterrent contracts being placed. until those recruits are trained, highly skilled submarine Under this next phase, contracts are likely to cost in the crews will continue to be pushed harder and worked region of £3bn. Overall, it is estimated that the longer than liked. submarines will be within the £11-14bn estimate set out The newsclip can be viewed/listened to on: in the 2006 White Paper. As part of the Value for http://bfbs.com/news/navy/submarine-crews-feel- Money Study conducted alongside the SDSR, it was pressure-47797.HTML concluded that the MOD could demonstrate its The response from one of my friends a retired Officer commitment to disarmament by reducing the number of was: But, if I recall rightly, according to a recent news warheads and missiles carried on our submarine and report, which you probably heard, the PM says defence this work is already underway. The Coalition chiefs always complain that they are under-resourced (I Government is committed to maintaining a minimum think what he would like to have said was ‘whinge’) credible nuclear deterrent and policy remains that a when they are quite adequately resourced! Sound of minimum nuclear deterrent based on the Trident missile hollow laughter. I could not agree more, our T-Boats delivery system and continuous at sea deterrence is are being thrashed, V Boats and crews struggling to right for the UK. The Coalition Agreement reflected the cope, and A Boats working hard to get into commission. desire of the Liberal Democrats to continue to make the However the bottom line as it was towards the end of case for alternatives. That is why the Defence life of the P & O Boats; the number of platforms is just Secretary has also announced the initiation of a study to plain and simply not enough for the jobs in hand. As the be undertaken by the Cabinet Office and overseen by T-Boats come up for decommissioning, and the V Boat the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, to review the replacement programme gets put back to save money, I costs, feasibility, and credibility of alternative systems. can only see the problems getting worse. We have a very professional submarine service, who will always LUNCHEON CLUB OAK & ACORN 25/5 make do to get the job done; it’s a pity our government The numbers in May were down to 15 due to holidays does not appear to appreciate their professionalism. and hospital stays. However, despite some recent Finally another comment on this article was; Thanks for reservations, the quality and service was excellent, and this, very interesting but I am sure this is just an excuse the lunch was really enjoyable. I really do think the or a precursor to recruiting women for service in Luncheon Clubs are the jewel in the crown of the submarines. Watch this space . What a justifiably branch, and this once a month social of all members, cynical lot us ex Royal Navy are, but there again, very wives and guests is something to be continued. unfortunately, we are proved right time and time again!! The venue next month is a revisit to the Master Locksmith, a venue we have not been for some time VANGUARD SUB REPLACEMENT CHOSEN and principally the menu is on a two for ten pounds Wednesday, 18 May 2011 - Source: MoD basis. With some small portions at £5.05 and a full Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox has today announced portion on the two for £10 basis I have made a pledge that approval has been given for the early phase of to accept any offerings of scampi or steak before you design of the submarine that will deliver the UK's start! Joking apart a good varied menu to suit anyone, nuclear deterrent well into the 2060s. The submarines a venue on a reliable bus route for those lucky enough that will replace the existing Vanguard Class will be to have a free bus pass, and hopefully within travelling powered by a new nuclear propulsion system known as distance of most. Its once a month, good fun and good the Pressurised Water Reactor 3 (PWR3). company, support the event by giving me a ring with your order as Ron is away until a day or two beforehand. 9 SUBMARINE MUSEUM NEWS It is hoped that volunteers will play an important role in From: Tim McClement To: James Perowne 27 May all these activities as the project aims to clock up to HMS ALLIANCE APPEAL - UPDATE 2,500 hours of volunteer time over its life span. If you are interested in volunteering for HMS Alliance then Dear James, I am delighted to inform you that the please call 023 92545033. Fundraising still continues Trustees of the Heritage Lottery Fund have just as the conservation work is budgeted to cost £6.5m. announced their approval of our application for a grant Over £5.8 million in funds and pledges have now been of £3.4M for the project to restore HMS Alliance. This raised, including this £3.4 million award by the Heritage successful outcome reflects the quality of the bid we Lottery Fund. Also a further £1.5 million is required for a submitted and the HLF Trustees’ view of the new Alliance gallery. For more information on Saving significance of the project. The announcement is also HMS Alliance and how people can get involved, call the the green light for the work on HMS Alliance to begin Appeal Office on 023 9251 0354 ext 244 this summer, as we had planned. Together with the We are still fundraising to Save HMS Alliance £2.6M raised through the Alliance Appeal, the HLF grant will enable us to meet the estimated £6.05m cost HOLLAND ONE GETS TOP AWARD of the project, that is eligible for HLF support. However, A Submarine originally deemed ‘underhand, unfair and there are a number of costs which are ineligible for HLF damned un-English’ joins the ranks of UK’s engineering support but which nonetheless must be met for the greats. Holland 1, the first operational Royal Navy project to succeed. These additional costs, estimated at submarine, has just received a prestigious Engineering £750k, need to be met over the two and a half year Heritage Award from the Institution of Mechanical lifetime of the project. Fundraising therefore continues Engineers. The submarine joined the world’s first rail apace and I can already report progress in this regard locomotive, the Thames Barrier and Bletchley Park’s having raised approximately £70k towards this total in Bombe code-breaking machine on the list of award the last 3 months. Finally, I am pleased to say that last winners, which celebrates Britain’s greatest engineering month I was appointed Chairman of the Trustees of the feats. Isobel Pollock, Deputy President of the Institution Royal Navy Submarine Museum for the next 5 years, so of Mechanical Engineers and Chair of the Heritage I will be involved with the Alliance Project until its Committee, said: “Holland 1’s remarkable story can completion. Many thanks for the generous and easily overshadow the fact that this was the vessel that continuing support from the ‘Submarine Association’, dragged the Royal Navy into the modern era. “With this without which we would not have achieved this exciting award we want to not only recognise Holland 1’s pivotal result. Kind regards, Tim role in changing naval warfare forever, but also pay tribute to the tremendous restoration job that has saved this crucial part of British heritage for future GOOD NEWS FOR ALLIANCE generations.” Launched in 1901, Holland 1 was Good News to all our supporters! The Saving HMS commissioned despite the Royal Navy’s traditional Alliance Appeal has received a massive boost after staff mistrust of submarine warfare. Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson, and volunteers at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum then Controller of the Navy, described it as “underhand, scooped a £3.4 million confirmed award* from the unfair and damned un-English”. Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Stuart McLeod, Head of However in 1900 the Royal Navy secretly HLF South East, said: “This Heritage Lottery Fund placed an order with submarine pioneer investment will help transform this unique heritage John Philip Holland. Ironically, Holland treasure meaning it will still be around for years to come. had originally received the financial However, as we approach Volunteers Week at the backing needed to develop his beginning of June, it’s important to remember that in submarines from the Irish Fenian Society, addition to much needed funds it is also the vital who wanted to use the vessels to carry out hit and run contribution that volunteers make to both heritage and terrorist attacks on the Royal Navy. Holland’s great the wider economy that keeps special assets like HMS technological innovation was marrying the internal Alliance alive.” Bob Mealings, Acting Director said: “It combustion engine with the electric motor and electric comes as a great relief that our ambitious plans to battery, all in one hydro-dynamic machine. This would restore and conserve HMS Alliance has been seen as set the standard for submarines across the world for worthwhile by the Heritage Lottery Fund. We are decades to come. After Holland 1’s secret launch a extremely grateful to all our staff, trustees, volunteers year later, the boat had 12 years of experimental and supporters across the country that are working so service before being decommissioned in 1913. hard to raise the money that we need. This grant is a However while being towed to the scrap yard it hit massive boost and will mean that we can start work stormy weather and sank. It remained at the bottom of very soon.” As well as the physical conservation of the the Channel for 68 years before the Royal Navy casing, at the heart of the project is a new education Submarine Museum, working with Navy mine sweepers, programme and dynamic interpretation scheme which discovered and salvaged the wreck in 1981. Vice will bring Alliance ‘back to life’ for all visitors. Admiral Sir Tim McClement, chairman of the Royal Improvements will include dressing the accommodation Navy Submarine Museum said: “We are delighted to spaces to reflect the decades of Alliance’s service from receive this prestigious award in recognition of the the 1940’s through to the 1970’s with interactive challenges that were faced by the very first Royal Navy soundscapes that reflect how the submarine looked and submariners in Holland 1 and later by the heritage team felt whilst on operation. The Museum will also be taking which rescued and preserved her for posterity here at the project to the local community with an outreach the Royal Navy Submarine Museum.” Holland 1 is now programme featuring a range of fun and engaging on permanent public display at the Submarine Museum, events. keeping this vital piece of Britain’s engineering and military heritage alive for future generations 10 HMS INDEFENSIBLE COMMISSIONED POINTS OF VIEWS Today in a grand ceremony at Portsmouth dockyard HMS Digging through some old papers I came across a Daily Indefensible was commissioned into the Royal Navy. Mail newspaper clipping from 24 February 2009 I had Described as the stealthiest warship in the world, she is obviously cut out. Both as relevant today, as when they now the only vessel in the Royal Navy and replaces 2 were written, and printed in the Letters page. These are mothballed aircraft carriers, 6 and 4 submarines. concerns of people and questions discussed by our Responding to criticism about the shrinking fleet, the MOD members who can now realise they are not the only replied "It's not about numbers it's about quality not ‘oracles’ in the land. It is a sad fact that only our quantity. HMS Indefensible represents a revolution in naval politicians have their heads buried in the sand. procurement, stealthy, light and agile she will provide a The Other Question ; there can be very few people in highly flexible platform. She is invisible to radar and almost this country who don’t know about the allegations of the immune to torpedo or missile attack. Her shallow draft makes her ideal for work in the littoral (coastal) areas. She torture of Binyamj Mohamed and of British Government is also highly efficient with virtually zero carbon emissions complicity in it. But we know very little about other and zero fuel consumption” Admiral Sir James Bland issues this case throws up. Millions of British citizens added "She is ready to respond instantly to events and can also want to know, for example, about the pressure be deployed to trouble spots anywhere in the world. The groups who organised his legal case? Who are they? RAF have promised to fly her to wherever she's needed Do they take money from the British taxpayer, and if so, provided (1) They are not busy (2) The weather is OK (3) how does an Ethiopian citizen who once lived here on a There is a large airfield provided by a friendly foreign nation temporary leave of stay and who was arrested in close by". Constructed by Britain's only ship builder BVATe Pakistan travelling on a false passport (A criminal Systems in Birmingham, taking 8 years to build, and offence which should prevent re-entry into this country) costing just £1.5 Billion she is a triumph of British qualify to have his legal case heard and paid for in the engineering. Her forward section was built in China in 2 UK? If he’s been tortured and if our Government was weeks and then shipped to the UK. The forward section complicit in that, of course it must be exposed. But that was then joined to the stern built in Birmingham and the could be done through an international court, either in complex technical systems installed. However, the his own country or by the Americans (who had him in programme was not all plain sailing and has not been custody and who created this mess). Any facts about without its problems. torture should be out in the open, as should the facts The original design included an outboard motor but early in about the pressure groups. Mr J. Groves, Bristol the building process the Treasury insisted cost savings had No Honour In War : some people get very emotional to be made so out went the motor. After some time spent about torture, which I find strange because the same on computer-modelling and research we selected oars" people also seem to be those who regard war’s as said a BVATe spokesperson. Although £1.2 Billion over- ‘games’, to be played according to rules such as the budget and 3 years late, Secretary of State for Defence, Geneva Convention and ‘human rights’. The aim of a William Bragg says we can all be proud "The Type 48 war is to win, preferably with the least damage to programme has sustained 10,000 British manufacturing yourself. This means, in my opinion, using whatever jobs in addition to 30,000 civil servants in the MOD project means it takes to destroy the enemy. The use of the team. She will represent the leading edge of British atom bomb in World War II illustrates this concept manufacturing wherever she goes and is worth every ideally, yet there are those among us who seem to penny" Bragg also says he is hoping to see export orders regard that act as inhuman, a ‘war crime’. They would soon although as yet there has been little interest. Some ban the bomb. If it’s a case of ‘my life or yours’, morality observers have commented that her lack of any armament could be a problem but the MOD answered robustly "The does not come into it. Meanwhile I notice that war Foreign Office advised us that carrying weapons can be crimes are only every committed by the losers. seen as provocative and that actually firing a weapon at W. Barron, Manchester . someone would definitely infringe their human rights. ON A LIGHTER NOTE- SAT-NAV’S We considered this advice In the same bunch of cuttings I also found an article at an early stage in the about Who Needs A Sat-Nav ? When driving my car, a design process and together familiar voice directs me to my destination. It also with the fabulous cost- advises me at junctions about any vehicles approaching savings, the case for having left or right, and sometimes it even tells me the colour of no armament was overwhelming". Her commanding officer, the traffic lights or if they change. Cleverly, it warns me Commander Rupert Tubworthy-Pollock said "To be of anyone on crossings, or animals that may dash selected from the 1,200 officers still serving in the RN for the only seagoing command available is a great privilege. across the road. If ever I increase my speed, it says; Bringing her out of build and into commission has been a ‘You’re going fast, aren’t you?’ this I know! I would not change my personal sat-nav. Bless Her. huge challenge but I'm confident she will prove to be a great asset". With a crew of just 2, she is a fine example of My all time favourites with a Sat Nav, were enroute to lean-manning, reducing running costs and lessening the Barrow travelling on an obviously new bye-pass with a RN's recruitment headaches. Her crew, AB soapy" Watson view of the old road and village close by. The sat-nav said "On my last ship I had to share the mess with 40 other helpfully advised; ‘You are in a field, do a U-Turn’. men but on the new Type 48 sharing is far a less of a Another instance was at Ian Fraser VC Memorial problem. As I'm now the only rating in the Royal Navy I Service in Birkenhead where we left the church to go have a lot of responsibility". HMS Indefensible is expected down to the reception. As the cavalcade turned left we to complete sea trials shortly, go to Plymouth for Operational Sea Training, have a short refit in Rosyth and turned right and parked on instruction ‘You are now at then and be deployed as part of the new Euro-Navy task your destination’. Oh no we are not’ was the cry in force. unison of the three passengers as the driver hastily reprogrammed the offending item amongst much mirth. 11 IAN MOLYNEUX TRIAL Part 1 consisted of basic training and Part 2 was branch Ian Molyneux is dead and buried, Chris Hodge is still career training. In many cases both Parts were seriously injured; No doubt the other two shot at are conducted in the same training establishment but there affected mentally and all those on the boat or close were exceptions. A rating remaining in the surface fleet proximity at the time of the murder. Now a lawyer says [General Service] required no further 'Parts' training, Donovan allegedly fired an SA80 onboard Astute. Who and simply progressed in branch training through else could it be? Why do the family and those affected sources provided by his branch alma mater . His have it all drawn out until 19 September for a plea, and substantive rate was controlled on a points system case management hearing; and thence for the trial to administered by the NDA/CND. Apart from additional drag on until nearly a year after the crime; this is a crime Part 3 training, these rules also applied for a qualified in itself, and further torture to Ian’s family and all those submariner. However, a rating having completed his affected. The press report on the trial which opened on career Part 2 training, joining a specialist service, Friday 10 June is as follows: A Royal Navy sailor required a 'Part' training for that role -Part 3 for example, accused of murdering an officer on a nuclear submarine and this was the case for the submarine service. Prior docked in Southampton will stand trial next year. Able to recent times, a rating could not join the submarine Seaman Ryan Samuel Donovan, 22, is charged with the service direct from civilian life and volunteered from murder of Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux, 36, General Service to become a submariner with certain and the attempted murder of three other crewmen on age and qualifications limitations: perhaps the old way board HMS Astute in April. Winchester Crown Court of having MATURE ratings joining from naval was told yesterday (Fri 10 June) that the trial was likely service/sea service in the surface fleet, might have to be held in either January or March 2012. Donovan, avoided the situation which occurred at Southampton of of Dartford, Kent, was not in court. He is due to return Friday the 8th April 2011. Once in the submarine to court on September 19 for a plea and case service his Part 3 training was delivered in two quite management hearing. Donovan is alleged to have fired separate packages. Firstly, he underwent a detailed an SA80 rifle six times, killing Lt Cdr Molyneux and also and demanding classroom training course of many aiming shots at Petty Officer Christopher Brown, 36, weeks {in the old days in HMS Dolphin known as the Chief Petty Officer David McCoy, 37, and Lieutenant 'Brown Area'} which included an escape from the Commander Christopher Hodge, 45. The incident took Submarine Escape Training Tank [SETT], culminating in place as local dignitaries, including the city council's a written examination where achieving a given mayor, chief executive and leader, were being given a percentage allowed you to proceed to the second stage tour of the submarine while it was berthed at the or to take a boat across Portsmouth Harbour back to Eastern Docks on a five-day official visit to General Service as a failed candidate. The next stage Southampton. of this Part 3 training was at sea on a submarine where http://www.thisishampshire.net/news/9079061.Submarine_mur the theory gained was put into practice under der_trial_to_take_place_next_year/ supervision. The final challenge, now many weeks on

since joining the submarine service, was an oral FISH HEADS examination with practical application. This was © Godfrey (Jeff) Dykes - Not to be reproduced conducted by the First Lieutenant of the boat and the without permission of author 'Outside Wrecker' [an ERA, whose full time task was to For many years after the end of WW2, the UK look at the hull fittings of the submarine] and the pass Submarine Service was manned from a mixture of mark was high. It involved hands-on functionality volunteers and from quota-men who were drafted into throughout the length and breadth of the submarine. submarines often against their wishes. In the post-war Ratings were allowed one failure and a re-scrub of the years, all drafting and appointments were done from Part 3 Sea examination after which, a subsequent and through Depots, Port Divisions, chiefly Devonport, failure meant that boat ride across the harbour. On Portsmouth and Chatham. HMS Dolphin at Gosport, successfully completing his submarine Part 3 training, was the drafting authority for submariners, and it made the man was eligible to receive submarine pay. In the its requirements known to the Depots when volunteers early days, apart from pride [and relief] the extra pay were not enough to fill all billet spaces. This lasted until was the only reward, but from 1958 he was awarded the the time of the Suez Crisis [1956] and at that time, first RN submarine badge, a cloth badge, which was 1956/7, Depots lost their drafting/appointing powers, worn on the cuff of the left sleeve see THE RN and these manning functions became part of central SUBMARINE BADGE! which came in the standard drafting which was established at NDA [Naval Drafting colours of gold, red and blue. Later, in 1972, a newly Authority] @ Lythe Hill House, Haslemere in Surrey, qualified Part 3 submariner could "put up his dolphins" using the cap tally of HMS President. In 1970/71 the and wear them with pride, a gold coloured metal badge NDA lost it title, its cap tally and its location, re- worn on the left hand side of the jumper/jacket above established as CND {Commodore Naval Drafting} in the medal ribbons. To give you a little insight into the HMS Centurion at Gosport Hampshire. When all pay knowledge a submariner had to acquire, especially as and drafting documents had been moved to Gosport, he became a more senior submariner, I am showing a the Haslemere establishment closed down. By the time Part 3 book entitle "BR 2194, The 1960 Submarine HMS Centurion had been established at Gosport, all Machinery Handbook" which was a 'bible' for all submariners were volunteers and the quota-men submariners, this one is my own when I was in HM requirement was history. HMS Centurion is now no Submarine 'TURPIN'. The text which covers 'T' 'A' and more as a naval establishment, and HMS Dolphin has 'PORPOISE' Class submarines supersedes PR8107/55 long since ceased to be a submarine depot. Naval {yes, PR} which covered 'U' 'S' 'T' and 'A' Class training until recent changes, had always been submarines. These are available on web page; understood to be a two part package covering http://www.godfreydykes.info/THE_1960_SUBMARINE_MACH recruitment to first sea job. INERY_HANDBOOK.htm 12 TRIP TO THE NMA I could not resist saying as I passed ‘Don’t even think What a grand day and lucky with only one really heavy about it ladies,’ to which they burst into uncontrollable shower during our visit. It did not seem to spoil laughter as did many others at their blushes. No, I was anyone’s day at this wonderful site and I had just started unaware I could read minds either. The changes to the down the outside track with Gwen in her wheelchair. site since my last visit in Oct 2010 were phenomenal. With the wind and rain imitating Faslane and coming in The site continues to blossom, and there were 25 from the west I parked Gwen in her wheelchair behind coaches of various sizes parked up, thus is the interest. one of the conifer type trees surrounding the Armed On our visit to the NMA Ken our President & Elena his Forces Memorial and with me behind we remained wife sat for a meal with a gentleman from London who almost bone dry throughout the shower. In fact Gwen was in a wheelchair. The gentleman aged 94 years was was better than I! Well being 10:45 it seemed as good a POW in Sicily in 1942 not far from where Elena lived, a time as any to have a sandwich from my pack up!! and Ken was incarcerated in a second POW camp in the area. There were two in the area and the other was Ken’s POW camp after surviving the depth charge and sinking of HMS/M Sahib. Two days later Ken & Elena met up with my Sister and Brother in Law at a social and it transpired that Leo’s parents were both born in a Sicilian village, not far from where Elena lived where she & Ken first met during WWII. Definitely a small world.

As normal the coach raffle raised funds for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and was well supported by all onboard. To ensure everyone was a winner; a box of Photo from Naval Review towards AFM NMA chocolate tuffies were passed around the coach until they were gone; This was a consolation prize to those I thence took Gwen and her partner on the coach to the who did not draw a winner. Thanks were also Dotto Train Visit Tour pick up point, and they expressed to those passengers who had kindly added disappeared off for the twenty minute tour of the site. I extra prizes to this draw. utilised this time to go and pay my respects at the Derbyshire SA Plaque, National SA Plaque and the SA I found it amazing Memorial Plinth which is again suffering from concrete that this trip is bleed unfortunately. It cannot be helped, as this was launched to co- the approved design of memorials at the time of its incide with the dedication in 2005, but at least the two plaques Derby & District depicting our Submarines lost and Submarine VC’s are AGM in January in very good condition and of interest to many visitors. I each year. The also undertook the duty of raising a new White Ensign filling of the coach on site a duty the SA Derbyshire have endeavoured to was causing some do since the RNA flag pole was put in on site at the consternation Naval Review in the early 2000’s. See no evil, hear no evil speak no evil when it was only just about half full in March when by this time the coach was normally full. We had a big push to promote the trip and thankfully by April the coach was almost full with the final seats being filled very early in May. Very unusually the coach bookings stood firm with no drop outs until 6pm on the previous evening of the 8 th June! Thence in twelve hours two people twisted ankles and one fell ill, unfortunately leaving us unable to fill those seats. We obviously wish our poorly passengers the best of recoveries, and hopefully the branch will authorise another trip for next year. Let us have feedback please,

and do you think early June is the best time to go, and if As we approached twelve, the call of lunch beckoned not what would you suggest? and I got Gwen and co seated for lunch just before On a personal note I was back at the NMA on the twelve and the main rush. Many off the coach were Saturday at Noon, to represent my mother, who was too enjoying the carvery and other food. Despite the ill to travel to attend the WAAF Dedication. The WAAF worrying claims of high prices in the restaurant the disbanded in 1949 thus their youngest member is in her feedback from the coach passengers was that it was not 80’s! What a grand bunch; I estimate there was well extortionate. I left people to it, and joined some others over 50 WAAF Members, and it was nice to meet some to work my way through the extensive pack-up supplied of the Derby WAAF members as well who had used the by my boss, enjoying the company of several. Just prior occasion for a mini reunion nearby. It was after this visit to re-entering the building a group of Highland that I found the RBL Alrewas for a quick break (Well it Bagpipers and Drummers were making their way to a was my birthday ) and I have included a little advert in Royal Tank Corps Dedication. Stood at the door were this issue for those visiting the NMA who if you are two very pretty young ladies in their 20/30’s who were visiting from the North of the site may want to make a nil watching this band come past with their kilts swirling. miles detour? I am sure they will make you welcome. 13 TAX AND FINANCE FROM MONEYWISE If it doesn't look right, query it, any errors will affect how much you pay or potentially result in a large tax demand if With the country in the grip of austerity measures, you can you're paying too little. Given the size of most of our tax be sure that most of us saw our tax bill rise in April. But, bills, it's probably no surprise that some of us pay too much. while some of it's unavoidable, there are steps you can This can happen if you change jobs and your correct tax take to ensure you don't hand over more than you need to. code isn't used, or if you have more than one job. If the Tax rises will see the taxman receiving much more of every overpayment relates to the current tax year, contact your pound you earn. As an example, if you're a basic-rate tax office as it'll be able to adjust your tax code. If an taxpayer, for every £1 you earn over the £7,475 personal overpayment relates to a previous year, write to your tax allowance, the taxman will get 20p in income tax. On top office with your P60 and details of your income. You can of that, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will receive 12p claim back overpaid tax for up to six years, although this is in employee national insurance and a further 13.8p in reducing to four years in April 2012. You can also pay too employer national insurance. That's a total of 45.8p so far much tax on your savings as tax on interest is deducted at for the taxman, 32p of which has come out of your pocket. source. If this has happened, complete a form R40 Tax Then, if you spend the 68p you have left on something Repayment Form for each year you've paid too much. A that's subject to VAT, HMRC will get a further 11.3p. This form R85 from your building society or bank will stop future means the taxman could end up taking 57.1p of every £1 interest being taxed. Another basic that can affect your you earn. Simply refusing to pay tax isn't possible without overall financial position is tax credits. Nine out of 10 breaking the law, but figures from professional advice families with children are entitled to tax credits and any website unbiased.co.uk show we're wasting billions of pensioner receiving less than £137.35 a week (£209.70 for pounds in unnecessary tax. This includes £328 million in couples) can get pension credit. A benefit-checker such as income tax; £552 million in capital gains tax; almost £2 that provided by Turn2us can help you claim your billion in inheritance tax (IHT); and £3.9 billion in unclaimed entitlement (turn2us.org.uk). child and pension credits. The average UK taxpayer wastes an estimated £186 a year in unnecessary tax April 2011 - the key changes Income tax: Tax rates payments. The third of our four scenarios shows remain the same but there's an increase in the personal pensioners how to keep as much of your money as allowance from £6,475 to £7,475. There's also a reduction possible in your pocket and out of the taxman's clutches. in the threshold for higher-rate tax (£35,001 down from £37,401). Older people see smaller increases in their Case study: a pensioner worried about inheritance tax. personal allowances: if you're between 65 and 74, it goes Widow Cecilia Jones (73) is worried about inheritance tax. up from £9,490 to £9,940, and if you're 75+, up from She lives in a house worth £400,000 and has assets worth £9,640 to £10,090. a further £300,000. She can use her late husband's nil rate National Insurance : Rates increased in April. Employee band, giving her a total allowance of £650,000, so provided and employer contributions increase by one percentage nothing changes, she stands to leave an IHT liability of point, to 12% and 13.8% respectively. Additionally, the £20,000 (40% of £50,000). Cecilia's solution. Some employee rate on earnings above the upper limit also forward planning will get rid of Cecilia's £20,000 IHT liability. increases from 1% to 2%. Self-employed people will also Lawless recommends she uses the IHT exemptions. "You see an increase, from 8% to 9%, and from 1% to 2% for can give away up to £3,000 a year and it's immediately the upper level. outside your estate. On top of this, you can give away as Inheritance tax : The nil rate band is frozen at the amount many gifts worth up to £250 as you like to different people," introduced in 2009/10: £325,000. he explains. Cecilia can also take advantage of a couple of Basic State Pension : The full basic state pension rises other exemptions. Her grandson is getting married in from £97.65 to £102.15 a week. September and she plans to give him £2,500 as a gift. She Tax credits : Tax credits will be reduced for families also receives a small pension of £200 a month from a earning over £40,000; low-income families will receive former employer. As she lives off the pension from her late more child tax credit. husband's employer, she has decided to take advantage of Fuel duty : A 0.76p per litre increase came into force in the exemption relating to gifts out of normal expenditure, January 2011, and a further rise was due in April but I think redirecting the money to her two youngest granddaughters we have all despaired at the fuel pumps and just pay up – to stop her estate growing further. These steps, repeated What’s the choice. as often as possible, will help to reduce her estate below the nil rate band. "It's important for Cecilia to keep an eye on this," says Lawless. "Legislation and the value of assets SHARE MILITARY HISTORY can change, making it necessary to bring in additional Carole McEntee-Taylor is writing a book on the history forms of planning." If the value of Cecilia's estate of Military detention in Colchester focusing on the increased significantly, she could consider a trust. Lawless Centre today and how it has changed since 1947 and says this can be useful, but cautions against putting more needs contributions about time spent there. Carole, than the £325,000 nil rate band into one as this would who works at the Centre, explained: “Whether you were trigger an immediate IHT charge at 20%. "Life insurance is a member of staff, a detainee, a visitor or a member of another option, but she should write it in trust so the the Armed Forces who escorted someone to the Centre, benefits are paid directly to her beneficiary rather than into we’d like to hear your story. However small or irrelevant her estate," he adds. you think your memory might be, please share your

Getting the basics right. While complex planning can memory and contribute to the history of the centre. “I’ve save you thousands in tax, it's also worth paying attention received a great response from staff who worked here to the basics, such as your tax code and tax credits. This in the 1950’s, many of whom are now in their 90s. It guide will help you get the basics right. Check your tax would be great to get more stories from people who’ve code by looking at your pay slip or asking your tax office for played a part in the centre’s history throughout the a coding notice. This will detail your allowances and any decades.” To record your memories, email Carole on deductions due to state benefits or taxable employee [email protected] or call Pat on 07738 172289. All benefits. information will be treated in confidence, details can be kept anonymous. 14 UK'S TOP ADMIRAL FACES WORLD OF NEW ‘They are the jewels in the crown. We are, as the UK, DEMANDS WITH AN AUSTERITY FLEET very dependent on energy trade and energy flow. If the Nick Hopkins Guardian 10 March 2011 straits of Hormuz were closed, as they could quite easily Admiral Sir Trevor Soar has the expression of a worried be, by even one mine, then we provide a capability to man. From his desk on the third floor of the RN's be able to remove the risk. ‘There are over 200,000 UK security-heavy headquarters in Northwood, north-west nationals in that region so; it's not just about oil and gas. London, he can see a large map of the world, on which It's about the number of people we have [there] and he can pinpoint exactly where all his ships are and what providing a real capability to protect those energy they are doing. This time last year the commander-in- supply routes.’ The admiral is tiptoeing through what he chief of the fleet (CinCFleet), who was appointed in knows is a diplomatic snakepit as he weighs up how he 2009, had more ships and fewer problems. This year describes the risks and dangers, and who poses them. the balance of the equation has changed, and not in his The region, he says, is unpredictable, and the potential favour. It is his job to stretch the RN’s diminished for trade paralysis real, even if caused by accident. The resources across the high seas and ensure that British navy has six ships in the area at present, involved in interests, as he calls them, are protected. This is not different operations and under a variety of commands, about projecting power, he insists, but keeping sea and seven more in the Indian Ocean. The submarine lanes open at a time of great instability and HMS Tireless is also east of Suez, having passed unpredictability. Though it is obvious that Soar is not through the canal. The heavy commitment reflects the comfortable giving interviews, he is speaking now anxiety he has, and he chooses his words carefully. We because he sees his forces under huge strain, buffeted have got Iran; my worry is, really, 'events' that may by events abroad and funding cuts at home, and he happen in that region. We are all concerned by [this]. suspects their work is not well understood and perhaps We can provide reassurance to the Gulf states because not properly appreciated. The daily juggling act sees there is a nervousness. What we don't want to see is him pitting his wits against Somali pirates, who can now an over-reaction because of a single event. The hijack boats across a million square miles of ocean; MCMVs [mine countermeasure vessels] have a unique evacuating Britons from Libya (and providing support for capability, which I am happy to say is the best in the the , which is operating there); and world. The US will tell you that. The threat posed by preparing for the deployment of 3,500 Royal Marines Somali pirates has made the task of keeping the peace and other navy personnel who are on their way to in the region even more complex. The pirates are Afghanistan. That country remains the Ministry of spreading further afield for their attacks, getting closer Defence's (MoD) strategic priority, and Libya is the and closer to the strait of Hormuz, encouraged by current preoccupation. But neither of these are the enormous ransom payments and their classification in issues that keep the 53-year-old admiral awake at night. law as criminals, rather than terrorists. This means the The Gulf is his special worry, particularly the strait of navy cannot blow them out of the water indiscriminately, Hormuz, that narrow, potentially vulnerable channel and many pirates are released even if they are caught between the south of Iran and the peninsula of north on their way to a likely attack. The navy has growing Oman, through which gas and oil supertankers travel all suspicions that Somali pirates are linking with al-Qaida year round. Between 16m terrorists in Yemen, which, if true, would completely and 17m barrels of oil pass change the way the problem is approached. Until then, through the strait every day, the pirates are unlikely to be deterred. At the moment 40% of the world's supply. At they have 29 vessels and 653 hostages; there has been its narrowest point, the a big escalation in attacks this year, including an passage is only 1.5 miles wide. audacious attempt to seize a 300,000-tonne supertanker. ‘The secretary of state made it very clear when he took over Soar says: ‘This is about legitimate use of trade across that he regarded the Gulf all oceans, and with piracy we will start to see costs region as the second most increase, and that will be reflected eventually on the important after Afghanistan,’ shelf in how much we pay for our goods. We know Soar says. ‘I would agree. It's [shipping] insurance premiums have gone up. We know very important. We have that [companies] are having to use more fuel because of been there over 30 years, we have seen the tanker the way they are diverting round there. Potentially, if wars [when Iran and Iraq attacked each other's ships in they wanted to avoid that region and go all the way the 1980s] and various other things over that time.’ around South Africa, then that is going to increase cost Now there are new threats. If the sea lanes closed, and time significantly. So this is about UK interests even for a short period, the UK would be hit hard, and worldwide, and I think my message here is that we do quickly. ‘It would have such an impact with a 'just have global interests and we are a nation that depends enough, just in time UK',’ he says. ‘If we didn't have gas upon trade.’ Part of the job of keeping the area secure coming into this country we would run out in two weeks, will shortly fall to the Iraqi navy, which has been trained so the lights start going out, or the shelves become by British forces over the past three years. Out of the empty. "The navy has four mine warfare vessels in the spotlight, the RN has had people in the port of Umm area, and they are prized, especially by the Americans, Qasar, and Iraqi naval officers have been trained in the who have privately made it clear they will not tolerate UK at Dartmouth. The handover will take place within their decommissioning as part of the MoD's ongoing weeks. ‘The only forces left in Iraq are navy,’ says Soar. spending crisis. Though some of them are old, HMS ‘We have been doing the Iraq maritime training mission; Middleton has been in service for almost 30 years, the helping [it] to provide protection of two oil platforms. ships and their support vessels have special protected Well over 65% of their GDP flows through them. status. 15 That mission comes to an end this spring, when we SICK BAY REPORTS effectively hand over security to the Iraqis. They have been given or sold various patrol boats and we have Roy Dixon Gosport Branch . I visited Roy yesterday at trained them to use them. This is about Iraq standing Southampton General Hospital in the I.C.Unit, where he is recuperating after his Quadruple bypass heart operation on its own two feet.’ The navy will not withdraw from which he underwent on Friday afternoon, going into theatre the northern gulf, it is too sensitive and volatile an area at 1500 hrs and coming back to the ward at 2030 hrs in the to leave to a fledgling force; but Soar has not yet evening. The operation we have been informed was decided what will come next. Before then, he has successful. As can be expected Roy Afghanistan on his mind. It obviously irritates him that was still quite groggy when we visited the navy's role in the country has not been recognised, him, with tubes and wires protruding and that the army has taken most of the credit for the from various parts of his body and decade-long operation there. He says he blames the more monitors than the control room of media, partly. ‘Because you tend to talk about soldiers a nuclear submarine, and, although in and troops. Royal Marines suddenly becomes army so, some pain was cheerful in himself and yes, there is a level of frustration. We are clearly not sends good wishes to all. Today's getting the message over how much the RN is involved synopsis is that he is still not quite with with defence's main effort. it, but has had some of the tubes and monitors removed and is progressing well and is expected ‘For instance, we are now deploying 3 commando to be moved to the High Dependency Unit later today or brigade to Afghanistan. They are deploying as we tomorrow morning, Could you please pass on the above speak, so that will mean in the summer of this year we information to as many members who I may have forgotten will have 3,500 naval service people in Afghanistan , to inform. Regards Bill (Bungy) Williams, Sec Gosport. 40% of UK forces will be navy. It's not just about the brigade; we are also running the joint force support headquarters and the joint medical HQ, as well as Roy James Wales Branch . Apparently Roy had a ‘funny helicopter pilots, medics, truck drivers, etc.’ This is the turn’ as Mary, Roy’s wife put it. It happened at his sons in nub of the navy's problem. Soar does not say it directly, Somerset baby sitting. This was a week or so ago. Mary but it hangs in the air around every sentence he speaks; got him home to Bridgend where he was admitted to their the feeling that the navy has been taken for granted. local hospital. He had had a mild heart attack. He is Reeling from cuts in last year's strategic defence and recovering now and undergoing test to establish the best security review (SDSR), he is trying to keep the show course of medication to give him. Mary couldn't get hold of on the road, keep morale high, and remind people that anybody until now as Roy had everything on his PC and Mary does not do PC. When Gareth arrived he sorted it the navy is not an optional requirement for the UK. For and got hold of Ted plus probably others. Mary has asked him, it's a must. Soar's task, he says, is to ensure ‘in a me to assure everyone that he is OK but will not be home very uncertain world, that has been proved quite clearly for a week or two. As Roy was our National Treasurer for over the last few months; the navy has the ability to many years this information was advised by Dave Barlow . deliver. That means that the navy has to operate globally and it has to have the capability to meet that I have also had an update from Dave Hallas who rang very uncertain world. ‘The navy's relevance in today's Mary. She is in good spirits and says Roy is also, he was world is not always obvious to the public; we call it sea taken to their local hospital where they think they may get away with inserting a blindness. I firmly believe that we are relevant, we have stent, if that is the case he would have to a part to play.’ He acknowledges the SDSR has made be transferred to Morristown hospital his life more difficult, and there is now "no spare which specializes in such operations, capacity" in his fleet. obviously this is where the snag may

HMS Cumberland, which has been off the coast of occur as they may have to wait until Libya for the past fortnight and has won praise from such time as a vacancy occurs. Mary also stated that it hadn’t affected his speech and he can ministers for its work, is due to be scrapped next month. still talk for England or should that read Wales. Another vessel, the Royal Fleet Auxillary Largs Bay, is this week the subject of conversation between the I have also spoken to Mary and apparently Roy has been defence secretary, Liam Fox, and the Australian in trouble (What’s new for a Stoker?) The nurses were government, which wants to buy it. If he is appalled by very amused by Roy’s antics as he seemed to be doing the changes to the navy, which lost four frigates and the something very suspicious. This involved him looking Ark Royal in the defence cuts last year, down his body under the sheets of the hospital bed and he hides it well, and will not be drawn on the battles whatever it was appeared to demand his utmost concentration and the use of both hands. Anyway it was taking place in Whitehall, which are being fought, established that he was not being ultra naughty and behind the scenes, by the First Sea Lord, Mark ensuring everything still worked but he was breaking Stanhope, his boss. Soar will only say: ‘The navy has hospital rules and sending a text message on his mobile to take its share of the pain; there's no point pretending phone. Off Caps for you old chap. that we cannot play our part in this – we have to." DERBYSHIRE SICK BAY REPORT TS KENYA BATTLE OF JUTLAND DINNER Peter Rawson continues to recover from his stay in On Friday 10 June, Steve Tyler, Tony Greaves, Jerry hospital following his stroke. He is prevented from Hall wearing his President of TS Kenya Committee hat driving at present, and striving to regain stable health, and I attended this prestigious Dinner at the Stuart Hotel so is out of the loop for the time being. The Branch in Derby. The food was excellent but the drinks sends their best wishes for a full recovery. required a building society loan! We had an excellent evening in good company and arrived home in the early From all in Derbyshire, get well all three of you. hours of Saturday morning! 16 A STRANGE YEAR FOR UNUSUAL DATES DERBY ARMED FORCES FLAG RAISING Calendar for July 2011 This Annual event was very well supported with one or two members in support for the ceremony outside the Sun Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat boarded up Council House opposite the Sir Peter Hilton 01 02 Memorial Gardens. Peter Johnson carried our Standard 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 and it was nice to see six Naval Standards out of the 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 eleven on Parade. All the normal suspects where in 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 attendance, and it was a pleasant get together. The 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Mayor of Derby, Clr Les & Ruth Allen raised the flag, 31 with Adrian Harper as the RM Bugler; excellent as normal. This support by Derby City Council is much This year, July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 appreciated by the ex Services Associations. To Sundays. This happens once every 823 years. Also conclude the service I put out an idea to adjoin to the this year has four unusual dates. 1/1/11, 1/11/11, Blue Peter PH, a Crown Carvery venue to enjoy a 11/1/11, 11/11/11 and that's not all. Take the last two Lunch but only myself and Peter and Joyce took up this digits of the year in which you were born, the age you option. I can certainly recommend the Blue Peter and it will be this year. The results will be 111 for everyone in is as good as the Bartlewood Lodge we have used in whole world. Who works this lot out? the past. The car park is controlled with a £1 payable RPC LINCOLN SA but this is deducted from the price of your drink thus a The Lincoln Branch is to dedicate its new Standard on carvery and pint of Pedigree Ale came to £1.24. Thank Sat 20 August 2011, at a joint service with the Lincoln you Crown Carvery for this wonderful gesture to all RNA at 4pm Mary Le Wigford Church, Lincoln. (Service Veterans and I hope all members who were sent details and tokens have enjoyed their means too. about an hour). Standards are invited; On completion there will be a buffet at the RNA Club, Coulson Road, BRANCH POLO SHIRTS Lincoln. There will be a social evening, which they hope Can members advise me of requirements and interest in you will stay for. Anyone wishing to attend is requested a Branch Polo Shirt. The shirts are good quality in Dark to let me know by 11 July 2011 so I can pass on details Blue with an embroidered set of Dolphins (3 inches for catering arrangements and to confirm your booking. across) with Derbyshire Submariners printed underneath on two lines. If you wish to have your name SA DIARIES put on, then this will be an additional £2 to add to the First call for orders for the SA Diaries which to save cost of the £14.50 Polo Shirt. postage I will pick up at the Liverpool Reunion but will have to order before then to have them ready for WRNS COFFEE MORNING collection. I will only order as requested so please let Who can resist a call from the Jennies to help them out. me have your order either by email or if not on a slip of Jim Hunt volunteered to do the door/collection at the paper as verbal requests tend to be forgotten whereas I Cathedral Coffee Shop basement. John Sayers was in am pretty good at finding slips of paper in my pocket but support of his wife Rita who is the WRNS Branch they are totally useless unless you have printed your Secretary for Derbyshire Dales and I did roving direction name on and preferably in unjoined up writing so I can giver which was in some cases necessary. Again it was read who is making the request. noted that the RMA, RNA and Naval Associations gave maximum support and of course the WAAF, and RAF REUNIONS support and one or two mainstays of the D&DExSvcs; If you intend to go to the Dieso Boat Reunion in but overall not a patch on the wonderful Coffee Plymouth in August or the SA Reunion in Liverpool you mornings of yore in the Council House. will have to get your orders in ASAP. Anyone who has any problems with either of these events please let me GILLIAN MOLYNEUX ACCEPTANCE know. As both these events are being booked I wish to thank you so much for your kind invitation to independently by our members it would be appreciated your Trafalgar Dinner in November. I have fond if you could advise me if you are attending one or the memories of the Dinner that myself and Ian attended in other. 2009. I would very much like to accept your invitation. It would be RBL ALREWAS such an honour to join you all. As advised on page 13 of this newsletter I can highly Myself, and our children wish to recommend the RBL at Alrewas. The actual address is express our gratitude for your Rykneld Street, Alrewas, DE13 7AX. You can attendance at Ian’s funeral. The telephone book for room hire and many people that came to pay their food at competitive prices with all respects gave us a great amount of amenities and beer garden. support and comfort at such a Directions are as you leave the devastating time, and continues NMA towards the A38 North the to give us strength to face each Club is on the left before joining the day without him. I have slip road and the A38 proper. enclosed some photographs of Obviously if you are going south you will have to go up the children celebrating Ian’s the A38 to the next junction to return Southbound. You birthday on 19th May and also can pre-book food, and coaches are welcome. Visit the of Ian’s headstone, which the Web Page: children designed, and which was laid in time for http://alrewas.legionbranches.net/index.cfm?fuseaction= Father’s Day, to allow the children to be able to clubinfo celebrate the day in their own way 17 DERBYSHIRE BRANCH DIARY

2011 SA Branch Meeting . Jubilee Club, Chad, 11:30 06 Oct Commence Winter Routine Meetings

12 Oct War Widows Meeting Age Concern Eagle Market

14 Oct Coffee Morning RMPA Cathedral Tea Rooms

21 Oct Trafalgar Day (Friday) RNA Riverside Ceremony

SA Luncheon Club – Master Locksmith 29 Jun 26 Oct SA Luncheon Club – The Park Please contact Nobby to Book

Lady Winifred Hilton Memorial Service Wirksworth 02 July Invitation only via RBL 01332 514909

Annual Pilgrimage Crich Stand at 2pm. SA Branch Meeting . Jubilee Club Chad, 11:30am 03 July 03 Nov Sherwood Foresters War Memorial 05 Nov Branch Trafalgar & Affiliated Boats Dinner 06 July War Widows Svc Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool 10 Nov 10am Thurs Chaddesden Park Children’s Service

07 July Beer Festival RBL Collection Derby. See Pg 16 11 Nov 10am Friday SA WWI Graves Services 07 July SA Branch Meeting . TS Kenya 7:15pm 11 Nov 11am Friday Armistice Day Soldiers Corner W5795 Bomber Memorial Stanley Village 11:30 09 July 12 Nov Concert of Remembrance Derby Cathedral 19:30 Followed by flypast Battle of Britain Hurricane 13 Nov Remembrance Sunday 09 July Buxton Military Tattoo Evening Trip available £28

30 Nov SA Luncheon Club – The Oak & Acorn 27 July SA Luncheon Club – Cat & Fiddle

04 Aug SA Branch Meeting . TS Kenya 7:15pm

05 Aug Coffee Morning TS Kenya Cathedral Tea Rooms 01 Dec SA Branch Meeting . Jubilee Club, Chad, 11:30am 06 Aug Dieso Boat Reunion Saturday Plymouth T.B.A. Branch Christmas Lunch

12 Aug Coffee Morning RMP Cathedral Tea Rooms

19 Aug Coffee Morning Suez Vets Cathedral Tea Rooms Note : All Coffee Mornings are 10am-Noon unless stated

31 Aug SA Luncheon Club – Bartlewood Lodge Newsletter Online If you need to refer to a back issue please refer to Branch Web Page on: http://www.godfreydykes.info/DERBYSHIRE_SUBMA RINERS_ASSOCIATION_PAGE.htm

http://britishlegion- SA Branch Mee ting . TS Kenya 7:15pm 01 Sept derbyshire.org.uk/D&DexSA/Submariners_Association.htm Last of Summer Routine Meetings

03 Sept Merchant Navy Day. Market Place 11am Svc Views and comments of this newsletter do not always reflect the official policy, or decisions of neither the Derby 07 Sept War Widows Dedication NMA Details 01629 732431 Branch nor, the Submariners Association

09 Sept Guide Dogs Derby Coffee Morning Venue TBA Terry Hall, Newsletter Editor 16 Sept Sherwood Foresters Coffee Morning Cathedral Dby Submariners Association

SA National Mixed Families Weekend Derbyshire Branch 16-18 Sept At Adelphi Hotel Liverpool * See Pg 10 & 16 69 Station Road * Applications Direct to Dave Barlow per form STANLEY VILLAGE Derbyshire, DE7 6FB 17 Sept RBL Allenton Rock ‘n’ Roll Charity Night £7.50 H4H

19 Sept D&D Meeting, The Spot, Derby 10:30

28 Sept SA Luncheon Club – The Paddock Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bullshit

TS Kenya Prize Giving Night - Full Branch Support before. 30 Sept requested. Tom Smith SA Memorials Presentation A dyslexic man walks into a bra 18