The Semaphore Circular No 661 the Beating Heart of the RNA July 2016

The Semaphore Circular No 661 The Beating Heart of the RNA July 2016 The No 3 Area Ladies getting the Friday night raffle ready at Conference! This edition is the on-line version of the Semaphore Circular, unless you have registered with Central Office, it will only be available on the RNA website in the ‘Members Area’ under ‘downloads’ at <a href="/goto?url=http://www.royal-naval-association.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.royal-naval-association.co.uk </a>and will be emailed to the branch contact, usually the Hon Sec. 1Daily Orders 1. Conference 2016 report 2. Remembrance Parade 13 November 2016 3. Slops/Merchandise & Membership 4. Guess Where? 5. Donations 6. Pussers Black Tot Day 7. Birds and Bees Joke 8. SAIL 9. RN VC Series – Seaman Jack Cornwell 10.RNRMC Charity Banquet 11.Mini Cruise 12.Finance Corner 13.HMS Hampshire 14.Joke Time 15.HMS St Albans Deployment 16.Paintings for Pleasure not Profit 17. Book – Wren Jane Beacon 18.Aussie Humour 19.Book Reviews 20.For Sale – Officers Sword Longcast “D’ye hear there” (Branch news) Crossed the Bar – Celebrating a life well lived RNA Benefits Page Shortcast Swinging the Lamp Forms Glossary of terms NCM NC National Council Member National Council AMC FAC NCh NVCh NP Association Management Committee Finance Administration Committee National Chairman National Vice Chairman National President DNP GS Deputy National President General Secretary DGS AGS CONA IMC Deputy General Secretary Assistant General Secretary Conference of Naval Associations International Maritime Confederation Naval Service Memorial NSM <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Throughout </li><li style="flex:1">indicates a new or substantially changed entry </li></ul>2Contacts Financial Controller FAX 023 9272 3823 023 9272 3371 <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected] </a>Deputy General Secretary 023 9272 0782 <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected] </a><a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected] </a>Assistant General Secretary <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">(Membership & Slops) </li><li style="flex:1">023 9272 3747 </li></ul>S&O Administrator General Secretary Admin 023 9272 0782 023 9272 2983 023 92 72 3747 <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected] </a><a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected] </a><a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected] </a>Find Semaphore Circular On-line ; <a href="/goto?url=http://www.royal-naval-association.co.uk/members/downloads" target="_blank">http://www.royal-naval-association.co.uk/members/downloads </a>or... RNA Website – Members Area – Downloads – Circulars – Code (shipmate) Snail Trail Mail - Postal Address RNA Central Office, Room 209, PP70, Semaphore Tower, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth Hants PO1 3LT 3Dear Shipmate, Welcome to the July Circular – I write this introduction as the country goes to the poll to decide our future in Europe, so by the time you read this we will know the result and our future. I am delighted to say that the comradely tone of our debates at Conference was much better than the REMAIN and LEAVE parties managed in the lead in to the referendum! It has been an exceptionally busy month for the RNA, with the NP, National Standard and me attending the moving and brilliantly managed Jutland commemorative service at Lyness cemetery on the island of Hoy in Orkney. Bob Coburn (our National Standard bearer (NSB)) was in the position of honour and right by HRH The Princess Royal, the Prime Minister and the German President for the wreath laying. You may have seen him on the TV managing his standard in very breezy conditions – but what was not shown was the freezing breeze going up his kilt (OK trousers) for an hour and a half before that! Our Hon Chaplain Ian Wheatley did a marvellous job on the drumhead service and needed the couple of tots I provided afterwards. Scapa Flow is indeed a cold and bleak place (all the trees blew away) – and gave a moving pause for thought at what the Grand Fleet sailors had to manage in 1WW for 4 years; and what large parts of the RN during 2WW had to do for 6 years. You will be pleased to hear that I managed to get a tot to retired First Sea Lords and the killick that rang the CALLIOPE bell and stood for 2 hours in the freezing cold holding his clapper! I represented the RNA at the unveiling of a commemorative stone to Boy Seaman Cornwell in Leyton (reported later), where the lad came from. There were big RNA turn-outs at the major commemorative services on 31 May in Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth. A huge thank you to the many Shipmates who attended the many Jutland services to remember and commemorate their sacrifice and duty well done. I have an apology to make - last month I told you that the Conference dates for Perth had changed, then provided the old dates! The dates next year are: Friday 2 to Sunday 4 June 2017. Booking Forms are attached at the back of the Circ. I hope you enjoy the Conference brief and the great photographs taken by Nigel. We had a good Conference at Reading, but you will see that some elements did not go so well, particularly the Gala Dinner on the Saturday night. Our travel partner, CONA Travel, have been like Rottweilers with De Vere hotels and have negotiated a substantial refund and compensation package which will mean a £70 refund for all who booked through them (this will go out directly from CONA Travel). The De Vere letter is at the back of the Circular. This goes to prove the great value that CONA travel brings and the wisdom of using them – BZ Harold Burke and his team. I am off to Cleethorpes on Friday 24th for the main Armed Forces Day event with the NSB, again representing the National President. I know that many of our branches have been planning and getting gizzits from Nigel and Steve Caulfield. I want to say a big thank you for representing the Royal Navy and the RNA on the regional and local scene and keeping our beloved RN at the front of people’s minds. This is very important work and will become harder as the memory of Afghan and Iraq fades. 4We are progressing Project Semaphore and should have the application process nailed down shortly, I’ll probably write hard copy and electronically to all branches and Areas about how this will work within the next 4 weeks or so. Andy, Nigel and I presented our Ship’s Wheel to the National Memorial Arboretum this week, for placing onto a purposed-built information shelter in the naval memorial area and overlooking our Naval Service Memorial. The wheel has been refurbished in the Dockyard (yes a real rabbit job) and looks marvellous. We had a chance to look round the new visitors centre (see background to the photo above) – which is going to be AMAZING. Sadly we can’t show you pictures from inside yet, but this is going to be a most impressive centre and our NSM information totem will be on the main route into the arboretum in the permanent exhibition area. I took the chance to look over the NSM, which is in very good nick and being kept in good order. The arboretum has put some hard standing by the info panel which really helps and the new info panel is really easy to read. The RNA bench is comfortable and in a great position as you can see from Andy and I lounging on it! The National Council has agreed to kick off the RNA’s campaign for getting the Jutland Wood established with sponsorship of 2 specimen oak trees on the avenue of 14 oaks commemorating the 14 RN ships sunk at Jutland. Can I ask you to encourage sponsorship of a commemorative tree for £20 – for which you get a very nice certificate. Mind you, any ex-Harrier pilots can sponsor an acre of woodland for £15,000! This is not just RNA, but other associations and members of the public with a naval connection. If you want sign-on forms let me know. Finally, a reminder that we are coming into the main leave season for Central Office staff during July, August and September; taking just one of the four of us out means a lot of extra burden on the others – this is no problem but I would ask for your patience and understanding if our service for queries, slops , claims or membership isn’t as slick as normal. Off to check my European health card (just in case). All the best from me and the Central Office (HQ) team Paul 5Chairman’s Chat - July 2016 Shipmates, I was totally surprised and very humbled to receive a spontaneous and prolonged standing ovation after delivering a personal statement to Conference 2016 at the end of my National Chairman’s Report. We only had 68 delegates and perhaps half that number of observers present in the Hall and so I feel I want make this Chairman’s Chat, possibly my last, a repeat of that statement for you all to read. “This will be my last report to Conference as your National Chairman. I shall not be seeking re-election in September and will be leaving the NC before the end of the year. It had always been my intention not to serve at National level beyond the age of 70. I reached that in early 2015 and having undergone two major cancer operations in the preceding 3 months, with 6 months of chemotherapy to follow, that decision was even firmer in my mind. Sadly, my great friend and National Vice Chairman for 5 years, Keith Crawford, had suffered a severe stroke and decided he could not continue in National Office. I thought that both of us going together was not in the best interests of the RNA and, as I was then feeling so well, I sought re-election last year. But the last few months have not been easy for me. While recent scans have shown no sign of either my bowel or liver cancer returning, the chemotherapy has left me with some embarrassing and quite debilitating side effects. I have, reluctantly, accepted that I am not fit enough to continue the job, and be as fully committed to it as I would want to be. I have been National Chairman for 6 years, starting in that office the same day as Paul Quinn took over as GS. It has been a great pleasure working with him during that time and I thank him for all the excellent advice and support he has given and the great friendship he has shown to me. The same comments go to the National President with whom I have worked closely for a little longer. It has been a productive time and lot of fun and I thank you both most sincerely. I would have laughed if someone had told me 32 years ago when I left the RN as a run of the mill schoolie that in years to come I would be telling a Captain what to do and pulling the leg of a Vice Admiral. But I started on that path just 4 years later when I joined the RNA, rekindled the Naval camaraderie I was missing in civvy street, and I have enjoyed it enormously ever since. It has been a pleasure to repay to you members what I hope was as dedicated a service as I had received from your shipmates in my Naval career. I have even had the pleasure of serving on National Council alongside one of my former Fleet Air Arm class trainees – I taught him a bit about electronics then and he has taught me a bit about accounts since. Thank you, National Treasurer. There are so many other people I want to thank too; the many colleagues I have worked with on National Council; the Branch and Area Committee members in Area 8 who have given me great support and friendship for over 20 years; that also applies to the warmth of welcome I have received from the many other Branches and Areas I have visited; the very many members with whom I have had email or telephone contact; our small but committed Central Office Staff to whom we all owe so much; and Kevin Cornelius for his hard work and sound advice on our 6behalf. But most of all I want to say a special thank you to my wife, Gail. When I was Branch Secretary she was known as the Secretary’s Secretary. She has also been the Secretary of the Area 8 Treasurer, and Area DNCM and NCM, the National Vice Chairman and National Chairman, plus to all the other voluntary and charity roles I have held locally in Tenbury Wells. She was a true Naval wife and has been unstinting in her support for me as an RNA wife – she would even say an RNA widow for much of the time. She is delighted I have at last decided to step down and it is now time for me to give her all the support she deserves. We have seen huge changes in the RNA over the last 6 years. To name just a few: the Partnering Agreement with the RN; rebranded the RNA and launched a highly successful website with on-line membership; developed and unveiled the hugely popular and successful Naval Service Memorial at the National Arboretum; brought in many new lines of RNA branded clothing; established a significant improvement in the management of RNA accounts; run 6 successful conferences; developed the RNA’s first ever future strategy; evolved the most innovative and respected Naval Service Leavers Transition programme ever; received high acclaim as a prime Naval Partner in the Jutland 100 Wood Project; won an award of £650K for funding Project Semaphore to combat digital social isolation of Naval Veterans; instituted the very popular HQ Open Days; developed CONA into a large and successful Naval veterans forum; and brought in the Mentoring of Part 1 and 2 RN Trainees. Also, we have produced much-improved monthly circulars, annual conference minutes and trustee reports, and have some worthy shipmates enjoying the Patron’s Lunch on the Mall tomorrow. I am pleased and immensely proud to have played just a small part in much of that. I am sure we have made the RNA more attractive. It is important for us all to remember that we members don’t own the RNA, but are just its current custodians. We have kept held high the torch passed on to us by our past members who have crossed the bar, and it is now up to us to ensure that torch is carried forward to maintain a strong and thriving RNA for future generations of our Royal Navy Shipmates and Oppos to join. Thank you, Shipmates, and I wish you all well in your endeavours.” Shipmates, I have had a great time serving on National Council for the past 10 years. As your National Chairman for six of them I know I have not pleased all of the members all of the time, and even some of the members for none of the time, but my actions have always been driven by what I felt was in the best interests of the RNA as a whole. The RNA has been such a huge part of my life since I left the Navy, and it has been my most earnest desire to try and help make it so for generations of sailors to come. It has been a pleasure serving you, enjoying your support and friendship, and soon I shall return to being just an ordinary branch member alongside you all, keeping the flag flying in our local communities for not just A Naval Association but for THE Royal Naval Association. Yours Aye, Chris Dovey 7Daily Orders <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">1. </li><li style="flex:1">2016 Conference Report – Wokefield Park Reading </li></ul>The Association met for its annual reunion at the Wokefield Park Hotel Reading from Friday 10 June to Sunday 12 June. 300 Shipmates booked into the Hotel and met on the Friday night for a ‘meet and greet’ – which really meant several beers in the bar with the footy on the large screen TV. The main Conference room was available, but the layout of the hotel meant that there were plenty of quiet corners for shipmates to have a good natter and catch-up. Shipmates arriving on Friday afternoon were met by the Area 3 team led by S/M Bob Scott (Area Chair) and the tireless S/M Soapy Watson. The Conference got underway promptly at 1000 with 71 delegates registered for attendance. The Conference room was ideal for the job, being roomy well-lit and quiet (except when the motions were being discussed)! Bob Coburn marched in the National Standard and Rev Ian Wheatley opened with a prayer and brief reflection that included an excellent joke. Councillor Quentin Webb opened conference and welcomed the RNA to West Berkshire as the Chair of the West Berks District Council. He stayed for the first hour of Conference and left with the traditional flask of 54% Pussers Rum! We had only heard on the previous Tuesday that the Commandant General of the Royal Marines, newly in post, had been called at short notice to Brussels, and could not deliver the keynote speech and update on the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. It was sadly too late to find a replacement. So S/M Ivan Hunter the new Chair of the Standing Orders Committee got us going with the approval of the standing orders for Conference. The National President then made his address to Conference. He started with paying tribute to 3 Area for organising their end of Conference and recalling the contribution of shipmates who have crossed the bar, in particular S/M David Tollerton (Crosby) and S/M Alan Booth (Rayleigh). He reflected on some of the successes of the year, the Biennial the new Shipmates and Oppos programme and Project Semaphore aimed at digitally isolated naval veterans. He noted the many Jutland commemorations, the Patrons Lunch on the following day and the important Jutland Wood project which the RNA was the main partner with the Woodland Trust. He finished with his observation that the RNA was in great health as a vigorous and forward-looking organisation. He also said he was looking forward to the subscriptions debate to much ironic laughter So we got on with the President’s Prizes With 8 Area winning the Tasker Bowl, 9 Area the Sword; Plymouth the Brigg’s Dirk, Sleaford the Rose Bowl and Almunecar and Riyadh the overseas certificates. 8Well done to all! He took the chance to present Warrant Officer1 Jan Cox with her Vice President badge following her appointment by the NC the day before replacing WO1 Tim Bowers who has now left the RN. He then presented the new Area Standard bearer sashes to representatives from each Area; which made a fine show. The Chair of the SOC announced the results of the elections Area 1345 NCM Foley Scott Knight Ambrose DNCM Lloyd McLean Haig SOC Election (Supervised by NC) 2 places available S/M R Ascott - 48 votes elected S/M J Tubman - 43 votes elected S/M T Howard - 42 votes Hamond <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">12 </li><li style="flex:1">Stephenson Purkis </li></ul>The Hon Treasurer then traversed the rows and shinnied up the columns of the Accounts in briefing Conference on the 2015 Financial Year (not repeated here since the Accounts have been sent to branches (and to save 1,000 trees). A question was asked about the reduced PR budget, as counter-intuitive to increasing membership, a technical question about pooled fares and one about accountancy fees. The National Chair made his annual report of the NC to Conference, covering the details of 2015 and the many achievements during the year. However he surprised Conference by announcing that he is to stand down as National Chairman in September due to ill health. He thanked his wife Gail, his branch and Area colleagues, Central Office staff and the NC. You can read most of what he said in his Chairman’s Chat in this edition of the Circular. He received a 5 minute standing ovation from the delegates, which was a really moving tribute to his marvellous term of office, tissues were required on the top table! Then followed two presentations, the first regarding Project Semaphore made by the GS and Lt Sharon Brown RNR, the Project Manager. Progress on the project was reported and many really excellent questions were asked. Mr Karl Mitchell took the delegates through the Jutland Wood project and welcomed the NC decision to lead the RNA push with sponsorship of 2 specimen oak trees in the avenue of 14 oaks representing the 14 RN ships lost at Jutland. We then moved to the motions part of the day (the Conference follows the AGM before it). There was one motion of urgency to hold the 2018 Conference in Dublin which was unanimously passed when the fact that Guinness comes from Dublin was pointed out. A big thank you to Dublin branch and 12 Area for their offer to hold the conference in Dun Laoghaire at the Royal Marine Hotel. The first three NC motions were technical rule tidying-up and went through quickly and unanimously. We then moved on to NC motion 4, to increase subscriptions to £14 with effect from 1 January 2017. The motion was proposed by NCM2 who pointed out that subscriptions were the only guaranteed income for the Association and had remain unchanged for 11 years. Speakers spoke against and for the motions; bringing up issues of affordability, effect on club 9associate members, the increase is once only a year and the price of a pint. The NP as Chair reminded delegates to vote with their conscience and if an increase was not now then did it mean that subs never increased. Is this the time? The vote was 54 votes For and 14 Against, so the motion was carried. We then went to Motion 2 which proposed smaller increases in future years. Again NCM 2 spoke to the motion reminding delegates that Conference 2015 had asked for smaller regular increases rather than a ‘cliff edge’ – and allowed future planning. Most delegates spoke against the motion the crux of the argument being that the NC should come to Conference for an increase when they know what the finances are like in those years. 30 votes For and 40 votes Against, so the motion failed. NC motion 6 was about the removal of the £100 cap for Life membership. A relatively short debate followed and the motion was carried 57 For and 9 Against. We then went to NC motion 7 which proposed a differentiated fee for a Certificate of Appreciation. NCM 4 put the NC case that the CoA now provided full voting rights for AM and the fee recognised that fact. CoA to FM or LM did not confer new rights, hence the differentiated fee. There were several speakers against, some of whom raised the issue of affordability for small branches. NCM 4 in his right of reply said that any AM that was deserving of a CoA should not be stopped by a worry about fees and the branch should apply to the club and branch support fund through their NCM. The vote was For 43 and Against 21 (4 did not vote) although NP announced that the majority was insufficient the Chair of the SOC pointed out later that the required two-thirds majority of votes cast (not delegates present) had been met and the will of Conference was that the motion passed. GS announced this the following day at the Church Service.

The Semaphore Circular No 661 the Beating Heart of the RNA July 2016

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