friends of the Royal Naval Museum and HMS Victory Scuttlebutt The magazine of the National Museum of the Royal Navy (Portsmouth) and the Friends ISSUE 44 SPRING 2012 By subscription or £2 Scuttlebutt The magazine of the National Museum of the Royal Navy (Portsmouth) and the Friends CONTENTS Council of the Friends 4 Chairman’s Report (Peter Wykeham-Martin) 5 New Vice Chairman (John Scivier) 6 Treasurers Report (Roger Trise) 6 Prestigious BAFM Award for ‘Scuttlebutt’ (Roger Trise) 7 News from the National Museum of the Royal Navy (Graham Dobbin) 8 HMS Victory Change of Command (Rod Strathern) 9 Steam Pinnace 199 & London Boat Show (Martin Marks) 10 Lottery Bid Success 13 Alfred John West Cinematographer 15 Peter Hollins MBE, President 199 Group (Martin Marks) 17 Skills for the Future Project (Kiri Anderson) 18 New Museum Model Series – Part 1: HMS Vanguard (Mark Brady) 20 The National Museum of the Royal Navy: 100 Years of Naval Heritage 23 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard (Campbell McMurray) The Royal Navy and Libya (Naval Staff) 28 The Navy Campaign – “We need a Navy” (Bethany Torvell) 31 The Story of Tactical Nuclear Weapons in the Royal Navy (John Coker) 32 The Falklands War Conference at the RNM – 19 May 2012 35 Thirtieth Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict (Ken Napier) 36 HMS Queen Elizabeth - Update on Progress (BAE Systems) 38 Lost CS Forester Manuscript Found (New CS Forester book) (John Roberts) 39 Museum Wreath Workshop 39 Geoff Hunt – Leading Marine Artist (Julian Thomas) 40 Book Reviews 40 AGM – 3 May 2012 (Executive Secretary) 43 “What’s on?” - Forthcoming Events at the Museum (Julian Thomas) 44 Visit by Naval Museum Friends to RN Submarine Museum – 11 June 2012 48 Friends of the Royal Marine Museum visit to Albert Hall & RM School of Music 48 Benefits of Friends Membership 52 Editor John Roberts 01329 843427 ([email protected]) Design & Print Studio 6 Wickham 01329 832933 Advertising SDB Marketing 01273 594455 http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/support_friends.htm Cover Picture: “The Heavyweight Punch” by Geoff Hunt, oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches, 2005, see page 40 3 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Scuttlebutt In the last issue I wrote about the impending work on some £5,000 from their own efforts. Part of this agreement THE COUNCIL HMS Victory’s masts and rigging. Many of you will now is that the Pinnace will be used by the Museum as an aid to have seen she has now had her topmasts struck. This has fund raising and generally raising awareness of the National OF been an amazing piece of work. I know that in her heyday, Museum. This will include appearances at local events such THE FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL NAVAL MUSEUM striking topmasts was little more than a routine evolution, as the Southampton Boat Show, Yarmouth Old Gaffers and but in these days of rigorous “elfin safety”, it is certainly other trips in support of the Museum. This is a very welcome AND HMS VICTORY more than just “routine”. If you haven’t had the chance, try move and helps secure the medium term future of this historic and see the YouTube video taken by one of the riggers using vessel, and I would like to thank the Museum staff for their Patron: Admiral HRH The Prince of Wales KG, KT, OM, GCB a helmet camera as he worked on the masts. Undoing the help in reaching this agreement. bolts holding the yards was one of those occasions when you And yet another piece of good news has been the President Lord Judd hope the rigger didn’t drop a nut from that height! However, success of the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Chairman Commodore Peter Wykeham-Martin Royal Navy whilst it is sad to see the ship looking so stripped of her glory, obtaining funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards Vice Chairman: Lieutenant Commander John Scivier Royal Navy it has given the Museum an opportunity to run an exhibition the new 20th and 21st Century galleries. This helps secure Executive Secretary & Treasurer Mr Roger Trise called Bones of Oak and Iron which brings the refit work to money that has already been pledged to get new funding. Honorary Secretary Dr Campbell McMurray OBE life and is well worth a visit. Another visible recent loss has The Museum has now raised £3 million and has £1.5 million been the figurehead, which although the MoD accepts is part to go, but is confident that they can make this target. The staff MEMBERS OF COUNCIL of the restoration package, seems to slip down the list of at Portsmouth has put in an incredible amount of hard work in Lieutenant Commander Nicholas Bates, Royal Navy priorities. The loss of this very iconic symbol of HMS Victory securing this funding and on your behalf I congratulate them Mr David Baynes – Volunteers Co-ordinator does cause your Council some concern and has been the on their success. The new 20th and 21st Century galleries will Lieutenant Commander Mark Brady, Royal Navy subject of discussion with other interested parties. Council be a stunning and vital addition to the Museum at Portsmouth. Lieutenant Commander Clive Kidd, Royal Navy hopes that we can find a speedy resolution to this issue, and I am sure that it will prove to be a very popular attraction, Mr Christopher Knox restoration of her magnificent figurehead. bringing to life the part played by the Royal Navy in the 20th Captain John Roberts MBE, Royal Navy The Friends have been very fortunate to recently receive Century and right up to the current day. Mr Ivan Steele – Steam Pinnace 199 Project a substantial legacy which allows us to progress certain I make no excuse for focussing on the future for both Mr Paul Woodman projects. Council is not letting this money burn a hole in HMS Victory and the Steam Pinnace, and the new Gallery its pocket, but we are keen to use this money to good and for the National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth. EX OFFICIO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL lasting effect. Many of you will have been aware of the long All three projects are of direct interest to the Friends. A Commander John Bingeman, Royal Navy – Society of Nautical Research relationship that the Friends have had with the Steam Pinnace fundamental role of the Friends is to help the National Mr Graham Dobbin – Chief Operating Officer NMRN 199. Under Peter Hollins’ leadership her restoration was Museum at Portsmouth keep our naval heritage alive and Mr Julian Thomas – National Museum of the Royal Navy Friends Liaison achieved and Ivan Steele has taken up the baton from Peter. flourishing at a time when nationwide museum resources are Lieutenant Commander Rod Strathern, Royal Navy – Commanding Officer HMS Victory However, her boiler certification has expired and she needs under pressure, and it is good to see the way that the National Councillor Rob Wood - Portsmouth City Council a substantial refit before she can steam again. In September Museum of the Royal Navy is moving ahead. Councillor Chris Carter – Hampshire County Council at a meeting with the National Museum, agreement was reached that should assure that not only will the necessary Executive Secretary refit be carried out, but that she will be financially supported Peter Wykeham-Martin Roger Trise (023 9225 1589) [email protected] for at least another 10 years. Under this agreement, Council have pledged up to £30,000 from the recent legacy to the refit National Museum of the Royal Navy, HM Naval Base (PP66), Portsmouth PO1 3NH of the Pinnace – approximately a third of the cost. This pledge www.royalnavalmuseum.org allows the Pinnace to bid for support from National Lottery Heritage Fund and Prism for the remaining funding with a reasonable chance of success, as they have separately raised 4 5 Lieutenant Commander John Scivier Royal Navy New Vice Chairman John Scivier the new Vice Chairman of the Friends joined the Royal Navy in 1977 and after nine years as a rating, passed out of BRNC Dartmouth in 1986. He became an Air Traffic Control TREASURER’S REPORT Officer and was promoted to Lt Cdr in 2001, when he took After an exciting year for the Museum, which last month over the Naval Aeronautical received the Lottery funding for the development of the Information Centre (NAIC) at 20th Century galleries, I am pleased to report that the RAF Northolt before going Friends have also received a substantial legacy from on to serve in HMS Ocean. the estate of Mrs Eve West. She had already donated He saw active service in the a group of historically important artefacts relating to Gulf region, in support of operations in Afghanistan and in her husband’s career, the late Commander John West 2003, as part of the Op Telic 1Task Force in Iraq. In 2006 he DSC MBE Royal Navy. We have been aware of the was appointed Commanding Officer of HMS Victory, a job forthcoming legacy for over two years, which is shared he described as the best in his career. John then returned with two other charities, but have not been able to make to aviation specialist appointments before being appointed any plans as the Estate had not been settled. At last all to HMS Collingwood. the formalities have been concluded and the money now John is involved in a number of charities and is a regular resides in our bank account. We are very grateful for the UK ‘4 Peaker’, has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and trekked generous Legacy of Commander and Mrs Eve West which to Mount Everest Base Camp.