The Semaphore Circular No 647 The Beating Heart of the RNA March 2015 Chrissie Hughes (Shipmates Administrator), Michelle Bainbridge (Financial Controller) and Life Vice President Rita Lock MBE offer sage instructions to AB Andy Linton and AB Jo Norcross at HQ after they were ‘Volunteered’ for supplementary duties with the RNA! Andy and Jo commented later it is a character building experience!! RNA members are reminded that hard-copies of the Circular are distributed to each branch via their Secretary, but “silver-surfers” can download their own copy from the RNA website at www.royal-naval-association.co.uk .(See below) Daily Orders 1. Welfare Seminar Update 2. IMC Sailing Camp 3. Gallipoli Event Whitehall 4. 75th Anniversary of Dunkirk Invitation 5. Guess Where? 6. Can anyone beat this Car Registration 7. Request for assistance 8. Finance Corner 9. Donations received 10. Free to a good home 11. Di from Llandrod Wells 12. Caption Competition 13. Can you assist 14. Spotters Corner 15. The Atheist and the Bear 16. Virtual Branch 17. RN VC Series – Captain Edward Unwin 18. Fifty Shades of Pussers Grey 19. Type 21 Memorial 20. Old Ships 21. HMS M33 Appeal 22. Down Memory Lane Longcast “D’ye hear there” (Branch news) Ship’s Office 1. Swinging the Lamp For the Branch Secretary and notice-board Glossary of terms NCM National Council Member NC National Council AMC Association Management Committee FAC Finance Administration Committee NCh National Chairman NVCh National Vice Chairman NP National President DNP Deputy National President GS General Secretary DGS Deputy General Secretary AGS Assistant General Secretary CONA Conference of Naval Associations IMC International Maritime Confederation NSM Naval Service Memorial Throughout indicates a new or substantially changed entry Contacts: Financial Controller 023 9272 3823 [email protected] FAX 023 9272 3371 Assistant General Secretary (Membership & Slops) 023 9272 3747 [email protected] Deputy General Secretary 023 9272 0782 [email protected] Shipmates Administrator 023 9272 0782 [email protected] General Secretary 023 9272 2983 [email protected] Admin 023 92 72 3747 [email protected] Find Semaphore Circular On-line ; http://www.royal-naval-association.co.uk/members/downloads or... RNA Website – Members Area – Downloads – Circulars – Code (Shipmate) RNA HQ Staff continue to attempt to build a library of e-mail addresses within the Association. It would be extremely helpful if those Branch Secretaries able to communicate by e-mail would forward a short e-message to HQ to [email protected] Snail Trail Mail - Postal Address RNA HQ, Room 209, PP70, Semaphore Tower, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth Hants PO1 3LT Dear Shipmate Readers, Welcome to the March Semaphore Circular, written on a cold drizzly day in Portsmouth. As you will see we have two RN sailors with us at present, AB Andy is helping Nigel with 3,500 entries into the HMRC website for Gift Aid, which will take him a month full time, after which he will be glad to get back to working part of ship. AB Jo is with us for longer and is helping Michelle in the Finance Office, so you may well get to know her on the phone. Lots to get your teeth into this month, so a few business points first: • You should now be booked into the Royal Burstin Hotel for Conference, those on the free trip to France should have told the Hotel. You should already have registered your delegate and any observers. The Agenda should be out with the next Circular for you to see proposed motions and the NCM and DNCM candidates. • A reminder that when you arrive at the Hotel and park you MUST let the reception know, or you will be charged parking, apparently the company that runs the parking for the hotel is very strict. • You need to have chatted over your support of the Biennial Parade on 6 Sept. We hope to have marchers from many naval associations, and contingents from Ireland, Belgium and Holland, through our IMC contacts. A good knees up afterwards at the Civil Service club – with the cheapest beer in London. • Michelle provides some great advice and guidance on annual branch returns in her section – do please read it carefully both Hon Tres, Hon Sec and Chair to ensure this is done quickly and easily. • This month is the only call for the IMC Sailing Camp, with a tight deadline of late March for nominations. This is due to a late change in venue. The dates should be OK for most students in mid July, highly subsidized this should be a good adventure. • Last month I have advertised the Italian Naval Association’s major bash in Ravenna in May. No takers so far, so last call for expressions of interest. • A gentle reminder that the Branch insurance deal is available from Ansvar and a very interesting new personal insurance package that is tremendous value for money. Details are on the benefits page. • There are still places in the Gallipolli 100 march with over 48 RNA signed up for a great experience. Give Nigel a ring if you want to book a place or find out more about it. • I would also would like to remind you of the fantastic value of the RAC deal, absolutely unbeatable for motoring cover and will save you £££££. I hope that those attending the Welfare Seminar have a great day, with a really interesting and relevant group of speakers. If you want a late place, that is no problem, just e-mail Rita Lock at [email protected] for further details and a place. I also hope you enjoy my ’50 Shades of Pusser’s Grey’ Chapter 1 – just as the movie comes out!! Kindest regards Paul General Secretary 1. RNA Welfare Seminar Update The RNA Welfare Seminar will be held in the WO’s and Senior Rates Mess HMS Nelson March 28th 2015. The programme for the Seminar can be found below: Programme 0915 Delegates arrive - Tea and coffee will be available. 1000 Veterans with Dogs - Speaker Mr Craig McLellan. 1030 Age Concern UK - Portsmouth Branch Speaker Mrs C Smith. 1100 Hosanna House - Speaker Cdre Peter Swan 1130 T4V - Speaker Major Cameron March 1200 SSAFA - Speaker Alick Brown 1230 Lunch 1315 Veterans UK - Speaker to be announced 1345 Combat Stress - Speaker Mr Phil Shuttleworth MBE 1415 RNA Updates - Speaker S/M Rita Lock MBE On Conclusion - Open Forum (if required) Please note, all the above times are flexible and can/will be fitted around the time each speaker requires, time has been allowed for any questions to the speakers A very final gentle reminder, please. To avoid disappointment .........Entry to the Naval Base / HMS Nelson requires that you bring photo ID and that you have passed your name to HQ for inclusion on the official list of attendees. Sadly failure to comply may result in Security Staff refusing your entry. 2. IMC Sailing Camp 13 to 22 July 2015 This year’s International Maritime Confederation Sailing camp will take place in Croatia. There are six places for the RNA to fill. The camp will be based in Opatija with sailing off the Istrian coast of northern Croatia. Accommodation will be based in Lovran just south of the sailing centre. The nearest Airport is RIJEKA with flights there from London Stansted. This sailing camp is subsidised by the IMC and RNA, participants need only find their own travel costs and make a nominal payment towards the total cost of the camp. (In the order of 60 Euros) Full details are currently being finalised but anyone interested in nominating a young person to attend should pass their details to Nigel at HQ by the 27 March. Further details will be available to those selected to attend. 3. Gallipoli Event Whitehall 25th April 2015 - Update The RNA along with other fellow Naval Associations was invited to form a platoon and take part in the Gallipoli Parade in Whitehall on Saturday 25th April 2015. Shipmates who applied to take part should muster and form up in Horseguards Avenue, at the Northern end of MOD Main Building, accessed from Victoria embankment at 1000. There will be toilets available and hopefully a field kitchen for tea and 'bacon butties'. This location is being used because Horse Guards Parade is out of bounds on the day due to preparations for the London Marathon the following day. At the approprite time, Marshalls will step the contingents off and move them on to Whitehall. 4. 75th Anniversary of Dunkirk - Open Invitation from William Ramsey (Grandson of, Commander of Op Dynamo) Please below an open invitation from William Ramsey; I am the Grandson of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsey, commander of the Dunkirk evacuation (Op Dynamo), then the D-Day Landings (Op Neptune). I lived in his home at that time, Bughtrig, Coldstream, Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, TD12 4JP. Where there is a statue of him in a Memorial Garden which is the same as the one at Dover Castle. For the 75th Anniversary of the conclusion of the Dunkirk evacuation on 4th June 1940, I am planning a small commemoration service, not only remembering my grandfather, but all who were involved in Dunkirk, D-Day and the other operations which he was involved in (namely North Africa, Sicily and freeing up Antwerp). th It will be held at 1130am on Sunday 7 June 2015 at Bughtrig garden, followed by drinks. My wife and I welcome anyone who would like to attend, and especially any veterans of WW2, and their families. Naturally we would like to give a special welcome to the veterans of the campaigns in which he was involved in WWII (listed above).