THE ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION
One of the oldest military Associations in the world
Established 1887
FROM IAN FREEGARD – CHAIRMAN
Another Newsletter, another heatwave and, as I write, another Black Tot Day – for those who can remember 1970 and are still smarting, perhaps mere mention of it is a good excuse for ‘up spirits’. And, it goes without saying, I hope this finds you all safe and well. Secretary Lyn has been busy, as ever. I’ll leave her to update you on our upcoming Dinner and Cenotaph events, leaving me simply to add that, following a steady flow of member feedback over the past few months, your committee will shortly make a final decision on the venue for the 140th Reunion Dinner next year, in an effort to fix the price and allow appropriate supporting financial considerations.
The highlight of this period has been my visit to the Defence School of Logistics and Administration (DSLA) and specifically the Chief Naval Logistics Officer Awards (Rear Admiral Paul Murphy presiding). It was a privilege to meet Writer Joel Day and his wife, a smashing couple, before presenting him with the RNWA Writer of the Year Trophy.
I also talked to other very proud members of the Writer Branch presented with prestigious awards (some of which you will recognise, I’m sure) and I promised to give them a mention here: The Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators Award Leading Writer Adam Schofield, The Peter Grocott Trophy Writer Brett Campbell, The Nigel Prouse Award Leading Writer Mark Johnstone, CNLO Award Leading Writer Emily Riley, CNLO Team Award HMS IRON DUKE – Petty Officer Writer Luke Williams, Leading Writer Jho Pigganto, Writer Julian Prada, Writer Dafydd Piggin, and Writer Marwan Chouh. What a cracking bunch of service men and women, doing incredible things in testing operational environments; they are a credit to our Branch, and I know all of you will be proud of them and their achievements. I also took the opportunity to touch base with the Fleet Writer Officer for the first time, Warrant Officer Writer Al Bufton.
As I reported in the June Newsletter, more good news for the RNWA came in the form of the King’s Birthday Honours List, with RNWA members Adam Lappin and Anne Carr both made MBE. I thought that I would share a little more detail because, since then, any number of accolades has given a great insight for us into their outstanding contributions. Anne is a leading light in the RN and RM Charity as the Head of Grants – you can read more about her story at Anne Carr Honoured by The King for Outstanding Service to the Naval Community The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. Adam is an eminent naval reservist, not only is he recognised for his work as a Media Operations Specialist, but also his immense personal investment in outreach projects, both within the Royal Navy and his community, including Veteran charities and the Sea Cadets, helping to develop future generations, valued members of society and prospective new service personnel. It was a pleasure to write a resounding BZ to them both, on behalf of the Association.
It was also a pleasure finally to align diaries and meet up on 18 July with our Reunion Dinner Guest of Honour, Captain Pete Viney OBE Retd. Now Chief Operating Officer Resourcing at Sopra Steria but a former Chief Writer and Director of Naval Recruiting in his time, he is delighted and honoured to attend and much looking forward to the evening. I am not surprised at the immense success of another former CPO Writer who has come to my attention. Trevor Wood and I went through Dartmouth together on the SD course back in 1989. His prodigious writing talent was as clear then as it is now…….as an award-winning crime author, his 7th book, The Angel of Death’, has just been published.
RNWA member John Glover has been very active researching key elements of history and has kindly provided me with lists of those Writers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the World Wars. At our July 2026 meeting, the committee agreed that honouring them on our website would provide a fitting tribute, along with an indelible record of our forebears; this work will start shortly. John has also produced some biographies of past Writer notables, and I think you will find the addition to this newsletter quite fascinating. I certainly did.
The sharp-eyed amongst you would have noticed my new shiny RNWA blazer badge, in the photograph above. At our May 2026 meeting, the committee thought that there might be wider interest from members in obtaining the crest. Please email me at RNWAChair26@outlook.com for further details if you are. And finally, if you would like to contribute to the Newsletter, please don’t hesitate to ask – I will remain the arbiter of good taste, of course!
FROM LYN GANNON, SECRETARY
Dinner 2026 Dinner applications for this year are filtering through, this is just a reminder to get your application in. We are trying a new venue this year, and it promises to be a good evening. Members are being subsidised by the RNWA, but guests are not.
The dinner will take place on Friday 09 October 2026, 1900 for 1930 in the Village Hotel, Lakeshore Drive, North Harbour, Portsmouth PO6 3FR – the RNWA AGM will take place @1830 in the private bar area, in the dinner venue, for all members to attend.
If you wish to book a room to stay over, at specially negotiated reduced prices are available. Go to the Village Inn Portsmouth website and choose the following:
The code CCSPU will give you a set price of £93.00 for room only or £98.00 for room and breakfast. This is for single occupancy. Double occupancy will be £93.00 for room only and £108.00 for room and breakfast. This rate also includes car parking, leisure access and WIFI.
Please note that when guests put this code on the website several options will come up, some being a higher flexible rate. You need to ensure that you are only booking the CCS Public Sector Inc Breakfast or CCS Public Sector Inc Room Only.
The cost of the dinner is £50 per RNWA member (subsidised by the RNWA) and £60 for guests/non-members. This is for a 3-course dinner, red and white wine and Prosecco on each table (tables of 10), Port and after dinner tea/coffee.
The menu choices are :
Starters
A Chicken, Potato and Sweetcorn Chowder, with Crispy Bacon
B Smooth Chicken Liver Pâté, Fruit Chutney, Toasted Croute and Baby Leaf Salad
C Warm Butternut Squash & Feta Tart, Red Pesto Mayonnaise and Baby Leaf Salad (V)
Main Course
D Oyster Mushroom and Asparagus Risotto, topped with a Rocket and Lemon Salad and Truffle Oil (V)
E Lemon Tarragon Chicken Breast on a bed of Spring Onion Mash, Chargrilled Vegetables and Grain Mustard Sauce
F Roast Loin of Pork, Cider Fondant Potato, Braised Cabbage, Glazed Carrots and Sage Gravy
Dessert
G Lemon Tart, Mascarpone and Fresh Raspberries
H Banoffee Pie topped with Chocolate Shavings
I Coconut Cheesecake with Macerated Strawberries (VG, V)
Please go onto the website to complete the application, and also to pay. The form below is for information.
Cancellations/refunds will not be accepted after Friday 18th September 2026 – the hotel has a 3-week lead in for ordering the food.
There will be a raffle on the night – £5 per strip of tickets – all donations of prizes will be much appreciated. There will also be the usual Heads and Tails, plus a £3 fine for not wearing your Writers pin! Make sure you have notes for the raffle and £1 Coins for Heads and Tails (2 games) and pin badge fines.
The details below are for information, please apply and pay online using the links provided.
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Dinner Choice (Please complete this information online using the link) Please annotate your meal and your guest(s) meal choices and include the name of each guest in the boxes provided: |
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Name (annotate whether RNWA member or guest) |
Starter (A, B or C) |
Main (D, E or F) |
Dessert (G, H or I) |
Payment made Y/N |
Dietary Need |
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Please annotate any special dietary requirements such as Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan or Vegetarian
If you would like to be seated with particular attendees, please say so and I will do my best to accommodate your request – Tables will seat 10.
Please seat me with
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Please complete your form by Friday 18th September at the very latest. No refunds after this date.
Dinner 2027 There has been real positive feedback for a sit-down dinner at HMS PRESIDENT next year – to be held on Friday 1 October 2027. Myself, Ian and Pat will be having a meeting shortly to work out a budget and see if it is a feasible option. Again, if it happens, members would be well subsidised but not guests.
Cenotaph At the time of this newsletter, there are only 9 out of 20 places filled for the Remembrance Parade at the Cenotaph on Sunday 8th November. Contact me to put your name down – it’s a lovely event to attend.
Committee Membership If anyone would like to put their names forward to be Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary or Membership Secretary of the RNWA, please let me know ASAP – these positions are ratified each year at the AGM.
FROM BRENDA RYAN, MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
New Members since Last Meeting Update
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Name |
Current/Former Rank/Rate |
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Stretch (Michael) Smith |
PO |
Total Membership (After allowance for those that have lapsed/resigned or CtB since October 2023):
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Honorary Life |
Life |
Members |
Totals |
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May 26 |
Jul 26 |
May 26 |
Jul 26 |
May 26 |
Jul 26 |
May 26 |
Jul 26 |
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3 |
3 |
23 |
22 |
282 |
278 |
308 |
303 |
Subscriptions/Standing Orders
All members with subs due up to July have received a reminder/chaser.
Where those whose subs are still outstanding for 3 months or more, as per the Association rules section 6 membership will be/has been lapsed, if however, those members wish to reinstate please just contact me at bnr1@btinternet.com .
Please follow this link to the website, which will show if your subs are overdue and if they are due up to July 2026 https://rnwa.co.uk/members/renewals-due/
FROM PAT PRIOR, TREASURER
Our finances are in a healthy position at present. We are hoping to be able to subsidise the 140th dinner (2027) to a greater extent than in previous years.
We are at present holding a large stock of polo shirts and sweatshirts. Obviously the more we sell the greater the profit to our coffers. Contact me for sizes and costs. I am happy to bring some to this year’s dinner if members are interested.
MEMORY LANE…. Did you know it was only on 30 July 1948 that the Criminal Justice Act removed flogging from list of Naval punishments? And some of you will recall, that on 1 August 1983, the RN Supply School moved from Chatham to HMS RALEIGH (bar the Cooks and Caterers, who went tri-service at Aldershot) and probably accompanied by a rash of Drafting Preference Cards from the displaced Instructors!
COURTESY OF JOHN GLOVER – CPO Writer Charles Adams
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1. Charles ADAMS B: 6 December 1880, Bedford D: 30 Dec 1915 HMS NATAL |
In the 1891Census he was living with his parents Henry, a Carpenter, and Maria at 189 Tavistock Street, Bedford. Charles has four brothers and two sisters.
He was an old boy of Harpur’s School, Bedford.
Census 31 March 1901 he was shown as Third Writer HMS PEMBROKE Division I.
At the time of the 1911 Census, he was single and a visitor at the home of John Harrison, ERA at Gillingham Kent
Charles married Ada Helen Walker in 1913 and they had a son, Stanley Charles born later that year.
Note: 3rd Wtr was an AB; 2nd Wtr was a LH and 1st Wtr was a PO.
He joined the RN as a 3rd Writer at HMS PEMBROKE I in Sep 1901, followed by 6 months in HMS SCYLLA then back to PEMBROKE for courses and rated 2nd Wtr. Six months in HMS REPULSE, then 5 years (!) in HMS DOMINION (King Edward VII Class Battleship) and rated 1st Wtr in 1908. Two years in HMS ACTAEON, (Hulk acting as an Auxiliary Patrol Craft Base at Sheerness) then rated Chief Wtr in September 1912 and drafted to HMS NATAL.
HMS NATAL was an armoured cruiser of the Warrior Class. On 30th December 1915, the ship was in Cromarty harbour near Invergordon, North of Inverness. A fire broke out on board the ship at 3.20pm and 5 minutes later the ship was torn apart by the explosion of her after magazines. She sank almost immediately with the loss of 421 crew and visitors, including the wives and children of several officers and 3 nursing sisters from Queen Alexander’s Royal Naval Nursing Service from the Hospital Ship Drina which was also in the harbour. Several of the casualties died over the days following the explosion, the last one being Able Seaman Brennan who died on 16th January 1916. There were 400 survivors including around 100 who were ashore at the time of the explosion.
Also died in the ship that day was 3rd Writer Joseph Smith.
