ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA)
COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS MEETING
HELD 1900 THURSDAY 15 MAY 2025
Present
Colin Hughes (CH) President
Pat Prior QVRM (PP) Vice President & Treasurer
Lyn Gannon (LG) Secretary
Martyn Cornish (MC) Webmaster
Jim Donaldson (JD) Committee Member
Jim Donaldson (JD) Committee Member
David Spicer (DS) Committee Member
Tony Webber (TW) Committee Member
Ian McHugh (IM) Serving Member
Peter Danks (PD) Member
Adrian Hamilton (AH) Member
Vicky Hamilton (VH) Member
Committee Apologies
Tony Mason, Brenda Ryan
Member Apologies
Alf Parr, Brian Wead, Christine Senior, David Scott, Richard Webb, Kathryn Simmons, Greta Grindell, Kym Carr, Tony Coates, Jim Froggatt, Bruce Jeffrey, Mike McGeever, Jed Stone, Mick Watt, John Glover, Julia Appleby
Crossed the Bar
Details provided since the last meeting:
Jim Tuplin, John Phillips, Joseph Moynihan, Mavis Gilmore (nee Gorringe) and Jerry McGuire. A one-minute silence was held.
Minutes of the last meeting 20 March 2025
After one amendment – page 3 after Membership Secretary’s report- should read GG thanked BR – the minutes of the last meeting were approved – proposed by PP, seconded by JD.
Matters Arising from 20 March 2025
TW’s amendment to rules and regulations regarding the Cenotaph Contingent – the committee had seen this and there were a couple of small amendments – TW to update and return the report to CH.
Action – TW to update the paper and send to CH.
Treasurer’s Report
PP reported that the balance in the account was £6793.20, plus the £500 deposit paid to RMH for this years’ dinner.
The Grand National Draw made a profit of £788, despite about half the tickets not being returned. Prizes, postage and printing costs had to be paid, therefore non return of tickets proved costly. The committee will be discussing the way forward to avoid these costs – virtual tickets, get a company to do everything for us and we just get the profit – these ideas will all be costed and reported on. Monies raised goes toward subsidising the annual dinner.
Thought is being given that all correspondence to members be made by email only. (Consideration to keep a postal option in exceptional circumstances might be possible).
After costs have been paid towards the new memorial at DLSA (the tree, bench and plaque had very generously been covered by them), there was a surplus of £297.70. It was agreed to put this into the fund for the upkeep of our memorial benches on Southsea seafront.
Regarding the introduction of bank charges on the RNWA account, PP said that she had a meeting scheduled with the bank to find the best and cheapest way forward and will appraise the committee after her meeting.
Action – PP to update the committee after her meeting with the bank.
Tickets Application for this year’s Cenotaph Marchpast
LG said10th June was the date she will get confirmation of numbers for marching, but members could apply now for a place, via her email address: gannons1@virginmedia.com
Annual Dinner 2025
LG said that to date, 38 dinner applications had been received.
Guest of Honour 2025
CH said that Cdr Frances Coles-Hendry, Head of Logistics Training at DLSA, has agreed to attend.
Membership Secretary Report
New Members since Last Meeting Update
| Name | Current/Former Rank/Rate |
| Christine Wren | Wren Wtr |
Total Membership (After allowance for those that have lapsed/resigned or CtB since October 2023):
| Honorary Life | Life | Members | Totals | ||||
| Mar 25 | May 25 | Mar 25 | May 25 | Mar 25 | May 25 | Mar 25 | May 25 |
| 3 | 3 | 27 | 27 | 301 | 300 | 331 | 330 |
Subscriptions/Standing Orders
There are still quite a few subscriptions/Standing orders outstanding, so please check here https://rnwa.co.uk/members/renewals-due/ on the website to see if you need to renew your subscription.
Merchandise
JD said that he had received nothing from the current supplier but had received information that the business had closed. IM agreed to make contact another way to see about getting the logo artwork. IM to report back once contact established.
A new embroidered logo was under consideration.
AH asked PP what his contact from Swansea had produced. Until we get artwork, this is in abeyance.
IM to update the committee re logo artwork.
RNWA Memorial Update
CH reported that everything was in place, ready for the unveiling on 28 May.
Any Other Business
LG asked MC if he had managed to find a course/training for the website maintenance. This is still under investigation.
There being no further business the meeting ended at 1945.
The date of the next meeting is Thursday 17th July 2025.