ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA)

COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS MEETING

HELD 1900 THURSDAY 16 JANUARY 2025

Present

Colin Hughes (CH) President

Pat Prior QVRM (PP) Vice President & Treasurer

Lyn Gannon (LG) Secretary

Jim Donaldson (JD) Committee Member

David Spicer (DS) Committee Member

Tony Webber (TW) Committee Member

Ian McHugh (IM) Serving Member

Greta Grindell (GG) Member

Peter Danks (PD) Member

Bob Millard (BM) Member

Adrian Hamilton (AH) Member

Vicky Hamilton (VH) Member

Steph Durrance (SD) Member

Neil Durrance (ND) Member

Committee Apologies

Tony Mason

Member Apologies

Steve Hamblin, Kathryn Simmons, Mick Goldthorpe, Alf Parr, Brian Wead, Christine Senior, David Scott, Ian Freegard, Dave Hunter, Patrick Magill and David Gadd.

Crossed the Bar

Richard Vigar, Ian McLean, Phillip Kerr, Jenny Sharp and Nigel Bancroft. A one-minute silence was held.

Minutes of the last meeting 21 November 2024

The minutes of the last meeting were approved – proposed by JD, seconded by GG.

Matters Arising from 21 November 2024

No matters arising that are not covered on the Agenda.

Treasurer’s Report

PP reported that the current balance is £6348.15. This figure includes the ring-fenced funds donated for the arboretum and benches. Funds are up mainly due to profit from the Grand National Draw, the raffle at the Annual Dinner and the sales of merchandise. LG had also donated her honorarium payment back to the RNWA.

PP said the accounts were being audited this week and would then be placed on the website.

Volunteer for Membership Secretary

CH reported that the Previous Membership Secretary had resigned, and that CH was keeping the role going until a new permanent Membership Secretary is put in place. Any volunteers, names to CH. This is not an onerous task, and the applicant does not need to live in the Portsmouth area.

Volunteer for Webmaster

CH reported that Sophie had given notice for personal reasons and a new webmaster was urgently required. Sophie will conduct a handover. A volunteer has come forward and hopefully the work can be handed over as soon as possible.

Approval for Purchase of Items for the Memorial and Lectern style Display Board

CH said that it was highly unlikely that all the ring-fenced funds would be required but that ideas for pictures to be used were being sought. Perhaps an old style pay parade photo, class photos from the decades, with photos of the Writer of the Year? CH and IM were managing this project and would like input from members with ideas by mid-February – please email ideas to CH.

Update on Reunion Dinner

LG advised that she had met with the hotel and that prices had increased quite a bit. The dinner/wine/port will cost us £56 per head and after discussion it was agreed to charge members £60 and guests £65.

POST MEETING NOTE After a further discussion, it was agreed to reduce the cost of an Association members ticket to £50, with the RNWA subsidising the ticket cost from the previous dinner raffle proceeds. Guest tickets remain the at £65.

Accommodation has been quoted a Classic Room for 2 people £133.20 or single occupancy £107. A budget room would be £101.70 for 2 or single occupancy £75.60 These rates all include breakfast.

POST MEETING NOTE LG has negotiated a much better rate for the Classic Rooms £120 for 2 or £95 for single occupancy. Budget rooms remain the same. The code to quote to get these rates is GA000794.

Guest of Honour 2025

A discussion took place on who to approach. There were various suggestions, but it was felt that to have a senior person from DLSA – to give an update on what is happening there – was a good idea. A final decision will be taken at the next meeting.

Merchandise

JD said that the supplier was still producing goods. There is still a quantity of sweatshirts to be sold but no polo shirts (although there are 2 orders requested). It was agreed to purchase a supply of polo shirts and to add this into the next newsletter. PP agreed to email JD with quantity and sizes required.

ACTION PP to email JD.

Any Other Business

PD asked what was happening with a tree at the Arboretum. CH said that it was no longer possible to go with this option but that a tree, a bench, and display boards would be sited at Worthy Down for the RNWA and maintained by staff at DLSA. He also updated PD with the situation regarding the 2 benches on Southsea Seafront.

TW asked if the regulation regarding marching at the Cenotaph should be revisited – he would produce a proposed change.

IM updated the committee and members on replacing the old Writer of the Year Boards, having sourced new ones. He updated PD on trophies held and awarded (Writer of the Year, the Grocott trophy for the top scoring person on LWtr Qualifying Course, and the Nigel Prowse trophy award by CNLO for the writer (any rank) who embodies the spirit of the branch).

There being no further business the meeting ended at 1945.

The date of the next meeting is Thursday 20 March 2025.

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA)

COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS MEETING

HELD 1900 THURSDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2024

Present

Colin Hughes (CH) President

Pat Prior QVRM (PP) Vice President & Treasurer

Lyn Gannon (LG) Secretary

Don McGeorge (DM) Membership Secretary

Jim Donaldson (JD) Committee Member

Tony Mason (TM) Committee Member

David Spicer (DS) Committee Member

Tony Webber (TW) Committee Member

Mick Watt Member

Penny Wallis Member

Committee Apologies

Ian McHugh Serving Member

Member Apologies

Bill Whaley, Steve Hamblin, Alf Parr, Peter Danks, Bob Gelder, Mick Goldthorpe, Dave Case, David Scott, Dave Hunter, Brian Wead, Kathryn Simmons, Gillian Orchard, Bob Millard, Greta Grindell and Ian Freegard.

POST MEETING NOTE – Apologies received after the meeting from Neil and Steph Durrance.

Crossed the Bar

Dave Mullett, Barry Norris, Pam Miles, Ellen Worthy and Daphne Jones.

Minutes of the last meeting 9 September 2024

The minutes of the last meeting were approved – proposed by TM, seconded by PP.

Matters Arising from 16 July 2024

IM to produce a paper outlining the options for a Writers Memorial at DLA, Worthy Down – CH had liaised and produced the following:

At the Committee meeting on 21 Nov last, it was decided to go ahead with the Tree, bench, plaque etc, Grateful if you could let us know the total cost so that we can give you the go ahead. We have decided that the plaque should be worded as follows:-

“Erected by The Royal Naval Writers’ Association

In memory of all those Writers and former Writers

who gave their lives in the service of their country since the formation of the Branch in 1867.”

Could the cost be shown for the Tree, Bench, Plaque, engraving and Timeline boards (if you have them).

It would be good to proceed so that we can arrange a date for commissioning the site which I leave to you so you can arrange it to fit in with DSLA events.

Treasurers Report

PP reported that the current balance is £5916.71 – includes ring fenced funds for Arboretum and benches. Assets held are sweatshirts and Pin badges.

Update on Reunion Dinner

LG advised she had received many messages saying how much attendees had enjoyed the dinner. Having a professional photographer was also appreciated, as was the raffle – BZ to TM and DS.

The venue has been booked for Friday 10 October 2025 and LG will be arranging discounted accommodation and menu choices shortly.

Update on the Cenotaph Marching Contingent

LG said that 18 of the 20 volunteers marched and everyone had felt incredibly proud to march for the RNWA. She said she will be applying for spaces for next year and is hoping to book a venue to have post marching drinks if that is what attendees wished.

DM provided the following report:

Membership Report 21 November 2024

New Members Since Last Meeting (11):

Peter Amsdon CPOWtr

Wendy Borman Ex CPOWtr

Samantha Coxall Ex PO(Logs)(W)

Christine Ewins Ex POWWtr

Marina Habbershaw Ex LWWtr(G)

Lorraine Ireland Ex POWWtr

Alison Macrae Ex POWtr

Richard Moore Ex LWtr

John Newton Ex CPOWtr

Hannah Schofield LH(Logs)(W)

Christina Unwin Ex POWWtr

Totals in membership:

After allowance for those that have lapsed/resigned or CtB since October 2023:

Date: Oct 23 Nov 24

Honorary Life 3 3

Life 29 27

Members 218 295

Totals: 250 325

Standing Orders:

As at time of writing, there are some 145 Standing Orders in operation – representing approximately 49.2% of the total paying membership – last report 43.0%. By year end, I estimate that the 50% mark will have been passed…………!

Merchandise

DM said that he would be putting an advert out for sweatshirts and polo shirts, to sell the stock we have.

LG suggested a scarf – ladies would wear them more than a sweatshirt and could perhaps be purchased for the Cenotaph. She agreed to research this item.

Any Other Business

CH gave an update on the temporary benches on Clarence Esplanade – ours have been moved to the compound whilst the work is completed on the seafront. He agreed to check on the status of the new benches and report back.

There being no further business the meeting ended at 1930.

The date of the next meeting is Thursday 16 January 2025.

Royal Naval Writers Association Annual General Meeting

Friday 11 October 2024 at 1730 at the Royal Maritime Hotel

Present

Colin Hughes (CH) – President

Pat Prior (PP) – Vice President and Treasurer

Lyn Gannon (LG) – Secretary

Don McGeorge (DM) – Membership Secretary

Jim Donaldson (JD) – Committee Member

Tony Mason (TM) – Committee Member

David Spicer (DS) – Committee Member

Jed Stone – Member

Bill Whaley – Member

John Large – Member

Steve Hamblin – Member

Vince Hawkins – Member

Jim Froggatt – Member

Greta Grindell – Member

Len Hutton – Member

Roger Collings – Member

Peter Nicholls – Member

Dennis H Wren – Member

Eliane Binks – Member

Mark Yates – Member

Brenda Ryan – Member

Jane Adams – Member

Lorna Stubbs – Member

Sam Roberts – Member

Michael Blatchford – Member

Darby (Phil) Allen – Member

Dennis Alger – Member

Committee Member Apologies

Tony Webber

Member Apologies

Kathryn Simmons

Matt Ireson

David Scott

Marie Taylor

Bruce Jeffrey

Mick Watt

Peter Danks

Richard Dickson

Bob Millard

Jim Leeson

Patrick & Shirley Magill

Christine Senior

Crossed the Bar

Mary McIntyre

Ivan Milburn

Gerald Jarvis BEM

Jim Paterson

Steve Rawlings

Neil Mitchell

Pat McCarthy

Janet Vockins

David Hodges

Dennis Bartlett

Richard Coupe OBE

Charmaine Ryland

Jessie Burridge

Evely Dodgson

Colin Way

Harry James

Andrew Morton

Richard Eddy

Louise Jones

Gladys Harding

David Buss

Tricia Haselden

Paddy McClurg

Minutes of the Last Meeting (Friday 13 October 2023)

There being no comments from attendees, the minutes were proposed by Tony Mason and seconded by Greta Grindell.

Treasurers Report

PP said that Audited accounts for 2023 have been on the website since January, with no questions/queries received.  Opening balance for 2024 was £3944.95 of which £1406.50 is ring fenced for Memorial and £65 for Memorial Bench at Southsea.

This year’s Grand National gave the Association an increase in profit of £216.40.

2024 has seen income increase with membership and a slight decline in expenditure. We are on course to close the year approximately 1k more than 2023.

Membership Report

DM reported the following:

Member Numbers:

Since the last AGM (October 2023) we have lost 10 members who had Crossed the Bar (one of whom was from the previous year, but unreported at that time).

We have also, over the same period, lost 8 members to “lapses” or simple resignations or non responses to communication. However, since the inception of a revised subscription and contact system was introduced in November 2023, other than Crossing the Bar, no members have been lost that were not already flagged to lapse or resign at that time.

However, during the same period, the Association has introduced 86 new members, representing a NET gain of 68 members for the year!

The overall membership figures currently look like this:

Standing Orders/Subscriptions:

Standing Orders were introduced from November 2023, along with both a £10 joining fee and, from 1 January 2024, an increase to subscriptions from £5 per annum to £10. This has proven to be highly successful and, financially prudent, and sensible.

It has the added – and not inconsiderable – advantage of relieving both the Association and the member of the burden of “remembering and/or chasing” annual subscriptions and should hold us in good stead for the foreseeable future.

Within this, we now boast 133 members in the scheme, representing 46.2% of the paying membership. It is now the default position for all new recruits, and all those who are due to renew are invited to transfer – in 2023/24 only 3 existing members (so far) have declined the option! There are some 77 members due to renew in 2025, so that might be challenging…!

The Year Ahead:

Even the most optimistic amongst us would not expect another massive spike in new members over the next 12 months, and expectations need to be tempered accordingly. However, an additional (NET) 32 should be a realistic aim, and that is where the challenge will be set!

Rules and Regulations

CH said that the proposed Rules and Regulations had been posted on the website for some months, for all members to read. He reiterated that the meeting was from 1830 for committee only, with members able to join from 1900. With no comments having been received, the Rules and Regulations would therefore be adopted immediately.

Directory

To comply with GDPR, the Directory would no longer be produced. If any member wishes to contact another, contact should be made in the first instance with the Membership Secretary, who will then liaise to obtain permission for details to be passed on.

Date of the Next Meeting

Friday 10 October 2025, venue to be confirmed idc.

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA)
COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS MEETING
HELD 1915 THURSDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2024

Present

Colin Hughes (CH) President
Pat Prior QVRM (PP) Vice President & Treasurer
Lyn Gannon (LG) Secretary
Jim Donaldson (JD) Committee Member
Tony Mason (TM) Committee Member
David Spicer (DS) Committee Member
Tony Webber (TW) Committee Member
Gill Orchard (GO) Member
Bob Millard (BM) Member
Dennis Wren (DW) Member
Greta Grindell (GG) Member
Penny Wallis (PW) Member
Jim Leeson (JL) Member
Steph Durrance (SD) Member
Neil Durrance (ND) Member
Adrian Hamilton (AH) Member
Vicky Hamilton (VH) Member

Committee Apologies

Don McGeorge

Member Apologies

Alf Parr, Steve Hamblin, David Scott, Brian Wead, Vince Hawkins, Nigel Coy, Dave Gadd, John Large, Kathryn Simmons, Christine Senior, Richards Dean, Peter Danks, Lesley McCarthy, David Ramsey, Barbara Mason and Matt Ireson.

Crossed the Bar

No details of members have been passed to the Committee.

Minutes of the last meeting 16 July 2024

The minutes of the last meeting were approved – proposed by PP, seconded by DS.

Matters Arising from 16 July 2024

IM to produce a paper outlining the options for a Writers Memorial at DLA, Worthy Down – IM said this was currently in abeyance whilst an action between the contractors and DLSA was being resolved. He hoped for a full update for the September meeting – deferred to the next meeting after updates from IM.

Treasurers Report

PP reported that the current balance is £10,232.76. This includes an outstanding invoice of £357.49 that she wished to discuss with the President, and approximately £4,800 is held towards the dinner in October.

A donation of £25 had been paid to the Penlee Lifeboat, in memory of Richard Eddy, iaw the family’s request.

RNWA Rum

CH said he had been approached to ascertain if the RNWA wished to have its own branded rum to sell. LG said that the Association of Wrens and the RNA had been involved with the same company and the procedure had been to go onto the website, select your item(s) and then tick a box for the organisation you wished to use – once your purchase is complete and paid for, a £5 donation was paid to that organisation. It was agreed that this would also be the best way for the RNWA to proceed. CH agreed to go back to the company to set this routine in place.

ACTION – CH to liaise to set up the donation from sales routine.

Update on Reunion Dinner

LG advised that to date, there were 104 people attending (17 serving, including the GOH, 63 members and 24 guests). There would be a raffle (£5 per strip of tickets) (donations welcomed) being drawn between courses and a couple of games of Heads or Tails (£1 per game) on completion of the dinner. Fines (£3) for non-wearing of the RNWA membership badge would also be collected. It was agreed to pay for programmes for the table to be printed professionally.

The AGM would be held in Bar 1805 (formerly Brocks Bar) at 1730 – raffle prizes to be delivered there – and then the bar would open at 1800 on completion of the AGM. The seating plan would be placed on a board outside the main entrance to the Ballroom.

A full list of dinner guests will be published prior to the dinner.

Richard Dixon had suggested sticky name labels to be given out, so that people can be recognised. After discussion by all meeting attendees and a vote by the Committee – it was unanimously agreed not to go ahead with this.

Update on the Cenotaph Marching Contingent

LG said that we had filled our allocation of 20 spaces and the RBL would issue tickets directly to those people (electronically) on or about 30 October. All information had been included in the recent newsletter).

In previous years, British Rail have given free tickets to those travelling wearing a veteran’s badge on the Sunday – keep a lookout in case it happens this year.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

In DM’s absence, JD read out this report:

New Members Since Last Meeting (10):

Rona Betts – Ex WWtr (P)
Jen Fletcher  – Ex ALWWtr
Chris Haley – Ex Cdr/CT/Wtr…
Chris Ihme  – POWtr
Tim Jones  – WO1 Wtr
Sheena McGeorge – Ex LWWtr
Dafydd Piggin – Logs (Wtr) – Writer of the Year 2024
Samantha Roberts – Ex WWtr (P)
Lorna Stubbs – Ex CPOWtr
Jennifer White – Ex LWWtr (G)

Totals in membership:

After allowance for those that have lapsed/resigned or CtB since the last AGM:

Date:                       Oct 23          Sep 24

Honorary Life          3                       3
Life                         29                     27
Members                218                  286
Totals:                   250                  316

Standing Orders:

As at time of writing, there are some 123 Standing Orders in operation – representing approximately 43% of the total paying membership – last report 38.8%.

Merchandise

1. Polo Shirts: Continuing their success – a further 24 are now on order for delivery by the Dinner/AGM (4 of which will be collected at the event). Details of names and postal addresses will be forwarded to the Treasurer once the shirts are on their way to her.

2. Sweatshirts: JD said that he has been advised that the company supplying RNWA branded merchandise is closing down that part of the business to focus on areas that have a better return. We currently have an order of 24 polo shirts being fulfilled (all sold) and it was suggested we order a stock of sweatshirts whilst the Company still has the equipment; so thirty have been ordered (15 L, 15 XL) and they will be available for sale at the Annual Dinner. AH said that he could get a contact for branded merchandise and would pass the details on.

3. Cummerbunds: A suggestion was recently put forward to consider the sale of RNWA embroidered Cummerbunds…………..not one for me, but also not my decision!

It was agreed to hold this item in abeyance until a new supplier is found. As well as cummerbunds, a scarf could also be considered.

JD asked if other items raised by DM had been discussed – BCC on emails? It was agreed that for committee business, email addresses can be shown but all other communication must be BCC.

DM had asked about elections not being sought. CH said that the new rules regarding this would not come into effect until ratified at the AGM, therefore this was not required, especially as no current committee member had stated they were standing down. However, when the agenda is issued next week – a note could be added asking if there were any volunteers to join the committee.

Any Other Business

GG asked if raffle prizes could be handed in before the dinner – this was agreed (added into dinner update)

TM asked if future meetings could start earlier at 1900. This was agreed and Item 11 of the new Rules to be amended to show this.

There being no further business the meeting ended at 1955.

The date of the next meeting is Thursday 19 November.

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA)
COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS MEETING
HELD 1915 TUESDAY 16 JULY 2024 BY ZOOM

Present
Colin Hughes (CH) President
Pat Prior QVRM (PP) Vice President & Treasurer
Lyn Gannon (LG) Secretary
Don McGeorge (DM) Membership Secretary
Ian McHugh (IM) Serving Representative/Committee Member
Jim Donaldson (JD) Committee Member
Tony Mason (TM) Committee Member
Kathryn Simmons (KS) Member
John Large (JL) Member
John Glover (JG) Member

Committee Apologies

David Spicer and Tony Webber

Member Apologies

Alf Parr, Steve Hamblin, Greta Grindell,, Kym Carr, Philip Jones, David Scott, Brian Wead, Vince Hawkins, Bob Millard, Nigel Coy, Dave Gadd, Jake Bailey and Matt Ireson

Crossed the Bar

A minutes silence was held in memory of Richard Coupe.

Minutes of the last meeting 14 May 2024

The minutes of the last meeting were approved – proposed by DM, seconded by PP.

Matters Arising from 14 May 2024

IM to produce a paper outlining the options for a Writers Memorial at DLA, Worthy Down – IM said this was currently in abeyance whilst an action between the contractors and DLSA was being resolved. He hoped for a full update for the September meeting. He advised that this year’s recipient of the Writer of the Year Award would sadly not be able to attend the dinner. The trophy had been engraved – receipt to be sent to PP. CH said he would do a letter, to be presented onboard by the Logs Officer or the CO.

Treasurers Report

PP reported that the balance as of this day was £8707.18. This includes £1471.50 ring fenced funds. Known liabilities were £27 for postage and the £300 Honorarium payment to the Secretary and the Membership Secretary – LG has donated her fee back to the RNWA.

Reunion Dinner 2024

LG said that to date 70 applications had been received – not all paid for, and that there were applications in the pipeline. Just a reminder that the deadline for applications is Friday 28 September.

Cenotaph Marching Contingent

LG said she had received an allocation of 20 spaces for our first ever Writers contingent – so far there were 16 applicants – the list closes on 1 August. If more than 20 applicants, a ballot will be drawn on 2 August. If we don’t fulfil our allocation, it is unlikely we will receive 20 spaces next year.

Membership Update

DM provided the following information:

New Members Since Last Meeting:

James Settle Ex LWtr (SM)
Martyn Cornish POWtr
Mel Honess POWtr
Michael Tipple Ex CPOWtr
Paul Morgan Ex POWtr
Rob Galpin Ex CPOWtr

Totals in membership:

After allowance for those that have lapsed/resigned or CtB since the last AGM:

Date:                        Oct 23      Jul 24                

Honorary Life            3               3
Life                            29              27
Members                  218            276
Totals:                       250            306

Standing Orders:

As at time of writing, there are some 107 Standing Orders in operation – representing approximately 38.8% of the total paying membership – last report 34.3%.

DM reported that a large number of applicants (about 70) had started the process to join the RNWA but had not completed it with payment – he was investigating with the webmaster on how to deter this.

Merchandise

JD, who instigated the purchase of branded merchandise, said that the company will honour the price from our original enquiry for sweatshirts. TM asked if the quality would be as good as the polo shirts and JD said he had no reason to believe they would not be. It was agreed to order 5 – if possible, JD would check to see if the supplier were happy with such a small order, to see what they were like. PP suggested asking our membership if they would be interested in purchasing them – and if the quality was not as good, they could be returned to the company for a refund. This was agreed. TM and DM both said they would purchase one.

Website Articles

DM said that there had been lots of clicks on Dixies article on the website and would like to get more stories from our members to put online. Next year, he would be asking for more Falklands stories and wanted input to promote the Writer branch. For example, stories from members who joined as a Writer but left as senior officers, etc, having achieved various accolades – professional and sporting.

Photography for the Website

DM said that the photos on the website needed updating and asked for members to submit photos that may be of interest to a wider membership. IM agreed to look at photos from DLSA.

This year we have a photographer at the Annual Dinner, so some new photos can be sourced from there.

Any Other Business

PP said that she would like to propose that our auditor be invited to attend the Annual Dinner as our guest, to say thank you for all his support over the years. TM seconded this proposal and it was agreed unanimously to extend the invitation.

Update on Benches.  CH stated that he had received a phone call from the Southsea Coastal Scheme personnel reporting that the plaque on the Brian Emmence Memorial Bench had been removed but handed in to the Southsea Coastal Scheme office and would be re-affixed to the bench.  Had been over to Southsea on Monday morning and checked the bench and confirmed that it had been replaced.  He called into the office and was informed that after the Great South Run in September, Clarence Esplanade would be closed while the road and pavements were raised.  He would receive a letter from the Scheme Administration. During this time most of the benches would be removed and the plaques affixed to a couple of benches that would remain.  The benches would eventually be replaced.

JG asked DM if the 70 people that did not complete their applications could be spurious people. DM said no as a check has to be completed to get as far as they had.

JG reminded everyone, for information, that we can apply for a Blue Light card as well as the Defence Discount Card.

There being no further topics for discussion, the meeting closed at 19.58.

The date of the next meeting is Thursday 19th September 2024 at 1915.

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION (RNWA)
COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS MEETING
HELD 1915 TUESDAY 14TH MAY 2024

Present

Colin Hughes (CH) President
Pat Prior QVRM (PP) Vice President & Treasurer
Lyn Gannon (LG) Secretary
Don McGeorge (DM) Membership Secretary
Ian McHugh (IM) Serving Representative/Committee Member
Tony Webber (TW) Committee Member
Jim Donaldson (JD) Committee Member
Tony Mason (TM) Committee Member
David Spicer (DS) Committee Member
Adrian Hamilton (AH) Member
Vicky Hamilton (VH) Member
Mark Yates (MY) Member
Bob Millard (BM) Member
Greta Grindell (GG) Member
Christine Senior(CS) Member
Vince Hawkins (VH) Member
Adrian Hamilton(AH) Member
Philip Allen (PA) Member

Member Apologies

Kathryn Simmons, Steve Hamblin, Alf Parr, Nigel Coy, Brian Wead, Dave Hunter, Jackie Watson, Penny Wallis, David Scott, Lesley McCarthy and Matt Ireson.

The President welcomed all to the meeting.

Crossed the Bar

A minutes silence was held in memory of Gladys Harding.

Minutes of the last meeting of 21st March 2024:

The minutes of the last meeting were approved – proposed by DM, seconded by BM.

Matters Arising from 21st March 2024:

There were no matters arising.

Treasurers Report

PP reported that the balance as of this day was £7456.41. This includes £1471.50 ring fenced funds. The true balance, minus committed funds, is £5974.91.

Monies for the dinner is coming in, and 2 donations in memory (Gladys Harding and Richard Eddy) have been paid.

The Grand National has all been finalised and prizes paid out. After costs and prize money, a profit of £748.14 was realised, the highest amount for some years. CH said it was a good result, BZ all.

Reunion Dinner 2024

LG said that to date, 52 applications had been received – not all paid for, and that there were applications in the pipeline. Just a reminder that the deadline for applications is Friday 28 September.

Cenotaph Marching Contingent

LG said she has not yet received notification of how many spaces we have been allocated, as soon as this arrives it will be disseminated through the RNWA network.

Membership Update

DM provided the following information:

New Members Since Last Meeting:

Adrian Gillett Ex POWtr
Colin Shieber Ex LWtr
Dave Greenway Ex WOWtr
Dave Scott CPOWtr
Dawn Trevena Ex CPOWtr
Helen Sharp Ex Wtr
Jane Lucas Ex WWtr (P)
Matthew Ireson Sub Lt (Ex CPOWtr)
Mike McGeever Ex LWtr
Miriam Caldwell CPOWtr
Nichola Sweet WO2Wtr
Sharan Griffiths Ex LWWtr
Sheila Ellson Ex POWWtr (P)
Simon Kingdon Ex Lt Cdr
Stephen Woodard Ex Lt Cdr
Stuart Shilvock Ex WOWtr
Trudi Brough CPOWtr
Shirley Magill Ex POWWtr

Totals in membership:

After allowance for those that have lapsed/resigned or CtB since last figures were published (March):

Oct 23 Honorary Life – 3, Life – 29, Members – 218.  Total – 250

Jan 24 Honorary Life – 3, Life – 28, Members – 249.   Total – 280

Mar 24 Honorary Life – 3, Life – 28, Members – 254.   Total – 285

May 24 Honorary Life – 3, Life – 28, Members – 271.  Total – 302

There is 1 member (Robert Smith) due to move to Life Member in July 2024, and this has now been passed to the Chair to action.

Standing Orders:

As at time of writing, there are some 93 Standing Orders in operation – representing approximately 34.3% of the total paying membership – last report 26.5%.

Merchandise

DM said that Polo Shirt sales had gone well, with orders ready to be collected at the Dinner – an order will go in prior to that to have them available.

Sweatshirts/Hoodies are a consideration and will be made available later in the year (JD has a good contact for these).

DM said that our website manager (Sophie) has an idea for a ships crest but with the logo from the polo shirts on. The hand painted crest, mounted on an oak plinth, would cost around £32. DM is getting a sample, and an image will be distributed to the Committee and members to ascertain feasibility.

Any Other Business

DM said that he had received the memoirs of Dixie Deans MBE, of his time on HMS PLYMOUTH during the Falklands Conflict. He has his diary, a photo of the instrument of surrender and DM says it’s a very interesting read. It will be collated and sent to the Committee, prior to being uploaded to the website to sit alongside other stories/memories.

CH asked IM if there was any update on the memorial. IM said that the QM has been away on holiday, course and other leave but was now back in post and IM is having a meeting on Friday to discuss the various options (bench, tree planted, graphics on a board). He will put a paper together after his meeting and will circulate it to the Committee.

Action:  IM to produce a paper outlining options for a Writers Memorial at DSLA.

IM said that he had received extremely late on today the date of the awards ceremony held at DLSA (in conjunction with CNLO) and would let the President have the date, and an invitation for up to 3 people to attend from the RNWA. He will also communicate the name of the Writer of the year, so that an invite for the dinner can be handed out at the awards ceremony. He would arrange for the trophy to be engraved.

PA said that there used to be a brass crest held in the Centurion SR Mess, organised by WOWtr Edgar, showing the crossed quills with the wording underneath ‘Writers Care’. Sadly, it is not known where this went.

There being no further topics for discussion, the meeting closed at 1945.

The date of the next meeting is Thursday 18th July 2024 @ 1915.

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION (RNWA)
COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS MEETING
HELD 1915 THURSDAY 21 MARCH 2024

Present

Colin Hughes (CH) President
Pat Prior QVRM (PP) Vice President/Treasurer
Lyn Gannon (LG) Secretary
Don McGeorge (DM) Membership Secretary
Tony Webber (TW) Committee Member
Jim Donaldson (JD) Committee Member
David Spicer (DS) Committee Member
Adrian Hamilton (AH) Member
Vicky Hamilton (VH)  Member
Mark Yates (MY) Member
James Leeson (JL) Member
John Glover (JH) Member

Committee Member Apologies

Tony Mason (TM)

Member Apologies

Kathryn Simmons, Christine Senior, Lesley McCarthy, Greta Grindell, Marina Christopher, Vince Hawkins, Peter Danks, Janet Moyse, Kym Carr, Steve Hamblin, Jake Bailey, David Scott, Alf Parr, Penny Wallis, Jim Froggatt, Julia Appleby and Gillian Orchard.

The President welcomed all to the meeting.

Crossed the Bar

A minutes silence was held in memory of:
Pat McCarthy, Colin Way, Harry James, Andy Morton, Gerald Jarvis BEM, Richard Eddy and Louise Jones.

Minutes of the last meeting of 18 January 2024:

The minutes of the last meeting were approved – proposed by DM, seconded by PP.

Matters Arising from 18 January

There were no matters arising.

Treasurers Report

PP reported that the balance as of this day was £4846-73. This includes £1471.50 ring fenced funds. An asset of £500 was the deposit paid for next years’ dinner. The first batch of Polo Shirts sold had made a profit of £190.24 and the second batch (arriving and being posted this Friday) had made a profit of £119.15, with 2 orders still to be paid for. DM agreed to chase this up.

AH asked for the details of the shirts, for him to consider for his local RNA and JD agreed to email the details to him.

Revised Rules and Regulations

CH said that the committee were working on a rewrite of the Rules and Regulations, with just one or two items left to clarify. They will be approved at the Annual General Meeting in October (held prior to the Annual Dinner).

Grand National Tickets 2025 – feasibility of using a number generator rather than printing tickets

CH said that this would save a significant sum of money on printing and postage costs but the downside was members buying books to sell on to others would not have tickets to hand over.

It was agreed to put this in the newsletter with a poll asking who would prefer just numbers, to gauge what members want.

ACTION LG to put this in the next newsletter

Proposal to allocate £100 for raffle prizes for the Annual Dinner.

CH asked for approval for £100 to be spend on 2-3 good quality raffle prizes to start the raffle off, with members/guests attending the dinner to bring a raffle prize and donate it.

LG said that this was already on the application form, which was due to go live shortly.

Cenotaph Marching Contingent

LG has consulted with the TRBL for the RNWA to have its own platoon to march at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday in London on 10 November. Confirmation of how many tickets we will be allocated will be known by mid-May, then applications will be taken for the places. If more apply than tickets given, a ballot will be conducted, by Zoom, for fairness. Once LG has names and details, the application form is sent to TRBL, who will send out an e-ticket to individuals at the end of October.

Membership Report

DM reported the following:

New Members Since Last Meeting:

Adrian Griffiths Ex POWtr
Dave Walsh Ex Lt Cdr
Fiona Evans Ex POWWtr
Jim Froggatt Ex CPOWtr
Julia Appleby Ex LWWtr
Katrina Plummer Ex POWWtr
Kevin Wood Ex CPOWtr
Kym Carr Ex Wren Wtr (G)
Marina Christopher Ex LWWtr
Paul Hobbs Ex CPOWtr
Ron Niccolls Ex CPOWtr
Sharon Jones LWtr

Totals in membership:

After allowance for those that have lapsed/resigned (4) and CtB advised since last figures were published (3):

Comparative figures for the period October 2023 to March 2024 are as follows:

Oct 23 Honorary Life – 3, Life – 29, Members – 218.  Total – 250

Jan 24 Honorary Life – 3, Life – 28, Members – 249.   Total – 280

May 24 Honorary Life – 3, Life – 28, Members – 254.   Total – 285

There is 1 member (Robert Smith) due to move to Life Member in July 2024.

Standing Orders:

As at time of writing, there are some 67 Standing Orders (SO) in operation – representing approximately 26.5% of the total paying membership. Last report was 18.5%.

Polo Shirts Update

Further to the report from the Treasurer above, DM said that they were selling well and he will be asking members if they would like to purchase a shirt at the Annual Dinner. He wondered if members would like a sweatshirt next. It was agreed to ask this question in the Newsletter to get feedback on what members would like. VH asked about scarves for the ladies, but it was pointed out that this had been asked before but there were no takers – the AOW have their own scarf that ladies tend to wear.

ACTION LG to add into the Newsletter

Any Other Business

LG said that herself and PP had completed an application for a grant from the RNRMC towards the cost of the dinner.

AH said that the RNA holds a biennial parade in September at the Cenotaph (next one due 2025) and would appreciate support from other Associations. LG will add details into the Newsletter.

ACTION LG to add into the Newsletter

There being no further topics for discussion, the meeting closed at 2015.

The date of the next meeting is Tuesday 16 May 2024. (Change of day for this meeting).

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION (RNWA)
COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS MEETING
HELD 1915 THURSDAY 18th JANUARY 2024

Present

Colin Hughes (CH) President
Pat Prior QVRM (PP) Vice President/Treasurer
Lyn Gannon (LG) Secretary
Don McGeorge (DM) Membership Secretary
Tony Webber (TW) Committee Member
Jim Donaldson (JD) Committee Member
David Spicer (DS) Committee Member
Penny Wallis (PW) Member
Peter Danks (PD)  Member
Bob Millard (BM) Member
Greta Grindell (GG) Member
Phil Allen (PA) Member
Gary Andrews (GA) Member
Vince Hawkins (VH) Member

Committee Member Apologies

Tony Mason (TM)
Ian McHugh (IM)

Member Apologies

Kathryn Simmons, Brian Wead, Rod Lewis, Bill Whaley, Steve Hamblin, Janet Moyse, Alfred Parr, David Scott, Dave Case, Charmaine Ryland, Christine Senior, June Terry, Gillian Orchard, Ian Freegard and Simon Goddard.

The President welcomed all to the meeting.

Crossed the Bar

A minutes silence was held in memory of:
Jim Paterson
Steve Rawlings
Neil Mitchell
Janet Vockins
David Hodges
Dennis Bartlett
Jessica Burridge
Evelyn Dodgson.

Minutes of the last meeting of 16 November 2023:

The minutes of the last meeting were approved – proposed by PP, seconded by DS.

Matters Arising from 16 November

1. LG to contact The Royal British Legion (TRBL) about our own contingent for the Cenotaph – ongoing, awaiting response from TRBL
2. Revised Rules and regulations – CH had sent out a tracked change copy on 19 Dec to committee members to read through. These will be discussed in depth at a specific meeting in March and be brought to the next RNWA meeting. DM agreed to place them on the website once ready.

Treasurers Report

PP reported that the balance as of this day was £3408.95. This includes £1471.50 ring fenced funds, minus liabilities with a true balance of £1738.72. An asset of £500 was the deposit paid for next years’ dinner. PP stated that the audit was being conducted on Friday morning.

PP advised the committee and members that, because of saving costs on printing newsletters and postage (£294) – using a local facility that was cheaper, stationery savings (£330) and expenses (£138), £762 had been reduced from costs. This was applauded.

DM asked what the arboretum ring fenced funds were for. CH said that members had donated funds to have a memorial placed up at the National Memorial in Staffordshire, but that this was now impossible to achieve. All donors had been contacted to see if they would like their donation refunded – 1 person took this up and the money has been refunded. The balance is to be used on a memorial bench and tree planting up at the Defence College of Logistics and Policing at Worthy Down. A spot has been earmarked for this and we are awaiting costings from the ground staff at DCLPA. There are also 2 benches in Southsea – the RNWA Centenary bench to the west of the War Memorial which needs some maintenance and the Brian Emmence memorial bench which is maintained by the Council. The authorities responsible for this have stated it will probably be 2026 before the regeneration of the seafront reaches the area where the benches are situated.

PP said that new RNWA pin badges have been produced, to keep a good stock. They arrived with the pin backing, rather than the brooch pin style as ordered, and so a further 10% reduction has been applied; £364 for 200 badges, rather than the last batch that had been sourced at over £400 for 50.

Web Presence

Our web designer has said she is happy to continue with her role and is working with DM to continually update and improve the website.

Co-Opted Committee Member

This item has been deferred for 6 months.

Annual Dinner 2024

LG had met with CH and PP, the menu choices had been chosen and all details will be in the next newsletter, including a link to complete the application form and pay online. Tickets will be £50 for members and £60 for guests. The evening will include the regular Heads and Tails and there will also be a raffle.

Grand National Draw 2024

Tickets are being printed and will be sent out shortly.

New Members

CH said that rather than new members names being approved at meetings, they will be accepted as members once their payment is received and this change in the rules will be ratified at the AGM, together with a major change currently under consideration. DM will keep the list of names and report the list at each Committee meeting, rather than seek approval.

Polo Shirts

After a proposal at the last meeting by JD, who had produced a polo shirt for his Ships Association, the committee have agreed to have a navy-blue cotton polo shirt made, with the RNWA logo on a white ensign design on the left-hand side. JD to seek final costs with the company – 20 to be purchased by RNWA to see how they go (15 large, 5 medium), and will retail at £20 plus postage. If successful, further order and sizes will be placed, DM will manage the orders. They will also be on sale at the Annual Dinner in October if successful. They will be advertised on the website and social media.

Membership Numbers breakdown, Subscriptions etc, new Members

DM reported the following:

New Members Since Last Meeting
David “Tab” Hunter Ex POWtr
Janet Moyse Ex 2/O WRNS
Peter Hardgrave Ex CPOWtr
Tony Murrey Ex CPOWtr
Julie Crompton Ex LWWtr
Desmond Hall Ex Wtr1
David Hole Ex Wtr1
Bob Thompson Ex MAA (LWtr)
Charmaine Ryland Ex Wtr
Graham Deacon Ex POWtr
Ian R Smith Ex WO1 Wtr
Steven Campbell Ex WO1 Wtr
Ian “Slinger” Wood CPOWtr
Laura Brown WO2 Wtr
Brenda Ryan Ex CPOWtr
Robert Spriggs LWtr
Neil Durrance Ex CPOWtr
Simon Goddard Ex WOWtr
Simon Ashwood Lt RN
Chris Brier Ex Lt Cdr RN
Dr Chris Bagley Ex Wtr (1956-58)
Peter Wallace Ex CPOWtr

Totals in membership:

After allowance for those that have lapsed (1) resigned (2) and CtB advised since last figures were published (3):

Comparative figures for the period October 2023 to January 2024 are as follows:

Oct 23 Honorary Life – 3, Life – 29, Members – 218.  Total – 250

Jan 24 Honorary Life – 3, Life – 28, Members – 249.   Total – 280

There is 1 member (Robert Smith) due to move to Life Member in July 2024.

There remain 4 (from an original 7) outstanding subscriptions from 2023, which are being pursued. Politely.

There are 50+ renewals due in 2024, and each is being dealt with in the month prior to the renewals falling due.

Standing Orders:

As at time of writing, there are some 47 Standing Orders (SO) in operation – representing approximately 18.5% of the total paying membership.

DM reported that, due to how some banks operate standing orders (must be within 31 days – e.g. new joiners in January, SO will commence 1 February), renewals would take place on the 1^st of the month following the renewal date.

Any Other Business

DM said that publicity from others was invaluable – such as the comment from PW on Facebook (FB) asking if someone was a member of the RNWA – promoting the RNWA in a positive manner. He reported his findings that some younger members only stay a year or so then leave, it is hoped paying by SO will reduce this effect in time.

CH asked if there was any value in recreating our own FB page. DM said that it had been subsumed into the wider Writers page, which could be seen by ALL current and former writers, not just our members, therefore it was agreed not to pursue this.

PD asked what is offered to them as an incentive to stay – maybe we should be thinking of other events than just the annual dinner. CH said that this had been tried in the past and only 4 committee members turned up. PD suggested making more of the annual visit to DCLP to present the Writer of the Year Award. CH said that it would not be feasible as it is already a big presentation awards day.

DM said he had spoken to IM (at the last AGM/Dinner event), who said that today’s young writers (logisticians) do not have an interest in joining associations and he was therefore targetting those in the mid to latter stages of their Writer careers, and this was paying dividends.

DS asked if the directory might be an incentive, finding out where their Oppos are? DM said that would not work, due to the vagaries of GDPR.

GA said that he had found the recent publication from DM of use, showing the first part of a postcode as he saw someone close to his address. DM agreed to be a liaison if GA wanted him to pass details on and said that he was happy to do this for anyone wishing to do the same, just drop DM an email or call.

VH asked if a different guest speaker for the 2025 dinner could be arranged, rather than an Admiral, to have it tailored to our branch. CH said this year’s guest Speaker, Admiral Kyte was CN(Logs) Officer, so would be asked to keep his brief to our branch.

PD asked if there were still links with the Devonport branch – CH said there was no branch anymore, although there were members in the area. A previous dinner had been successfully held in the SR Mess in Drake, PD suggested the dinner should be held in the region where the bulk of members are, although CH said a dinner elsewhere in the country could be considered in future.

PA asked if CH had received an email he had sent some weeks ago. It transpired that it had been sent to an old email address. PA said that it had been about his perceived lack of thanks to the previous Secretary. CH said that he had openly thanked the previous Secretary and there had been a standing ovation for him. The outgoing Secretary had then resigned from the RNWA, wanting no further contact.

CH agreed to send PA his new email address.

There being no further topics for discussion, the meeting closed at 2000.

The date of the next meeting is Thursday 21 March 2024.

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA)
COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS MEETING
HELD 1900 THURSDAY 16TH NOVEMBER 2023

Present

Colin Hughes (CH) President
Pat Prior QVRM (PP) Vice President & Treasurer
Lyn Gannon (LG) Secretary
Don McGeorge (DM) Membership Secretary
Jim Donaldson (JD Committee Member
Davis Spicer (DS) Committee Member
Penny Wallis (PW) Member
Andy Bell (AB) Member
Vince Hawkins (VH) Member

Committee Member Apologies

Tony Mason & Tony Webber

Member Apologies

Brian Wead, Philip Jones, Phil Allen, Paul Johns, Alfred Parr, Steve Hamblin,
Nancy & David Hill, Alf Ramsey, Chris Payne, Mark Whitty, Greta Grindell, David Scott, Kathryn Simmons, Bill McIntosh and Ian McHugh.

The President welcomed all to the meeting, the first with new committee members in place. He said that the annual dinner in October had gone very well and was looking forward to seeing more members at next year’s dinner where it is planned to do some different things.

Crossed the Bar

A minutes silence was held in memory of Mary McIntyre (CTB 5/5/23) and Ivan Milburn (CTB 5/11/23)

Minutes of the last meeting 21 September 2023

The minutes of the last meeting were approved – proposed by PP, seconded by DS

Treasurers Report

PP reported that the balance as of this day was £3262.18. This includes £1471.50 ring fenced funds, with a true balance of £1790.68. An asset of £500 was the deposit paid for next years’ dinner. A 12 month Zoom subscription had been paid, to allow longer meetings as and when needed, plus lottery renewal (to enable the Grand National Draw) and £60 plus a lapsed fee £20 (total £80) to the Royal Maritime Hotel. She said that joining fees had started coming through.

DM reported that 7 new members had applied for membership and were approved by the committee –

Jacqueline (Jake) Bailey – ex POWtr
John Donovan – ex CPOWtr
Alan (Max) Wall – ex CPOWtr
Mick Watt – ex WOWtr
Terry Why – ex CPOWtr
James (Jim) Whyte – ex WOWtr
Sarah Bryant – ex WOWtr

And 14 more were awaiting approval.

Link to RANWA

Since the meeting, DM has contacted the Australian version of our Association, with a view to closer association.

Remembrance

DM requested consideration for having an RNWA platoon at the Cenotaph in London, considering the RNWA is the oldest association. There have also been comments on the RNWA FB page. This is a veterans parade (no uniformed personnel) so it was agreed to see if we can have places next year (minimum numbers 15) so LG is going to apply for 25 places for us for next year.

ACTION LG to contact TRBL

Funding

Introduction of Joining Fee
Increase in Annual Subs
Move towards a Common Date for Renewal and SO’s

The Committee have approved a joining fee and an increase in subs to £10 from 1/1/24. This would be a common date for renewal, using standing orders. A pro rata system is being put into place by DM for those that have already paid ahead. DM will contact everyone to advise these pro rata payments. This will all be explained in depth in the Newsletter being produced in December.

Rules and Regulations Review/Committee periods in Office

DM said that at present, committee members must be re-elected annually. could effectively all leave their roles at the same time – no continuity plan in place. He suggested that every year, 2 committee members should stand down ( 1 officer – President, Treasurer, Secretary or Membership Secretary and 1 ordinary committee member) – this would be on a rolling basis but they are able to stand for re-election immediately. DM said he would revise the Rules and Regulations and distribute them to the Committee.

ACTION DM to revise Rules and Regulations and distribute to Committee members.

DS asked how to stop committee members from staying too long and getting stale? A rolling 4 -year renewal would be considered and be voted on at the AGM. PP said that the RBL have a 3-year rolling programme.

Crossing the Bar Notifications

DM said that this should be for all formers Writers, not just members – this was unanimously approved.

Annual Dinner 2024

LG had met with the events team at the Royal Maritime Hotel and was awaiting the quote and dinner menu choices.

Any Other Business\

LG has received correspondence from the Fleet Writer (WO ‘Alf’ Ramsey). At the dinner in October, the subject of uniformed personnel on the committee was raised and WOWtr Ian McHugh has been nominated to join the committee. This was unanimously agreed. Alf also offered help from POWtr(SM) Martyn Cornish to help with our website. DM said that he had been working very closely with our current website provider and felt that things were improving greatly, and that he had learned how to do much of the work. To this end, it was agreed to hold this offer in abeyance and review the situation in 6 months’ time.

DM said that Sophie and her daughter would be very happy to attend next year’s dinner and take professional photographs (as has happened in the past) for the website, with names attached, and to make them available commercially. The cost to us would just be their dinner tickets, which was agreed.

VH asked if someone other than a high-ranking officer could be guest speaker, as the talks become uninteresting. CH said that V Ad Kyte was this year’s guest speaker – has been booked for over a year but would take this suggestion onboard for 2025.

CH asked for any future Crossing the Bar notification be passed to LG. If the person is a current RNWA member, a small donation is made in their memory to a charity of their family’s choice.

There being no further topics for discussion, the meeting closed.

The date of the next meeting is Thursday 18 January 2024.

Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA) – Annual General Meeting 17:30 Friday 13th October 2023 held at The Queen’s Hotel Southsea.

Present:

Colin Hughes (CH) – President
Pat Prior BEM QVRM (PP) – Vice-President & Treasurer
Les Heyhoe BCAv (LH) – Secretary & Membership
Tony Mason (TM) – Committee Member
David Spicer (DS) – Committee Member
Lyn Gannon (LG) – Committee Member
Phil Allen MBE (PA) – Member
Jane Ballard (JB) – Member
Richard Dickson (RD) – Member
Greta Grindell (GG) – Member
Vince Hawkins (VH) – Member
Steve Heggie (SH) – Member
Don McGeorge (DM) – Member
Kathyrn Simmons (KS) – Member
Jed Stone OBE (JS) – Member

Committee Member Apologies
Tony Webber (TW)
Jim Donaldson (JD)

Member Apologies
David Hill (DH)
Nancy Hill (NH)
David Kelly (DK)
Bill Whaley (BW)
Denis Alger (DA)
David Allsopp (DA)
Lester May (LM)
Jim Danks (JD)
Mike Moncur (MM)
Bob Milliard (BM)
Richard Coupe (RC)
Andy Whitfield (AW)

1. Minutes
The minutes of the AGM Friday 14th October 2022 were proposed by TM and seconded by DA and were taken as read with no further or additional comments by those present.

2. Treasurer’s Report
PP opened by stating that the 2022 audited accounts have been available to be viewed on the RNWA’s website since February 2023 in order that members could see the income and expenditure and any questions answered. To-date none received.
The ‘opening balance’ for 2023 was £3,870.00. In this total is included £1,506.50 and £65.00 ‘ring fenced’ and treated as ‘restrictive funds’ for the Arboretum and Benches respectively.
A quick summary of this year’s finances shows a profit from the Grand National Draw of £532.00
The 136th Reunion Dinner being held 13th October 2023 has resulted in an expenditure exceeding income by £562.79 which has been sufficiently covered by the profit received via the Grand National Draw plus £30.79.
Therefore, as at midday 13th October 2023 the RNWA account balance stood at £3,291.06 (less (£1,471.50 for restrictive funds) and a true reflective figure is £1,819.56 plus £500.00 that has been paid as a deposit for the 2024 Reunion Dinner.

3. Membership
Membership as of 12th October 2023 comprises of:- .

3 Honorary Members
29 Life Members
218 Members
250 Total Membership

No movement in numbers and by coincidence the same as reported at the 2022 AGM despite a record 18 new members for 2023 and this is due to lapses, resignations and deaths equaling the new members total.

3 Outstanding membership contributions for 2022 – i.a.w Rule 6bi. Iii lapsing in January 2024.
16 Outstanding membership contributions due 2023 – February to December .
59 Membership contributions due to renew in 2024.
61 Membership contributions due to renew in 2025.

Membership as of 12th October 2023 comprises of:-

14 Serving Members
9 Male
5 Female
6% Serving Members 2023
83% Serving Members 1973 – 50 yr. comparison.

Everyone was again reminded by LH to ensure maximum promotion of the RNWA amongst the Writer community by whatever means.

4. Elections
LH commenced by saying that due to personal reasons and after 25 years in the dual roles as The Secretary & Membership Secretary he was resigning, and the positions were therefore vacant with the following submitting their names to fulfill the roles of:-.

Secretary – Lyn Gannon (LG) Proposed by: TM Seconded By: DS
Membership Secretary – Don McGeorge (DM) Proposed by: CH Seconded By: VH
All those in attendance were unanimous in the election of the above, together with the re-election for a further year of the existing committee in the following positions of:-

President – Colin Hughes (CH)
Vice-President & Treasurer Pat Prior BEM QVRM (PP)
Committee Member – Tony Mason (TM)
Committee member – David Spicer (DS)
Committee Member – Tony Webber (TW)
Committee Member – Jim Donaldson (JD)

PA on behalf of the member attendees and all the membership, gave a ‘vote of thanks’ to the RNWA Committee, which was seconded by JS, and a very special note of thanks (seconded by RD) to LH for his past 25 years of effort and dedication to the RNWA which was greatly appreciated by everyone.

5. Crossed The Bar (2023)
CH would during his ‘Reply Speech’ mention those members that had ‘Crossed the Bar’ since the last AGM i.e.
10th January George Mytom-Hart BEM of Fareham Hampshire
16th January Ken Baish of Esher Surrey
31st January Richard Lawrence of E. Grinsted West Sussex
1st May John Ballinger of Stroud Gloucestershire
15th August Peter Wead of Boro Green Kent

All the above had previously been mentioned and minuted at prior Committee & Members scheduled meetings whereby a minutes silence was held prior to the meeting in their memory and annotated accordingly in the relevant section on the RNWA’s website of rnwa.co.uk/members/crossed-the-bar/.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 17:55 and LH thanked everyone for their attendance, input, and support, wishing the RNWA Committee every success in going forward to maintain and continue ‘the world’s oldest military association’.

Next Annual General Meeting & 137th Reunion Dinner to be held Friday 11th October 2024 – time & room location & details TBA with Reunion Dinner Guest of Honour Vice Admiral Andy Kyte, Chief of Defense Logistics and Support (CDLS),

75-80 Queen St, Portsea, Portsmouth PO1 3HS
Next RNWA scheduled Committee & Members meeting: Thursday 16th November 2023 – TBA by LG.

Regards
Les Heyhoe BCAv
‘Outgoing’ RNWA Secretary & Membership H: 023 9235 7181 / M: 07494 150563 Email: linda.heyhoe@btinternet.com 17th October 2023

RNWA – AGM Minutes 131023

Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA) Committee & Members meeting held 19:30 Thursday 21^st September 2023

Present:
Colin Hughes (CH) – President

Pat Prior BEM QVRM (PP) – Vice-President & Treasurer

Les Heyhoe BCAv (LH) – Secretary & Membership
David Spicer (DS) Committee Member
Jim Donaldson (JD) – Committee Member
Tony Webber (TW) – Committee Member
Mike Moncur (MM) Member
John Glover (JG) – Member
Don McGeorge (DM) – Member

Committee Members Apologies:
Tony Mason (TM)
Lyn Gannon (LG)

Member Apologies:
Jed Stone (JS)

Peter Danks (PD

Brian Wead (BW)

Bob Carr (BC)

1. ‘Crossed the Bar’ (CTB)

Peter Wead (brother of RNWA member Brian Wead) of Borough Green, passed away on 15/08/23. A minutes silence was held in his memory.

2. Minutes
   The minutes of Thursday 20th July 2023 were proposed by PP and seconded by JD and were taken as read with no further or additional comments by those present.
3. Treasurer’s Report
   PP advised as at close of business Thursday 21st September 2023 the current financial situation was:- £7,749.71 – Note: includes amounts ‘ring fenced’ for National Arboretum (NMA), Memorial Bench and payments received for 2023 Reunion Dinner totaling £3,680.00. The invoice for the dinner should be received by Monday 25th September which will be in excess of the sum received due to payment for drinks per table and port for the loyal toast.
4. Membership
5. 3 Honorary Members . 28 Life Members .220 Members .251 Total Membership
6. 4 Remain outstanding for 2022 – Final reminder issued. To be lapsed in January 2024.

iii. 28 membership contribution remain outstanding for 2023 January – December.

1. 6 New Members:- Margret (Greta) Grindell of Weymouth / WO1 Wtr. Natalie Bywaters of Gosport / CPO Wtr. Andrew Burnett of Eastney / PO Wtr. Leanne Roberts of Falkirk / Robert May of Plymouth / Jane Billingham of Exeter

5. Any Other Businesi
6. The 136th Reunion Dinner – 13th October’23 at The Queens Hotel Southsea – see attached list (in Surname Alphabetical Order) of the 83 attendees, including Guests of Honour. If you don’t see your name on the list and you were expecting to attend, having paid, and submitted your application prior to the closing date of Monday 11th September, then please immediately contact The Secretary.
   ii. CH advised that the RNWA Constitution had been discussed and revised by the committee and the website updated accordingly. All present stated they agreed with the changes which had been implemented but final ratification would be sought and confirmed at the AGM being held on 13/10/23.
   iii. Election of RNWA Committee 2023 / 2024

Name                                             Volunteer for                                      Seconded by
Colin Hughes (CH)                     President                                           Les Heyhoe BCAv (LH)

Pat Prior BEM QVRM (PP)        Vice President & Treasurer           Colin Hughes (

1. CH) Lyn Gannon (LG)             Secretary                                             Tony Mason (LG)

Don McGeorge (DM)                 Membership Secretary                      Colin Hughes (CH)

Tony Mason (TM)                      Committee Member                          David Spicer (DS)

David Spicer (DS)                      Committee Member                          Tony Mason (TM)

Tony Webber (TW)                    Committee Member                          Colin Hughes (CH)

Jim Donaldson (JD)                    Committee Member                          Les Heyhoe BCAv (LH)

The above names will be presented to those attending the AGM 13/10/23 to be officially voted ‘into office and positions’ subject to final approval.
iv. CH advised that he and LH had recently met with WO1 Wtr Ian McHugh at the Defense College of Logistics, Policy & Administration (DCLPA) at Worthy Down, Hants’ (the ‘current home of ‘Writer’ Training) with a view of ideally a tree, bench and plaque placed there as a memorial to past ‘Writers’. The WO1 (Army) the establishment lead is currently on leave until 25th Sept but a request for 10 different scenarios has been left with him to review and a request for costings.to be provided and shared at the AGM for discussion and ‘the way forward’ – all subject to cost and quotes.

Dates of next scheduled RNWA Meetings 2023 .
5.30pm / 17:30 – Friday 13th October (Annual General Meeting – Queen’s Hotel, Southsea)
7.30pm / 19:30 – Thursday 16th November (new link and arrangements to be made LG)

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.20pm / 20:20

Les Heyhoe BCAv
RNWA Secretary &Membership
H: 023 9235 7181 / M: 07494 150563
Email: linda.heyhoe@btinternet.com or les@heyhoe.com

22nd September 2023

RNWA – Minutes 210923

Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA) Committee & Members meeting held 19:30 Thursday 20^th July 2023

Held virtually via Google Teams – see Hyper Link:- https://meet.google.com/ahs-rfcg-smu

Present:
Colin Hughes (CH) – President
Pat Prior BEM QVRM (PP) – Vice-President & Treasurer
Les Heyhoe BCAv (LH) – Secretary & Membership
David Spicer (DS) Committee Member
Jim Donaldson (JD) – Committee Member
Mike Moncur (MM) Member
Kathryn Simmons (KS) – Member
Robert Carr (RC) – Member
John Glover (JG) – Member
Richard Jones (RJ) – Member

Committee Members Apologies:
Tony Mason (TM)
Lyn Gannon (LG)
Tony Webber (TW)

Member Apologies:
Nigel Coy (NC)
Pat Haselden (PH)
Gillian Orchard (GO)
Brian Wead (BW)
Jed Stone (JS)

1. ‘Crossed the Bar’ (CTB)
Fortunately, no members since the last meeting were known to have CTB.

Sadly, LH had received notification from member David Kelly (DK) of Fareham that he had been advised he had a terminal illness and wished the Committee and members to be informed. LH will liaise with DK’s daughter regarding future funeral arrangements notifying the Committee and members.

2. Minutes
The minutes of Thursday 18th May 2023 were proposed by PP and seconded by KS and were taken as read with no further or additional comments by those present.

3. Treasurer’s Update
PP advised as at close of business Thursday 20th July 2023 the current financial situation was:- £6,989.53 – Note: includes amounts ‘ring fenced’ for National Arboretum (NMA), Memorial Bench and payments received for 2023 Reunion Dinner.
PP confirmed that all Grand National 2023 payments had been made and all cheques cleared.
See AOB iv. regarding discussion in respect of the closure of the NMA project.

4. Membership

    3  Honorary Members.

    28 Life Members.

    213  Members.

      244 Total Membership

There are six (6) members whose membership remains outstanding for 2022 and a FINAL reminder would be issued, having received no response to previous reminders, by the end of July 2023 otherwise their membership would be considered lapsed.

iii.        30 members remain to pay membership contributions for 2023 – 5 pre-July and 25 July – Dec’.

iv. New members proposed by LH and seconded by CH:-

AB (Wtr) Jack Roberts of Penzance (July 2023 – 2025) – ‘Writer of the Year’

b. Mrs Dawn McAuliffe (nee Phillips) of Plymouth (June 2023 – 2025)

c. Mr Chris Payne of Park Gate, Fareham (June 2023 – 2025)

d. Mr Matthew Payne of Nottingham (June 2023 – June 2025)

e. Miss Patricia Haselden of Liverpool (June 2023 – June 2025)

f.  Mr Glenn Tinsley of Sleaford, Lincs (June 2023 – June 2027)

5. Any Other Businesi

i. CH advised that he had received notification that the two Southsea RNWA benches were scheduled to receive maintenance and upkeep during 2024 by Portsmouth City Council.
ii. The 136th Reunion Dinner – 13th October’23 at The Queens Hotel Southsea – see attached list (in Surname Alphabetical Order) of current attendees – reminder closing date Monday 11th Sept.’23
iii. PP advised that the current RNWA Constitution requires updating and everyone was asked to review and forward amendments, together with ensuring everyone received advance opportunities for applying for any of the official positions of the committee prior to the Annual General Meeting. Notification would be published in the next scheduled RNWA Newsletter due August 2023.
iv. In view of no NMA project, a proposal has been received from JG that a tree and plaque were placed at Chatham or somewhere similar. LH upon receipt of the proposal approached Chatham and was advised that this was not possible, but a bench was permissible subject to various terms and conditions and costings. Subsequently, CH contacted Ian McHugh (IM), WO Wtr at the Defence College of Logistics, Policy & Administration (DCLPA) at Worthy Down, Hants’ (the ‘current home of ‘Writer’ Training) to propose the feasibility of a tree & plaque being placed there? All were unanimous in this initial proposal and agreed to CH & LH pursuing this line of enquiry, arranging a meeting at DCLPA, and reporting back at the next scheduled meeting. Action: CH, LH & IM by 21st Sept.’23

Dates of next scheduled RNWA Meetings 2023 – held virtually, see front page Hyper Link.
7.30pm / 19:30 – Thursday 21st September
5.30pm / 17:30 – Friday 13th October (Annual General Meeting – Queen’s Hotel, Southsea)
7.30pm / 19:30 – Thursday 16th November

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.20pm / 20:20

Les Heyhoe BCAv
RNWA Secretary &Membership
H: 023 9235 7181 / M: 07494 150563
Email: linda.heyhoe@btinternet.com or les@heyhoe.com

Surname of attendees – 136^th Reunion Dinner The Queens Hotel Southsea – Friday 13/10/23

As of 23^rd July 2023

RNWA – Minutes 200723     

Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA) Committee & Members meeting held 19:30 Thursday 18th May 2023
Held virtually via Google Teams – see Hyper Link:- https://meet.google.com/ahs-rfcg-smu
Present:
Colin Hughes (CH) – President
Pat Prior BEM QVRM (PP) – Vice-President & Treasurer
Les Heyhoe BCAv (LH) – Secretary & Membership
Tony Mason (TM) – Committee Member
Lyn Gannon (LG) – Committee Member
Jim Donaldson (JD) – Committee Member
Apologies:
Tony Webber (TW) – Committee Member
David Spicer (DS) Committee Member
Member Apologies:
Kathryn Simmons (KS)
Nancy Hill (NH)
David Hill (DH)
Bill McIntosh (BM)
Bob Carr (BC)
Peter Danks (PD)
Paul Johns (PJ)
Alf Parr (AP)
Christine Senior (CS)
1. ‘Crossed the Bar’ (CTB)
No members were reported as ‘Crossing the Bar’ since the last meeting held in March 2023.
2. Minutes
The minutes of Thursday 16th March 2023 were proposed by LG and seconded by CH and were taken as read with no further or additional comments by those present.
3. Treasurer’s Update
PP advised as at close of business Thursday 18th May 2023 the current financial situation was:- £6,153.27 – Note: £1,406.50 ‘ring fenced’ for National Arboretum (NMA) with £100.00 having been returned to the original donator and £65.00 currently held for the Memorial Bench.
i. A total of £30.00 remained outstanding regarding Grand National payments of £10.00 x 3 that the cheques had yet to be ‘cashed’ i.e., Norman Bartley (CH to contact), Pat McCarthy’s son and Tom O’Rourke (LH to contact).
ii. Approximately £1,200.00 gross was collected for the Grand National Draw held in April but due to ever increasing costs i.e., printing & especially postage, the net amount profit was £427.00, the lowest since the draw began. Still a reasonable profit and amount to subsidize the ‘Writer of the Year’ award and pay for the VIP & Complimentary guests for the annual Reunion Dinner.
iii. PP’s contact details were to be added to the website. Action LH / Webmaster.
iv. The ‘Writer Pins’ were discussed due to the cost doubling (now £8 each) and PP would source the next request – currently 47 held so based on 5-8 new members a year, probably in 5 – 8 years’ time?
v. PP wished to recognize CH’s contribution and that of LG regarding no financial expense incurred in their recent visit to DCLP for the Award ceremony.
4. Membership
i. New Members:- a. Jane Ballard (nee Elwin / Cook) of Fareham (‘76-‘81 / LWtr. (G) . b. Stephen Heggie of Gosport (’71-‘03’ / CPOWtr.)
Both the above proposed by LH and seconded by CH effective May 2023.
ii. 242 Members as of 18th May 2023 with 7 outstanding for 2022 and 48 due 2023
5. Any Other Busines
1. a. For the 136th Reunion Dinner being held Friday 13th October 2023, LH advised that as at today there were 51attendees – see Page 3 for Alphabetical List of attendees – a better response than in previous years at this time of the year.
b. Pat & Lesley McCarthy visited the Defence College of Logistics, Policing & Administration (DCLPA) in March and details of their visit will be published via the website, together with an update of the attendance of CH & LG to the Award Ceremony 3rd May when ‘official photographs’ have been made available to the RNWA.
c. CH is to approach DCLPA to remind that ‘The Writer of Year’ membership and reunion Dinner application has yet to be received, together with any potential new members applications.
d. The Committee and members were advised by CH that Rear Admiral Andy Kyte CB who in September 2023 has been appointed by King Charles III to be the next Chief of Defence Logistics (CDLS) succeeding Lt Gen Richard Wardlaw, will be invited to be the Guest of Honour at the 137th RNWA Reunion Dinner to be held at The Royal Maritime 75-80 Queen Street, Portsmouth Hants., PO1 3HS Friday 11th October 2024.
e. A RNWA Newsletter was due to be issued in June 2023 and CH is to provide an introduction and LH is to include the Grand National results, NMA & Reunion Dinner reminder. Limited distribution to non-email members only and not via post, including those members living abroad but sent via email. PP offered to print the newsletter on production (in colour) to reduce costs.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned 20:10.
An email reminder of the next meeting will be issued via the webmaster one week prior to the date.
Next Meeting Thurs.19:30 20th July via https://meet.google.com/ahs-rfcg-smu
Les Heyhoe BCAv
RNWA Secretary &Membership
H: 023 9235 7181 / M: 07494 150563
Email: linda.heyhoe@btinternet.com
19th May 2023
RNWA – Minutes 180523
ATTENDEES AS AT 18TH MAY 2023
ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) 136TH REUNION DINNER 13TH OCTOBER 2023 AT THE QUEENS HOTEL SOUTHSEA PO5 3LJ
Reminder:- Cost £45.00 RNWA Members
£55.00 Guests
NO Exceptions CLOSING DATE for receipt of applications and payment is
MONDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER 2023
Note: No refund(s) can be made after this date for non-attendance irrespective of reason

Please see https://rnwa.co.uk/rnwa-reunion-dinner/ for more information and details
Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Reunion Dinner Coordinator E: les@heyhoe.com / M: 07494 150563

RNWA – Minutes 180523

Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA)

19:30 Thursday 2^nd February 2023   

Held virtually via Google Teams – see Hyper Link:- https://meet.google.com/ahs-rfcg-smu

Present:

Colin Hughes (CH) – President

Pat Prior BEM QVRM (PP) – Vice-President & Treasurer

Les Heyhoe BCAv        (LH) – Secretary & Membership

Tony Mason                 (TM) – Committee Member

David Spicer                (DS) – Committee Member

Jim Donaldson           (JD) – Committee Member

Lyn Gannon                (LG) – Committee Member

Tony Webber             (TW) – Committee Member                                         

Mike Moncur            (MM) – Member

Kathryn Simmons    (KS) – Member

Member Apologies:

Kathryn  Simmons (KS)

Christine Senior (CS)

Alf Parr (AP)

June Terry (JT)

Brian Wead (BW)

Peter Wead (PW)

Geoff Briggs (GB)

1. ‘Crossed the Bar’ (CTB)
   

As is customary, a minutes silence was held in respect of the following notifications of those RNWA members CTB:-

10^th January   2023 – George Mytom-Hart BEM of Titchfield, Hants.

31^st January   2023 – Richard W. Lawrence of East Grinsted, West Sussex.

Some of the RNWA Committee and members attended George’s service at Portchester Crematorium – see attached and photographs, A reminder, see the RNWA’s website regarding if you or your relatives wish for a bugler to play the last post and have a standard bearer present at your funeral?     

 2. Minutes

The minutes of Thursday 15^th September 2022 were proposed by LG and seconded by CH and were taken as read with no further or additional comments by those present.

Due to technical difficulties and the restructure of Google (no notification of change advised), the scheduled meetings of 17^th November 2022 and 19^th January 2023 were cancelled. A NEW link as shown at the top of the minutes is to be used now, bearing in mind also that the meeting is only available for 60 minutes so starting promptly and so as not to deviate or stray from the agenda as 1 – 5.    

3. Treasurer’s Update

PP advised as at close of business Wednesday 1^st February 2023 the current financial situation was:-   £4,005.00 –   Note: £1,506.50 ‘ring fenced’ for National Arboretum (NMA) & £65.00 for Memorial Bench.

CH advised that due to a multitude of reasons, financial and otherwise, it was no longer viable to proceed with the NMA project, so PP asked the question ‘what was to be done with the money held’? There were various suggestions and options, but it was agreed that CH would draft an item for display via the website and it put to members to comment and suggest any ideas and proposals with a vote and decision made at the 2023 AGM.

Peter Nicholls (PN) is scheduled to liaise and meet with PP regarding the RNWA annual audit of 2022  accounts on Friday 17^th February 2023.

LH proposed and TM seconded, and all were unanimous that the RNWA Treasurer (PP or otherwise) pays the annual fee license to Fareham Borough Council (FBC) to permit the Grand National Raffle Draw to be held, currently £35 per annum. LH was to ‘complete the return’, to FBC by end of May annually.

It was agreed that the expenses for the GN Raffle Draw were to be reimbursed to LH for the printing of the Reunion Dinner Application, Newsletter & Tickets and incidental postage etc. totaling £238.00 plus – all receipts will be provided by LH to PP for payment. Action: LH / PP & CH.   

4. Membership

Membership as 1^st February 2023, of:-

          3  Honorary Members

          28  Life Members

          207 Members

         238  Total Membership

1. Upon checking, other than David Spicer, no-one else was to be awarded Life Membership in 2023 – please contact the Membership Secretary , if you know or think otherwise?

Due April 2021

        Jane Pizii  Taunton Somerset

Due May 2021

       Thomas Keddy Waterlooville Hants

Due July 2021

       Joslin Murray Tolvadon Cornwall

Due August 2021

      Natalie Maunder-Parkes  Plymouth Devon

Due September 2021

     Veronica Russell Gosport Hants

Due October 2021

     Arthur Horne Ipswich Suffolk

        5. Any Other Busines

CH proposed & seconded by PP that the purchase of white gauntlets was to be made to enable future RNWA Standard Bearers not having to borrow them from the RBL or other organizations.  

1. LH to investigate the possibility of the 137^th RNWA Reunion Dinner being held on Friday 11^th October 2024 at The Royal Maritime Club, Portsmouth.

The being no further business the meeting adjourned 20:20 – Next Meeting Thurs.19:30 16^th March.

Les Heyhoe BCAv

RNWA Secretary &Membership

H: 023 9235 7181 / M: 07494 150563

Email: linda.heyhoe@btinternet.com

4^th February 2023

Richard ‘Dixie’ Dickson / Tony Webber / Les Heyhoe BCAv / Jed Stone OBE

Phil ‘Darby’ Allen MBE – RNWA Standard Bearer

RNWA President Colin Hughes & RM Bugler

No meeting

No meeting

Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA)

Annual General Meeting – Minutes

17:30 Friday 14^th October 2022

Held in The Library UJC London

Present:

Colin   Hughes (CH) – President

Pat Prior BEM QVRM (PP) – Vice-President & Treasurer

Les Heyhoe BCAv (LH) – Secretary & Membership

Tony Mason (TM) – Committee Member

David Spicer (DS) – Committee Member

Jim Donaldson (JD) – Committee Member 

Lyn Gannon (LG) – Committee Member                                               

Phil Allen MBE (PA) – Member

Albert Light (AL) – Member

Mary Light (ML) – Member

Jed Stone OBE (JS) – Member

Valerie   Blackwell (VB) – Member

David Ramsey (DR) – Member  

Committee Member Apologies

Tony Webber (TW)

Mike Moncur (MM)    

Member Apologies:

David Hill (DH)

Nancy Hill (NH)

David Kelly (DK)

Steve Hamblin (SH)

‘Dusty’ Miller (DM) Bill Whaley (BW)

1. Minutes

The minutes of the AGM Friday 8^th October 2021 were proposed by LG and seconded by TM and were taken as read with no further or additional comments by those present.

2. Treasurer’s Report      

PP advised as at close of business Thursday 13^th October 2022 of the current financial situation:-   £6,5364*    –   Note: £1,506.50 ‘ring fenced’ for National Arboretum & £65.00 for Memorial Bench – see item 5. * Also included in this sum is £2,145.00 received for the 2022 Reunion Dinner and the net expenditure of the cost of the dinner to be made to the UJC which is anticipated to be approximately £2,500.00.    

3. Membership

Membership as of 13^th October 2022 comprises of:-

. 3 Honorary Members

. 29 Life Members

. 218 Members

250  Total Membership

LH reminded everyone to ‘recruit’ new members. 

4. Elections

All those in attendance were unanimous in the re-election for a further year of the existing committee in the capacity as RNWA President (CH), Vice-President & Treasurer PP), Secretary & Membership (LH) and the following Committee members of TM, DS, JD, LG, TW & MM.

PA on behalf of the member attendees and all the membership, gave a ‘vote of thanks’ to the RNWA Committee for their past year’s efforts and dedication which was very much appreciated.

5. National Arboretum & Benches

A summarization was provided by CH stating that ‘The RNWA must bear the full design costs and insurance with a minimum £1,000 application fee. Negotiations for the installation and maintenance would be a one-off payment in addition to the application fee and would range from £3,500 – £50,000. Thus, in view of the above, the Committee have decided because of the cost it is a non-starter and sought final agreement and approval from those attending. Carried unanimously, on the understanding that all those that have donated and contributed would be offered the return of their donation – action PP. However, if donors were to say retain the RNWA was to retain their donation, it would remain ‘ringfenced’ for a future project or special funded expenditure, to be agreed and approved by the Committee – see CH’s full explanation attached.    

CH stated that he was now in receipt of the “Southsea Costal Update” a Portsmouth City Council  monthly synopsis of the progress of rejuvenation work taking place between Southsea Castle and Clarence Pier. Thus, he would keep an eye when the work would affect both the RNWA Centenary Bench and the Brian Emmence Memorial Bench. At present, progress will not be until 2024 at the earliest. However, the contractor and the City Council have noted that the Association has an interest in the two benches and knows who to contact in future.

6. Crossed The Bar

CH would during his ‘Reply Speech’ mention those members that had ‘Crossed the Bar’ since the last AGM. All had previously been mentioned and minuted at prior Committee & Members scheduled meetings whereby a minutes silence was held prior to the meeting in their memory.   

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 17:55 and LH thanked everyone for their attendance, input, and support.

Next AGM at 17:30 (room to be advised nearer the time) Friday 13^th October 2023, at The QUEENS HOTEL, Clarence Parade, Osborne Road, Southsea, Hants., PO5 3LJ – Postscript NEW VENUE!      

Next RNWA schedule Committee & Members meeting: Thursday 17^th November 2022 at 19:30 via Google Teams

https://meet.google.com/vqp-saee-kqj

Regards

Les Heyhoe BCAv 

RNWA Secretary & Membership

H: 023 9235 7181 / M: 07494 150563

Email: linda.heyhoe@btinternet.com

24^th October 2022

RNWA – AGM Minutes 141022

Full Explanation – Appendix to the AGM Minutes at UJC held 14/10/2022

Now to the long-drawn-out negotiations with National Memorial Arboretum staff in our attempt to have a Writer’s Memorial installed at the Arboretum.  Back in 2016 I asked what types of memorials were available for our limited funds and was informed that a plaque and tree would fit the bill at a cost of circa £1200. I was also informed that there was no more land available at that time, but more land was expected to become available soon and I asked that the Association be informed when this happened. I kept in touch with the administrator and was informed in 2018 that more land had become available, but the NMA Administration had decided not to continue with the tree and plaque option, strange it is an Arboretum after all.  They were considering alternatives and would inform me when their deliberation reached fruition. Again I had to continually chase the administrator and eventually in Jan 20 I received a long detailed email from one of the staff on what was allowed and the procedure for getting a memorial installed.  The following criteria must be satisfied for a memorial to be erected on the site it must:

1. Commemorate those who died in the service of their Country
2. Those who served or suffered in the service of their country
3. Must be sponsored by a national organisation
4. It must enhance the Arboretum from a visitor perspective.

All proposals need to be approved by the Landscape and Memorials Advisory Committee which sits once a quarter. The Committee require a completed application pack of scale drawings together with details of materials to be used including any signage/text.  The supporting organisation must bear the full design, build costs and insurance as it retains ownership of the Memorial and there is a £1000 application fee. The NMA charge for the installation and maintenance which must be negotiated beforehand this is normally a one-off payment of anything from £3,500 to £50,000 depending on the maintenance requirement and insurance value.

Thus, in the view of the Committee because of the cost it is a non-starter and seek agreement from the floor. If agreed the donors will be offered their money back.

Colin Hughes

RNWA President

NMA Explanation

Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA)

19:30 Thursday 15^th September 2022 

(Held ‘Virtually via Google Meet’ – https://meet.google.com/vqp-saee-kqj

Present:

Colin   Hughes (CH) – President

Pat Prior BEM QVRM (PP) – Vice-President & Treasurer

Les Heyhoe BCAv (LH) – Secretary & Membership

Tony Mason (TM) – Committee Member

David Spicer (DS) – Committee Member

Jim Donaldson (JD) – Committee Member 

Lyn Gannon (LG) – Committee Member                                               

Phil Allen MBE (PA) – Member

Pat McCarthy (PM) – Member

Lesley McCarthy (LM) – Member   

Committee Member Apologies

Tony Webber (TW) – Committee Member

Member Apologies:

Kathryn  Simmons (KS)

Christine Senior (CS)

Alf Parr (AP)

June Terry (JT)

Brian Wead (BW)

Peter Wead (PW)

Geoff Briggs (GB)

1. ‘Crossed the Bar’ (CTB)
   

The Committee recognized the CTB of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the 8^{th of} September 2022. A minutes silence was held in recognition and honour of HM The Queen’s service to her country and the people.

In addition, a further minutes silence was held for the CTB of members:-

9^th July – Bryan Hayter of Melksham / 4^th August – David Abdy of Pudsey / 8^th Sept.- Brian Murphy of Portsmouth  

 2. Minutes

The minutes of Thursday 21^st July 2022 were proposed by LG and seconded by PP and were taken as read with no further or additional comments by those present.

3. Treasurer’s Update

PP advised as at close of business Wednesday 14^th September 2022 of the current financial situation:-   £6,471.54*    –   Note: £1,506.50 ‘ring fenced’ for National Arboretum & £65.00 for Memorial Bench – * also included in this sum is £2,180.00 received for the 2022 Reunion Dinner.

4. Membership

Membership as at 15^th September 2022 comprises of:-

3 Honorary Members

29 Life Members

219  Members

251  Total Membership

New members are:-

March – John Hall Gosport Hants

April – Mark Yates Spalding Lincs

August – Alison Moffatt Exeter Devon, Helen Bailey (nee Owen) Plymstock Devon September – Julie Sugden (nee Graham) Exmouth Devon, Elaine Binks (nee Blurton) Whitley Hants

        5. Any Other Busines

A  i.     Reminder – Closing date FRIDAY 30^th SEPTEMBER (non-negotiable) for Friday 14^th October 135^th RNWA Reunion Dinner at Union Jack Club, London. Guest of Honour (GOH) the Royal Navy’s first female of Flag Officer rank, Admiral Judith Helen ‘Jude’ Terry OBE, Naval Secretary and Director of People & Training.

    ii, See Annex A. of the Alphabetical order of current (as at 17/09/22) attendee members and guests for the Reunion Dinner – If your name doesn’t appear contact LH immediately.

    iii.    CH to ascertain name & guest of ‘Writer of the Year 2021’ (WOTY) as to confirmation of their attendance as complimentary guests by 30/09/22. If attending, the GOH will present the WOTY trophy.   

1. A visit has been arranged by CH for some of the RNWA Committee to visit The Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration (DCLPA) at Worthy Down on Thursday 22^nd September – see https://insidedio.blog.gov.uk/2019/09/16/new-facilities-taking-shape-at-worthy-down/ As well as a tour of the facilities, questions will be raised regarding the current and future ‘Writer trophy award’, current and past ‘Writer memorabilia and museum items’ e.g. DA & PA questioned what had happened to the Writers’ Museum items located at the Supply School, in particular a fountain pen that was used by the late Queen on her visit to South Africa in the 1950’s. CH would investigate and advise accordingly. Postscript: In the minutes of the 18^{th of} July 2019, it was stated that the museum exhibits were divided up between the UPOs and the only articles left over were old uniforms of officers.     
2. AGM 14/10/22 at the UJC – If you wish to be part of the RNWA Committee please forward your name to the RNWA Secretary by 07/09/22. Likewise, any endorsements to the existing Committee most welcome or any objections, if standing for reelection.      

Next meeting: Thursday 17^th November 2022 at 19:30 via Google Teams **

Les Heyhoe BCAv.

RNWA Secretary & Membership

18^th September 2022

T: 02392 357181 / M: 07494 150563

Email: Email: linda.heyhoe@btinternet.com

PDF: RNWA – Minutes 150922

Reunion Attendees

Surname Alphabetical List of RNWA Members & Guests as at 170922 for the RNWA Reunion Dinner at UJC 14^th October’22

1          Jane     Adams

2          Denis    Alger

3          Phil ‘Darby’       Allen MBE MSM

4          Michael Atkinson

5          Helen   Bailey

6          Elaine   Binks

7          Valerie  Blackwell

8          Andrew Blackwell

9          Michael Blatchford

10        Stephen            Campbell

11        Beverley           Carrington

12        Mike     Coombes OBE

13        Sandra  Davis

14        Jim       Donaldson

15        Gail      Foster

16        Lyn       Gannon

17        John     Hall

18        John     Hart CBE

19        Vince    Hawkins

20        Lyn       Heyhoe

21        Les       Heyhoe BCAv

22        Carol    Higham

23        David    Hill

24        Nancy   Hill

25        Bill       Howie

26        Colin    Hughes

27        Gary     Hughes

28        Mike     Hughes MBE

29        David    Jones

30        John     Large

31        Doug    Lewis CBE

32        Albert   Light

33        Mary    Light

34        Patrick  Magill

35        Tony     Mason

36        Barbara Mason

37        Don      McGeorge

38        John     Miller

39        Anne    Miller

40        Ron      Miller

41        Debi     Mills

42        Alison   Moffatt

43        Celia     Myers

44        Pat       Prior BEM QVRM

45        Trevor  Rafferty

46        David    Ramsey

47        David    Rawlings

48        Doreen Shaw

49        Kathryn Simmons

50        David    Spicer

51        Marilyn Stephens

52        Jed       Stone OBE

53        Andrew Straw

54        Julie     Sugden

55        June     Terry

56        Cassandra         Terry

57        David    Turner

58        Gill       Walby

59        Penny   Wallis

60        Ian       Wells

61        Andrew Whitfield

62        Anne    Whitfield

63        Linda    Wibley

64        Mark    Yates

Excludes complimentary Guest of honour plus one & Writer of the Year 2021 plus one

Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA)

19:30 Thursday 21^st July

(Held ‘Virtually via Google Meet’ – https://meet.google.com/vqp-saee-kqj

Present:

Colin   Hughes (CH) – President

Pat Prior BEM QVRM (PP) – Vice-President & Treasurer

Les Heyhoe BCAv (LH) – Secretary & Membership

Tony Mason (TM) – Committee Member

David Spicer (DS) – Committee Member

Tony Webber (TW) – Committee Member

Committee Member Apologies

Jim Donaldson (JD) – Committee Member

Lyn Gannon (LG) – Committee Member

Member Apologies:

Kathryn  Simmons (KS)    –   Steve Hamblin (SH)

Chris Cole (CC)    –  Richard  Dickson (RD)

Brian Wead (BW)   –  Alfred Parr (AP)

Robert Carr (RC)    –   Philip Jones (PJ)

1. ‘Crossed the Bar’

A minutes silence was held for the following who were reported as having ‘CTB’:-

15/06/22 –  Gordon Wilkinson (aka Gordon Peters of TV/ entertainment) of Surbiton, Surrey.

 2. Minutes

The minutes of Thursday 19^th May 2022 were proposed by PP and seconded by DS and were taken as read with no further or additional comments by those present.  

3. Treasurer’s Update

PP advised as at close of business Wednesday 20^th July 2022 of the current financial situation:-

£6,512.63*    –   Note: £1,506.50 ‘ring fenced’ for National Arboretum & £65.00 for Memorial Bench

* i.   Included in this sum is £1,670.00 received for the 2022 Reunion Dinner.

ii.  A reduction in the total is due to be applied in respect of LH expenses and PP requested they were forthcoming by the end of July 2022 for authorization and payment e.g., printing for Directory, Newsletter & Dinner application, envelopes etc. Action: LH/PP & CH.    

4. Membership

Membership as at 19^th May 2022 comprises of:-

3 Honorary Members

29 Life Members

218  Members

250  Total Membership

        5. Any Other Busines

1. 1. Friday 14^th October 135^th RNWA Reunion Dinner at Union Jack Club, London. Guest of Honour (GOH) confirmed as the Royal Navy’s first female of Flag Officer rank, Admiral Judith Helen ‘Jude’ Terry OBE, Naval Secretary and Director of People & Training.
   2. In view of the significance of the GOH’s attendance, it was proposed that promulgation promoting the Admiral’s presence was made via The Navy News (DS stated that he would ‘write in’ as a reader’s letter) and other linked military sites – Action: LH. In the absence of LG it was suggested that Lyn was approached to ascertain if it was possible to get something published in the WRNS Association newsletter / publication to potentially encourage more female presence in support of the GOH and possibly encourage ex-WRNS to join the RNWA. Action: LH/LG
   3. See Annex A. of the Alphabetical order of current (as at 21/07/22) paid attendee members and guests for the Reunion Dinner – If your name doesn’t appear contact LH immediately. .
   4. A complimentary invitation (plus guest) had been issued to Wtr. ‘Oggie’ Augustine (OA) onboard HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH but to-date unfortunately no response had been received. It subsequently transpires that OA is currently serving at DNR HQ, so LH will  reapproach to ascertain his availability and acceptance.     
   5. Writer of the Year trophy – In CH’s letter to the GOH it was mentioned and requested that an update of the future of the Writer branch was provided at the Reunion dinner and to mention about the award and the future of the Writer branch. .

   iii.        National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) – CH advised he had been informed that no further trees or plaques were going to be accepted, so the sum of £1,506.50 would have to be reassigned. It will be mentioned at the AGM and in the following newsletter.    

   1. Th The publication of the 135^th Anniversary & Platinum Jubilee RNWA Directory (produced every five years) appeared to be a success with very few negative responses and the overall general feedback received by LH was encouraging and welcomed. The 140^th publication in 2027 would be reviewed 18 months prior to issue to ascertain if there was a means and way to cut costs, especially for those members living abroad due to printing and postage etc.
   2. TM informed everyone that as well as being eligible to hold a ‘Defence Discount Service’ card – see https://www.defencediscountservice.co.uk/ – serving and ex-service personnel are entitled to apply for a ‘Blue Light’ card. Cost £4.99 for 2 years providing Blue Light members with thousands of amazing discounts online and on the high street gaining access to more than 15,000 discounts. This includes large national retailers to local businesses across categories as holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, telephones, and much more.- see https://www.bluelightcard.co.uk/

   ^th Anniversary & Platinum Jubilee RNWA Directory (produced every five years) listing every member’s name and contact details (excluding email address) together with a Black & White 14/10/22 Reunion Dinner application

RNWA Committee & Members (all welcome!) future 2022 ‘Virtual meetings are:-

19:30 (sign in from 19:10):-

LINK:- https://meet.google.com/vqp-saee-kqj

Thursday – 15^th September 2022

Thursday – 17^th November 2022

Note: AGM – 14^th October 2022 at The Union Jack Club, London.

Note: Try logging on/in a week or weeks prior to the meeting. If you don’t have access that is the main concern. On your initial access you do have to go through a process to join but once processed then access should be easily accessible. You will not be able to join in the ‘meeting room’ unless invited to do so by LH. If you are having difficulties in gaining access then give LH a call to arrange a mutual time and date that a 1:1 meeting can be held to potentially support and assist you and ‘invite you to the meeting room’, thereby ‘ironing out the gremlins’ so you know  for certain that you have access for the actual future meeting.  

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:20

Les Heyhoe BCAv.

RNWA Secretary & Membership

19^th March 2022

T: 02392 357181 / M: 07494 150563

Email: les@heyhoe.com

PDF: RNWA – Minutes 210722

Postscript:-

A link of a modern recruitment advert online of ‘What is a Writer’? …

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/roles-and-specialisations/services/surface-fleet/writer-logistician

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOaWBcX2OMw

Annex A. to RNWA Minutes of 21^st July 2022 – (Surname Alphabetical Order)

Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA)

19:30 Thursday 19th May 2022

(Held ‘Virtually via Google Meet’ – https://meet.google.com/vqp-saee-kqj

Present:

Colin   Hughes (CH) – President

Pat Prior BEM QVRM (PP) – Vice-President & Treasurer

Les Heyhoe BCAv (LH) – Secretary & Membership

Jim Donaldson (JD) – Committee Member

David Spicer (DS) – Committee Member

Apologies:

Lyn Gannon (LG) – Committee Member

Tony Webber (TW) – Committee Member

Tony Mason (TM) – Committee Member

Mike Moncur (MM) – Committee Member

1. ‘Crossed the Bar’

A minutes silence was held for the following who were reported as having ‘CTB’:-

1. 02/03/22 –  John Lumley HARGRAVES of Waterlooville, Hampshire.
2. 13/04/22 –  Tom BARDSLEY of Scarborough, Yorkshire.
3. 14/05/22 –  Henry LENNOX of Edinburgh.

Notification had also been received about the demise of a regular guest dinner attendee Leslie  Mortimer MBE who passed away aged 88 on 7^th April 2022

2. Minutes

The minutes of Thursday 17^th March 2022 were proposed by DS and seconded by LG and were taken as read with no further or additional comments by those present.

3. Treasurer’s Update

PP advised as at close of business Wednesday 16^th March 2022 of the current financial situation:-

£6,171.53 *    –   Note: £1,506.50 ‘ring fenced’ for National Arboretum & £65.00 for Memorial Bench

* Included in this sum is £1,290.00 received for the 2022 Reunion Dinner.

4. Membership

Membership as at 19^th May 2022 comprises of:-

3 Honorary Members

30 Life Members

222  Members

 255  Total Membership

        5. Any Other Busines

1. The reunion Dinner Guest of Honour remains to be confirmed unfortunately having without success by LH (first time for everything) to secure the presence of either 1SL or 2SL. LH now to approach Rear Admiral Jude Terry (a Logistics officer and 1^st female Admiral) with a requested response by 31^st May 2022. To-date 38 attendees – see Annex A.
2. No Change or update – CH provided the following update “”As everyone is aware the future of the award of the Writer of the Year trophy is uncertain now that the Logistician (Wtr)s are now trained with their Army and RAF counterparts.  A new Head of Naval Training is expected to join Worthy Down in May after which a meeting will be held to decide the future of an Award Ceremony and the individual awards.”
3. National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) – advised by CH no contact or response received. A potential visit by LG or CH is intended in June or at a later convenient mutual date as to the feasibility of a ‘Writers memorial’ and more importantly what type and cost.
4. LH stated that accompanying the JUNE Newsletter would be the 140^th Anniversary & Platinum Jubilee RNWA Directory (produced every five years) listing every member’s name and contact details (excluding email address) together with a Black & White 14/10/22 Reunion Dinner application

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:35

RNWA Committee & Members (all welcome!) future 2022 ‘Virtual meetings are:-

19:30 (sign in from 19:10):-

LINK:- https://meet.google.com/vqp-saee-kqj

Thursday – 21^st July 2022

Thursday – 15^th September 2022

Thursday – 17^th November 2022

Les Heyhoe BCAv.

RNWA Secretary & Membership

19^th March 2022

T: 02392 357181 / M: 07494 150563

Email: les@heyhoe.com

PDF: RNWA – Minutes 190522

Annex A. to RNWA Minutes of 19^th May 2022 – (Surname Alphabetical Order)

Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA)

19:30 Thursday 17^th March 2022

(Held ‘Virtually via Google Meet’ – https://meet.google.com/vqp-saee-kqj)

Present:

Colin   Hughes (CH) – President

Pat Prior BEM QVRM (PP) – Vice-President & Treasurer

Les Heyhoe BCAv (LH) – Secretary & Membership

Jim Donaldson (JD) – Committee Member

Tony Mason (TM) – Committee Member

David Spicer (DS) – Committee Member

Mike Moncur (MM) – Committee Member

Apologies:

Lyn Gannon (LG) – Committee Member

Tony Webber (TW) – Committee Member

Kathryn Simmons (KS) – Member

Len Hutton (LH) – Member

Peter Danks (PD) – Member

Brian Wead (BW) – Member

Steve Hamblin (SH) – Member

Alfred Parr (AP) – Member

Chris Cole (CC) – Member

David Hill (DH) – Member

Nancy Hill (NH) – Member

Richard Dixon (RD) – Member    

1. ‘Crossed the Bar’

No known members were reported as having ‘CTB’.

2. Minutes

The minutes of Thursday 3^rd February 2022 were proposed by CH and seconded by JD and were taken as read with no further or additional comments by those present.  

3. Treasurer’s Update

PP advised as at close of business Wednesday 16^th March 2022 of the current financial situation:-

£5490.49 *    –   Note: £1,506.50 ‘ring fenced’ for National Arboretum & £65.00 for Memorial Bench

* Included in this sum is £675.00 received for the 2022 Reunion Dinner & £905.00 for Grand National.

4. Membership

Membership as at 17.03.2022 comprises of:-                                                                                                                       

3  Honorary Members                                                                            

31 Life Members

222  Members                  

256  Total Membership

5. Any Other Business

1. The reunion Dinner Guest of Honour remains to be confirmed and LH expects confirmation from the PA of the 1^st Sea Lord’s office of Adm. Sir Ben Key by the end of March ’22. If unavailable, the suggestion has been made for Rear Admiral Jude Terry (a Logistics officer and 1^st female Admiral) to deputize for 1SL
2. CH provided the following update “”As everyone is aware the future of the award of the Writer  .      of the Year trophy is uncertain now that the Logistician (Wtr)s are now trained with their Army             .      and RAF counterparts.  A new Head of Naval Training is expected to join Worthy Down in May                   .      after which a meeting will be held to decide the future of an Award Ceremony and the individual              .      awards.”

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:15         

RNWA Committee & Members (all welcome!) future 2022 ‘Virtual meetings are:-

19:30 (sign in from 19:10):-

LINK:- https://meet.google.com/vqp-saee-kq

Thursday – 19^th May 2022

Thursday – 21^st July 2022

Thursday – 15^th September 2022

Thursday – 17^th November 2022

Les Heyhoe BCAv.

RNWA Secretary & Membership

19^th March 2022

T: 02392 357181 / M: 07494 150563

Email: les@heyhoe.com

PDF: RNWA – Minutes 170322

Footnote: Don’t forget to return you Grand National Draw stubs BY MONDAY 4^th APRIL together with any future outstanding membership contribution due – email if uncertain.  

Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA)                               

19:30 Thursday 3^rd February 2022 (rescheduled from 20^th January 2022)

(Held ‘Virtually via Google Meet’ – https://meet.google.com/vqp-saee-kqj)

Present:

Colin   Hughes (CH) – President

Pat Prior BEM QVRM (PP) – Vice-President & Treasurer

Les Heyhoe BCAv (LH) – Secretary & Membership

Lyn Gannon (LG) – Committee Member

Jim Donaldson (JD) – Committee Member

Tony Webber (TW) – Committee Member

Tony Mason (TM) – Committee Member

Apologies:

David Spicer (DS) – Committee Member

Mike Moncur (MM) – Committee Member

Pat McCarthy (PM) – Member

Lesley McCarthy (LM) – Member

Geoff Briggs (GB) – Member

Kathryn Simmons (KS) – Member

1. ‘Crossed the Bar’

No known members were reported as having ‘CTB’ but LH had been contacted by the grand daughter of lapsed 2019 member Norman Baker of Southsea, advising that Norman CTB in January ’22.   

2. Minutes

The minutes of Thursday 18^th November 2021 were proposed by PP and seconded by CH and were taken as read with no further or additional comments by those present. LH stated that prior to issue and circulation, minutes were forwarded for perusal by CH, however if there was found to be any misunderstanding, typo’s, anomalies etc. then LH requested that he was contacted asap so they could be corrected immediately as opposed to waiting until the next scheduled meeting.  

3. Treasurer’s Update

PP advised as at Thursday 3^rd February 2022 of the current financial situation:-

£4,368.99 – Note: £1,506.50 ‘ring fenced’ for National Arboretum & £65.00 for Memorial Bench

£2,862.49 Net

4. Membership

i, Membership as at 31.01.2022 comprises of:-  

   3  Honorary Members                                                                                             

   31  Life Members

  221 Members

  255  Total Membership 

ii, The database records indicate that there are no members to be awarded Life Membership 2022.

iii, In accordance with the RNWA Regulations 5. & 6. the following members are deemed to be ‘Lapsed’ and will be place in the relevant section on the RNWA’s website reflecting this status:-

David Carr of Haiti / Stephen Cobley of Tonypandy / Ozni Simmonite of Llanelli / Eric Thor of Corfe Mullen / Peter Lee of Cardigan – request received from wife 5/2/22 to lapse – was due ‘21. 

iv,  9 members are outstanding membership contributions due in 2021 – all have been written to in January and will again be reminded with the issue of the March 2022 newsletter. 

v, See attached list (as at 01/01/2022) of Membership Contributions due 2022 – 63 Members i.e., minimum income of £630.00. Listed in Surname Alphabetically also listed via month Jan-Dec. In addition to attachment to accompany these minutes a separate section will be created via the website for all members to view and will be created annually.

5. Any Other Business

a.   It was agreed for the expense of £125.00 for the production and printing of the Grand National tickets to be produced by Betaprint of Gosport – Action: LH. The event is being held on Saturday 9^th April 2022, with ticket stubs and relevant payment required to be returned by Monday 4^th April to LH. The draw is to be held at LH’s home address at 19:00 Tuesday 5^th April 2022.

b. The 135^th RNWA Reunion Dinner being held at the UJC 14/10/22 – Guest of Honour to be established and LH liaising with 1^st Sea Lord’s office. If Adm. Sir Ben Key is unavailable, a proposal to invite the RN’s first female Admiral, Rear Admiral Jude Terry, will be made.

c. Via Lester May and proposed by TW all were unanimous in inviting 26-year-old Wtr. William ‘Auggy’ Augustine from Grenada (who features in the RN’s recruitment campaign) plus one, as the RNWA’s complimentary guests. See – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYUIt-LYFXA – HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH. Action: LH      

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:25

RNWA Committee & Members (all welcome!) future 2022 ‘Virtual meetings are:-

Thursday – 17^th March 2022

Thursday – 19^th May 2022

Thursday – 21^st July 2022

Thursday – 15^th September 2022

Thursday – 17^th November 2022

Les Heyhoe BCAv.

RNWA Secretary & Membership

5^th February 2022

T: 02392 357181 / M: 07494 150563

Email: les@heyhoe.com

PDF: RNWA – Minutes 030222

Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA)                               

20:00 Thursday 18^th November 2021

(Held ‘Virtually via Google Meet’ – https://meet.google.com/vqp-saee-kqj)

Present:

Colin   Hughes (CH) – President

Pat Prior BEM QVRM (PP) – Vice-President & Treasurer

Les Heyhoe BCAv (LH) – Secretary & Membership

David Spicer (DS) – Committee Member

Lyn Gannon (LG) – Committee Member

Jim Donaldson (JD) – Committee Member

Phil ‘Darby’ Allen MBE (PA) – Member

Kathryn Simmons (KS) – Member

Apologies:

Tony Mason (TM) – Committee Member

Mike Moncur (MM) – Committee Member

1. ‘Crossed the Bar’

LH received an email (dated 18/10/21) from Jane Buchan, daughter of RNWA Life member Brian Coghlan of Tettenhall, Chester, advising that her father had ‘crossed the bar’ 19^th February 2021. As was customary, a minutes silence was held in memory of Brian. His name will be placed in the next RNWA newsletter February 2022, removed from the website members list, and placed under the ‘Crossed the Bar’ 2021 section (www.rnwa.co.uk), together with being remembered at the RNWA AGM being held on Friday 14^th October 2022.      

2. Minutes

The minutes of Thursday 16^th September 2021 were proposed by LG and seconded by PP and were taken as read.   

3. Treasurer’s Update

PP advised of the balance as at today, 18^th November 2021 was :- £5,078.58 **

As per minutes of 16/09/21 para. 3. PP would arrange for the £40 from the Grand National unclaimed / notified prizes to be donated back to the RNWA and shown in the 2021 accounts for auditing purposes.    

** Balance includes £1506.50 ‘ring fenced’ for the National Memorial Arboretum.

Net Balance = £3,572.08

4. Membership

A total of 245 members of the RNWA comprised as follows:-

3 Honourary, 31 Life & 227 Members = 261      

New member Penny Wallis (Nee Froud) of Portsmouth (1967-69)

5. Any Other Business

i, The 134^th RNWA Reunion Dinner held Friday 8^th October 2021 at The Royal Beach Hotel (TRBH), Southsea, from the feedback received proved in general to be a great success. It was therefore agreed that a deposit of £250.00 was to be made to secure the booking of the venue for Friday13th October 2023 at TRBH for the RNWA 136^th Reunion Dinner – Action: LH & PP. 2021 Reunion Dinner photographs available to view via link:-    https://rnwa.co.uk/members/annual-reunion-dinner-photo-galleries/2021-annual-reunion-dinner-gallery/

ii, After a lengthy update provided by LH regarding the potential of a venue for the 2022 Reunion Dinner the decision was made to hold the 135^th RNWA Reunion Dinner at the Union Jack Club (UJC), Sandell Street, London, SE1 8UJ T: 020 7902 6000 – Booking accommodation for this event is now available. Guests & Non-Members of the UJC welcome to apply but with a slightly higher tariff; also note that prices will increase in the New Year 2022, also noting that there is 5% discount for those aged 65+ 

iii.   The only disadvantage of holding the Reunion Dinner at the UJC is the fact that it is a fixed three course menu (no variation or options available) of which the RNWA Committee has decided upon the following:- Starter: Smoked Mackerel & Smokie Rillette, Ruby Beetroot & Horseradish Cream  Main: Braised Blade of Beef Steak in Red Wine jus, Potato Puree & Seasonal Vegetables  Dessert: Apple Tart Tatin, Crème Anglaise

iv, A deposit of £620.00 (£450.00 Gascoigne Room Hire, £150.00 Bar Hire & £20.00 Microphone/PA) of which will be deducted from the overall invoice, has been made to secure the UJC for 2022

v, Agreed cost for Friday 14^th October 2022 UJC Reunion Dinner will be £35.00 RNWA Members & £45 Non-Members & Guests.

vi, LH thanked all those who purchased raffle tickets for the chance to win a 5ltr barrel of Pussers Rum and £650.00 was collected in support of the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC).

vii.  The World Pairs Uckers Championships was held alongside HMS VICTORY / Mary Rose at HMNB in October 2021 and with great pride LH stated as a finalist he is ‘officially the 2^nd Best Uckers Pairs Play in THE WORLD!”. It’s free to enter so let’s see some RNWA teams entering in 2022 – details to be announced.      

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:40 – Happy Christmas & New Year; keep safe and healthy!

RNWA Committee & Members (all welcome!) future 2022 ‘Virtual meetings are:-

Thursday – 20^th January 2022

Thursday – 17^th March 2022

Thursday – 19^th May 2022

Thursday – 21^st July 2022

Thursday – 15^th September 2022

Thursday – 17^th November 2022

Les Heyhoe BCAv.

RNWA Secretary & Membership

22^nd November 2021

T: 02392 357181 / M: 07494 150563

Email: les@heyhoe.com

PDF: RNWA – Minutes 160921

Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA) 20:00 Thursday 18^th March 2021

(Held ‘Virtually via Google Meet’ due to Covid-19)

Present:

Pat Prior BEM QVRM – Vice-President & Treasurer (PP)

Les Heyhoe BCAv – Secretary (LH)

Jim Donaldson – Committee (JD)

Lyn Gannon – Committee (LG)
Tony Mason – Committee (MM)
David Spicer – Committee (DS)
Tony Webber – Committee (TW)

Members:

Kathryn Simmons (KS)

Nigel Coy (NC)

 Apologies:

Colin Hughes (President)

Mike Moncur Committee (MM)

Mark Hinge (MH)

Richard Lawrence (RL)

Bob Carr (BC)

Alfred Parr (AP)

Peter Danks (PD)

Don McGeorge (DM)

Charlie Butler (CB)

Chris Cole (CC)

George Mytom-Hart (GMH)

Chris Clarke (CCL)

Phil Jones (PJ)

Bill McIntosh (BM)

Introduction:

LH advised that the internet connection was intermittent and therefore could be ‘lost’ but the meeting could continue and overseen by PP in his absence. In view of the absence of the President PP Chaired the meeting and welcomed everyone.

1. ‘Crossed the Bar’

Great news, no reported members having ‘Crossed the Bar’ since the 18.03.2021.

2. Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting of the 18^th March 2021 were proposed by TM and seconded by LG and taken as read and agreed.

1. Treasurer’s Update

The Opening Balance as at 5pm Thursday 18^th March 2021 was:- £8,391.36.

Liabilities of £40 from Grand National (Barry White, David Cooper, Sylvia Bett and Doug Sparks) not received bank details.

Balance includes £1506.50 ‘ring fenced’ for the National Memorial Arboretum.

Profit from Grand National approximately £800 but accurate figure will be given at next meeting.

£1,800.00 included in balance for Reunion Dinner 08.10.2021. Fund quite healthy at present.

4. Membership

A total of 245 members of the RNWA comprised as follows:-

3 Honourary, 32 Life & 210 Members = 245 Of these 2 are outstanding membership from 2019, 9 from 2020 and 21 due in 2021.

See previous minutes 18.03.2021 (Para. 4) re outstanding from 2019 – they have been subsequently contacted and an extension of time given until end of May 2021 otherwise they will be ‘lapsed membership’.

5. Any Other Business

i.   Further to AOB 5ii. of the 18.03.21 whereupon CH asked for a local volunteer to become the ‘RNWA Archivist’, no-one had put their name forward. Having said that, LG at this meeting then put her name forward which was unanimously accepted. CH to arrange with GMH to transfer all RNWA historical documentation i.e., Directories etc. to LG in due course. NC was advised that it was too costly to transfer Directories to a computer program and it was too time consuming.

ii.  Grand National Draw 2021 – Congratulations to Life Member John Peer of Stubbington,  who took the 1^st Prize of £250.00 (kindly donating back £50 for prizes at the 2021 Reunion Dinner) – full results and details can be found via the RNWA’s website of https://rnwa.co.uk/grand-national-2021/

iii.  RNWA 134^th Reunion Dinner – Friday 8^th October 2021 at The Royal Beach Hotel.    a.  Miss Shannon Paterson (2SL PA) has confirmed that regrettably 2SL has had to decline due to diary commitments however 2SL will be represented by Rear Admiral Philip Hally MBE (appointed Naval Secretary in 2020 amongst other titles) and accompanied by his wife Mrs Joanna Hally. Both attended as the RNWA’s Guests of Honour in 2019.          b.   To-date there are 54 members and guests scheduled to attend and an updated list of names will be provided at the next scheduled meeting.

1. Calling Notice – It was proposed and agreed that a ‘calling notice & reminder’ of the next and future RNWA meetings, together with previous meetings minutes, would be issued via the Webmaster to those who had signed up to receive the Newsletter. LH to liaise with Sophie (webmaster) to request this action on providing the information for a week’s prior notice.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:40 – Until advised otherwise, future meetings will be held virtually – all members welcome to join.

Next ‘Virtual Meeting’ via the link at 20:00 (able to log in from 19:30) Thursday 15^th July 2021.

Les Heyhoe BCAv
Postscript: I said I would buy the drinks at the dinner (for above attendees) if Malta won the Eurovision but it wasn’t to be as they were placed 5^th
RNWA Secretary & Membership
24^th May 2021 – T: 02392 357181 / M: 07494 150563
112 St Vincent Road Gosport Hants PO12 4RF

Email: les@heyhoe.com

No minutes July 2021

Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA) 20:00 Thursday 18^th March 2021

(Held ‘Virtually via Google Meet’ due to Covid-19)

Present:

[one_third]Colin[/one_third][one_third]Hughes[/one_third][one_third_last]President (CH)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Pat[/one_third][one_third]Prior BEM QVRM[/one_third][one_third_last]Vice-President & Treasurer (PP)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Les[/one_third][one_third]Heyhoe BCAv[/one_third][one_third_last]Secretary (LH)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Tony[/one_third][one_third]Webber[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (TW)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Lyn[/one_third][one_third]Gannon[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (LG)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Mike[/one_third][one_third]Moncur[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (MM)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Tony[/one_third][one_third]Mason[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (MM)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Jim[/one_third][one_third]Donaldson[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (JD)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]David[/one_third][one_third]Spicer[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (DS)[/one_third_last]

Members:

[one_third]John Large (JL)[/one_third][one_third]Kathryn Simmons (KS)[/one_third][one_third_last]John Rowse (JS) –  Note: Joined from Wellington, New Zealand, Fri @ 8.30am[/one_third_last]

Apologies:

[one_third]Phil ‘Darby’ Allen MBE (PA)[/one_third][one_third]David Hill (DH)[/one_third][one_third_last]Gill Orchard (GO)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Peter Danks (PD)[/one_third]Bob Carr (BC)[one_third][/one_third][one_third_last]Robert Wallace (RW)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Valerie Blackwell (VB)[/one_third][one_third]Jane Clark (JC)[/one_third][one_third_last]Pat Haselden (PH)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Alf Parr (AP)[/one_third][one_third]Nancy Hill (NH)[/one_third][one_third_last]Nigel Coy (NC)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Jane Adams (JA)[/one_third][one_third]John Phillips (JP)[/one_third][one_third_last]George Storey (GS)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Norman Howden (NH)[/one_third][one_third]Chris Cole (CC)[/one_third][one_third_last]Gill Walby (GW)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Mike Davies (MD)[/one_third][one_third]Richard Jones (RJ)[/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]

Introduction:

The meeting was held using the following link:- https://meet.google.com/vqp-saee-kqj which. is hosted by LH (as his ‘own room’) and is to be used for all future RNWA meetings.

1. Crossed the Bar

The RNWA Committee & Members had not been made aware of any members having ‘Crossed the Bar’ in 2021, however the issue of the recent February newsletter has resulted in late notifications. To ensure the capture of all deceased members, details known are as follows:-

Knud Nielson  01/04/20 Driffield, Gordon Skeens 21/07/20 Sutton, Peter Easton 24/08/20 Ramsgate, Jim Dimmock 27/10/20 Broadstone, Marjorie Woods 10/10/20 Dunblane,  John    Cotter 16/11/20 Qawra, Malta & Brian Dolling 27/12/20 Hill Head.

CH advised that he had produced some simplistic words and LH’s son, Marc in the USA, was producing a design for a ‘RNWA Condolence Card’ – work in progress.

2. Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting of the 28^th January 2021 were proposed by PP and seconded by LG and taken as read and agreed

3. Treasurer’s Update

The Opening Balance as at 5pm Thursday 18^th March 2021 was:- £8,066.23

The balance includes £1506.50 ‘ring fenced’ for the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) and amounts received in 2019/2020 & 2021 for the Reunion Dinner 08/10/21 totaling £1,480.00. As at the 18^th, an amount of £1,183.00 has also been received in respect of the Grand National Draw taking place on the 10^th April 2021.

True balance as at 18.03.21 taking into account the above = £3,896.73 (minus minimum payout in April for £400.00 Grand National prize money plus £10.00 payout for horses past the post)

4. Membership

LH advised that of the 20 names previously provided at the last meeting this had been reduced to the following:-

Norman Baker Southsea, Nickie Johnstone Stubbington, Trevor Dixon Dartmouth, Tracy Kennedy Saltash, Martyn Glover Walsall, Jake Lacey Kirby In Ashford, McKayla Gullis Port Solent, Peter Mickler Paignton, John Hall Gosport, Jennifer Morton Plymouth, Karl Horrocks Crosby, Janine Potts co HMS NELSON, Joshua Jackman Rhyl & Rebecca Young Hayle.

The RNWA database records showed that membership contributions were due in 2019 and onwards. Several attempts via correspondence & email have been made over the course of the past 18 months to contact and advise the above of their outstanding membership (they may have changed address and their contact details and not informed the RNWA so if you know any of the above please get them to get in contact with LH). In the meantime, in accordance with the RNWA Rules & Guidelines 5b & 6., those listed are now shown as ‘Lapsed Members’ and their names will be recorded under the relevant ‘Lapsed’ sub-section on the website in due course (by end of April 2021).

A reprieve was agreed for Frank Cooper of Frinton-on-Sea (JD) and Rhian Kilpatrick of Fareham (LG), as a couple of members knew them and would contact them accordingly – outstanding payment was to be received by the end of March or they would be lapsed.

New member (Proposed by LH / Seconded by CH):-

John Large of Fleetwood (D128/C033 – served 1971 – 2005) – Cdr RN (Rtd)

5. Any Other Business

1. Discussion took place about advertising the RNWA and the possibility of increasing awareness of its existence for membership and the Annual Reunion Dinner (some publications charged i.e. The Navy News so this was not considered worthwhile, however it was free for the Reunion Dinner and this was going to be published in the May edition). Approaches, consideration, and contact would be made to SSAFA, CONA, RBL, WRNS and other organisation; if any member has any contacts with any of these organizations or any other military / RN or Ex-RN associations to assist in PR of the RNWA and to promote the Reunion Dinner, then please contact and liaise with LH.
2. CH asked that members, i.e., ideally locally in the Gosport / Fareham / Portsmouth / Southampton / Chichester areas, consider becoming the “RNWA’s Archivist”. This would entail answering any RNWA member’s or member of the public enquiry in relation to the RNWA Directory’s held (a ‘pussers case full’); literally 1 or 2 enquiries received annually – if interested in this ‘Voluntary’ position, then please contact CH.

iii.   Grand National Draw – Due to Covid19 it will be impracticable to hold the draw at the Secretary’s home address, so for the first time in the RNWA’s history, members will be able to witness the Grand National Draw and the tickets drawn and horses allocated. It will be held online virtually via https://meet.google.com/vqp-saee-kqj at 7pm Tuesday 6th April 2021  (you’ll be invited to join from 6.45pm); a reminder will not be issued so place it in your diary if you want to know if you and who else is ‘in with a chance of winning’ the 1^st Prize – £250 / 2^nd – £75 / 3^rd – £50 / 4^th – £25 and £10 if your horse (& jockey) pass the finishing post. If you have not entered already, the closing date is the 5^th April 2021!?

1. RNWA 134^th Reunion Dinner – Friday 8^th October 2021 at The Royal Beach Hotel. a.  LH has contacted  8^th March Miss Shannon Paterson (2SL PA) regarding previous notification and correspondence requesting confirmation of the GOH’s attendance; hopefully, an anticipated response will be forthcoming by end of April and prior to the next scheduled Committee & Members meeting when an announcement will be made in May. b.   A request had been received to publish known attendees, so names of members and their guests are made available to encourage participation and the rekindling of past and current friendships – see page 4 of 4 listing attendees as at of time of issue of minutes.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:45

Until advised otherwise, future meetings will be held virtually – all members welcome to join.

‘Virtual Grand National Draw’ Tuesday 6^th April @ 7pm – NO reminder will be sent.

Next ‘Virtual Meeting’ via the link at 20:00 (able to log in from 19:30) Thursday 20^th May 2021.

Les Heyhoe BCAv.
RNWA Secretary & Membership.
T: 02392 357181 / M: 07494 150563
112 St Vincent Road
Gosport
Hants
PO12 4RF
Email: les@heyhoe.com

Attendees of the RNWA 134^th Reunion Dinner – Friday 8^th October 2021 Royal Beach Hotel

Listed in Surname Alphabetical order as at 18^th March 2021

Postscript – Davina Playford, Events Manager of The Royal Beach Hotel has informed the RNWA that due to Covid19, unfortunately business during the past 12 months has suffered so the owners are selling-off half the hotel to turn into flats. This means that our venue will not be held in The Ark Royal suite but now held in The Invincible room (holds up to 200). We are fortunate as several associations have been advised that their reunion has had to be cancelled, postponed, or rescheduled. Accommodation is therefore being reduced, so it’s even more import that if you haven’t already done so you book accommodation sooner rather than later!

Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA) 20:00 Thursday 28^th January 2021

(Held ‘Virtually via Google Meet’ due to Covid-19)

Present:

[one_third]Colin[/one_third][one_third]Hughes[/one_third][one_third_last]President (CH)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Pat[/one_third][one_third]Prior BEM QVRM[/one_third][one_third_last]Treasurer (PP)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Les[/one_third][one_third]Heyhoe BCAv[/one_third][one_third_last]Secretary (LH)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Tony[/one_third][one_third]Webber[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (TW)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Lyn[/one_third][one_third]Gannon[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (LG)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Mike[/one_third][one_third]Moncur[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (MM)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Tony[/one_third][one_third]Mason[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (MM)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Jim[/one_third][one_third]Donaldson[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (JD)[/one_third_last]

Members:

[one_third]Andy Baldwin (AB)[/one_third][one_third]Chris Clarke (CC)[/one_third][one_third_last]Kathryn Simmons (KS)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Nigel Coy (NC)[/one_third][one_third]Mike Coombes (MC)[/one_third][one_third_last]Peter Danks (PD)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Lee ‘Rattler’ Morgan (LM)[/one_third][one_third][/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]

Apologies:

[one_third]David Spicer (DS)[/one_third][one_third]Phil ‘Darby’ Allen MBE (PA)[/one_third][one_third_last]Nancy Hill (NH)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]David Hill (DH)[/one_third][one_third]Emma Day MBE (ED)[/one_third][one_third_last]David ‘Alf’ Ramsey (DR)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Mike Davies (MD)[/one_third][one_third]Richard Lawrence (RL)[/one_third][one_third_last]Alf Parr (AP)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Tom Richardson (TR)[/one_third][one_third]Chris Cole (CC)[/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]

Introduction:

Prior to the commencement of the meeting, LH’s son Marc (located in the USA hosting the event hence apologies for the delay in being able to join) gave a brief, regarding some of the technical aspects of the site and call. For example, this site was a preferable option to other media platforms because of better quality & sound, no cost i.e., free to use at any time (other sites a cost is incurred if over a certain number in attendance), not limited to time e.g., Zoom is usually 45 mins. and the  number of attendees at anyone time is a maximum of 150 (much greater than Teams / Zoom etc.). Moving forward, LH will be the host for the future meetings so members will be able to gain access as soon as LH log’s in and you are invited to join using the link https://meet.google.com/vqp-saee-kqj

1. Crossed the Bar

The RNWA Committee & Members had not been made aware of any members having ‘Crossed the Bar.’ since November 2020.

2. Minutes

No minutes were made available to be proposed or seconded as due to Covid19 they have been available to be read on the website and the last recorded minuted meeting was Thursday 19^th March 2020 (4 days prior to the initial lockdown). That said, AGM 2020 minutes are also available for viewing.

3. Treasurer’s Update

The Opening Balance was:- £5,839.67 (including Membership Contributions received £80.00) Outgoing cost for printing:-   £   328.00 (Grand National Raffle tickets & Newsletter & Menu)                                                                                         Total Balance 28.01.2021:-  £5,591.67 *

* £1506.50 ‘ring fenced’ for the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) and carried forward from cancelled 2020 Reunion Dinner £886 for 2021 Dinner.

4. Membership

LH provided a list of 20 names who according to the database records showed that membership contributions were due in 2019 and onwards. In accordance with the Rules & Guidelines 5b & 6., subject to further tracking & tracing, those listed would be ‘Lapsed’ and their names recorded under the relevant ‘Lapsed’ sub-section on the website (this would be actioned by LH end of February 2021).

LM – ‘Rattler’, currently a serving WO1 Wtr. (due imminently to transfer to become part of the ‘Executive Branch’) kindly offered to act as a focal point of liaison for Serving members where the RNWA were unable to contact them. This offer was certainly appreciated as particularly the RNWA does not want to ‘lose serving members’ quite the contrary, they are the next generation and lifeline to continue the World’s Oldest Military Association and are encouraged to remain!

The database indicates there are no members to receive ‘Life Membership’ during 2021.

5. Any Other Business

i, The Grand National Draw tickets were being produced and would be included in the forthcoming February 2021 Newsletter (2 x Books – 5 tickets a book @ £1 each = £10.00). If they were not required or you want more then contact LH.

It was suggested by PD that 10% of the profit from the GN Draw be put towards the NMA. LG stated that it would take forever to reach the seemingly rising costs of a memorial, maintenance, and insurance. CH stated that he intended to visit the site as soon as Covid19 restrictions permitted him to do so to ascertain what was available and at what cost. It was therefore decided not to proceed on the suggestion at present.

ii,The 134^th Reunion Dinner 8^th October’21 – 34 attendees to-date. Reminder with Newsletter.

iii. CH advised that often when a member ‘Crosses the Bar’ it is usually sometime after the event that the RNWA are notified. Therefore, it was proposed by CH and seconded by TM that a ‘RNWA Condolence Card’ was designed with simple words to acknowledge a families loss and the passing of a RNWA member. Action: CH / LH.

1. A valid question and point of reference, raised by PD, regarding the ‘virtual’ meetings and attendees, what voting rights, if any, did they have or hold. Upon conclusion and summarization, it was agreed that all and any members would be most welcome to attend the meetings to be heard and listened to regarding their thoughts, opinions, ideas, and suggestions but ultimately it was the Committee that had been ‘elected’ to represent members and therefore were the only ones that could vote on policy or governance topics etc. The exception being the AGM.
2. LG advised that member CPO Wtr Gary Bower & wife Diane were ill – LH to send a card.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:55

Until advised otherwise, future meetings will be held virtually – all members welcome to join.

Next ‘Virtual Meeting’ via the link at 20:00 (able to log in from 19:30) Thursday 18^th March 2021

Les Heyhoe BCAv.
RNWA Secretary & Membership.
T: 02392 357181 / M: 07494 150563
112 St Vincent Road
Gosport
Hants
PO12 4RF
Email: les@heyhoe.com

THE MEETING OF THE ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) SCHEDULED FOR 19:00 THURSDAY 19^TH MARCH 2020 AT THE GOSPORT & FAREHAM RNA CLUB

CANCELLED – DUE TO COVID-19

In lieu of meeting, correspondence, emails, messages and telephone calls have taken place:-

[one_third]Colin[/one_third][one_third]Hughes[/one_third][one_third_last]President (CH)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Pat[/one_third][one_third]Prior BEM QVRM[/one_third][one_third_last]Treasurer (PP)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Les[/one_third][one_third]Heyhoe BCAv[/one_third][one_third_last]Secretary (LH)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]George[/one_third][one_third]Mytom-Hart BEM[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (GMH)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Mike[/one_third][one_third]Moncur[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (MM)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Tony[/one_third][one_third]Webber[one_third_last]Committee (TW)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Lyn[/one_third][one_third]Gannon[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (LG)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Dave[/one_third][one_third]Kelly[/one_third][one_third_last]Member (DK)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Norman[/one_third][one_third]Davies[/one_third][one_third_last]Life Member (ND)[/one_third_last]

1. Minutes

No comments or feedback received so assumed the minutes of the 16^th January 2020 are taken as read.

2. Deaths

Life member Jim Donaldson advised LH via email 13/03/20 that he had recently discovered from the widow of RNWA member Ralph Henderson of Gillingham that sadly Ralph had ‘Crossed the Bar’ aged 74 on the 28^th September 2019.

Dickie as he was known was promoted SD from Chief Writer around 1977 and the majority of his Officer service was in HMS Pembroke (Writers Training Officer), SO (Pay) then SO(Cash) when he was promoted Lieutenant. He took early retirement in 1983 when Pembroke closed.

He also served in MCM1 (HMS Nurton), 800 Squadron (Lossiemouth and Eagle), Cochrane, Centurion, HQ Baltap and HMS Matapan.

Normally a minute’s silence would have been held in Ralph’s memory at the meeting so his memory and name will be honoured and remembered at the Annual General Meeting scheduled for 9^th October 2020.

1. Treasurer’s Report

i. £5,564.59 as at a.m. 18/03/20 (see below for payments made included in i.).

ii. The following sum is held as ‘restricted funds’ for the NMA totalling £1,456.50 i.e. donated in 2018 £850.00 and 2019 of £606.50

iii. £835.00 received for advance payment of Reunion Dinner – 09/10/2020

iv. £1,514.00 received (*see 5. AOB iii.) for Grand National draw 04/04/20

v. £890.00 received for membership contributions from 2019, 2020 plus years

vi. Audit of Accounts for 01/01 to 31/12/19 completed (see website/attached)

4. Membership

i. Membership as at 18/03/20 comprises of the following:-

279 Members in total – 3 Honourary, 36 Life & 240 Members

Members in total – 3 Honourary, 36 Life & 240 Members

ii. The RNWA database currently indicates that 25 member’s contributions remain outstanding for 2019 (a reduction of 21 since January and the issue of the February Newsletter upon enclosing a reminder). 34 membership    contributions remain due in 2020.

iii. New members since 16/01/20:-

Sarah Jane Adams (nee Moss) of Chichester  – February 2020

Malcom Norman of Weymouth                         – February 2020

Rebecca Fyans (nee Aitken) of Southsea         – March 2020

Note: Becky (Rebecca) is a Leading Writer currently serving at NCHQ Whale Island, Portsmouth.

LH contacted Becky to ask if she would like to become a RNWA member having seen an article about her recently in February in ‘The News’, Portsmouth’s local newspaper. Becky, Page 26, as well as LH page 25, were both chosen as being ‘One of Fifty Inspirational People that Portsmouth and the surrounding area’ are proud of. Please see the emag. link for the write-up:-

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/people/12-year-old-pompey-star-and-d-day-veteran-50-inspirational-people-make-you-proud-portsmouth-area-2004325

5. Any Other Business

i. RNWA 133^rd Reunion Dinner Friday 9^th October 2020 at the Royal Beach Hotel, Southsea. To-date, 28 had confirmed their attendance, who are:-

Aldous / D. Alger / M. Atkinson / R. Carr / B. Carrington / Chris & Carol Cole P. Danks / R. Dickson / D. & N. Hill / N. Howden / C. Hughes / R. & A. Lewis / P. Magill / T. Mason / D. McGeorge / B. McCloughlin / J. Miller / C.  Meyers /  T. Rafferty / D. Rawlings / D. Shaw / M. Stephens / D. Turner / G. Walby and K. Williams

ii. If as a result of Covid-19 not being resolved then the deposit of £200 could potentially be lost if the venue / event is cancelled, subject to the T&c’s.

iii. Covid-19 has meant that the Grand National 04/04/20 has been cancelled.

It has been proposed and seconded that the following action will take place:-

A. Announced via the RNWA’s website, email contacts, mail & calls that a Grand Draw will be held (details to be decided nearer the time subject to Covid-19 update) on Friday 1^st

B. All those that have paid and returned their stubs will be entered into the draw unless they provide written confirmation that they wish for the sum paid to be returned. They will be given until Monday 27^th April to apply.

C. Subject to % of request for refund and return of money (the prize money being adjusted accordingly) tickets will be drawn and prize payment made to the first winning ticket of £250, 2^nd £75, 3^rd £50 & 4^th £25 and with a further 12 tickets (average of horses crossing the post) drawn each receiving £10.

As a precautionary measure, the 21^st May meeting has also been cancelled with the next scheduled meeting to be held at the RNA 19:00 16^th July 2020

Les Heyhoe BCAv
RNWA Secretary & Membership
T: 023 9235 7181
19^th March 2020

Attachments

RNWA-Audited-Accounts-311219

RNWA Grand National Draw 2020

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING HELD THURSDAY

16^th JANUARY 2020 AT THE GOSPORT & FAREHAM RNA CLUB AT 19:00

Present:-
[one_third]Colin[/one_third][one_third]Hughes[/one_third][one_third_last]President (CH)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Pat[/one_third][one_third]Prior BEM QVRM[/one_third][one_third_last]Treasurer (PP)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Les[/one_third][one_third]Heyhoe BCAv[/one_third][one_third_last]Secretary (LH)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]George[/one_third][one_third]Mytom-Hart BEM[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (GMH)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Mike[/one_third][one_third]Moncur[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (MM)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Lyn[/one_third][one_third]Gannon[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (LG)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Dave[/one_third][one_third]Kelly[/one_third][one_third_last]Member (DK)[/one_third_last]

Apologies:-
[one_third]Kathryn[/one_third][one_third]Simmons[/one_third][one_third_last]Member (KS)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Norman[/one_third][one_third]Davies[/one_third][one_third_last]Life Member (ND)[/one_third_last]
[one_third]Tony[/one_third][one_third]Webber[/one_third][one_third_last]Committee (TW)[/one_third_last]

The meeting opened by ‘Wishing all those present a Happy & Healthy New Year’ 2020.  

1. Minutes

The minutes of the 21^st November 2019 were taken as read.

2. Deaths

A minute’s silence was held in remembrance of the following who since the last meeting it has been reported that they had ‘Crossed the Bar’:-

Life Member – Roland ‘Nick’ Carter of Waterlooville Hants. RIP – 10/11/2019
Life Member – Frank Hookham of Clayton-Le-Dale Lancs. RIP – 07/12/2019
Member – Gordon Kershaw of Alicante, Spain. RIP – 19/12/2019

CH, PP, GMH, MM & Phil Allen MBE attended the service of former RNWA President Nick Carter with a prolific ‘send-off’ and recognition of bugler and four standards present i.e. RNWA, Royal British Legion & Royal Naval Association (Waterlooville) & Submariner’s standard.

3. Treasurer’s Report

i. £3,129.43 (see below for payments made included in i.).
ii. The following sum is held as ‘restricted funds’ for the NMA of £832.31.
iii. A payment of £200.00 as a deposit for the 09/10/20 has been made for the Reunion Dinner being held at the Royal Beach Hotel, Southsea.
iv. £60.00 payment made for renewal of membership Royal Maritime Club 2020

4. Membership

i. No New Members since last meeting 21/11/19.

ii. Further to the minutes of the 21/11/19 Membership 4. iii and in accordance with RNWA Rules & Regulations 5b. & 6. the following personnel will be notified that effective immediately their RNWA membership has ‘lapsed’ as membership was due in 2018 and remains unpaid (listed in Surname Alphabetical order) according to RNWA database records:-

[one_half]Anthony Beddow BEM of Gillingham[/one_half][one_half_last]Amy Pryde of Blairgowrie[/one_half_last]
[one_half]Phil Carlick of Coed Ely[/one_half][one_half_last]Porth Jamie Reid of Blackpool[/one_half_last]
[one_half]Henrietta Goodrum of Locks Heath[/one_half][one_half_last]Michael Seaward of Torquay[/one_half_last]
[one_half]Megan Johnson of Shoeburyness[/one_half][one_half_last]Denise Shepherd of Gosport[/one_half_last]
[one_half]Teresa Johnson of Carlisle[/one_half][one_half_last]Michael Thompson of Lee-on-the-Solent[/one_half_last]
[one_half]Frederica McCarthy of BuryΩ[/one_half][one_half_last]Norman Prior of Ashton[/one_half_last]

iii. 282 Members in total – 3 Honourary, 35 Life & 244 Members.

iv. The RNWA database currently indicates that 46 member’s contributions remain outstanding for 2019 but this will be cross checked in January’s compilation of figures for production of audit scheduled to be completed by the next meeting. Of those outstanding, a ‘reminder slip’ will be attached to their RNWA February 2020 Newsletter scheduled to be despatched mid-February.

5. Any Other Business

i. National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) – An update was provided by CH and further information and details would be published via the February 2020 RNWA newsletter.

ii. RNWA 133^rd Reunion Dinner Friday 9^th October 2020 at the Royal Beach Hotel, Southsea. The menu and application to attend had been promulgated via the RNWA’s website and one application had been received already. A reminder that the cost is RNWA members would have a subsidised meal at a cost of £35.00 per ticket and non-members & guests at £45.00 per ticket.

iii. Initially, the GOH was to remain as the 2SL however no confirmation had yet been received by LH, so a follow-up telephone call and email / letter was to be sent prior to the issue of the February 2020 .

iv. A meeting was being held on the 23/01/20 regarding the premises of the Royal Naval Association and the way forward and CH (as a RNA member) would be able to provide more details at the next meeting in March.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 20:15.

Please note for future reference the 2020 scheduled meetings are to be held at (see vi. above) 19:00 / 7pm at The Royal Naval Association, Gosport & Fareham Branch, 66 Fareham Road, Gosport, Hants., PO13 0AG                   Tel: 01329 310060 (Reminder ALL members are welcome!):-

Always the 3^rd Thursdays of the month, every 2 months commencing January:-

19^th March
21^st May
16^th July
17^th September
19^th November

Note: Grand National Saturday 4^th April 2020 at 17:15 / 5.15pm, so an Extra Ordinary Meeting will be held at the address of LH (112 St Vincent Road Gosport Hants. PO12 4RF) on Tuesday 31^st March at 19:00 / 7pm to finalize ‘Grand National Draw’ Tickets.

Annual General Meeting (AGM) – Friday 9^th October at 17:30 The Royal Beach Hotel, St Helen’s Parade, Southsea, PO4 0RN.

Les Heyhoe BCAv

RNWA Secretary & Membership
T: 023 9235 7181
27^th January 2020

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING HELD THURSDAY

21^st NOVEMBER 2019 AT THE GOSPORT & FAREHAM RNA CLUB AT 19:00

Present:-
[one_third]Colin Hughes[/one_third][one_third]President   (CH)[/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]
[one_third]Pat Prior BEM QVRM[/one_third][one_third]Treasurer   (PP)[/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]
[one_third]Les Heyhoe BCAv [/one_third][one_third]Secretary   (LH)[/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]
[one_third]George Mytom-Hart BEM[/one_third][one_third]Committee   (GMH)[/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]
[one_third]Tony Webber[/one_third][one_third]Committee   (TW)[/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]
[one_third]Lyn Gannon[/one_third][one_third]Committee   (LG)[/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]
[one_third]Dave Kelly[/one_third][one_third]Member      (DK)[/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]
[one_third]Phil ‘Darby’Allen MBE[/one_third][one_third]Member      (PA)[/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]
[one_third]Kathryn Simmons[/one_third][one_third]Member      (KS)[/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]
[one_third]Norman Davies[/one_third][one_third]Life Member (ND)[/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]

Apologies:-
[one_third]Mike Moncur[/one_third][one_third]Committee (MM)[/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]
[one_third]‘Dixie’ Dickson[/one_third][one_third]Member (DD)[/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]

The President welcomed the largest gathering of attendees for years (outside of the AGM) reiterating that meetings are not just for Committee members but for all members as well.

1. Minutes

The minutes of the 19^th September were taken as read.

2. Deaths

None known or reported.

3. Treasurer’s Report

i. £3,274.45 – net £2,442.14 (see ii, below).
ii. Included in i. is the sum of ‘restricted funds’ held for the NMA of £832.31.
iii. An additional payment of £175.00 had been forwarded to the Webmaster to pay for advance services up  to and including the date of August 2022.
iv. £20.00 had also been paid out to the local council for 2020 raffle registration.
v. A payment of £10.00 had been received which was paid into the dysfunctional account which has now to be closed – action: PP December 2019.

4. Membership

i. New Member: Norman Davies of Southsea (re-joined November 2019 with missing contributions paid in full, therefore eligible for Life Membership with immediate effect.
ii. Life Membership (defined as 50 years of membership contributions paid – not necessarily consecutively) due for members in 2020 to the following:- Keith Williams of Waltham Abbey (March) / Richard Coupe OBE of Wellington Somerset (April) / David Turner of Altringham (May) / David Hill & Nancy Hill of Plymouth (June)  / Robert Carr of Gosport (August). All will by January 2020, be receiving complimentary invitations to the RNWA Reunion Dinner 09/10/20.
iii. 285 Members in total – 3 Honourary, 30 Life & 252 Members.
iv. 12 Member’s contributions remain outstanding from 2018 and are potentially eligible to ‘lapse’ in January 2020 in accordance with the RNWA Rules & Regulations 5b. & 6.
v. The RNWA database currently indicates that 47 member’s contributions remain outstanding for 2019 but this will be cross checked in December 2019 and an update provided in January’s scheduled meeting.

5. Any Other Business

i. National Memorial Arboretum (NMA)  – An update request would be forwarded by CH beginning of January 2020 and subject to a response reported and advised at the next scheduled meeting of 16^th January 2020.
ii. 132^nd Reunion Dinner Friday 11^th October 2019 at the Royal Beach Hotel, Southsea – ‘Feedback’ (see attached pie chart for additional information’). Varying topics from individuals and their responses were discussed, ranging from name labels, entertainment, report of non-members demise, seating, sound equipment, speeches, Guests of Honour etc. which would be considered for the future. From the feedback, those who attended at the meeting endorsed and concurred with the majority who reported they were particularly pleased with the food and service, rating it either excellent or very good. A total of 96 attendees for 2019.
iii. TW proposed a ‘Vote of Thanks’ to LH and his wife Lyn, seconded by DK, and endorsed by all those present for their organisation and liaison in ensuring a considered successful 132^nd Reunion Dinner.
iv. Following the comments and feedback of ii., all present were unanimous in agreeing to a payment of £200.00 deposit to the Royal Beach Hotel, Southsea to secure the booking at the same venue for the 133^rd Reunion Dinner on Friday 9^th October 2020 – Action: LH & PP.
a. A new menu had been obtained by LH which was approved to be served.
b. The wine selection per table would be one bottle of red, one white & Prosecco
c. RNWA members would have a subsidised meal at a cost of £35.00 per ticket and non-members & guests at £45.00 per ticket (includes a. & b. as above, port and tea/coffee).
d. Initially, the GOH was to remain as the 2SL (subject to confirmation of availability by 15^th January 2020). Action – LH
v. Annual General Meetings (AGMs)
This topic was discussed and reviewed separately in view of various comments and feedback received following the AGM held 11^th October 2019. After much debate, discussion and opinions expressed the following was agreed (note:- in no specific order of reference):-
a. The AGM minutes of the previous year would be emailed to attendees at least 10 working days prior to the next AGM 09/10/20 (even though they are available to view via the RNWA’s website effective October 2019) on or before 25/09/20. . Action: LH
b. At the same time as v.a., personnel will be requested to submit any items for discussion by 02/10/20 (a week before the AGM), following the AGM meeting under the heading of ‘Any Other Business’ (AOB – see c. below). Items & topics for proposals and discussion may be submitted throughout the year via The Chairman or Secretary. Action: LH
c. NO AOB will be discussed at the AGMs.
d. Election / Re-election of Officials – An invitation for new committee members to join will be sent at the same time as the AGM minutes (also mentioned in the preceding Newsletter and placed a month in advance via the website) and members invited to propose, second and endorse those in office who wish to remain ‘in post’. Action: LH
e. Treasurer’s reporting – The financial year of the RNWA was to remain as 1^st  January to 31^st The ‘Income & Expenditure’ sheet (published on the website to view after audit in January) would accompany the AGM minutes. Action: PP / LH
f. Membership – No AGM change. Enough information is regularly provided at the regular committee 2 monthly meetings and minuted (therefore available to view online) as well as being published and updated within the periodic Newsletters (again, this being placed on the website to view). An updated figure of membership as at the AGM will therefore only be provided.
vi. CH received a letter dated the 21/11/19 from the Royal Naval Association that unfortunately it finds itself in a financially precarious position regarding its membership and premises (Gosport & Fareham), so unless drastic steps are taken then it might, in 2020, have to close? That said, the RNWA would have to relocate to a future venue for its meetings. Where and when known, updates will be provided by CH (who is a member of this RNA Branch) as to the future of our meeting location for 2020.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 20:25.

Please note for future reference the 2020 scheduled meetings are to be held at (see vi. above) 19:00 / 7pm at The Royal Naval Association, Gosport                     & Fareham Branch, 66 Fareham Road, Gosport, Hants., PO13 0AG                    Tel: 01329 310060 (Reminder ALL members are welcome!):-

Always the 3^rd Thursdays of the month, every 2 months commencing January:-

16^th January
19^th March
21^st May
16^th July
17^th September
19^th November

Note: Grand National Saturday 4^th April 2020 at 17:15 / 5.15pm, so an Extra Ordinary Meeting will be held at the address of LH (112 St Vincent Road Gosport Hants. PO12 4RF) on Tuesday 31^st March at 19:00 / 7pm to finalize ‘Grand National Draw’ Tickets.

Annual General Meeting (AGM) – Friday 9^th October (Time / Location to be confirmed) at The Royal Beach Hotel, St Helen’s Parade, Southsea, PO4 0RN.

Les Heyhoe BCAv
RNWA Secretary & Membership
25^th November 2019

RNWA 11th OCTOBER 2019 REUNION DINNER “FEEDBACK”

A TOTAL OF 96 ATTENDED OF WHICH 60 WERE MEMBERS (63%) WITH 19 (32%) GIVING FEEDBACK 8 MEMBERS BOOKED ACCOMMODATION WITH THE ROYAL BEACH HOTEL OF WHICH 4 (50%) PROVIDED “FEEDBACK”

COMMENTS

(A brief example, and by no means all of them and in no order or preference regarding feedback topic, positive & negative)

1. “If it ain’t broke then don’t fix it!”
2. “Seating for members will always be a problem but the provision of a larger room did allow people to meet other friendsbetween courses and afterwards”.
3. “As you say the new web master and the pics taken are really first class. The speeches and presentations are necessary andcould always be improved but they are already first class”.
4. “Les – Brilliant night thanks for all your organisation. Only suggestion, name badges and perhaps name those who have passedaway who were NOT members of the Association. I’m sure many present would have known, say Tony Izzard, and would havebeen interested that he is no longer with us. Have every intention of attending next year. Forgot to mention, great photos”.
5. “Meal Service Staff – I thought these were Excellent!”.
6. “GOH – They always seem to forget when most of the people at the dinner served there was a decent sized Navy, and no-one is impressed with what they have to say about the current state of affairs. It would be better if it was more branch appropriate rather than the Navy in general which we can all read about in the press or on-line”.
7. “When you have serving members as guests, you could have put one on each table so that everyone got a bit of up to date information straight from the horse’s mouth, not a criticism just a suggestion!”.
8. “Les – Thank you very much for your time and effort into a great evening. This was my first time at the dinner after years of prevaricating! I thoroughly enjoyed this all-to-brief event catching up with oppos, past and present. Maybe I was lucky, but I knew every guest on my table suggesting your judgement is very knowledgeable! I am looking forward to attending next year along with more Centurion colleagues that Neil and I were doing a recce for”.
9. “Overall it was a good night thanks to you and yours’ organisation; thank you. My main feedback is that I would prefer UJC due to cost and travel time. My main concern is Portsmouth. It adds 3 hours and about £30 to my travel time and cost”.
10. “I am hard of hearing and always struggle to hear speeches. Les Yours ok”.
11. “Accommodation was good price but drinks expensive”.
12. “Vegetables too hard for my liking”.
13. “A thoroughly enjoyable evening. Good food, good wine and good company!”
14. “Key card had to be recharged twice to be able to use it – very inconvenient when on 4th floor and needing assistance!”
15. “This is only my second time of attending and although it is nice to sit with those you know it would be more beneficial for future socializing if the seating was more mixed up so eventually you would get to know more people. I know you say ‘go and mingle’ after the meal, but it is very difficult to start up a conversation with a group of people you don’t know.
16. “I really appreciate all your hard work. It was a fabulous evening. You may want to consider a more sparkly waistcoat for next year! Loved it. Thanks again and look forward to next year”.
17. “Not particularly impressed with Guest of Honour’s speech”.
18. “Although the room and bathroom were a little dated, they were spotlessly clean. Good facilities and all staff I met were extremely friendly and helpful. Our table particularly commented on the quality of the red wine and the serving staff were extremely polite and efficient”.
19. “For some reason having a slight problem receiving emails!!!”
20. “The food was fantastic, and the waiting staff were very good. There appeared to be a difference in price from the main bar to the restaurant bar”.
21. “I am struggling to maintain the momentum of Service personnel attending. I personally feel we need to cater for our younger members”.

Download minutes (2019 AGM)

Download RNWA 2019 dinner feedback.

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

HELD FRIDAY 11^TH OCTOBER 2019 IN THE INVINCIBLE ROOM OF THE

BEST WESTERN ROYAL BEACH HOTEL SOUTHSEA AT 18:30

Present:-

Note:-  Names recorded from those members that ‘Signed In’ so any omissions due to not making themselves known.

Minutes

1. The minutes of the 19^th September * were taken as read.

Deaths

2. None were known or reported since the last issued Newsletter (June 2019) and CH reminded all present that a minute’s silence was held in respect of those ‘Crossing the Bar’ prior to any RNWA Committee meeting, as is customary practice. Whilst names are always published in the Newsletters, members were once again reminded of the following:-

Treasurer’s Report

3. In view of PP’s apologies, the following information was provided as at 5^th October 2019 with the balance of the account = £3760.05.

This amount is after deduction for the main invoice received in respect of the 132^nd Reunion Dinner for £3,803.70 (further expenditure to follow).

PP advised that an amount of £1,446.50 had been ‘reserved to be treated as restricted funds’ for the sole purpose of the proposed RNWA National Memorial Arboretum (NMA). This meant the net account balance for general purpose and operational use stood at £2,313.55

Members

4. LH advised that the membership as at 5^th October 2019 was as follows:-

Membership information and figures are regularly produced and updated to members upon production and inclusion in the newsletters.  

Election / Re-election of Committee

5.  i. Proposed by RD and Seconded by PH, the President CH, Secretary LH & Treasurer PP, together with Committee members GMH, MM & TW were re-elected into their existing roles.

ii. A vote of thanks and gratitude was given by RD and supported by all.

iii. LH proposed Lyn Gannon (LG) to become a new member of the Committee and after a brief introduction this was seconded by PH and unanimously accepted with LG being welcomed as a Committee member.

Any other Business

6. i. NMA –  The President advised that a hold had been put on everything in respect of plaques, trees and association or club dedications. An email from Marta Richards, NMA Office Administrator dated 1^st October 2019 had confirmed this with the comment of “I have forwarded your information to our Fundraising team who will be in touch when the new dedication projects are in place”. CH said he would review and diary to follow-up in February 2020 and quarterly thereafter.

ii.  AGM – Together, PD & JS raised some concerns and issues with the style and format that the agenda had taken and wished for it to be reviewed, as in their opinion, it did not fulfil certain criteria or meet with their expectations. * The reading of the minutes as an example and AOB. That said, a discussion pursued whereupon there were clearly differences of opinion amongst the forum. Feedback would be requested after the Reunion Dinner and taken for discussion and reviewed at the next Committee meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 18:50

Reminder: You do not have to wait for the AGM to submit AOB.

The next RNWA Committee meeting (note this is and always has been ‘open to non-Committee members to attend’) will be at the RNA Gosport & Fareham Branch at 19:00 Thursday 21^st November 2019.

Les Heyhoe BCAv
RNWA Secretary & Membership
20/10/2019

Download minutes (2019 AGM)

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING HELD THURSDAY

19^th SEPTEMBER 2019 AT THE GOSPORT & FAREHAM RNA CLUB AT 19:00

Present:-

Colin Hughes                                            President       (CH)

Pat Prior                        BEM QVRM      Treasurer      (PP)

Les Heyhoe                   BCAv                   Secretary       (LH)

George Mytom-Hart   BEM                    Committee    (GMH)

Tony Webber                                             Committee     (TW)

Mike  Moncur                                            Committee     (MM)

Apologies:-

Dave Kelly                                                  Member         (DK)

‘Dixie’ Dickson                                          Member         (DD)

1. Minutes

The minutes of the 18^th July 2019 were taken as read.

2. Deaths Good news – None known or reported.

3. Treasurer’s Report

139. As at today, 19^th September 2019 the amount held was £7,139.75.00 which includes an erroneous amount of £200.00 received today via Tiffany’s of Fareham. LH inadvertently provided the incorrect banking details to them for a charity function he was organising, so payment was required to be transferred to the DRUNK 2009 a/c by PP to correct the error by LH.
140. Included in i. is the sum of £2,617.20 received for the 11^th October 2019 Reunion Dinner and the ‘restricted funds’ held for the NMA of £832.31. Actual cost for the dinner will not be known until 07/10/2019.

4. Membership

1. New Members: August 2019 – AB2 Mark Cook (Writer of the Year – Complimentary) of Gosport / PO Wtr Natalie Maunder-Parkes of Plymouth / Miss Michelle D. Evans of Ilchester / Richard (Sidney) Eddy of Kardinya, Australia / * Gordon Wilkinson (aka Gordon Peters) of Surbiton / September 2019 Peter Rolston of Liverpool / Colin Halligan of Kinlough, Ireland / Gary Bower of Gosport / CPO Wtr. Dhana Morris of Gosport / WO1 Wtr. Kevin Fudge of Fishbourne – * Gordon is the RNWA’s oldest known member and holds the record for joining the Royal Navy as a Writer in 1944; aka as Gordon Peters, a past TV celebrity – see attached Wikipedia write-up. Bill Walsh remains as the member to hold the record for joining the RNWA 27^th November 1946 (dob: 29/12/1927)
2. 285 Members in total – 3 Honourary, 30 Life & 252 Members.

iii.  The increase in membership during the past few weeks were credited to WO1 Emma Day MBE and her sterling efforts of recruitment combined with encouragement to attend this year’s Reunion Dinner; the Committee in Emma’s absence commended her, and may the campaigning continue.

5. Any Other Business

1. 132^nd Reunion Dinner Friday 11^th October 2019 at the Royal Beach Hotel
2. As at today, there were 90 attendees which was at one stage 95 but due to illness 3 have had to withdraw and 1 + guest unable to attend due to service commitment – see b below.
3. A letter dated 27^th July 2019 had been received from AB2 Wtr Mark Cook, Winner of the RNWA Trophy advising that due to being temporarily seconded to HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH from August – December 2019 regrettably he and his guest would not now be able to attend.
4. NMA – CH reported that he would liaise and email, with hopefully a written response in time to report and advise at the AGM.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 19:55.

The next meeting is scheduled to be the Annual General Meeting to be held at The Royal Beach Hotel, Southsea,  at 18:20 for 18:30 – 18:55 in the Endeavour Room  Friday 11^th October 2019.

Advance apologies:- Pat Prior BEM QVRM – (PP).

Les Heyhoe BCAv

RNWA Secretary

& Membership

7^th October 2019

Gordon Peters

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia

Gordon Peter Wilkinson, known professionally as Gordon Peters (born 29 November 1926 in Durham), is a British television actor.

Peters starred in a BBC TV comedy series in 1973 called The Gordon Peters Show. It was a situation comedy in which he played a character with his own name. The series was cancelled after one season.

As a child, Peters sang in the choir of Durham Cathedral. He later enrolled at Durham Commercial College to learn bookkeeping. He worked as a junior clerk before volunteering for the Royal Navy.

Peters has had many roles in other television shows over the years, including Oh Brother!, two episodes of Hi-de-Hi!, four episodes of Dad’s Army, two episodes of Are You Being Served?, one episode of Grace & Favour (also called Are You Being Served? Again! in the United States). He played Victor and Margaret Meldrews’ family friend Ronnie in three episodes of the long-running BBC sitcom One Foot in the Grave during the 1990s,^[1] five episodes of Never the Twain. Moreover he featured in one episode of Little Britain, as a booking clerk in an episode of the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances and in one episode of HBO’s Tales from the Crypt.

He voiced the narrator and the Mr. Men in some of the episodes of Mr. Men and Little Miss.

Downdload minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING HELD THURSDAY

18^th JULY 2019 AT THE GOSPORT & FAREHAM RNA CLUB AT 19:00

Present:-

Colin Hughes                                           President       (CH)

Pat Prior                        BEM QVRM    Treasurer      (PP)

Les Heyhoe                   BCAv                 Secretary       (LH)

George Mytom-Hart   BEM                  Committee     (GMH)

Tony Webber                                           Committee     (TW)

Mike Moncur                                           Committee     (MM)

Dave Kelly                                                Member         (DK)

Apologies:-

‘Dixie’ Dickson                                        Member         (DD)

1. Minutes

The minutes of the 16^th May 2019 were taken as read.

2. Deaths Good news – None known or reported.

3. Treasurer’s Report

6734. As at today, 18^th July 2019 the amount held was £6734.79.
6735. Included in i. is the sum of £1,520.00 received for the 11^th October 2019 Reunion Dinner and the ‘restricted funds’ held for the NMA of £832.31.

4. Membership

1. New Members: Michael Hughes MBE of Curdridge, Hants. / Kathryn Simmons (nee redhead) of Gosport, Hants. / Thomas Keddy of Waterlooville, Hants. / Lyn Gannon of Fareham, Hants. / Derek Cooper of Hartlip, Kent /
2. 274 Members in total – 3 Honourary, 30 Life & 241 Members.

iii.  Two resignations had been received – one was from Paddy Erskine of Cosham, Hants. due to ill health. LH thanked Paddy for her past support, especially on attending the Reunion Dinners and wished her future good health.

1. 4iv. of the minutes of 16^th May announced that in the June newsletter the RNWA would seek to find out about the ‘Old & Bold’ and some good responses had subsequently been received by LH (members have been given to the end of August to respond and supply details):-

Name                         DOB               Joined RN                 Joined RNWA

Frank  White       18/08/1927          09/01/1945                March 2016

Bill       Walsh      29/12/1927          16/07/1946                27^th November 1946

5. Any Other Business

75. 50 ‘Wtr’ Car stickers had been purchased at a total discounted cost of £75.00 inc. p&p and would be used as a gift to members of the Association who attended the October Reunion Dinner. .
76. CH had liaised with DMLS Wtr LTO WO1 Wtr Emma Day MBE (RNWA Member) and established that heritage items had in the majority of instances been dispersed amongst various establishment UPO’s; only a few items were available such as uniforms but the RNWA had no facility to store or house them. The Committee were of the opinion that an inventory should be obtained and passed to them for future reference in case the relevant site, location and UPO were considering disposing of such items in the future and the RNWA should be given the opportunity to ascertain if they should hold the historical artefacts? Action: CH

iii. On the school moving from HMS RALEIGH to the new college at DCLPA, Worthy Down CH will liaise to hold a RNWA Committee meeting there with the possibility of having a look around.

1. 132^nd Reunion Dinner Friday 11^th October 2019 at the Royal Beach Hotel
2. LH had contacted the outer office and PA of the Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Nicholas Hine CB, inviting him and his partner Zoe to be the Guests of Honour. Regrettably they are unable to attend, however his representative Rear Admiral (promoted May 2019) Phil Hally MBE, ACNS People Transformation & Navy Transformation Director and his wife Joanna have confirmed their attendance.
3. As at 18^th July, there were 52 attendees with the expectation of further interest following the promotion of the venue via the June Newsletter – note the closing date of 20/09/19, no exception due to the ordering of food and seating plan.
4. A letter dated 12^th July 2019 had been received from AB2 Wtr Mark Cook, Winner of the RNWA Trophy thanking CH for his attendance at the Awards Ceremony and winner’s gift, together with confirmation that he will be joining us at the Reunion Dinner. Mark as winner also receives 2 years complimentary membership to the RNWA – see attached letter for info..

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 19:55.

The next meeting is scheduled to be held at the Gosport & Fareham RNA Club at 19:00 Thursday 19^th September 2019 (finalised figures for the Reunion Dinner, apart from 24 hours, will be known by this date) – please forward any apologies in advance of the meeting.

Les Heyhoe BCAv

RNWA Secretary & Membership

22^nd July 2019

Download minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING HELD THURSDAY

16^th MAY 2019 AT THE GOSPORT & FAREHAM RNA CLUB AT 19:00

Present:-

Colin Hughes                                             President     (CH)

Pat Prior                        BEM QVRM       Treasurer     (PP)

Les Heyhoe                   BCAv                    Secretary       (LH)

George Mytom-Hart   BEM                     Committee    (GMH)

Tony Webber                                              Committee    (TW)

Mike Moncur                                               Committee    (MM)

Dave Kelly                                                    Member         (DK)

‘Dixie’ Dickson                                             Member         (DD)

Apologies:-   Nil

1. Minutes

AOB 4ii. was carried forward (Action: PP) from the minutes of Thursday 21^st March 2019 and were therefore taken as read.

2. Deaths None to report or known.

3. Treasurer’s Report

9920.  As at 16^th May 2019 the balance held was £5,9920.20, however there remained two outstanding Grand National winning payment cheques of £10 each. Also see item iii. below.
9921. Of this sum are amounts held and received for the Dinner and NMA.

iii. 14^th May an ‘Out’ entry on the latest statement showed an amount of £10 for cheque No. 000052 – the last cheque no. issued was for 000032 so was this a banking error? PP would liaise with the bank and investigate.

4. Membership

1. New Members: Mary McIntyre (nee Phillips) of Buckie, Banffshire / Andy Langston of Gosport, Hants / Andrew Griffiths of Gosport, Hants / Don McGeorge of Bourne, Lincs.
2. 270 Members in total – 3 Honourary, 30 Life & 237 Members.

iii.   56 Members are female i.e. 21% – 2 years ago it was as low as 10% – let’s push for 2019 to make it above 25%!?

1. In the June Newsletter the questions will be asked as to a. Who is our oldest (by age) member and b. the oldest i.e. year of entry on joining the RN? These questions are being asked in case the RNWA records or database are inaccurate and not up to date and to add a bit of involvement with members.

5. Any Other Business

1. DK purchased a ‘Wtr’ Car sticker – see back page for image – from ebay which appeared to be effective however it was noted that the ‘Crown’ was not that of the RN but appeared to be an ‘Army Crown’. LH would contact the seller to ascertain if this could be corrected in order that consideration might be given to purchase by RNWA members for future use. Also see immediate response from seller with the good news that it will be revised and updated.
2. An email had been received 16^th May from member WO1 Wtr Emma Day who is the DMLS Wtr LTO asking if the RNWA would be interested in obtaining a small number of heritage items as next term the school is moving to the new college at DCLPA, Worthy Down. Subject to Emma’s response of items and photographs, CH would respond accordingly.

iii. 132^nd Reunion Dinner Friday 11^th October 2019 at the Royal Beach Hotel

1. LH had contacted the outer office and PA of the Second Sea Lord (appointed 26^th April 2019) Vice Admiral Nicholas Hine CB, inviting him and his partner Zoe to be the Guests of Honour with a RSVP of 7^th June in order that this information could be promulgated by mid-June’s Newsletter.
2. As at 16^th May, there were 38 attendees with further promotion of the venue to be published via the June Newsletter – closing date of 20/09/19.
3. An overpayment of £7.20 had been received from G.A. Baldwin 8^th May’19 and PP was requested to refund via bank transfer (amount ‘paid for port’).
4. Newsletter – Content and articles were to include Grand National results, update regarding the NMA (not reported or minuted separately but available via Newsletter) and request for Website Volunteer.
5. It was agreed for CH to obtain a £125 voucher for the ‘Writer of the Year’ Awards Ceremony being held at DMLS on 4^th July 2019 and to recoup reasonable expenses incurred as the RNWA representative. It was suggested by DK and considered a good idea that perhaps CH could mention that if it were at all possible at a future date upon moving to DCLPA if a RNWA Committee meeting could be held there, giving the ‘new and the old’ the opportunity to mingle, meet and find out about the new location and RNWA.
6. Grand National – Monies received, after considering full expenditure i.e. postage & printing, stationery etc., the net amount received would be split between supporting iii. & v. and the NMA to receive 1/3^rd of the net amount.

AOB 5.i

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 19:55.

The next meeting is scheduled to be held at the Gosport & Fareham RNA Club at 19:00 Thursday 18^th July 2019 – please forward any apologies in advance of the meeting.

Les Heyhoe BCAv

Secretary

18^th May 2019

Download minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING HELD THURSDAY

21^ST MARCH 2019 AT THE GOSPORT & FAREHAM RNA CLUB AT 1915

Present:-

Colin          Hughes                                       President       (CH)

Pat             Prior            BEM QVRM          Treasurer      (PP)

George      Mytom-Hart BEM                     Committee     (GMH)

Tony          Webber                                        Committee     (TW)

Dave          Kelly                                             Member         (DK)

Apologies:-

Mike          Moncur                                        Committee    (MM)

Les             Heyhoe BCAv                             Secretary       (LH)

1. Minutes

The minutes of Thursday 17^th January 2019 were taken as read.

2. Deaths

In accordance with custom, a minute’s silence was held in honour of

the following members who crossed the bar as follows:-

Grahame Boyett 18^th Jan 2019

Bob Muir 5^th Feb 19

David McQuitty 11^th Feb19

Miles Huntington-Whiteley 19^th Feb 2019

Douglas Jewell 15^th Mar 2019

3. Treasurer’s Report

 As at 21^st March 2019 the balance held was £4433.02. Final figures for the Grand National Draw and donations for the National Memorial Arboretum will be available at the next meeting.

4. Any Other Business

1. Grand National Draw. CH reported that there was a steady stream of

ticket stubs and payments both by cheque and online being received. The

Draw will take place on 2^nd April 2019 at CH residence.

1. CH raised the question of producing Condolence cards which would

be useful when dealing with NOK especially when notification of a

                      member’s demise was received well after the event.  The committee agreed

                        to let PP investigate getting some produced by an online printing Company.

• DK raised the subject of Writer car stickers and agreed to investigate.

Post meeting update: DK reported that they were available on EBay at a cost of £2.20. After much computer search time the sticker has been found and a link is now available.  For further discussion.

There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 19.45

Date of next meeting: 19:00 Thursday 16^th May 2019 at RNA Gosport.

Colin Hughes, President

Download minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING HELD THURSDAY 17th JANUARY 2019 AT THE GOSPORT & FAREHAM RNA CLUB AT 19:15

Present:-
Colin Hughes President (CH)
Les Heyhoe BCAv Secretary (LH)
PatPrior BEM QVRM Treasurer (PP)
Tony Webber Committee (TW)
Dave Kelly Member (DK)

Apologies:-
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Committee (GMH)

1. Minutes

The minutes of Wednesday 14th November 2018 were taken as read.

2. Deaths

As was customary, a minute’s silence was held in honour and respect of Mrs Stella Brown QSM of New Zealand who ‘Crossed the Bar’ on 3rd January 2019. Stella during her lifetime had been a strong supporter of the RNWA and took every opportunity when visiting the UK to attend the committee meetings; she will be missed!

3. Treasurer’s Report

As at 17/01/19 a total balanceof £3,410.06 was held. An independent examination of the RNWA accounts had been completed by Peter Nicholls (PN) on the 17/01/19 for the period 01/01/18 to 31/01/18. A signed statement of assets and liabilitiesisattached for which the committeeappreciated PN’s involvement and neutral assessment. PN recommended for the future that a breakdown of ‘Miscellaneous Expenditure’ was listed with amount(s) and an explanation regarding the amounts involved –action: PP.

4. Membership

In accordance with the RNWA Rules & Guidelines i.e. Subscription 5b. and Removal of Membership 6., the following were removed as members (there could be several bona-fide reasons e.g. change of address and unable to be advised or contacted, deceased and not advised by NOK etc.). Those listed are entitled to re-join at a future date and it might be that the records of the RNWA are incorrect which why if any member has contact or dealings with any individual it is requested, they ask them to contact the Membership Secretary asap for possible reinstatement:-

[one_half]Name[/one_half][one_half_last]Location[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Kennedy Borthwick[/one_half][one_half_last]Sheffield[/one_half_last]
[one_half]Christopher Boyd[/one_half][one_half_last]Glasgow[/one_half_last]
[one_half]Karen Brooks[/one_half][one_half_last]Plymouth[/one_half_last]
[one_half]Laura Chisholm<[/one_half][one_half_last]Carnwath[/one_half_last]
[one_half]Daniel Crane[/one_half][one_half_last]Rothbury[/one_half_last]
[one_half]Dulcie Edwards<[/one_half][one_half_last]Durham[/one_half_last]
[one_half]Andrew Hayes[/one_half][one_half_last]Catchgate[/one_half_last]
[one_half]Lucy Millings[/one_half][one_half_last]Plymouth[/one_half_last]
[one_half]Elizabeth Wingate[/one_half][one_half_last]Stubbington[/one_half_last]

Database records indicate that there are currently 26 members that were due to pay their membership contribution during 2018; these members will again be reminded with a note to be included with their March 2019 Newsletter.

Honourary Members: 3
Life Members:32
Members: 236
Total Membership 271

New members submitted and accepted were:-

Mrs. Debra Mills (nee Marchant) of Havant (December 2018) and John Rowse of Wellington, New Zealand (Dec’2018).

A disturbing fact that since 2002 i.e. in 17 years, a total of 425 members have been removed from membership due to not renewing, their missing contact details, resignationor other unknown reasons. There were no known Life Memberships to be awarded in 2019 and everyone was asked to view and feedback thoughts and comments regarding the renewal of the Life Membership Certificates.

5. Any Other Business

i. National Memorial Arboretum (NMA), Staffordshire. Marta Richards of NMA had contacted CH with the following message “unfortunately all applications for new plaques and tree dedications have been suspended. This is due to the fact that we are running low on available trees at this time, partly due to last year’s prolonged hot and dry spell, which extended well into the summer. Please contact Lindsey Walker, Grounds Administrator email: lwalker@thenma.org.uk at the end of April 2019 when we are hoping to resume this service”– T: 01283 245100 Action: CH.

ii. To-date, thanks to member’s generosity, the total donations for the NMA was £850.

iii. Grand National Saturday 6thApril 2019 – All were unanimous in supporting the motion to increase the prize cash amounts to:- 1stPlace = £250, 2nd Place = £75, 3rd Place = £50 & 4th Place = £25 i.e. a total Prize Place Amount of £400.00 An amount of £10 as a consolation prize was to remain for those horses with jockeys, other than the four places previously mentioned, to cross the finishing post. It was agreed that an order was to be placed by LH for the printing of the books totalling 900 which were to accompany the March 2019 newsletter.

iv. Friday 11th October 2019 RNWA132nd Reunion Dinner – Application form and details were to accompany the March 2019 Newsletter but, in the mean time, full details were to be made available to view on the website – Action: LH.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 20:25.

Date of next meeting: 19:00 Thursday 21st March 2019 at the RNA, Gosport.

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership
04/02/2019

Download Minutes 

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING HELD WEDNESDAY 14th NOVEMBER 2018 AT THE GOSPORT & FAREHAM RNA CLUB AT 19:10

Present:-
Colin Hughes President (CH)
Les Heyhoe BCAv Secretary (LH)
PatPrior BEM QVRM Treasurer (PP)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Committee (GMH)
Tony Webber Committee (TW)
DaveKelly Member (DK)

Apologies:-
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)

1. Minutes

The minutes of the AGM were taken as read with additional discussion and annotations made regarding 6 i & ii.

2. Deaths

Thankfully none have been reported or have been made aware to the committee since the AGM held on the 12th October 2018.

3. Treasurer’s Report

As at 05/11/18 a total balanceof £3,572.82 was held; as at date of production and issue of minutes a further £100.00 had been paid in so the total stood at £3.672.82 on 15/11/18*.

4. Membership

No change in membership since publication of figures provided for AGM i.e.:-

Honourary Members: 3
Life Members:32
Members: 248
Total Membership 283

Subject to members ‘Crossing the Bar’, the proposal and intention is to try and strive for at least an additional 17 members between now and Dec’ 2019 to increase the membership to 300+ CH would arrange for the new approved enrolment/membership form to be placed on the RNWA’s website via the webmaster – main change is the deletion of password criteria and introduction of online payment method.

5. Election/Re-Election of Committee

In view of the absence of TW & MM at the AGM, TW was advised that in their absence they had been re-elected – by cc to MM, advised accordingly also.

6. Any Other Business

i. National Memorial Arboretum (NMA), Staffordshire. It was discussed and reiterated that ‘the majority were in favour of a separate future dedication to be held and not linked to the Reunion Dinner’as discussed and agreed at the AGM and annotated accordingly in the AGM minutes of the 12th October 2018 – all of whom attended the Reunion Dinner were forwarded a copy of the minutes, therefore the subject was closed and not open to interpretation or reconsideration.

ii. At the AGM and the request for financial support and sponsorship of the RNWA NMA memorial plaque, in addition to the recent £100 A J Parsons legacy, subsequent support had generously been received from the following:- Brian Murphy £100.00 (25/10), Norman Howden £100.00 (5/11), I & F Coombes £50.00 (5/11) & Colin Hughes £100.00 (15/11*) – Total to-date £450.00 of £700.00 i.e. 64% of proposed Target.

iii. Grand National Saturday 6th April 2019 – 3 Books of GN Raffle tickets will be issued with the idea being that the additional book sale of £5.00 the proceeds of which will be put towards the NMA memorial plaque; to be inserted with March newsletter.

iv. Friday 11th October 2019 RNWA  132ndReunion Dinner – In view of the very favourable comments and feedback received the decision was made to again hold next year’s RNWA Reunion Dinner at The Royal Beach Hotel, St Helen’s Parade, Southsea, Hants., PO4 0RN. The decision was also made promptly prior to the AGM’s minuted dates as a result of the hotel requiring a £200.00 deposit by the 6th December 2018 – agreed and PP to arrange. In view of the potential for hopefully more attendees (86 in 2018) in 2019 the dinner will be in The Ark Royal dining room suite – ‘aboveground’ from the reception area with a larger capacity. Cost of the dinner was to remain as agreed at £30 per RNWA member and non-members & guests at £40.00 per person (actual cost of dinner £33.50 per head with house wine in additionat £17.95 per bottle and toasting port at £3.60 per glass) – so the dinner could be subsidized up to £1,000 worst case scenario – all were in agreement to proceed and supported the proposal.

A 3-course dinner with new selected option menus, including coffee:-

Starters-
A. Leek & potato soup served with croutons.
B. Duck & orange pate Served with red onion marmalade and Ciabatta.
C. Char grilled chicken Caesar saladFinished with parmesan shaving.
D. Home cured salmon Served with citrus mayonnaise.

Main Course-
E. Pan fried breast of chicken Finished with a mushroom & tarragon sauce.
F. Four hour Braised blade of beef Finished with a red wine & thyme sauce.
G. Sea bream fillet Served with a cream herb sauce.
H. Mediterranean vegetable & mozzarella wellington Served with a Provençale sauce.

Dessert-
J. White & Dark chocolate mousse Served with a vanilla sauce.
K. Strawberry meringue nest Filled with Chantilly cream.
L. Amoretti filled profiteroles Finished with a warm chocolate sauce.
M. Bakewell Tart Served with custard.

Accommodation– available at discounted room rates of £65.00 a singleroom and £95.00 a double room, quoting RNWA 111019, direct via booking with the hotelat T: 023 9273 1281 Email: enquiries@royalbeachhotel.co.uk/www.royalbeachhotel.co.uk

v. 2019 Meeting Dates –19:00 at The RNA Fareham & Gosport Branch, 66 Fareham Road, Gosport, Hants., PO13 0AG (T: 01329 310060), unless otherwise advised:-

Thursday 17th January
Thursday 21st March
Tuesday 2nd April – Draw for Grand National -Secretary’s Address
Thursday 16th May
Thursday 18th July
Thursday 19th September
Friday11th October – Annual General Meeting at Reunion Dinner
Thursday 21st November

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:15

Date of next meeting:- 17thJanuary 2019 – please forward apologies if unable to attend. Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year for 2019

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership
23/11/2019

Download Minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)  FRIDAY 12TH OCTOBER 2018 AT THE ROYAL BEACH HOTEL, SOUTHSEA, AT 18:30

Present:-
Colin Hughes President (CH)
Les Heyhoe BCAv Secretary (LH)
Pat Prior BEM QVRM Treasurer (PP)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Committee (GMH)
Chris Cole Member (CC)
Jed Stone OBE Member (JS)
Barry White Member (BW)
Tony Mason Member (TM)
David Spicer Member (DS)
Peter Nicholls MBE Member (PN)
Roger Aldous Member (RA)
Mike Coombes OBE Member (MC)
Bill Whaley Member (BW)
Peter Danks Member (PD)
Brian Murphy Member (BM)
Geoffrey Briggs Member (GB)

Apologies:-
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)
Tony Webber Committee (TW)
Alan Baldwin Member (AB)
Sir Miles Huntington-Whiteley VRD* Member (MHW)
Michael Moss Member (MM)
Brian Peck Member (BP)

1. Minutes

The minutes of the 20th September 2018 were taken as read and agreed.

2. Deaths

None were reported since the 20th September. The President CH was to list in his dinner speech all those that had ‘crossed the bar’ since the last AGM which would also be published in full in the next RNWA newsletter.

3. Treasurer’s Report

As at 11/10/18 a total balance held was £3,344.79 after consideringthe Reunion Dinner total cost of £3,581.50 of which £2,700.00 had been received, therefore the event had been subsidised by £881.50. This was less than the net profit received from the Grand National.

4. Membership

Membership as at the date of the AGM comprised of:-
Honourary Members: 3
Life Members:32
Members: 248
Total Membership 283

Note: Serving RNWA Member WO1 Emma Day MBE has recently been appointed to the Writer School as WO1 Wtr Training, so it is hopeful with Emma’s influence 2019 should see an increase of ‘new and younger members’.

5. Election/Re-Election of Committee

A unanimous vote of thanks was received from the floor in respect of the past 12 months for the work and support the RNWA Committee had achieved on behalf of its members. LH put to those present if anyone wished to volunteer to be part of the RNWA Committee with no uptake. That said, JS proposed the re-election of all those currently in a position on the RNWA Committee which was seconded by CC to which the floor endorsed.

6. Any Other Business

i. It was put to those present and it was agreed that the RNWA should proceed in the placing of a tribute by means of a tree being planted and a plaque (design, shape wording etc. to be discussed further in the future) placed in the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA), Staffordshire. It was to be dedicated to all those Writers who had lost their lives in conflict from the RNWA’s formation in 1867.

The total cost for implementation would be approximately £700.00 with a 3-5 year maintance cost currently of £60 -£70. All present at the AGM were in favour of costings.

A letter dated 20/09/2018 had recently been received from the solicitors of Lt. Albert John Parsons RN (Rtd) RIP 10/10/2017 leaving a legacy of a £100.00 donationto the RNWA. This sum would be used as the initial payment to achieve the total required for the dedication plaque and plot, together with reaching out to members asking for any donations and by selling that extra book for the Grand National in March/April 2019 with the money generated to assist in funding(to be mentioned in the December 2018 newsletter).

The RNWA Committee agreed to liaise with some members present regarding the plaque itself with the suggestion of a glass engraved item? The majority were in favour of a separate future dedication to be held and not linked to the Reunion Dinner.

ii. 2019 Reunion Dinner – As has always been tradition, held the 2nd Friday in October. Next year’s diary date is Friday 11th October. The venue and location will be discussed and decided at the January 2019 committee meeting, considering the comments and feedback regarding this year’s venue discussed at the November committee meeting. The decision made, venue and location will be announced in the March 2019 newsletter.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 19:05.

Date of next meeting: Note alteration of day i.e. Wednesday at 19:00 14th November 2018 at RNA Gosport & Fareham Branch. Please forward apologies if unable to attend.

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership
14/10/2018

Download Minutes 

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING THURSDAY 20THSEPTEMBER2018AT THE GOSPORT & FAREHAM RNA AT 19:10

Present:-
Colin Hughes President (CH)
Les Heyhoe BCAv Secretary (LH)
Pat Prior BEM QVRM Treasurer (PP)
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Committee (GMH)
Tony Webber Committee (TW

Apologies:-
David Kelly  Member (DK)
David McQuitty Member (DM)

1. Minutes

The minutes of the 19th July 2018 were taken as read and agreed.

2. Deaths

As is customary when a member ‘Crosses the Bar’, a minute’s silence was held in respect of Mervyn A. Mortimore MVO – RIP 31/08/2018. As advised and made aware by the family, no service was held, therefore no RNWA representation was made.

3. Treasurer’s Report

As at 20/09/18 a total balance held was £6,294.44 however this comprised of £2,2520.00 received in payment for the 131st Reunion Dinner being held Friday 12thOctober 2018.

4. Membership

Membership as at the date of the meeting comprised of:-

Honourary Members: 3
Life Members: 30
Members: 250
Total Membership 283i.

New members September – Eric Thorp of Corfe, Dorset / Gerald I. Williams of Knaresborough, N. Yorks. / Peter White of Derriford, Devon / Wtr. Rebecca Young of RNAS Culdrose.

5. Any Other Business

i. RNWA 131st Reunion Dinner Friday 12thOctober 2018 at the Royal Beach Hotel – the final close off date is the day following the meeting (no exceptions) and to date 84 were attending. Due to ill health and personal reasons, 3 who had previously requested to attend have had to withdraw i.e. Messrs Sir Miles Huntington-Whiteley VRD (£30.00 no refund required as advised to use money to subsidise RH Chelsea Pensioners attending)and Andy & Christine Baldwin (refund of £70.00 made). A list of all those attending will be placed on the website for information/interest.

ii. LH proposed, and it was a greed that a place was set at the Dinner for ‘Absent Friends’ and a few words said and spoken / menu to be updated–Action: LH / CH.

iii. An AGM Agenda will be issued via the website and in place at least 7 days prior to the event for all attending the dinner to see and notification placed requesting that AOB items are with the RNWA Secretary by Thursday 4th October 2018.

iii. GDPR forms continued to be returned after the close-off date but now as sufficient time had passed, a comment and note would be placed on the website and mentioned again in the next newsletter stating all forms of media would be used unless advised.

iv. The cost for a tree and plaque to be placed in the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) on behalf of all the Writers who have fell in conflict from the RNWA’s formation in 1867 is approximately £700. Prior to proceeding, a viewing of the area was discussed however PP would send through some RBL photos held as an example recently published in newsletters and magazines. This was to be discussed at the AGM for a proposed date of Spring/ Summer2019.

v. Post meeting, a letter from the solicitors Kingswell Berney Ltd handling the estate of former Life Member Lt. Albert John Parsons RN (Rtd) who ‘Crossed the Bar 10/10/17’ has left the legacy of £100.00. Subject to the outcome of the discussions and agreement of the AGM it is proposed that this sum Is put towards 5iv.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:15

Date of next meeting, after the AGM and RNWA Reunion Dinner,  19:00 Thursday 15thNovember 2018 at RNA Gosport & Fareham Branch. Please forward apologies if unable to attend.

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership
23/09/2018

Download Minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING THURSDAY 19​th​ JULY 2018 AT THE GOSPORT & FAREHAM RNA AT 19:10

Present:-
Colin Hughes President (CH)
Les Heyhoe BCAv Secretary (LH)
Pat Prior BEM QVRM Treasurer (PP)
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Committee (GMH)
Tony Webber Committee (TW)

Apologies:-
David Kelly Member (DK)
David McQuitty Member (DM)

1. Minutes

The minutes of the 17​th​ May 2018 were taken as read and agreed.

2. Deaths

As is customary whenamember ‘Crosses the Bar’, aminute’s silence was held in respect of John Kinghorn of Gosport – RIP 31/05/2018.

3. Treasurer’s Report

i. In  accordance with 3. iof the 17​th May minutes, PP closed the HSBC account in June which held a total of £25.84, transferring it to the present Lloyds current account.

ii. PP advised that there remained one uncashed cheque for £10.00 out standing from the April 2018 Grand National.

iii. As previously stated, the current balance appears extraordinary healthy, but this is due to the income received for the future October Reunion Dinner. Therefore, taking i. & ii. into account, the total balance held was £5.923.76.

4. Membership

Membership as at the date of the meeting comprised of:-
Honourary Members: 3
Life Members: 31
Members: 247
Total Membership 281

i. New member – ​May​ Robert Wallace of Holme, Carnforth.

5. Any Other Business

i. CH attended the HMS RALEIGH Logistics Award Ceremony on the 12​th July 2018 hosted by Commander Suzi Nielsen RN, Commandant Defence Maritime Logistics School, to present The RNWA Trophy to Wtr Rebecca Young (UPORNAS Culdrose). More about Rebecca’s achievement and citation together with the ceremony will be able to be viewed on the website. CH was to receive reimbursement for attending the ceremony and the purchase of the prize (£125), totalling £184.66 – Action: PP & LH.

ii. A payment request for the printing of the March newsletter and purchase of ink cartridges was requested to be paid to LH for £120.00 & £30.00 respectively which was agreed – Action: PP & CH.

iii. 131​st​ RNWA Reunion Dinner – Friday 12​th​ October. 58 names to-date had been received with a final reminder to be issued in the August 2018 Newsletter.

iv. A reasonable response had been received in respect of the issue of GDPR forms issued to the 281 members, but it was of concern that 92 i.e.32% had yet to respond and provide an answer.​ Strictly speaking this means that these members should  not be contacted by any form of media by the RNWA. That said, these members will be forwarded a newsletter with a FINAL GDPR reminder with a cut-off date of 21​st September2 018 (same cut-off datef or the Reunion Dinner). The out come could have an adverse effect on the total number of members and will be discussed at the next RNWA meeting.

v. Further to Nigel Coy’s email of the 16​th May, CH investigated the potential for a tree and plaque to be placed in the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) on be half of all  the Writers who have fell inconflict from the RNWA’s formation in 1867. Without going into to finer detail the initial cost would be approximately £700. Prior to proceeding, it would be put to members via the RNWA August news letter and discussed and ratified at the AGM for a proposed date of Spring 2019. In the mean time, LH agreed to try to visit the NMA to establish a suitable placement for the tree and plaque and exact details etc.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:10.

Date of next meeting, 19:00 Thursday ​20​th​ September 2018​ at RNA Gosport & Fareham Branch.

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership
22/07/2018

Download Minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING THURSDAY 17th MAY 2018 AT THE GOSPORT & FAREHAM RNA AT 19:00

Present:-
Colin Hughes President (CH)
Les Heyhoe BCAv Secretary (LH)
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Committee (GMH)
Tony Webber Committee (TW)
David Kelly Member (DK)

Apologies:-
Pat Prior BEM QVRM Treasurer (PP)
David McQuitty Member (DM)

1. Minutes

No minutes of the 15th March 2018 were available.

2. Deaths

There were no known members deaths since the last produced minutes of the 18th January 2018.

3. Treasurer’s Report

i. It was agreed that in the absence of PP the existing current account held with HSBC was to be closed by the end of May/June and only the Lloyds Bank account was to be in operation.

ii. On viewing the on-line account statement, LH established that the amount held in the Lloyds RNWA account stood at £5,822.82. A high figure taking into account sums received totalling £1,645.00 for payments & donationsto attend the RNWA Reunion Dinner in October 2018.

4. Membership

Membership as at the date of the meeting comprised of: –

Honourary Members: 3
Life Members: 30
Members: 248
Total Membership 28

1i.New members–March Gerry Fanning of Rostrevor, Australia, Robert Millard of Watford, April Gladys Harding of Chelmsford, May Naomi Harvey of Lee-on-the-Solent, Mike & Pauline Davies of Winchester.

5. Any Other Business

i. CH will be attending the HMS RALEIGH Logistics Award Ceremony on the 12th July 2018 with yet again the winner of the ‘Writer of the Year’ being a female. CH will make the necessary purchase of a gift voucher for the agreed value and reclaim.

ii. Life Membership Certificates were to be reviewed over the coming year, but it was agreed to make use of those held in stock which should last for a few more years.

iii. The March 2018 Newsletter was missing from the website, so LH was requested to rectify; this was important as it advised members of the ‘new Lloyds a/c details’.

iv. 131st RNWA Reunion Dinner –Friday 12th October. 50 names to-date had been received with a final reminder proposed to be issued in the August 2018 Newsletter.

v. Regrettably LH had received notification that 2SL was unable to attend as the GOH for the Reunion Dinner, however 2SL had appointed a replacement and Rear Admiral Chris Gardner CBE (our current CNLO), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Ships) and SRO for the Type 26 Global Combat Ship Programme, will be attending accompanied by his wife.

NB: R/Adm. Gardner has attended as our GOH in recent years when held at the UJC.

vi. GDPR forms would be issued in due course and the response made known at the next meeting.

vii. LH had received an email 16th May from Nigel Coy who recently visited the National Memorial Arboretum and asked if the committee could investigate the possibility of a plaque or the planting of a tree or something in its simplest form recognising the RNWA? –Action CH.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:10

Date of next meeting, 19:00 Thursday 19th July 2018 at RNA Gosport & Fareham Branch.

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership
06/07/2018

Download Minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITRS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING THURSDAY 18th JANUARY 2017 AT THE GOSPORT & FAREHAM RNA AT 19:00

Present:-
Colin Hughes President (CH)
Les Heyhoe BCAv Secretary (LH)
Pat Prior BEM QVRM Treasurer (PP)
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Committee (GMH)
David McQuitty Member (DM)

Apologies:-
Dave KellyMember (DK)
Tony Webber Committee (TW)

1. Minutes

The minutes of the 16th November 2017 were taken as read (all minutes are displayed and are available via the RNWA’s website); to ensure no delays on the future progress of meetings, minutes should be read prior to attending, however a paper copy will be presented and made available by LH on every occasion.

2. Deaths

i. No ‘Crossing of the Bar’ by members was known since the last meeting and that was a very good way to start the New Year of 2018; hopefully it would remain that way and everyone was wished good health for the coming months, especially staying clear of ‘the Australian Flu’.

ii. Nancy & David Hill of Honicknowle had represented the RNWA at Treswithian Downs Crematorium on Thursday 28th December 2017 at the funeral of RNWA member Donald McGeorge (26/8/31 – 13/12/17).

3. Treasurer’s Report

i. PP provided a statement of accounts as at 18th January 2018 showing a carried forward balance of £3,429.94. However, the actual balance due because of an unpresented cheque and cheques still to be cashed, means that a true figure was in fact £3,354.94

ii. On Thursday 11th January 2018, PP advised that an independent Examination of Accounts for the period 01/01/17 to 31/12/17 was completed in the presence of CH & PP by RNWA member Peter Nicolls MBE of Havant; accounting was accepted as correct and is summarised for perusal in the attached ‘Examination Statement’.

4. Membership

Membership as at the date of the meeting comprised of:-

Honourary Members: 3
Life Members: 31
Members: 242
Total Membership 276i.

New members for the months of December 2017 – Keith Oliver of Clanfield and January 2018 – Gillian Orchard of Bridgwater.

ii. In accordance with RNWA Rule 6., removal of membership as 1+ year in arrears, it was sanctioned that the following personnel’s membership was lapsed effective January 2018 which will also be shown on the relevant section of the RNWA’s website: Karen Dowden of Truro / Paula Moon of Chard / Linda Small of Winchester & Janice Wylie of Morton Wirral.

iii. Mike Coombes OBE of Blackheath and Andrew Whitfield of Hamble will both become Life Members of the Association in 2018 (June & September respectively) and letters of invitation to receive their Life Certificates at the 2018 Reunion Dinner had been issued on the 10th January. Both have subsequently replied to CH confirming their intention to attend.

5. Any Other Business

i. As per 5i. of the minutes of the 16/11/17 no further comments were received regarding the Revised Rules & Guidelines, so they were now effective and in force.

ii. 131st Reunion Dinner 2018 – Friday 12thOctober. LH had approached the office of the 2SL and the appointment of a new 2SL would be announced earlier in 2018. Upon appointment, it will be made known of 2SL’s availability to attend as Guest of Honour.

iii. Arrangements were being made by LH for the article and link to be made available via the RNWA’s website about the story of L/Wtr. George H Bainborough. iv. CH & PP had obtained the following information and details for members and their families in respect of ‘Crossing The Bar”:-

Funerals

White Ensigns

ARNO HQ has White Ensigns suitable for ceremonial occasions including funerals. These can be provided free (except for P & P) to ARNO members and for a nominal £10 charge to non-members subject to a refundable £50 deposit.Committal of Ashes Portsmouth, Devonport and Clyde Naval Bases provide this service, subject to weather conditions, on a regular basis. These are provided free of charge with the exception of casks which must also be biodegradable. A limited number of family/friends are also able to attend. Contact telephone numbers are: Portsmouth: 0239 2723 000, Devonport: 0175 2555 427, Clyde: 0143 6674 321 x 615.

Bugler Any veteran, who has served for 22 years or has a campaign medal, irrespective of rank, is entitled to the services of a bugler, free of charge, at their funeral. This is subject to operational commitments/availability. Queries should be directed in the first instance to:-

RM School of Music 0239 2547 553
NAVYRMBAND-HQBSRMAENGCOORD@mod.uk

Veterans Bereavement Support Services. The Veterans Bereavement Support Service is a bespoke FREEservice for families needing assistance with bereavement and support including advice on funeral care 365 days a year from their national office in Romsey. Further information is available on their website www.veteransbereveamentsupport.co.ukor telephone 0238150066 (if the lines are busy, please leave a message which will be responded to asap. The office number is also diverted to their out of hours service during the week and at weekends.

The above is to be placed under a separate sub section on the RNWA’s website – LH.

v. In addition to 3ii. it was decided and agreed that the RNWA Standard, Block & Gavel were to be classed as a fixed Asset, together with the RNWA Tablecloth at £10. It was the responsibility and the accountability of CH to ensure these items were under his own personal house insurance as CH was the custodian. CH advised and confirmed they were to be listed under his policy and had checked with his insurers, The RNWA ‘Wtr. Lapel Pins’ were not considered to be an Asset, but LH would continue to maintain a record of stock received and used.

vi. Difficulty over the past few months and the unwillingness of staff by HSBC and the unavailability to have more than one online person as a signatory, led CH & PP and the recommendation of the Examiner of Accounts to propose to the Committee a transfer of funds to a more amenable on-line bank account i.e. the changing from HSBC to Lloyds bank where they have the provision to provide the RNWA with a more suitable account. All were in favour of the moving of the RNWA’s bank account from HSBC to Lloyds and was to be implemented by PP as soon as possible and set-up in place prior to mid-March; the date when most of the cheques for the year will be incoming and required to be banked in respect of payment for Grand National 2018 tickets.It is hoped to publish details of the new RNWA Sort code and Account number for online payment by members in the March newsletter.

vii. It was agreed for LH to proceed in obtaining the printing and production of the Saturday 14th April Grand National 2018 tickets, with the draw being held at the home of LH at 19:00 on Tuesday 10th April and with a closing date of Monday 9th April. Prize money was to remain as £200 for winner, £60 for runner-up, £40 3rd  place and £20 for 4thplace – £10 to be paid for every other horse with jockey to pass the winning post.

viii. Newsletter December 2017 – 2nd page dates of RNWA Committee meetings it should read 15th November 2018 and not 18th October.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:10.

Date of next meeting, 19:00 Thursday 15th March 2018 at RNA Gosport & Fareham Branch.

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership
20/01/2018

Download Minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING THURSDAY 16THNOVEMBER 2017 AT THE GOSPORT & FAREHAM RNA AT 19:10

Present:-
Colin Hughes President (CH)
Les Heyhoe BCAv Secretary (LH)
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Committee (GMH)
DaveKelly Member (DK)

Apologies:-
Pat Prior BEM QVRM Treasurer (PP)
Tony Webber Committee (TW)
David McQuitty Member (DM)

1. Minutes

The minutes of the AGM 13th October 2017 were taken as read.

2. Deaths

The President (CH) reported during his Reunion Dinner speech on the 13/10/17 of those members that had ‘Crossed the Bar’ since the last AGM, but the following are after the last minutes of the 21/09/17 (those recently departed will be recorded in the next newsletter – December 2017): –

Geoff Luton – 30/09/2017
AlanPrice – 01/10/2017
Kenneth Dunstan – 02/10/2017
Albert ‘John’ Parsons – 10/10/2017

3. Treasurer’s Report

In the absence of PP, a temporary copy statement had been obtained by LH and the balance shown was £6,844.35. A true balance however was £4,463.10 (less £2,381.25) as cheque payment No.100459 for the Reunion Dinner at the UJC London had still to be processed. Additional expenditures were also due to be paid out i.e. £105.00 to CH for printing of the menu cards and £41.00 for draw prize & heads and tails rum bottles and other expenses, such as payment of the order of 50 new RNWA pins costing approx. £300+. Total and finalised cost for the Reunion Dinner will be known and provided by PP at the next scheduled New Year meeting 18/1/18. Work in progress is underway by PP with a view of ‘Online Banking’ and discussion for later in the New Year of ‘online membership’ but a process had to be established.

4. Membership

Membership as at the date of the meeting comprisedof:-

Honourary Members: 3
Life Members: 31
Members: 244
Total Membership 278

New members for the months of October/November 2017 (in no orderof month or alphabetical name/location):-

Wtr. McKayla Gullis of Port Solent / Trevor Dixon of Dartmouth / Ms. Janice McColl of London / Stuart Sexton of Heysham / Michael Blatchford BEM of Coventry / Mark Whitty of Fareham / Wtr. Emily Riley of Bridlington /Wtr. Rebecca Young of Hayle /

Wtr. Jake Lacey of Kirby / Wtr. Joshua Jackaman of Rhyl / Wtr. Karl Horrocks of Crosby / Wtr. Martyn Glover of  Walsall.

A note of thanks and recognition was recorded by the Committee for the past few years that Stephen Kendrick (working for Babcocks) had been instrumental in coercing and recruiting new members from his place of work at DMLS at HMS RALEIGH; CH also ‘phoned and thanked him for his services as he had now retired, hence the 7 new Wtrs recruited as a last effort before his retirement. Unfortunately, Mr Kendrick is not being replaced so the RNWA is relying on the DMLS WO1 Wtr, CPO Wtr & PO Wtr (all recent 2017 members) to promote the Associationto the newly trained Writer recruits.

5. Any Other Business

i. CH advised that the Revised Rules & Guidelines as agreed by the Committee had been published on the website and members informed via the July 2017 Newsletterbut as mentioned at the AGM very little feedback had been received. Therefore, additional time will be given and announced in the December newsletter for them to be viewed and any comments made by the end of 2017 otherwise they will come into force. Member Pete Nicholls (PN) has been the only person to comment so far regarding the ‘Audit Form’ and the terminology of Audit. CH had discussed with PN the offering of his services to complete an independent examination of accounts as at 31/12/17 and arrangements were to be made via CH, PN & PP and ideally asap after this date, but prior to the next scheduled New Year’s meeting of 18/01/2018.

ii. 131st Reunion Dinner 2018 –Friday 12th October. LH had reviewed various locations, costs and venues locally within the Portsmouth area and had concludedand proposed that the reunion dinner should beheld at the Royal Beach Hotel (previously held there in 2013 & 2014) St Helens Parade, Southsea PO4 ORN. After discussion regarding the alternatives and ‘pros & cons’ it was agreed to go ahead, for LH to sign the contract and a deposit of £200.00 paid by the 20/11/17 (PP/CH to arrange via details from LH). An announcement would be made in the December 2017 Newsletter but in the meantime full details and an application form would be made available via the website. Cost of meal to members £30.00 and non-members/guests £40.00.

iii. UJC Reunion Dinner 13/10/17 –Favourable feedback had been received by LH from a variety of sources which had been most welcome regarding the organisation, venue, food & wine, 1SL as speaker etc. CH agreed to write to UJC (LH to provide contact details) to thank them for their hospitality.

iv. A letter had been received from Mrs Shergold, widow of former Life Member, which was passed to CH to investigate and action with the cooperation of GMH.

v. CH advised of an article reported in the Daily Mail on the 24/10/17 which may be of interest to the Committee and RNWA members about Writer George H Bainborough who served at HMS TAMAR in Hong Kong 1939-1941 but more significantly his story as a POW and surviving the sinking of the Lisbon Maru 02/10/1942. More information will hopefully be forthcoming, and a link and his story told via the RNWA’s website.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:10.

Date of next meeting, Thursday 18thJanuary 2018at RNA Gosport & Fareham Branch.

Merry Christmas & A Happy & Healthy New Year for 2018!

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership

Download Minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING HELD THURSDAY 21STSEPTEMBER 2017 AT THE RNA GOSPORT & FAREHAM BRANCH AT 19:00

Present:-
Colin Hughes President (CH)
Les Heyhoe BCAv Secretary (LH)
Tony Webber Committee (TW)
Dave Kelly Member (DK)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Member (GMH)

Apologies:-
PatPrior BEM QVRM Treasurer (PP)
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)
DavidMc Quitty Member(DM)

1. Minutes

The minutes of the 20thJuly 2017 were taken as read.

2. Deaths

The following members were reported as ‘Crossing theBar’

George T. Hemmings-RIP 12th September 2017*
Michael Colborne LVO-RIP 21st September 2017

* Funeral being held at Havant Crematorium Monday 25thSeptember and the RNWA will be represented by CH & GMH who will be in attendance.

All present observed a minute’ssilence as a mark of respect for the above.

3. Treasurer’s Report

In the absence of the Treasurer, LH had obtained a recent bank statement dated 19 Sept.’17 @ 16:42 which showed a credit balance of £6,704.03 (the balance brought forward as at 31/07/19 was £6,319.03). LH advised that additional payments had been received during 19/09 to 21/09/19 in respect of the Reunion Dinner but they were via Bank Transfer and had yet to be confirmed. How much had been received in total for the Reunion Dinner would be reported at the next scheduled meeting.

4. Membership

It was encouraging to note that combined with the recent support and enthusiasm of Service personnel, namely DMLS at HMS RALEIGH and the Royal Naval Writers Face Book page (not the RNWA), an influx of applications for membership had been received combined with the request to attend the 130th Reunion Dinner,  so new members are (in no order of preference and month joining since the last meeting): –

WO1Wtr. Lee Morgan – HMS Queen Elizabeth
CPOWtr. Mark Penfold – AFCO Cardiff
CPOWtr. David Britchard – HMS Queen Elizabeth POWtr.
David Bouskill – DMLS HMS Raleigh
WilliamMcIntosh MBE of High Overtoun
Frank Cooper MBE of  Frinton-On-Sea
Mrs Jackie Watson of Stubbington
Nick Johnstone of Stubbington
Bill Paterson of Fareham

Membership as at the date of the meeting comprisedof:-

Honourary Members: 3
Life Members:32
Members: 236
Total Membership 271

In August, CH travelled to Boulogne in France to retrospectively present the Life Membership Certificate to Geoff Luton who is in hospital and unfortunately is not in good health.

Dated the 6th September 2017, LH read out a letter from David Scott of Cromer, Norfolk, who conveyed his apologies but due to a prior commitment was unable to attend the 2017 Reunion Dinner to receive his Life Membership certificate. Arrangements by LH, GMH & PP were therefore to be made to despatch David his certificate via Royal Mail. LH to provide membership details to GMH in order for this year’s life Membership certificates to be produced.

It was agreed that membership expenses relevant to the RNWA incurred by LH in the recent and forthcoming weeks e.g. July Newsletter, postage, printing, ink cartridges etc. (£289.68) could be claimed via PP and a subsequent meeting (26/09/17) was to be held between LH, CH & PPto discuss the accounts.

5. Any Other Business

i. The Revised Rules & Guidelines as agreed by the Committee had been published on the website and members informed via the July 2017 Newsletter.

ii. To-date the only feedback and comments made about i. above were received from member Pete Nicholls regarding the ‘Audit Form’ whereupon Pete advised that this term was no longer used and for business purposes should be replaced by ‘Examination of Accounts’. The Committee has agreed and changed the rules accordingly and the form to consider his feedback. The revised RNWA Rules & Guidelines will therefore be ratified at the 2017 AGM taking place on 13thOctober 2017 and the website updated accordingly upon confirmation.

iii. Reunion Dinner at the UJC 13/10/17 – LH was very pleased to advise that numbers had significantly improved and had more than doubled since the last meeting and a total of 87 were now attending. This would include a number of Service personnel requested to attend in uniform to make the Guest of Honour more than welcome in the First Sea Lord’s presence also in uniform (‘Mess Undress with medals’).

a. LH upon liaison with PP had made a refund of £60.00 to Alan & Isabel Hawkin who regrettably for personal reasons were now unable to attend the Reunion Dinner.

b. A subsequent request via email had also been received from Jim Donaldson advising that one of his guests, a Bill Howie (email 16/08/17 to JD) was unable to attend as his wife is due to have surgery. It was agreed that JD could receive a refund due to the fact that the closing date had not yet been reached and food/payment has yet to be made. Any request after the closing date of Friday 22nd September would not be considered for refund, regrettably for what ever reason.

c. Various ideas and suggestions were considered regarding the 131st Reunion Dinner in 2018 and all agreed that it would return and be held in Portsmouth subject to availability of venue and cost. A place suggested for consideration was the Royal Naval Club & Royal Albert Yacht Club, 17 Pembroke Road, Portsmouth PO1 2NT (see http://www.rnc-rayc.co.uk/) which appears to have excellent facilities and would be a different venue from previous occasions of HMS NELSON, The Royal Maritime Club (formerly The Home Club) and Best Western Royal Beach hotel – Action LH/CH and discuss at the AGM 13/10/17.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:15.

Date of next meeting, 19:00 Thursday 16thNovember 2017 at RNA Gosport & Fareham Branch.

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership

Minutes issued 26/09/17

Download Minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING HELD THURSDAY 20THJULY2017 AT THE RNA GOSPORT & FAREHAM BRANCH AT 19:00

Present:-
Colin HughesPresident (CH)
Pat Prior BEM QVRM Treasurer (GMH)
Les Heyhoe BCAv Secretary (LH)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Member (PP)
Richard Dickson Member (RD)
Dave Kelly Member (DK)
David McQuitty Member (DM)

Apologies:-
Tony Webber Committee (TW)
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)

1. Minutes

Minutes of the 18thMay were not circulated so a verbal update was provided (now available).

2. Deaths

No known or reported ‘Crossings of the Bar’ –that’s what we like to see and hear!

3. Treasurer’s Report

PP -As at 28th June 2017 – £9,138.43; a substantial increase due to Reunion Dinner payments.

4. Membership

The following new membershave joined:-

Nickie Sheils of Harwich / David McQuitty of Fareham / WO1 Jennifer Morton of PlymouthGail Swift of Saltash / Ivor Campbell of Epsom / David Ramsey of Rosyth (Back dated to March’ 17) Tracey Kennedy of Saltash.

5. Any Other Business

i. LH to check website as update request of 1st July not yet actioned re Guidelines & Rules?

ii. Including GOHs, Reunion Dinner figure stood at 57 so hopefully 60 + by time of closing date.

iii. It was approved for Geoff Luton to receive his Life Membership certificate of 2016 by CH. iv. LH welcomed DM (‘Paddy’) as a new member and on joining the meeting.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:15.

Date of next meeting at the RNA Gosport & Fareham Club at 19:00:- Thursday 21st September 2017*

*The day before the closing date for the Reunion Dinner so final figures should be known?

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership

23rd July 2017

Download Minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) MEETING HELD THURSDAY 18TH MAY 2017 AT THE RNA GOSPORT & FAREHAM BRANCH AT 19:00

Present:-
Colin Hughes  President(CH)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Treasurer (GMH)
Les Heyhoe BCAv Secretary (LH)
Pat Prior Committee (PP)
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)
Richard Dickson Member (RD)
Dave Kelly Member (DK

1. Minutes

No prior minutes of the 16th March were produced so a verbal update was provided.

2. Deaths

The RNWA were advised of the ‘Crossing of the Bar’ of non-member Ted Hastings.

3. Treasurer’s Report

As at 15th May 2017 the account stood at £5771.05 having paid £500.00 for the UJC Reunion deposit.

4. Membership

Judi Bushell of Fareham / David Jones of Plymouth / Celia Myers of Pease-St-John / Lt Jane Pizza of Chichester / Doreen Shaw of Pease-St-John and Alan White of Belgium

5. Any Other Business

i. The revised Guidelines & Rules of the Association were to be replaced and promulgated via web.

ii. The Newsletter would be published and produced in July and was to mention i. for feedback.

iii. PP would formally take-over as Treasurer 1st July 2017 upon completion of audit/handover.

iv. The President on behalf of the Committee & Members thanked GMH for his past 9 years support.

v. 42 requests had been received for the Reunion Dinner 13th Oct so notification was to be reissued.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:10

Date of next meeting at the RNA Gosport & Fareham Club at 19:00:- Thursday 20thJuly 2017

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership

Download Minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) RE-SCHEDULED MEETING THURSDAY 19th JANUARY 2017 HELD AT THE RNA GOSPORT & FAREHAM BRANCH AT 19:15

Present:-
Colin Hughes Chairperson (CH)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Treasurer (GMH)
Les Heyhoe Secretary (LH)
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)
Tony Webber Committee (TW)

Members:
Philip Allen MBE (PW)
Richard Dickson (RD)

1. Minutes

No prior minutesavailable.

2. Deaths

CH advised of the ‘Crossing of the Bar’ of Life Member Fred Davenport who sadly passed away in QA Hospital on Saturday 14/01/17. A Requiem Mass, followed by crematorium and wake at HMS Excellent is scheduled to be held on Friday 3/2/17. Awaiting full details and confirmation to be promulgated. CH would approach n-o-k to ascertain if they wished for PW to parade the RNWA’s standard.

An email had been received via Bill McIntosh (ex-WOWtr and ex-RNWA member lapsed 2001) that a colleague and close friend ex-Wtr Paul Newbury had ‘crossed the bar’. On checking Paul was not a member of the RNWA.

As a mark of respect, as is usual standard practise, prior to continuing the meeting, all stood for one minute’s silence in their memory.

3. Treasurer’s Report

As at today, the account balance stood at £3,905.22 – A payment of £60.00 had been paid for annual country membership for the Royal Maritime Club, Portsmouth, together with payment for the local councils Lottery Act (for Grand National draw activity). No payments i.e. deposit had been paid out for the Reunion Dinner of the 13thOctober 2017.

4. Membership

To ensure membership names are officially recorded for historical and posterity purposes, membership proposed and seconded were as follows:-

January –

PamelaGarner – Putnoe, Bedford.
Denise Shepherd – Gosport, Hants.
Richard Perkins – Greenhithe, Kent.

Membership contributions as at 31/12/16 comprised of the following statistics:-

3 Honary members & 33 Life members (no payments due) .
3 Outstanding 2015 – If contributions not received by end of Jan’17 – Lapse.
16 Outstanding 2016
52 Outstanding 2017 –
Total members as at today 253

Discussion and implementation of a ‘common renewal date’ to be reviewed for January 2020.

5. ReunionDinner

i. 130th Reunion Dinner to be held at the UJC, London, Friday 13thOctober 2017–a deposit to be made by GMH of £500.00 and forwarded for the attention of  Yacine Gueye, Events UJC Sandell Street, London, SE1 8UJ.

ii. LH has approached the office of 1SL & CNS, Admiral Sir Philip Jones KCB ADC RN and Lady Elizabeth tobethe dinner’s Guests of Honour via 1SL’s PA POWtr Jane Levleyrequesting a response by 14/02/17 –required for the purpose of the issue of the March 2017 newsletter.

iii. In addition to ii. it was agreed for LH to approach The UJC Presidentof the Committee, Vice Admiral Sir Fabian Malbon KBE (Exec) and wife Lady Sue to also be the RNWA’s complimentary guests.

iv. The 3-course menu was decided (based on details supplied for 2016) of Scottish Salmon & Dill Pate, Roast Breast of Chicken and Black Forrest Gateau. 2016 cost was £20.00 and if a slight increase in cost, this was to be expected and accepted.

v. All were unanimous, irrespective of any price increase, to retain the cost of the dinner at £25.00 for RNWA members and £35.00 for non-members, bearing in mind the total subsidy of the 2016 dinner was approximately £600.00 For 2017 the subsidy could be greater due to hopefully greater numbers attending but this was acceptable. No special gifts were to be arranged or ordered only on very special anniversaries, the next being the 150th in 2037.

6. AnyOtherBusiness

A. The 2017 Grand National is scheduled to take place on Saturday 5.15pm 8th April. LH to arrange and order draw tickets from Speedyprint of Gosport 600 books (253 members x 2 plus 104 for additional requests) for issue with March Newsletter. Draw tickets to be returned to LH by 4th April 2017 (EO meeting for GN draw to be held atSecretary’s home address 7pm).

B. The audit of accounts for 2016/17took place on Tuesday 10th January 2017 – see attached signed and approved Auditfor the period 22/11/16 to 10/01/17.

C. Life Membership was discussed of member Geoff Luton as submitted on his behalf by CH. It was agreed that due to the uncertainty of the full records of contributions in respect of Geoff’s contributions but records held indicated and confirmed him joining September 1958, that effective September 2017 he would become a Life Member. LH to advise and update Geoff accordingly and invite him to receive his certificate at the 130thReunion Dinner at the UJC.

D. The RNWA 130thDirectory was to only include contact details and in larger print; the 1SL had been invited by LH to write a foreword and provide a picture for the inside cover. The cut-off date for contact details / updates was the end of Jan whereupon the data and info would be passed to Betaprint by LH and passed onto PA to obtain a quote for printing and production.

E. CH had provided suggested and proposed updates and amendments to the ‘Rules & Guidelines’ of the RNWA displayed on the website that were currently out of date and required urgent attention. Therefore, please provide your suggested inclusions (in blue), amendments (in blue) and deletions (in red) to CH by the end of February 2017. CH to circulate and to be discussed and reviewed at next meeting.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:15

Date of next meeting Thursday 16th March 2017–Apologies given in advance by TW.

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership

Download Minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) RE-SCHEDULED MEETING THURSDAY 28th JULY 2016 HELD AT THE RNA GOSPORT & FAREHAM BRANCH AT 19:15

Present:-

Colin Hughes Chairperson (CH)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Treasurer (GMH)
Les Heyhoe Secretary (LH)
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)
Tony Webber Member (TW)

1. Minutes

No prior minutesavailable.

2. Deaths

LH had been informed by widow Maureen Wood that her husband, Life Member John Wood of Portchester had ‘Crossed the Bar’ on the 25th July 2016. The Committee held one minute’s silence in memory of John. All were welcome to attend John’s funeral at The Portchester Crematorium, South Chapel at 1.45pm on Monday 8th August 2016.

3. Treasurer’s Report

As at today, the account balance stood at £5,632.38 including £980.00 received in respect of the Reunion Dinner for the 14th October 2016.

4. Membership

Due to promotions via LH’s efforts and support from members and various media, 2016 membership was on the increase. To ensure membership names are officially recorded for historical and posterity purposes, membership proposed and seconded are recorded as below for the respective bi-monthly meetings held in:-

July 2016
Cdre Doug Lewis CBE (Cdre RtdRN) of Barnes, London.
John Hart CBE (Cdre Rtd RN) of Arundel, West Sussex.
David Marsh (Lt Cdr Rtd RN) of Wroxton, Banbury.
David Maule BEM (WO Wtr Rtd) of Torquay, Devon.
Michael Seaward (CPO Wtr Rtd) of Torquay, Devon.
Peter Easton (L/Wtr Rtd) of Ramsgate, Kent.
Neil Hitchcock (L/Wtr Rtd) of New Milton, Hampshire.

May 2016
Paul Johns (WO1LogPers Rtd) of Swindon, Wiltshire.

March
Andrew Arnold (Lt Cdr Rtd RN) of Ottawa, Canada.
Gerald Beard MBE (Lt Cdr Rtd RN) of Monmouth.
John Cotter (CPO Wtr Rtd) of Qawra, Malta.
Michael Harper (CPO Wtr Rtd) living in Malawi.
Jonathan Richardson (L/Wtr Rtd) of New Milton.
Frank White (Wtr Rtd) of Marsh Chapel, Lincolnshire.
Henrietta Goodrum (Wtr -Serving) of Locksheath, Hampshire.
Frederica McCarthy (Wtr –Serving) of Bury, Manchester.

5. ReunionDinner

5. ReunionDinneri. J. Donaldson’s Life Certificate remained in the possession of the President from 2014 as he was unable to attend the dinner on the 9thOctober 2015. Subsequent to the meeting LH confirms that JD will be attending the 2016 Dinner as a complimentary guest to receive his certificateso arrangements to be made for framing and payment by CH/GMH.

ii. It was agreed for the reimbursement of £60.00 (paid invoice to be supplied to Treasurer) to be paid to LH in respect of preparation printing costs.

iii. LH was to approach The News to try to send a personal complimentary invitation to the Grand Daughter/Great Grand Daughter of Petty Officer (Writer) Albert Symonds who was serving in the Town Class Light Cruiser HMS Southampton during the Battle of Jutland (WW1), as this was the 100th Commemorative year; the 15-page journal of Albert had recently been received and placed on the RNWA’s website.

iv. As at today, there are 41 attendees with the hope that it will exceed 50 by the closing date of Friday 23rd September 2016.

6. Any Other Business

A. CH had recently attended the HMS RALEIGH Awards presentation day (hence why the meeting had been rescheduled by a week) presenting the ‘Writer of the Year’ Trophy (for the period January to December 2015) to Wtr Tessa Farrow now serving on board HMS ALBION.

Post Script: “A letter of thanks for the RNWA gift voucher from Logs (Wtr) Tessa Farrow was received by the President onFriday morning, 29thJuly 2016”.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 2015

Date of next meeting Thursday 15th September 2016 –Apologies given in advance by MM

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership

31/07/2016

Download Minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) RE-SCHEDULED MEETING THURSDAY 14TH JANUARY 2016 HELD AT THE ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION BRANCH GOSPORT 7PM

Present:-

Colin Hughes Chairperson (CH)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Treasurer (GMH)
Les Heyhoe Secretary (LH)
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)

1. Minutes

The minutes of the 23rd November 2015 were taken as read.

2. Deaths

No reported deaths for the latter part of 2015 and 2016; hopefully it will remain that way.

3. Treasurer’s Report

As at today, the account balance stood at £4535.85

4. Membership

Welcome to the following new members effective December 2015:-

i. DavidKelly of Fareham

ii. Kennedy Borthwick of Sheffield

iii. LauraChisholm of Carnwath

iv. LucyMillingsof Plymouth

Thanks to member Stephen Kendrick, ii. to iv. new members above were ‘recruited’ as new to the Writer Branch i.e. existing Royal Navy serving personnel.

5. Re-Union Dinner 2016

i. A cheque for £300.00 was requested for the Gascoigne Suite room hire and bar for the 129th RNWA Re-Union Dinner at the Union Jack Club (UJC), Sandell Street, Waterloo, London SE1 8UJ on Friday 14th October 2016.

ii. An announcement page was presented and approved for placement on the website and issue with the February 2016 newsletter.

6. Any Other Business

i. The newly designed ‘Writer’ lapel pins had been received and would be incorporated with the February 2016 newsletter. £5.00 for mislaid/lost or subsequent requests for more pins.

ii. In accordance with Membership Rule 5 (1) & 6, the following members are twelve months or more in arrears (according to the database) and will be advised by LH that membership has ceased: D. Bridge. T. Casey, B. Cox-Dacre, T. Elliott, N. Gent, S. Gott, C. Malik, S. Monaghan, D. Shaw, and A. Watts.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 7.45pm –next mtg. Thurs. 17/3/16

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership

Download Minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) RE-SCHEDULED MEETING MONDAY 23RD NOVEMBER 2015 HELD AT THE TREASURER’S HOME ADDRESS AT 7.3O PM

Present:-
Colin Hughes Chairperson (CH)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Treasurer (GMH)LesHeyhoe Secretary (LH)
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)
Philip Allen MBE Member (PA)

1. Minutes

The minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Friday 16th October 2015 were taken as read.

2. Deaths

Rowe

3. Treasurer’s Report

As at today, the account balance stood at £4151.36

4. Membership

Mrs Veronica Cummins (nee brown) ’46 –‘49 & ’50 –’53 of Gosport, Hants.

5. Re-Union Dinner2016

i. Following enquiries by LH as a result of the agreement at the AGM to pursue achange of venue, it was endorsed by the Committee to hold the 129th RNWA Re-Union Dinner at the Union Jack Club (UJC), Sandell Street, Waterloo, London SE1 8UJ on Friday 14th October 2016.

ii. Menu choice one was selected and it was agreed that members would be subsidised costing them £25.00 and non-members/guests £35.00. The subsidiary and cost remaining the same as in the past two years and even at London prices!

iii. Full details to be placed initially via the RNWA’s website and announced in the association’s scheduled January/February 2016 Newsletter.

6. Any Other Business

i.An invoice had been received for the refurbishment of the RNWA’s bench located in Southsea which was £203.94. However due to the generosity of a few members who had donated money towards the pending cost, the bench has been paid for but specifically by Mr Paul Rowe with a generous donation of £200.

ii. Newly designed ‘Writer’ lapel pins have been orderedby CH (300)which willbe issued to all members with the forthcoming newsletter. By coincidence, acheque was received only this week from the executor of a member and the cheque received is to be utilised to cover the cost of this expenditure. Full details to be announced via the forthcoming newsletter.

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership

Download Minutes

ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FRIDAY 16th OCTOBER 2015 HELD AT THE ROYAL BEACH HOTEL SOUTHSEA AT 6.45PM

Present:-
Colin Hughes Chairperson (CH)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Treasurer (GMH)
Les Heyhoe Secretary (LH)
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)
Anne Williams Member
Paddy Erskine Member
Jed Stone Member
Peter Danks Member
Geoff Briggs Member
John Ballinger Member
Brian Peck Member

1. Minutes

No minutes were presented or agreed but were available to view via the website.

2. Deaths

2015 -P. Brannen / H. Marchant / J F J Rowe 2014 -J. Baker / F. Curran / D. Doole / J. Dolman / A. Liddle / B. Quance

3. Treasurer’s

Report As at today, the account balance stood at £4171.36 in comparison to 2014 AGM of £3832.01, the difference of £339.31 including a generous donation by P F Rowe towards the refurbishment of the RNWA’s bench located at Southsea seafront.

4. Membership

With fewer deaths and lapsed members combined with new members, membership is approximately 220.

5. Re-UnionDinner 2016

It was put to those present to consider a venue change and all were in agreement to propose to hold the 129th RNWA Re-Union Dinner at the Union Jack Club (UJC), Sandell Street, Waterloo, London SE1 8UJ on Friday 14thOctober 2016. LH would make suitable enquiries to costings etc. and the Committee would make the final decision at their next meeting in November 2015.

6. Any Other Business

RNWA stocks of ties were now depleted and the Committee agreed for a lapel pin to be used as a complimentary gift toall new joiners and issued to all existing paid up and Life members. Various designs and suggestions were presented by CH and an agreed version was established.

There being no further business the meeting concluded to enjoy the Reunion Dinner.

Signed: Les Heyhoe BCAv

Les Heyhoe BCAv RNWA Secretary & Membership

Download Minutes

Minutes of the Meeting of the Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA) held at the RNA Gosport Branch at 19:15 Thursday 15​th​ January 2015

Present:-

Colin Hughes President (CH)

George Mytom­Hart BEM Treasurer (GMH)

Les Heyhoe Secretary/Membership (LH)

Mike Moncur Committee (MM)

Philip Allen MBE Committee (PA)

Absent: ­Roland Carter Committee (RC)

1. Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on the 20​th​ November 2014 were taken as read.

2. Deaths

No member’s deaths were reported – good health for the New Year to all members, let’s keep it that way.

3. Treasurer’s Report

GMH advised the committee that as at the date of the meeting funds held were £3,224.02 MM & PA had recently completed the annual accounts audit and all was very satisfactory. BZ to GMH.

4. Membership

No new members but enquiries had been made so hopefully these will result in new membersduring the next couple of months. The following remain as outstanding 2014 contributions due:-

­Doreen Shaw Reminder letters issued 17/2/15 & 22/12/14
Alun Watts As above
Trevor Elliott As above
Nicola Gent As above
Stacey Monaghan As above
Constance Malik As above
Barrie Cox ­Dacre As above
Derek H Bridge As above
Terry Casey As above
Stephen Gott Reminder letters issued 17/2/15 & 22/12/14

Final reminder of copy letter 17/2/15 to be issued with March Newsletter and if no payment received then no further communications will be posted and lapsed membership in January 2016.

5. Any Other Business

Reunion Dinner 2015 – CH would contact RNHQ and ascertain a potential Guest of Honour.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:15 – ​Next Meeting 19/03/2015 @ 19:00 Advance apologies: ​Les Heyhoe (LH)

Les Heyhoe RNWA Secretary / MembershipEmail: ​les@heyhoe.com​ / 02392 35718109/03/15

Download Minutes

Minutes of the Meeting of the Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA) held at the RNA Gosport Branchat 19:15 Thursday 20th November 2014

Present:-
Colin Hughes President (CH)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Treasurer (GMH)
Les Heyhoe Secretary/Membership (LH)
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)

Apologies:-
Philip Allen MBE Committee (PA)
Absent:- RolandCarterCommittee(RC)

1. Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on the 18th September 2014 were taken as read.

2. Deaths

No member’s deaths were reported.

3. Treasurer’s Report

GM Hadvised the committee that as at the date of the meeting funds held were £3,547.01 Payment had been made of £250.00  forthe deposit of  the2015 ReunionDinner, £15 annual membership for the Federation Naval Association, £60 annual membership of the Royal Maritime Club Portsmouth and £20 to renew the Lotteries Licence held with Fareham Borough council to enable the 2015 GrandNational draw.

4. Membership

As a result of LH advertising the RNWA via the Face Book group page of‘ Royal Navy Writers’ applications have been received, with hopefully more to follow. The ‘Dauntless Association’ (ex-WRNS) and The WRN’s Association had also been contacted and articles promoting the RNWA and encouraging ex-WRNWtrs to join, would be publicized via the irrespective news letters in the New Year. New members proposed by LH and seconded by  CH and accepted as members are:-

Mrs Karen Dowden (nee Francis – ex – WRNWtr Pay) of Truro, Cornwall.

Mrs Janice Wylie (nee McGowan – ex – POWRN) of Moreton, Wirral, Merseyside.

Mr Terry Pizzey (ex – POWtr) of Stubbington, Hampshire.

Mr Thomas Richardson (Lt.Cdr. RN Rtd.) of Helston, Cornwall.

5. Any Other Business

i. ReunionDinner2015 – LH would provide a PA system for speeches as the hotel required £200 to hire one. The menu as advised to the committee (Hotel- Davina Jones letter of 24th October) was accepted. Cost per head by the hotel is £36 (£35 in 2014) however it was agreed that to encourage new members to attend the RNWA was prepared to ‘take a loss/subsidise the venue’ by a bigger margin than in 2014, there fore the cost per ticket would be £25 RNWA Members (£30 in 2014) and £35 for Guests (same as in 2014 but £1 cheaper than cost price i.e. subsidy). The details would be promulgated via the website. It was decided that subject to favourable rates and terms and conditions, the 129th Reunion Dinner would be held in London, the Union Jack Club on Friday 14th October 2016 (to be confirmed mid-2015).

ii. Grand National for 2015 takes place on Saturday 11th April; agreed to order 250 books* – LH

iii. Newsletters issue in December & February 2015, enclosing Grand National tickets* – CH/LH

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:15 – Next Meeting 15/1/15 @ 19:00

Les Heyhoe RNWA Secretary/Membership Email:les@heyhoe.com/02392357181

Download Minutes

Minutes of the Meeting of the Royal Naval Writers’ Association (RNWA) held at the RNA Gosport Branch at 19:00 Thursday 18th September 2014

Present:-
Colin Hughes President (CH)
George Mytom-Hart BEM Treasurer (GMH)
Les Heyhoe Secretary/Membership (LH)

Apologies:-
Mike Moncur Committee (MM)
Philip Allen MBE Committee (PA)

Absent:-
Roland Carter Committee (RC

1. Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on an unscheduled date of the 15th July 2014 were taken as read.

2. Deaths

A minutes silence was held for those reported since the last meeting to have ‘Crossed the Bar’:-Frank Curran (RIP 01/05/14) David Doole (RIP 12/07/14) Dennis Le Marquand (RIP 06/09/14)

3. Treasurer’s Report

GMH advised the committee that as at the date of the meeting funds held were £6,167.00 which included £2,030.00 for the forthcoming Reunion Dinner.

4. Membership

Brothers Brian (Ex-WOWtr) & Peter (Ex-POWtr) Wead were proposed and accepted as members. Mike Evans was to become a Life Member in 2014 but was unable to attend the Reunion Dinner.

5. Any Other Business

i.Writer of the Year –No form of correspondence or acknowledgment had been received from Wtr K Murphy regarding her gift of a £125 voucher, free invitation to join the RNWA and as a complimentary guest to the Reunion Dinner. CH would contact and advise the Cmdt. DMLS.

ii. Reunion Dinner 10/10/14 –Cdre Adrian Aplin MBE RN A/COS Logs Fleet HQ confirmed his  attendance as Guest of Honour. Final attendees are 63. It was agreed that an additional 2 . bottles of wine (£272) courtesy of the RNWA would be placed on each of the 8 tables. The Annual General Meeting was agreed to be held at 18:00 in the Victory Bar and LH would arrangefor a note to be issued to guests upon arrival informing them. It was agreed to hold the 2015 Reunion Dinner on Friday 9th October and a deposit would be made on the night upon final payment for the 2014 dinner (GMH).

iii. RNWA Website – CH had been contacted by Jeremy Hurst (prior where abouts unknown) regarding his role as Webmaster. Circumstances and views were discussed and it was agreed that whilst Jeremy had completed a satisfactory job the role had now passed onto Chris Locke and a payment made so his service would continue to be used. Jeremy would be reinstated as a Honorary Life Member due to his past valuable contribution to the RNWA.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:05 – Next Meeting Thurs 20/11 @ 19:00

Les Heyhoe
RNWA Secretary/Membership
Email: les@heyhoe.com/ 02392 357181

Download Minutes