ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA)

COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS MEETING

HELD 1900 THURSDAY 21^ST MAY 2026

Present

Ian Freegard (IF)                  Chairman

Pat Prior (PP)                       Treasurer

Lyn Gannon (LG)                  Secretary

Martyn Cornish (MC)           Webmaster

Jim Donaldson (JD)             Committee Member

David Spicer (DS)                Committee Member (left early due to connection issues)

Ian McHugh (IM)                   Serving Committee Member

Adrian Hamilton (AH)          Member

Vicky Hamilton (VH)            Member

Penny Wallis (PW)               Member

Committee Apologies

Brenda Ryan

Member Apologies

Brian Wead, David Scott, Kathryn Simmons, Alf Parr , Lester May, David Greenaway, Christine Senior, Steve Hamblin, Gillian Orchard, David Case, Colin Redstone and Greta Grindell.

Crossed the Bar

Details provided since the last meeting:

Chris Chatfield, Lesley Holland (nee Ball), Wilma Porterfield and Derek Bovey. A one-minute silence was held.

Minutes of the last meeting 15 January 2026

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

Actions from the last meeting

Constitution Update – Following due process, IF reported that all committee members had approved his proposed amendments, thereby providing a revised document that will replace the current ‘Rules and Regulations’. The formal process now requires that the Constitution be put to the AGM for clarification. Closed.

Newsletter Feedback – Neither IF nor LG had received any feedback, the attendees at this meeting said that they had enjoyed reading it. Closed.

Annual Dinner 2027 Feedback – out of the emails LG received, 18 would prefer a dinner at HMS President, 5 votes for the UJC (2 of which were second choices), 10 votes for Portsmouth area (although 2 of those said they wouldn’t attend anyway), and 5 votes for a hot buffet at HMS President (all 5 were second choice votes).

Given the uplift in cost to members should a London venue be chosen, IF, PP and LG would meet to assess a potential budget for the event, in the hope that some funds can subsidise the dinner Members will be notified in due course. Ongoing.

Grand National Draw – the online draw had been a great success, providing a good boost to RNWA funds (potentially used to offset 2027 dinner costs). The draw would be conducted this way in future. Closed

Website – Committee members photos are still required for the website. Ongoing.

Committee Members WhatsApp group – This was up and running well, just IM to be added. Closed.

Lapsed Members – IF said that he had already written to 2 lapsed members (at the time of writing, without reply unfortunately).  He would repeat the exercise when necessary, as advised by the Membership Secretary.

Digitalisation of Records – no further action had been taken, IF would check on progress with Colin Hughes. ACTION – IF

Chairmans Report

IF conveyed details of his visit DSLA Worthy Down with Colin Hughes and had been impressed with the training set up. The Chairman is scheduled to visit the school again in  July for the Affiliates Day, where he will also check the RNWA board and tree.

IF displayed a recently acquired RNWA blazer badge. The committee considered that there could be wider interest from members in obtaining the crest and details would be included in the next Newsletter. ACTION – IF.

Treasurer’s Report

PP said that the balance in the current account is £654.77 and £7722.38 in the savings account. After allowing for the £500 deposit paid for this year’s dinner, income from payments for this year’s dinner and the ringfenced funds (benches on Southsea seafront), the account funds total £7669.45. The only forecast expenditure for future is for the Remembrance Wreath and any plug ins required for the website, therefore funds are healthy.

Membership Report March 2026

New Members since Last Meeting Update

Total Membership (After allowance for those that have lapsed/resigned or CtB since October 2023):

Subscriptions/Standing Orders

Where those whose subs are still outstanding for 3 months or more, as per the Association rules section 6 and letters sent in 2025, membership will be/has been lapsed, if however, those members wish to reinstate please just contact me at bnr1@btinternet.com .

Please follow this link to the website, which will show if your subs are overdue and if they are due up to July 2026 https://rnwa.co.uk/members/renewals-due/ .

Items for Discussion

Joining Fee Review. After IF’s discussions with PP, it was concluded that the fee has not adversely impacted on membership, therefore no further action will be taken, for now. Closed.

Annual Dinner 2026 – LG said that applications had started to filter through but would be reminding members in the newsletter and FB page. ACTION – LG

Cenotaph Marchpast 2026 – Tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis. 8 members have applied so far and actual ticket allocation to be confirmed by TRBL next month. ACTION – LG

Any Other Business

LG asked if the July meeting date could be amended as she would be away. This was agreed (see DONM below).

AH gave an update on Mike Moss, a Life Member. He requested that the Life President be advised of his current circumstances. ACTION – IF.

PW said that she canvassed for new RNWA members wherever she visits. She also said that the Association of Wrens dinners she had attended at HMS President had been superb and thought it a very fitting venue for the 80^th dinner in 2027.

Date of the next meeting

This will now be held one week later on Thursday 23^rd July 2026.