ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA)  

COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS MEETING  

HELD 1900 THURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2026 

Present 

Ian Freegard (IF) Chairman 

Pat Prior (PP) Treasurer 

Lyn Gannon (LG) Secretary 

Martyn Cornish Webmaster 

Jim Donaldson (JD) Committee Member 

David Spicer (DS) Committee Member 

Tony Webber (TW) Committee Member 

Colin Hughes (CH) Member 

John Glover (JG) Member 

Item 1 Apologies   

Committee – Brenda Ryan  

Members – Brian Wead, David Scott, Alf Parr, Greta Grindell, Bob Millard, Colin Redstone, Lenny Carroll, Steve Hamblin, Adrian and Vicky Hamilton. 

Item 2 CTB since last meeting  Harold Winter, Thomas O’Rourke, Dave Winter, Dave Gadd, Dave Evans. 

Item 3 Minutes of the Last Meeting  Approved by PP, seconded by CH and carried unanimously. 

Item 4 – Approval and Actions from last minutes 

 Dinner 27 feedback – Still receiving positive feedback. The venue has been booked and discussions with the caterer are ongoing. 

Dinner 26 Update – at this moment in time, there are 42 applications. 

POST MEETING NOTE  – 57 attendees will be enjoying the Annual Reunion Dinner. 

Cenotaph 26 update – LG reported that 11 members would be marching. Bit disappointing when were allocated 20, but those of us attending will ensure we put on a good show. 

Digitalisation of records – Life Member Colin Hughes has kindly collected bulk historical papers from the Membership Secretary in Cornwall. Significant work is needed to review and assess importance for retention/presentation/digitisation. Colin has made a start on our ‘pack system’ and reduced 5 cases to 3 but requires assistance. RNWA Member, Lester May, a Naval and Maritime Writer and Historian, has kindly agreed to join Colin in the days leading up to the AGM. ONGOING 

Website: Photographs – The website has been updated by MC to reflect biographies and photographs of Committee members, subject to amendment. Our longest serving President now appears with a new sub tab under RNWA Presidents. ITEM NOW CLOSED {Last Newsletter has closed off the CNLO awards and addition of MBE to Anne Carr and Adrian Lappin}  

Overseas Mail Costs IF has written to one member in the USA and one in Canada, in an effort to elicit an electronic means by which RNWA business can be sent. To date, no reply. ONGOING.  

Website: CTB List Dates and places of death have now been removed from the public page. ITEM NOW CLOSED  

Remembrance of Writers lost in 2 World Wars – MC has now added the alpha lists from both wars. Furthermore, all relatable ‘In Memoriam’ items have been placed under this new tab, for ease of reference. Our thanks go to John Glover for taking the time to produce this poignant historical legacy. ITEM NOW CLOSED  

RNWA membership for JRs – IF has now received RNWA Business Cards; these will be passed to the LTO at DSLA for Writer QCs. Should any member require some cards, please contact IF. ITEM NOW CLOSED  

QC Course Photographs – The LTO has confirmed the existence of 3 volumes holding some 200 course photographs dating back to 1986. There are significant practicalities to presenting them on the website, even if approval is forthcoming. The current intent therefore is for IF to review the books and talk to the LTO on his next visit to DSLA. ONGOING  

Directories – Following the discussions with Sir Jeremy Blackham on 28 Jul, IF is now in touch with Lester May, with engagement too from Peter Hore, another eminent Naval Officer and maritime historian. Once the relevant and appropriate paper records have been identified (the oldest dating back to1887), consideration will be given to agree a home for our historical legacy. ONGOING  

Position of Life President – There has been no feedback from members following the statement by CH. It is proposed therefore that an item be placed on the AGM agenda to seek to retire the role and reinstate the roles of President and Vice President, in keeping with the long traditions of the Association and honouring the wishes of CH. ONGOING  

Committee Meetings – IF has determined new dates along with an earlier start time; to be published in the next Newsletter. ITEM NOW CLOSED  

Item 5 Chairs Report IF attended the CONA conference on 11 Sep. He gave a short overview of the proceedings; further details will be given in the next Newsletter. ACTION IF  

Item 6 Treasurers Report PP reported that the balances in the 2 accounts were: 

Savings £8636.00 

Current £1276.26 

These figures include monies for the annual dinner, therefore the actual balance of monies held is £7029.06. There are also assets of the stock of Polo and Sweatshirts. 

Bench maintenance set aside of £497. Given that the actual benches have been disposed of by Portsmouth Council, and all that remains is the brass plaques attached to the modern seating arrangements along the seafront, IF believes these monies could be reallocated. CH stated his wish to replace one of the plaques at a cost of around £30. This was accepted.  

Item 7 Membership Secretary’s Report  

New Members since Last Meeting Update 

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

Subscriptions/Standing Orders 

All members with subs due up to September have received a reminder/chaser. 

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

Please follow this link to the website, which will show if your subs are overdue and if they are due up to November 2026, the layout has changed slightly so it will show by month https://rnwa.co.uk/members/renewals-due/ . 

Item 8 Items for Discussion AGM –  IF stated his intent to push out a draft calling note/agenda (with supporting notes as required) to the Committee shortly and member wide shortly. ACTION IF 

Item 9 Any Other Business 

IF has written to RNWA Member John Green who, at the age of 86, has decided to stand down his RNWA membership. It was deeply touching to receive John’s most thoughtful and generous donation to the Association of £200.  

CH reported that there were lists in the records he holds that shows lists of deceased writers. He would bring them to the dinner for those interested to read. ACTION CH 

TW suggested bringing the clothing/merchandise to the dinner, to sell at a reduced price. 

Date of Next Meeting Tuesday 17 Nov 26 at 1815 (Members from 1830)