ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA)
COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS MEETING
HELD 1900 THURSDAY 23 JULY 2026
Present
Ian Freegard (IF) Chairman
Pat Prior (PP) Treasurer
Lyn Gannon (LG) Secretary
Brenda Ryan (BR) Membership Secretary
Jim Donaldson (JD) Committee Member
David Spicer (DS) Committee Member
Tony Webber TW) Committee Member
Colin Hughes (CH) Member
Penny Wallis (PW) Member
John Glover (JG) Member
Item 1 Apologies
Committee – Martyn Cornish, Ian McHugh
Members – Brian Wead, David Scott, Alf Parr, Kym Carr, Marina Habbershaw, Greta Grindell, Bob Millard, Colin Redstone, Adrian and Vicky Hamilton.
Item 2 CTB since last meeting Howard Wilson, Nigel Barclay, Keith Williams.
Item 3 Actions from last minutes
- Dinner 27 feedback – LG reported that there had been quite a bit of feedback saying yes to attending a dinner at HMS President.
- Dinner 26 Update – LG said that numbers were slowly increasing and asked members to submit the dinner applications (and payments) via the website.
- TW asked that RNWA funds be used to provide an appropriate subsidy for Reunion Dinners. IF said that this was one of his objectives, not least for the 140th dinner next year.
- Cenotaph 26 update – LG said that at present there were about 10 names – anyone wishing to join in, please contact her.
- Directories – BR (move to ‘Items for Discussion’)
- Digitalisation of records
IF has discussed this item with Colin Hughes. Alas, he is not currently in a position to proceed, and it was agreed to delay this not insignificant task until the Autumn. Ongoing.
Action: IF
- Website photographs
IF requested the remaining members of the committee to provide bio and photographs to allow the website changes to proceed.
Action: IM/DS/TW/PP
Item 4 Chairman’s Report
IF reported on his recent visit to the DSLA and attendance at the Chief Naval Logistics Officer Awards, where he presented the RNWA Writer of the Year Trophy to Writer Joel Day. He also met other Writer Branch winners and their families, along with the Fleet Writer Officer. Further details will be published in the next Newsletter.
Action: IF/LG
IF had written on behalf of the Association to RNWA members Adrian Lappin and
Anne Carr, both made MBE in the KBHL26. Again, further details of these National awards will be given in the next Newsletter.
Action: IF and MC (to add honours to the website)
IF has met and briefed our 2026 Reunion Dinner Guest of Honour, Captain Pete Viney OBE Retd on 18 July. A former CPOWTR, he is very honoured to attend and is very much looking forward to the evening.
Item 5 Treasurers Report
PP said that there was £507.39 in the current account, £878.71 in the savings account – total funds £9211.10. Taking out the funds held for bench refurbishment (£497.70) and Dinner payments received (£1580), the true balance is £7133 40. Given the current number of members signed up for the 2026 Reunion Dinner, IF asked whether there are any financial concerns should there be a lower-than-expected attendance. PP confirmed there were none. Closed.
Item 6 Members Secretary Report
Membership Report July 2026
New Members since Last Meeting Update
|
Name |
Current/Former Rank/Rate |
|
Stretch (Michael) Smith |
PO |
Total Membership (After allowance for those that have lapsed/resigned or CtB since October 2023):
|
Honorary Life |
Life |
Members |
Totals |
||||
|
May 26 |
Jul 26 |
May 26 |
Jul 26 |
May 26 |
Jul 26 |
May 26 |
Jul 26 |
|
3 |
3 |
23 |
22 |
282 |
278 |
308 |
303 |
Subscriptions/Standing Orders
All members with subs due up to July have received a reminder/chaser.
Where those whose subs are still outstanding for 3 months or more, as per the Association rules section 6 membership will be/has been lapsed, if however, those members wish to reinstate please just contact me at bnr1@btinternet.com .
Please follow this link to the website, which will show if your subs are overdue and if they are due up to July 2026 https://rnwa.co.uk/members/renewals-due/ .
IF noted that Richard Webb in Australia had resigned his membership, citing the punitive cost of sending the annual renewal fee in sterling. We have 10 members residing overseas. BN observed there was not a wider issue.
Action: IF would write to Richard.
Item 7 Items for Discussion
- Overseas Mail Costs
Following a discussion between IF and PP about the high cost of overseas postage to despatch both Newsletter and Minutes, it was agreed that this is not cost effective. IF would send an accompanying letter with the next editions to those affected, requesting provision of an email address or give consideration to ending the mail shot.
Action: IF
- Website:
- Crossed the Bar List
During a review of our website content and purposes, IF raised his concerns about potential identity fraud and use of deceased details. While the value of the list was deemed useful, it was agreed to retain names but remove place and/or date.
Action IF/MC
- Remembrance of Writers lost in 2 World Wars
RNWA member John Glover has suggested we add a list of those Writers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the 2 world wars and other conflicts to our website. He has kindly provided detailed spreadsheets following a search on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website – regrettably, he is finding difficulty identifying the female members of the Writer Branch; alas, they are listed only as WRNS. It was agreed that this idea would align with our objective to develop the legacy of the branch.
Action: IF would discuss an addition to the website with MC.
- RNWA membership for serving Junior Rates
IF said that he would like to provide encouragement for young ratings to join the Association, perhaps with the carrot of free membership, without obligation, whilst a junior rate. It was decided that this would not be effective at Writer level and free membership was unnecessary. PP suggested that we could follow the RBL process by visiting the DSLA termly to brief courses about the RNWA, but it was considered that training time is already too tight. It was agreed however that RNWA cards should be provided to the Fleet Writer Officer, who visits each and every POWTRQC and LWTRQC, in an effort to raise our profile.
Action: IF
- QC Course Photographs Archive
John Glover also suggested we create a record of old Writer QC group photos, such as those we see often posted on the Writer FB page; currently, there is no policy to pull these together to make an archive and, in any case, JD believed that there would be technical and capacity concerns. PP understood that the Writer School hold folders of course photographs. While noting the potential issues, IF would approach the Lead Training Officer to ascertain the volume of material.
Action: IF
- Directories – BR
BR raised the fact that the directories dating back to the very beginning of time are deteriorating as they are stored in a cardboard box. Suggestion for places for them to go were the RN Museum at Portsmouth or DSLA. She also suggested Chatham Historic Dockyard.
Post-meeting note: JD has arranged for IF to speak to Sir Jeremy Blackham, who has links to the Chatham Historic Dockyard.
Item 8 AOB
- Position of Life President. CH made a statement concerning his position as Life President and a personal desire not to break the tradition of the Association, which has carried the post of President since 1887. He was clear, in that his 24-year tenure as the longest ever serving President was a sufficient honour in itself and expressed his belief that the titular head of the Association should be restored to that of ‘President’. Effectively, this means that his role as Life President would be retired, and the posts of President and Vice President of the RNWA are reinstated. Those present were supportive of his wish. Should there be any objections, please forward concerns to the Secretary, where the issue will be raised at the AGM in October.
Action: IF/LG
- Memorial Benches. CH said that he had now received a response from Portsmouth City Council following his request for a quote to remove the existing traffolyte nameplate from the Brian Emmence bench on the seafront at Southsea, along with the manufacture and fit of a new bronze plaque. The price given was simply unseemly and he will instead seek to clean the one in situ. Closed.
- Committee Meetings. BL observed that the timing and length of meetings might not be conducive to all committee members and asked IF to review accordingly.
Action: IF/LG
DONM – Provisionally – Thursday 17 September 2026
