Royal Naval Association No4 Area

Dorchester Branch of the Royal Naval Association – Veterans Day

Dorchester’s Veterans Day - on Sunday 29 June 2008 - will start at
1100 with a parade of Veterans – WWII to Iraq/Afghanistan, including the
TA - in the town centre. In the afternoon a concert will take place in the
Borough Gardens with performances by the Wessex Military Band, the
Weymouth Accordion Band and The Thomas Hardye School Orchestra.
There will be stalls in the Gardens demonstrating how veterans contribute to
the community and showing the support available to veterans. The Keep
Military Museum will be open, free to children, and veterans will be available
to discuss their experiences.

Parcels for the Troops

The Royal Mail funded free mail service to Operation Telic, Operation Herrick and HM Ships in support, which ran from 3rd Sep 07 to 9th Nov 07 has been authorised to continue from 08th Dec 07 until further notice. See Here

Parcels can be sent FREE through the Post Office as long as the parcel is marked for "Soldier/Royal Marine in Iraq/Afghanistan"

The weight must NOT go over 2 kilos, not even by a smidgen!

As a guidleine an acceptable "maximum" cost of about £10 for the contents of the parcel is the suggested figure.You could fill a shoe box with suitable goodies for less than £10.

Contents as requested by those serving out there are as follows;
Please note do not send anything with chocolate in it.
Cake, long life such as fruit cake, gingerbread or malt loaf. Salsa dips, condensed milk, cream cheese, fish paste, chutneys, chorizo sausage. Dried fruit and nuts, mint imperials, chewing gum, jelly babies, and any kind of sauces in a tube or vacuum pack (to spice up or sweeten their food).
Lip salve unperfumed talc(Johnsons) moisturisers and cotton socks.
Magazines such as Nuts/ FMH/ Zoo and any xword or sudoku books with pencils and erasers so they can pass them on.
Any sachets of powdered/fizzy flavours because they need to drink a lot of water.
Finally it is highly reccomended that they like the pick & mix type of sweets.

When enclosing a card just your christian name and Assocciation please so the guys are not expected to write a thank you letter.

No personal names available just address to a
Royal Marine or NAS ,HQ Task Force Helmand, Lashkar Gah.
BFPO 715.
Other parcels to
A British Soldier c/o JI Branch, HQ MND (SE) Op Telic BFPO641-or A British Soldier at the above Helmund address.

Latest
You might want to use this address to get straight to 40 COMMANDO ROYAL MARINES,

The Rev S Hallam,
40 Cdo RM,
Camp Bastion,
Op HERRICK 7,
Afghanistan,
BFPO 792

Next Meeting and AGM
SATURDAY 17TH MAY 2008
Launceston Rugby Football Club,
Polson, nr Launceston, Cornwall

Numbers attending
to
Hon. SecretaryAdrian Bailey
Adraskalen
21 Snowdrop Crescent
Launceston Cornwall PL15 9JS
Tel: 01566 777881

E-mail baileyady@tiscali.co.uk

With reference to the above event which Launceston Branch looks forward to hosting. The meeting will be held at Launceston Rugby Football Club, Polson, nr Launceston, Cornwall PL15 9QT The venue will be open from 10.00, bar facilities will be available from 11.00 and Lunch will be served at 12 noon. The meeting will commence at 14:00 followed by tea and stickies. Please note the venue must be vacated by 18:00. Car parking is available at the rugby ground free of charge.

A lunch menu and order form is availabe from your Branch Secretary for those Shipmates who wish to purchase lunch The form should also be used to provide the number of Shipmates attending in order that sufficient refreshments are made available after the meeting. Lunch will be £4.50 per person, please forward cheques made payable to Launceston RNA for the total cost of your order. Forms should be returned to the Branch Secretary at the above address by 17th April 2008. Please send a nil return if your branch is unable to attend.
Should you wish to contact the Tourist Information Centre their telephone number is 01566 772333

There is no organised evening event but shipmates will find good company at the White Hart Hotel Bar in the town centre.

We look forward to seeing you all on 17th May 2008.

A map is available Here

REMEMBER

No Names No Tea and Stickies

DVD - Instructional DVD for Standard Bearers

13. The No. 4 Area Ceremonial Team of the Association have produced an excellent Instructional DVD on the Ceremonial associated with Standard Bearing. Copies are available (Price £2.50) from S/M J Paterson, 14 Sunnyside Road, St Judes, Plymouth PL4 9LE (e-mail jim@paterson1513.fsnet.co.uk) (Tel: 01752-261646).

Area PRO meeting

The Area PRO meeting was held in HMS Nelson on Saturday 28th April, although well attended, it was noted No 1 Area had no representation.

Shipmate Paddy McClurg gave a brief on the state of membership in the RNA and a few pointers for the way ahead if the RNA was to survive and gain more new members.

Current membership loss is running at 7% per annum, and unless the way ahead to attract new members could be found, Paddy predicted the RNA could well face closure in ten years time.

Paddy went on to say to say the RNA needs to use IT a lot more for passing information and keeping up-to-date with the latest changes in the RNA.

Far too much is being spent on postage in the dissemination of circulars etc, when this sort of info could easily be downloaded from a PC, at the same time amended or corrected as required by HQ.

After all lets face it, the age of the letter, (especially handwritten) is dead!

Next came the Veterans Agency brief, given by Julian Mineur, the agencies outside events organiser. He explained how the idea of a Veterans Day came about, starting with its launch in 2005.
Veterans Day is on the 27th June, with Birmingham hosting the main event. As was pointed out this is a great opportunity to promote the RNA.
Perhaps, also, this is the chance to change our way of thinking towards the younger ‘Veterans’.

He also was amazed that there are 198 ex-service charities in existence!
Question, are they all necessary, and would an amalgamation of some prove to be of greater benefit to the RNA.

Mike Gray, Deputy Editor of the Navy News, then gave a comprehensive brief. The age of technology has reached the Navy News, with the availability on line, from May onwards, for a subscription of £1.40 per month. You will be able to access this service for free if you already have a postal subscription.

If some RNA members are wondering why pictures sent in to the Navy News don’t make it to print, then this is because the paper is a commercial concern and has to be able to sell to a wide variety of serving and ex-serving readers. This means publishing stories and pictures of interest; eye-catching stories and action photos are what the Navy News editor is after. Try to avoid sending discs in as it means going through all the pictures, believe me discs can hold hundreds of pictures.

Get your story to the Navy News desk by the third week of the month, and pictures by mid-month, for the following months issue.

Our National PRO, Steve Caufield, gave a final brief on PR with some very good points, which I will cover briefly.

The PR budget has been increased from £15,000 in 2006, to £20,000 this year. Part of the reason for the increase is PR went over budget by £1000 last year, spent on adverts and new RNA stock held at HQ.
Just as a guide, the RNA advert 4 times a year in the Navy News, costs £468 per advert and the two adverts placed in the Seafarers magazine each year, cost £500.
These are the only publications the RNA is committed to in 2007. One offs for other advertising can be authorised if relevant, such as the Army/Navy football match.

RNA promotional goods available at the moment are white bags with the blue RNA crest, flags, table mats, mugs, shot glasses, (committed to 5000 glasses, charged for as they are ordered from the company)

Ideas are needed for posters to advertise the RNA, along with joint stories from RNA branches and their local sea cadet unit.

Finally a marquee, 8 by 3 meters is available for any branch to use, plus a 19” DVD player if required.

Last but not least the PR slogan at the moment is

“Give Youth a Chance”

Joe Morton
Area PRO

Area Chairmans Report to AGM 26th January 2008

Shipmate President, Shipmates, Ladies & Gentlemen, Welcome to Sherborne and to the 2008 AGM, which will be followed by the Area Meeting.
May I first wish you all a Very Happy New Year, and thank you to Shipmates, Branches and Committee members for your Christmas & New Year Greetings to my wife Cindy and myself.
As you are aware this is my last meeting as your Area Chairman, I take this opportunity to thank you for your friendship and support during my two year period, and I extend my best wishes to the New Chairman, whom you will be electing shortly.
We started 2007 with the January AGM meeting which was held in Dorchester, thank you Dorchester for hosting our first meeting of the year.
In March we attended the Annual RNA Standard Bearers Competition which was held at Lypmstone. This is a very well organised event and I do highly recommend this event as a date for your Diary.
Thank you Jim Patterson and Dougie for all that you do to update the skills and professionalism of our Branch Standard Bearers, and for your excellent organisation of the Competition to select the Area Standard Bearer and deputy.
We congratulated Carol Walters at the time, on her becoming the No. 4 Area Standard Bearer, and to Malcolm Day the deputy Area Standard Bearer.
I take this opportunity to thank Carol for her enthusiasm and skill in parading the Area Standard, at various events throughout 2007.
Thank you also, to all Branch Standard Bearers for parading your Standards at local events and special occasions. When you are seen, you are telling everyone that the RNA is alive and well. My very best wishes to you all and may you continue to enjoy your role.
Also in Marsh 2007 many of us enjoyed another annual Area Reunion weekend, at the Durrant House Hotel in North Devon. Thank you to all in the Area Reunion Committee for all the work you are engaged in to organise this event so well.
May saw us in Exeter again for the Area Meeting, this was followed by an evening event and on the next morning (Sunday), a most enjoyable Boat Trip in sunshine, although it was a little chilly. Lunch was enjoyed on board. Thank you Exeter for a most enjoyable weekend.
In June the Cornwall County Festival of Commemoration was held, and attended by veterans from WW1 & WW2 and the various Conflicts since that time. The Guest of honour was the Duke of Kent. I believe he must have spoken to almost every veteran present, he showed great interest in those present. The weather on the day however was a great disappointment, and did spoil this event.
Also in June, the Annual Veterans Parade was held in Weymouth. A very impressive contingent of Royal Naval Veterans led the Parade along the Weymouth Sea Front. A really wonderful event.
Again in June (what a busy month) the RNA National Conference was held in Torbay: Well done Torbay for your part in hosting this excellent weekend. It was a wonderful opportunity for networking and meeting old friends from Branches outside of No.4 Area, and of course to meet the HQ staff, who now, are no longer just voices on the telephone.
In July, our grand English weather!! caused the cancellation of the Cornish RNA Croquet match. Lucky for my branch of Lauceston, who have 'retained the trophy for another year, without doing battle, and all because of the rain..
August, brought an invitation from the Frome Branch to a BBQ. The rain which again greeted us on that morning did not deter this wonderful group of people, who 'tweeked' the arrangements, and we had an Indoor BBQ. This was a very enjoyable event, and it was really lovely to meet Branch members who do not attend area meetings. Thank you Frome.
In September, Falmouth Branch celebrated their 25th Birthday with a Celebration lunch, it was a most enjoyable occasion.
In September we were once more in Street for our Area Meeting, thank you Street for hosting that meeting.
So to October, the month that many branches hold dinners to celebrate the Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. I attended a dinner with Liskeard Branch, who always organise this so well, it was a most enjoyable evening.
In November, Lauceston Branch held it's First 'Pickle Night Celebration Dinner, at a local restaurant. Pickle Night is the occasion when we commemorate that the Battle of Trafalgar was won, but that Admiral Nelson had been killed. Our dinner party was a really Happy Occasion, with excellent food, readings and jokes - a great success. Followed by a Snooker Competition between some members into the early hours! The English v French / Spanish again, I was told !
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our National Council member S/M David White for keeping us up to date with matters and events from meetings and HQ, & for his knowledge and wisdom during this past year. I also wish to thank him personally for his support and advice.
Thank you to S/M Raymond Barraclough for looking after the Area Funds, you do a grand job.
Also to S/M Mick Arnold for keeping me well informed and for all that he does for No.4 Area. He is certainly a very conscientious, and hard working secretary, and I thank him most sincerely.
To our Area President S/M Howard Jeffries, thank you also for all that you do for No.4 Area, and for your support.
A very big thank you, to the wives of those I have just mentioned. I understand that 'all the nice girls love a sailor but honestly without your wives support, I know you could not undertake your roles. So to - Jayne, Monica, Jean, Beryl, and to my wife Cindy, a very Big thank you.
To all the ladies and partners in No.4 Area, please accept my personal thanks for all that you do to support the Royal Naval Association.
Finally, this has been an interesting 2 year period as your Chairman, and I thank you for your friendship and support during those 2 years, and for the good wishes I have received recently.

I wish the incoming Chairman a happy and successful period as No.4 Area Chairman Thank you shipmates.

Richard Hart

STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF THE RN!

Most of you will have seen the news about Government threats to reduce the number of operational units in the surface fleet to 22 out of 44.
If not, see this link to the
Daily Telegraph website
An online petition to stop the destruction of the Royal Navy has been started on the No.10 website.
to sign it
Click Here

From Mike Critchley, the publisher of Warship World magazine, Lodge Hill, Liskeard PL14 4EL:

Dear Gentlemen,

As some of you know, I had a couple of minutes on ITV on Thursday to quiz the Prime Minister on the general subject of Defence (I kept my questions to those concerning the RN). It wasn't a startling well organised programme (they had 25 minutes of his time and wasted much of it) but since then the press have really come alive to naval issues and, over the weekend, have been clamouring for more ammunition to hurl his way (It won't last!). I had a huge pile of questions submitted for the programme by people such as yourself - just to ask them all would have filled the entire programme......

Can I encourage you to either write appropriate letters to the media (Others than the Daily Telegraph are more likely to be used - what about the 4.8 million SUN readers perhaps???)

Whilst I am a naval book publisher and have no plans to become a full time lobbyist, I do have many media contacts with a defence interest and would be happy to pass on a few thoughts if you had them. It is encouraging to see even some serving (Army) officers are now prepared to "stand up and be counted"........ The RN doubtless has to rely on us retired people.....

The story has now crossed the Atlantic as you can see below from the New York Times yesterday.

Thanks for reading thus far and I look forward to hearing from you at anytime should it be relevant to the cause......

Yours,
Mike Critchley

THE STRANGE DEATH OF THE ROYAL NAVY - BRITS WILL NOW RELY ON EUROPEANS FOR THEIR DEFENSE
By ARTHUR HERMAN

January 14, 2007 -- A 400-YEAR epoch of world history is about to draw to a close. If Britain's current Labor government has its way, Britain's Royal Navy will mothball at least 13, and perhaps as many as 19, of its remaining 44 ships, or nearly half its effective fleet.

With one bureaucratic stroke, the Ministry of Defense will end a naval tradition reaching back to Sir Francis Drake - reducing the Royal Navy, which 40 years ago was still the second-largest fleet in the world, to the size of navies of countries like Indonesia and Turkey.

This decision, of course, has to be set against the background of Britain's decades-long decline as a world power. But it also reflects a struggle for the soul of Great Britain that has been going since World War II: Is Britain part of an English-speaking, Atlantic-based strategic alliance that includes the United States and Canada? Or is it part of Europe as envisioned by technocrats in Paris, Brussels and Berlin?

NEXT month's final decision on whether to scrap the Royal Navy may supply us with the answer. Because the Blair government's drastic plans include more than taking existing ships out of commission. The service's entire future as a blue-water navy (that is, a navy capable of operations outside Britain's own waters) may be forfeit.

According to The Daily Telegraph, plans for two new fleet carriers of the kind vital for fighting today's War on Terror and projecting power overseas - and for which $6.9 billion had already been set aside - will also be scrapped. Two new destroyers, which were supposed to replace at least some of the retired ships, are also out of the picture. The Telegraph even reports (Jan. 8) that all officer promotions in the navy are to be suspended for the next five years.

Many in the government and in the media blame these cuts on Tony Blair's support for the U.S. war in Iraq. They claim the British troop presence there is eating up the British defense budget, leaving the other services like the navy to fight over table scraps.

But this is far from the whole story. Since the mid '80s, British defense spending has shrunk by more than 30 percent, to less than 2.5 percent of GDP. Today it is at its lowest level since 1930. Even welfare states such as France and Germany spend more on their military. (Meanwhile, Blair is busy hacking back the British commitment in Iraq from 7,000 to 4,500 troops - less than 4 percent of the coalition total.

The truth is that for two centuries Britain and the Royal Navy played the role of globocop, policing the world's sea trade lanes which keep the global economy going. (Even today, 95 percent of the weight of all intercontinental trade travels by sea.)

AFTER World War II, the U.S. Navy gradually took over that thankless but essential task; the British felt free to relax. From a postwar peak of 388 ships and submarines in 1950, the Royal Navy had dwindled to 112 vessels in 1980. By 2004. it was down to just 46.

Yet the British navy still takes pride in sharing the globocop burden with the United States in vital strategic areas like the Persian Gulf, and even being able to project power trans-oceanically alone when it has to, as during the Falklands War.

Analysts agree that once these forecast cuts go through, this will be impossible. Indeed, a Royal Navy of only 25 vessels would require at least some cooperation from its European neighbors even to defend Britain. This is an ominous trend for many reasons. It not only increases the burden on the U.S. Navy around the globe. It also reflects a decision to move Britain away from its traditional maritime culture, which is the basis of its strategic relationship with the United States, and toward a decaying Europe.

SINCE 1945, Britain has been torn between the two, like a would-be bride torn between two suitors. Winston Churchill (who was half-American) and Margaret Thatcher knew which to choose. "There is no hope for civilization," Churchill used to say, "if we drift apart," meaning the United States and England.

Blair, it is true, has been supportive on Iraq. But (like many recent British politicians) he has been eager to ingratiate himself with his continental neighbors, including by compromising Britain's defense capability. For example, his government stuck with the ill-fated EFA-2000 Eurofighter project, even though it cost Britain 21/2 times the original estimated cost ($37 billion versus $13.7 billion) and the RAF only got its planes after a 41/2-year delay.

Then in 1998 he endorsed Germany and France's idea of a European Defense Force separate from NATO - and the United States. Again, the cost of cooperation will be to reduce the British army to just one more unit in a European military coalition led from Brussels, not London.

Now come the naval cuts. Pure coincidence? It is not difficult to see the distant hand of the Paris-Brussels-Berlin axis at work.

And disasters like this will continue as long as British politicians fool themselves into thinking their future lies with the shrinking economies and aging populations of the continent of Europe.

IRONICALLY, Britain just celebrated the 200th anniversary of its naval victory over France at Trafalgar, which allowed Britain to build an empire and dominate the world's oceans. If these navy cuts go into effect, France will have a larger fleet than Britain for the first time since the mid-1600s. The victory the French couldn't win at sea, they will win effortlessly and painlessly at the bureaucrat's desk.

Arthur Herman is the author of "To Rule the Waves: How the British Navy Shaped the Modern World," which was nominated for the Mountbatten Prize for best book in naval history in 2005. His latest book, a study of Gandhi and Churchill, will be published next year.

Copy of an e-mail sent to the webmaster, normally I wouldn't promote websites sent to me but the photographs and naval connections were too much to not share with you
www.gogibraltarsite.com

This site is a fast growing highly photographical site which I would love you to look at and if you like it please let your members know the address (as long as they have/or have access to a computer!!!!)

If any of you are thinking about a trip to “The Rock” I would be glad to help out by helping/recommending places to stay/go etc

No I do not get commission on it!!!

Please enjoy the pictures and all feedback will be most welcome.

Best Regards
Neill Rush

AREA REUNION
7th/8th/9th March 2008

Venue
Durrant House Hotel, Bideford, Devon.

Click to download the Booking Form
Please print,complete and send to
Reunion Treasurer
S/M Mick Arnold, 35, Larks Rise, FERNDOWN, Dorset BH22 9QU

Places for the annual reunion or Saturday Formal Dinner and Sunday Lunch at £100.00 per Person which includes Sunday lunch or £110.00 per person if they would like to take up the offer of the extra night (which would include Sunday night Dinner and Monday breakfast)
Branch's within a 10 mile radius will be allowed to attend the Wine Reception, Formal Dinner and Sunday lunch if there is room available Cost will be £33.00

Most rooms now have a ‘No Smoking Policy’

We will have sole occupancy providing our numbers reach 200
repeat 200

There are only 5 single rooms available, so people will need to share
if at all possible.

ALL ROOMS WILL BE ALLOCATED BY THE HOTEL ADMINISTRATION

Friday evening.
Hot and Cold Buffet meal. Dancing / Comedian ?

Saturday
Buffet style breakfast. There will be No repeat No lunch
For people deciding to stay at the Hotel,
bar meals can be obtained from the main bar.

Saturday afternoon Quiz if requested

Saturday night
Formal Dinner. - Wine can be ordered at the Bar Dancing/Entertainment – (JOHNNIE MORRIS) Also for Sunday Lunch time.

Sunday
Buffet style breakfast = Church Service
Reunion Concert followed by music and dancing if time allows
Lunch – Evening Meal – Entertainment – Dancing (GERI)

Monday
Buffet style Breakfast.

Please Note. Tables of 10 or 11 will be allocated to Branches, they will yours for the weekend, this is due the fact that everything will happen in the same room.
(In this case make sure that your table companions are all compatible)

Rooms and Tables will be allocated before your arrival.

NOTE. BOOKING WILL BE BASED ON A FIRST COME BASIS.
NO BOOKINGS ARE TO BE RECEIVED BEFORE
1st NOVEMBER 2007
LOCAL BRANCHES WITHIN A 10 MILE RADIUS WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE FORMAL DINNER, CHURCH SERVICE AND SUNDAY LUNCH PROVIDING THERE IS SPACE.

Howard (Jeff) Jeffries
Reunion Hon. Secretary. (Area President)
10. Park Road
STREET
Somerset BA160JN
01458 447530 – Mob.07745 244427 – Email h.jeffries@virgin.net

It is with Deep Regret that we announce that
Shipmate Frank Jones MBE. MSM
Area Committee Member and Past Area Deputy Chairman, Crossed the Bar on the morning of the 31st March.
Frank has suffered much recently, and he will be sorely missed.

The Funeral will be at St Aldhems Church Spa Road Weymouth at 1130 on Monday 7th April
Standards are welcome.
Afterwards private at the Crematorium for 1300.
Area and Branch Standard only at the Crematorium.

Following the funeral there will be a reception held at the
John Gregory, Radipole. at 1330 ish.

S/m Peter Frampton, long time member of Weymouth Branch, past Chairman and supporter of Barton Hall Reunions has crossed the bar.

Funeral details as known are Wed 2 May at All Saints Church, Wyke Regis, Weymouth at 1430. Branch says RNA No 1s and medals for those attending.

I am very sorry to report that I have just heard that Shipmate Harry

Sculthorpe,
Sturminster Newton Branch Chairman, Crossed the Bar in the early

hours of today. 4 February 2007

It is with Deep Regret and Sadness that I have to announce the Crossing of the Bar of my Good Friend
Shipmate Richard Debenham.
Richard had retired from serving 10 years as
Chairman of No4 Area in January at the AGM
and at the Area Meeting held at Liskeard on Saturday 20th May was elected to the position of Area Life Vice President for his services to the Area.
Richard passed away in the early afternoon of Monday 22nd May

Our Thoughts are with Diana and family and friends .

Standards will be Welcome

The Funeral for Shipmate Richard will take place
at 13.30 on Tuesday 30th May

The Parish Church of St James'
Mount Pleasant Road, off Old Tiverton Road, Exeter EX4 7AD
a map is available here

after the service a Reception will be held at the
Royal British Legion Club Alphington

Family flowers only
Donations will be accepted for the Royal Naval Association

The Area Ceremonial Adviser
Shipmate Jim Paterson

REMEMBRANCE PARADE DETAILS

I have been asked about proceedure for Remebrance Day Parade and Services. You will not all have the same individual events but I hope to give some idea of the procedure.

In Plymouth we muster at the Royal Citadel and march to the War Memorial, lead by the R M Band Corps of Drums, and 3 Guard Platoons (RN; RM; and Army) followed by the Standard Bearers and Veterans.
The Guard Platoons and the Veterans go to the front of the War Memorial and the Standard Bearers go round the back and then split and re form at the front of the Memorial above all the others The Lord Mayor, Civic Dignitaries and Service Representatives then take up their positions at the base of the War Memorial.

At 1100 a signal gun is fired in the citadel and the 2 minute silence occurs, followed by a second gun. The RM Band then plays the Last Post, and the Standard Bearers dip on the first note. After a short while the Parade is `stood at ease'. I bring the Standard Bearers to the `Carry', the `Order' and the `Stand at Ease'.

The wreaths are then laid, (at least 8 by my count), followed by a brief Service of Remembrance (A Hymn, Prayers, etc. We have the Bishop of Plymouth and at least one other Vicar involved).

The Civic Procession then goes off, and I bring the Standard Bearers to the `Slope', Right Turn & Quick March, and we leave the top of the Memorial, and take up position for the march back to the Royal Citadel, at the rear of the guards. On the march past an `Eyes Left' is given on passing the War Memorial followed by `Eyes Front'. This is repeated on passing the RAF & Allied Air Forces Memorial. After this, Standard Bearers and Veterans remaining on the Hoe, or going to other Services, (We sort them out before stepping off, forming 2 Platoons) break off, and the remainder continue to the Royal Citadel, where we disperse to our various destinations.

Advises us that the Standard Bearers training, is being held at Bridgwater Sea Cadet HQ, 1000 each Sunday in February. We normally finish between 1200 and 1230. This training is open to ALL Standard Bearers in the Area,(and out of it as well, everyone is welcome), and not only to those who intend taking part in the Competition.

The Area Standard Bearers competition will be held on
Saturday 3rd March 2007 at 1100 in CTCRM Lympstone.

This year it is the Closed Competion, which determines who becomes Area Standard Bearer and Area Deputy Standard Bearer.
It starts at 1100 in the Falklands Hall, CTCRM Lympstone,
with the Commandant in attendance.

On completion we go to the WO's & Sgts Mess for drinkies and a buffet. The buffet costs £5.00 per head.

Contact Jim Paterson
with Names, cheques (payable to Jim Paterson) and car details
by 14 February for Main Gate list.
Corrections will be accepted up to 26th February
e-mail Jim here

Shipmate Richard Hart of the Launceston Branch was elected to the post of Area Chairman at the AGM of No4 Area on Saturday 28th January 2006.
He served in the Royal Navy for 25 years retiring in 1980 as a CPO OPS(M), then re-engaging for another 6 years teaching Ceremonial drill and Seamanship at HMS Raleigh
He replaces Former Royal Marine Richard Debenham who has held the post for the past 10 years.
Shipmate Richard Hart

The Photograph shows New Area Chairman Richard Hart being welcomed by
Retiring Chairman Richard Debenham

Photograph by Chris Hore RN(Phot) Rtd

Area past ‘PRESIDENT SHIPMATE KEN KENNETT'
and Area Life Vice President

£437.00 donations were made to Portland Branch and Central Charities Fund in memory of Life Vice President "Ken"KENNETT past President No.4 Area and Portland Branch Royal Naval Association. His presence,expertize and experience will be sorely missed throughout The South West Flotilla

DRAFT CHIT

I must go down to the sea again,
It's not that I want to go,
But I found this chit on the table,
That told me it must be so.
Now all I ask is a billet snug,
And a little daywork job,
Many decks from boiler plates,
And the mighty engine's throb.

I must go down to the sea again
To a gay little foreign port,
Where women, and gin and original sin,
Are the favourite local sport.
And all I ask is a Cabaret girl,
And a quart of synthetic Scotch,
And a friendly Patrol to bring me off,
And a mess-mate to keep my watch.

I must go down to the sea again,
Though I'd rather stay on the beach,
To steer a course for a Yankee port
Far from the Stuka's reach.
And all I ask is a fortnight's pay,
A song, and a girl and wine,
And a refit that will last until
The lights of London shine.

Then I will go back to the beach again
And never a wistful sigh
Shall cross my lips when I think of the sea,
Or the wind, or the seagull's cry.
And all I ask is a cosy fire,
A wife, and a pub next door,
Where I'll sit and drink, and make them think,
That through me, we won the war.

Radio Amateurs :-
Mac McGuiness G0RPK, Cork
Alterations by - Brian J Neal G0IUR, Keynsham.

EXPLANATION OF STANDARDS

I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT THE STANDARDS ARE NOT MERE FLAGS OF SILK OR BUNTING, BUT RATHER ARE SACRED EMBLEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN SOLEMNLY DEDICATED IN AMPLE FORM.

BENEATH THEIR FOLDS ALL POOR AND DISTRESSED BROTHERS IN ARMS MAY SEEK SOLACE AND RELIEF FROM THEIR AFFLICTIONS.

OUR STANDARDS ARE ALL OF LIKE DESIGN AS EMBLEMS OF BROTHERHOOD AND EQUALITY.

THE STANDARD REPRESENTS THE IDEA OF SERVICE TO GOD, QUEEN, AND COUNTRY.

THE SPIREHEAD REMINDS US OF THE PILLAR OF FLAME, OR THE FINGER POINTING TO HEAVEN WHICH IS DEPICTED ON OUR CHURCHES BY THEIR SPIRES .

THE UNION FLAG BEARS THE CROSSES OF ST GEORGE, ST ANDREW, AND ST PATRICK.
ST GEORGE IS THE PATRON SAINT OF FIGHTING MEN
ST ANDREW WAS A DICIPLE OF CHRIST
ST PATRICK WAS THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY TO THIS COUNTRY.

BENEATH THESE CROSSES ALL THE GREAT EPICS OF CHIVALRY IN OUR HISTORY HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED.

ADDED TO THESE CROSSES IS THE WHITE BACKGROUND THAT MAKES UP OUR BATTLE FLAG THAT REMINDS US OF THOSE GALLANT SOULS WHO HAVE PASSED ON BENEATH THE DEEP WATERS.

THE GOLDEN FRINGE OR FRAME REPRESENTS THOSE SHINING WARRIORS

WHO, SANCTIFIED BY SERVICE, HAVE PASSED UNSULLIED TO THE THRONE OF GRACE.

.THE TASSELS REMIND US OF THE BEGINNING AND THE ENDING OF LIFE, AND THE CORD, THE GOLDEN LINE ALONG WHICH ALL GOOD SHIPMATES SHOULD PASS DURING THEIR BRIEF JOURNEY ON EARTH.

THUS YOU HAVE REPRESENTED YOUR STANDARD YOUR SERVICE TO GOD YOUR QUEEN AND YOUR COUNTRY. I THEREFORE EXHORT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT YOUR STANDARDS ARE SACRED EMBLEMS

BRIAN J NEAL
Chairman, South Bristol Branch.

Missing Royal Navy Life?
WELL HERE'S HOW TO RECREATE THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF LIVING IN A MESS DECK.

1. Build a shelf in the top of your wardrobe and sleep on it in a very small sleeping bag.
2. Remove your wardrobe door and replace it with a curtain that is too small.
3. Wash your underwear every night in a bucket and then hang it to dry on any convenient pipe.
4. Four hours after you go to bed, have your wife whip open your curtain, shine a torch in your eyes, and say "sorry mate, wrong pit". 5.  Renovate your bathroom. Build a wall across the centre of your bath and move the showerhead to chest height. Store beer barrels in the shower cubicles.
6.  Don't forget to turn off the shower when soaping down.
7.  Put oil instead of water in your humidifier, then set it to high.
8.  Don't watch T.V. except for movies in the middle of the night. For added realism, have your family vote for the movie they would like to see then put on another one.
9. (Mandatory for engineers) Leave the lawn mower running in your living room for 24 hours a day to recreate the proper noise/noxious gas levels.
10. Have the paper boy cut your hair.
11. Once a week blow compressed air up your chimney. Ensure the soot blows over your neighbours house, then when he complains, laugh and walk away.
12. Buy a rubbish compactor and use it once a week. Store up your rubbish in the other half of your bath.
13. Wake up at midnight and make a sandwich out of anything you can find, preferably out of stale bread. Optional- cold soup or ravioli out of a can.
14. Devise menus for your family a week in advance without looking in your fridge or larder.
15. Once every month take every household appliance completely apart and then reassemble. Ensure you have at least 3 bits left over, even though it works perfectly.
16. Use at least 4 spoons of coffee per cup and leave it to stand for 3 hours before drinking.
17. Invite 45 other people you don't like to live with you.
18. Install a small fluorescent light under your coffee table, and then lie under it to read a book.
19. Raise the threshold and lower the sills of all the doors in your house. Now you will always either bump your head or bark your shins whenever you go through them.
20. When baking cakes, prop up one side of the tin whilst it is in the oven. When it has cooled spread icing really thickly over one side so to level it off.
21. Every so often throw your cat into the bath and shout "man overboard". Then run into the kitchen and sweep all the dishes and pans onto the floor whilst yelling at your wife for not being secured for sea.
22. Put on the headphones from your stereo (don't plug them in), then go and stand by the dishwasher and say to nobody in particular "Dishwasher manned and ready Sir". Stand there for 3 or 4 hours and then say, to nobody in particular again "Dishwasher secured Sir". Remove the headphones and put them away.
23. Nickname your favourite shoes "Steamies" then get your children to hide them around

Hope you enjoyed that, shipmates, I will try and find some other salty stories
Joe Morton Helston Branch Vice-Chairman

Asbestosis

It is likely that every single one of you reading this was at some time exposed to Asbestos. You will certainly never have been informed of the risks involved in such exposure. Yet several High Court Judges have said, in summing up speeches that the Government knew, or ought to have known, of the risks since 1947.

The time between exposure to Asbestos and the onset of Mesothelomia can he 15 to 60 years. It is then almost always fatal within I to 2 years.

From 1981 to 2000 there were 298 deaths from Mesothelomia in the Plymouth Area alone, this is over 1 per month. It is estimated that 5,000 people die every year from this disease, and that this will peak at 10,000 per year in 2020 Considering this is mainly a sailor's and dockyard workers problem, at least 1,700 per year will be exmatelots. This is 5 every single day.

These victims will not die with the dignity that most of us would wish for, but slowly and in great discomfort. In many cases they will die by drowning in their own lung fluids. Many will die at a comparatively young age (under 60). Their families will get from a grateful Government absolutely nothing by way of compensation.

Furthermore, if their service ended before 15th May 1987, they will have no recourse to the law. This is because Section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 states that there is no Contract of Employment between a Serviceman and the Crown, and exempts the Crown from Liability. This Section was repealed on 15th May 1987, by the Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987, but the repeal was not made retrospective.

Shipmates can it be right that a family who faithfully served Queen and Country for nearly a quarter of a century becomes second class citizens who are below the law? How can something be right at 2359 on 14th May 1987 yet wrong at 0001 on 15th Mav 1987?

We, the premier Naval Organisation must fight this rank injustice

What can you do?

1.	As soon as you get breathing difficulties, tell you doctor about your service past. Quality of life can be extended with early diagnosis and treatment.
2.	If you have been diagnosed, contact John Connolly on 01579 384895 in the first instance, or John Stewart on 01752 849117.
3.	Come to the next Conference and support the motion which will be raised on the subject.
4.	Swamp your local MP with complaints about this injustice. If we make enough of their lives a misery otlen enough we may win the day.

Shipmate John Stewart and Shipmate Gordon Strudwick appeal to all branches to let them know of any shipmates who may have contacted any asbestos related disease's or in fact may have been mis-diagnosed.
It is important that the National Council know of any or all of the cases, as soon as possible to try to further the case
You may e-mail Chris Hore at Delabole who will forward your mail on to Gordon or John

Crossing the Bar
Members will be sorry to hear that
Shipmate Bert Channon No4 Area Life Vice President
from Bridgwater "without the E". Former Area Ceremonial Officer and trainer of so many of the Area's finest Standard Bearers crossed the bar on Saturday 26th June, may he rest in peace.
The funeral will take place at
11am on Tuesday 6th July
St Marys Church
Cannington, Somerset