Written by London Branch | Posted on 15th November 2009
Secretary's Report
Difficulties in London: travelling through London and the City to the Belfast meeting from the west can sometimes be a slow business due to traffic conditions.from the west can sometimes be a slow business due to traffic conditions. lt was particularly bad on the Sunday moming when the September meeting took place. From the number of 'Road Closed' signs that we encountered some distance from London Bridge we assumed that there was a major incident in progress. But it was not so - a large cycle rally or meeting was taking place within the cordoned off area, which must have been quite large since every attempt to find a route through, met with more 'Road Closed' signs. Made worse was the fact that no alternative routes were indicated.
l had given Nick Carter a lift that morning. Nick noted that there were also a large number of 'Buses on Diversion' signs dotted about and he came up with the idea of following one of these. Now Nick is older than me and very knowledgeable and I was on the point of agreeing to this course of action when it occurred to both of us that if we didn't know where the buses were going there was no point in following them. There was a sat. nav. in the boot but we knew from bitter experience that the main thing sat. navs. do in London is to send you the wrong way down one way streets to the annoyance of oncoming traffic, because they do not recognise them to be one way. And we didn't want that sort of trouble in addition to being lost.
We decided that basic navigational skills (which we both have in abundance) should prevail. We turned round, found out which side of the car the sun shone on and carried on to the next bridge, crossed to the south side of the river and turned left so that the sun was shining on the other side of the car and we knew then that, in theory, if we kept going we would encounter London Bridge Station. And this we did. Ahead of us we saw the tunnel that runs under the lines leading to the station. Taking this we emerged into Tooley Street and thence on to the car park for HMS Belfast just in time for one of Vera's sausage rolls and a cup of Angie's coffee before it was time to start the meeting.
Following the preliminaries, the Chairman said that he was sorry to announce that Dennis Reeve had been taken into hospital suffering an aneurism affecting an artery of the leg. Because of the seriousness of the condition an immediate operation had had to be undertaken and further information was awaited. Since then, and at the time of writing, we have leamt from Sybil that Dennis is now home but confined to bed until the initial healing process following the operation has taken place. This is good news and we all wish Dennis a speedy recovery.
Our other member with problems, Bill MacAngus, has had his situation take a tum for the better in as much as he now has a functioning stair lift which is of much benefit, not only to Bill but also Pat, his wife, who has mobility problems of her own. Bill said that he has been in contact with SSAFA. who may be able to help further. So all is not quite as bad as it was a short time ago.
Good news also for successful Branch members who have applied for grants under the Heroes Return 2 scheme. Appropriate sums of cash in the form of grants are available for eligible Veterans to return to places where they served during WW2, either in the UK. or places abroad - even if they have already participated in Heroes Return l. You could put in an application. Understandably, those applying must be prepared to complete an application form, but the one that is sent is user friendly and avoids the long and tedious list of questions so often encountered in official Government hand outs. In fact, it is not an official Government form - the awards are funded by The National Lottery money so that anyone who has qualms about depleting the National finances by applying, would be worrying unnecessarily!
So if all is well when the time comes, Doug Elliott, his wife and carer will be going to Singapore in November, Ken Gadsdon and his wife will be going to the Adriatic. Peter Bickmore and his wife will be Adriatic bound next year for a visit to Vis. As for myself, I and an old oppo. will be heading for Malta in the spring. We all have grants approved (but are acutely aware, of course, that the foregoing is subject to the permission and blessing of Father Time).
Why not try for yourself? Phone 0191 376 1776 to start the ball rolling.
And the way we were...
This half forgotten photo surfaced recently when additional loft insulation was due to be laid and a deadline for complete loft clearance was the order of the day. It was taken in 1944 when the 66th MTB Flotilla of 'D's was based in HMS Attack at Portland. It has spent the intervening sixty five years in drawers and odd boxes, survived several house moves, its edges are curled, it is torn in places, but it never fails to tug at the memory.
The crew of MTB 757, a Fairmile 'D', taken whilst based at HMS Attack, Portland
The photo shows much of the crew of MTB 757. Who took the photo is unknown as cameras were banned. How it was that no senior ranks were present cannot be explained. Seniority seemed to be represented by the P.O. Motor Mech, and he looks like one of the gang - as indeed he was! Why some of us were wearing lifebelts, some not, I don’t know. The dress code would give acute high blood pressure to anyone steeped in Royal Navy traditions. But the smiles are genuine, the banter that we all knew is there, the comradeship hits you in the eye. Were we not efficient units? Together we were Coastal Forces - a formidable force to which no unit was ever found lacking. Does this not pose a question - are we all perhaps better people through having known one another in those days? Are we not a bit more tolerant, a bit more understanding? I like to think that we are.
Eddie Dibley, Sec.
Chairman’s Message
Greetings to all shipmates, especially those of London Branch who are unable to get to HMS Belfast.
Our Branch meeting in September was well attended and, more importantly, several members engaged the top table with more comments and ideas than usual. Well done! Discussion within us is one of the main reasons for holding Branch meetings.
We spent a fair bit of Lottery money buying two wireless mikes to encourage more dialogue from the floor, so please increase the cross- talk with the top table (one at a time please, direct to the Chairman - not between members.) So restrain yourself Charlie, and don’t encourage him, John.
We were all sorry to hear that Harry Ley, East Anglia’s secretary, had died on the 19 July. I had chatted with him only a few days before. Both computer addicts, we were musing how fortunate we were to enjoy the benefits of the internet. But Harry scored one over me: of necessity he did his weekly armchair shopping from the local superstore website, then ordering by email to be delivered the next day. I shall miss his cheery chat and his enthusiasm for the CF veterans’ website, with its aim of keeping veterans in touch.
Buddy Crowe tells me that he has now taken on Harry’s job as Secretary in addition to his Treasurer’s job. Well done mate, but it’s a hard act to follow.
I have just learned that Kevin Costello, our new recruit to the Website Committee, has taken a dive while sprinting on his bike. He is now out of action and nursing a few broken bones to his shoulder. Kevin is of great help to Ted, our webmaster, so we wish him well and ask him, for our sakes, not to risk his neck too often. Kevin’s father served in MLs off the west coast of Africa; a hot spot in more ways than one in those days.
Many of our Branch members are taking advantage of the “Heroes” (if you will pardon the expression) Return 2 but, sadly, many others are physically unable to visit their old haunts. My wife found a Saga holiday almost made-to-measure for types like me. We first fly to Split (hate the wheelchair bit at airports though), then join a small boat, about ML size, with 30 other passengers and crew, and visit the islands Hvar, Brac, Korcula etc., ending a week later at Dubrovnic. My ‘condition’ warranted a carer but my wife cooled to my suggestion that I invite a (once) dolly- bird acquaintance. Said she did not fancy a return flight with a corpse on board.
I was pleased to receive reports from East Anglia, East Lanarkshire, North Midlands and South London Branches, thank you. These reports will be shown on our Notice Board and suitably adapted copies will be posted on our website. Publication of East Anglia’s last Report attracted a congratulatory email from an ex-soldier in Australia. Why is a pongo from down-under looking at our site, I ask? I need to inform him that we keep our ex-Wrens to ourselves.
Our Social Secretary, Bill Fenton, is working for a Lottery grant for members to take a Warner’s holiday next year. In the present climate, where all servicemen now seem to be heroes, I am very hopeful. So try to stay alive till then.
Alan Phillips has given Bill details of the good ship Wibbly Wobbly, (who on earth thought of that name?) berthed at Surrey Quays. Some members will recall a visit some of us made to the boat to have a meal a few years ago. There were a few complaints later regarding the service, and of the serious list to starboard which made eating the meal somewhat difficult. (‘Hardy’ sailors?). Weren’t on my boat. However, Alan states that the boat is under new management and both he and Pam recommend another visit. Whether it is improved or not, I and my party found the earlier visit an interesting and enjoyable one and look forward to another trip, especially if our Treasurer grants us a heavily subsidised lunch. For discussion at our November meeting.
Treasurer John Williamson says all is well on our financial front. It’s comforting to know that at least our financial control is in competent hands.
Ted Else is busy dealing with our website business and, with Kevin’s guidance, is hell-bent introducing new gizmos almost daily.
Finally, may I remind Branch members that at our next meeting on November 15th I hope to see a few names put forward to join / replace current Committee members, especially the Chairman, at our January AGM.
Ken Gadsdon
