London Branch October 2010

Secretary's Report

Hello to all. London never seems free of 'Road closed' signs on Sundays. But common sense dictates that if roads have to be closed, then Sundays are the best days to do it. And so it was for the last meeting, resulting in many having to find their way, aided by good luck, to the Belfast.

A good attendance awaited and the meeting opened in the usual way.

We soon learned that the rumours that had been circulating in previous weeks concerning the closure of the small bar on the ship were now a little more than just rumours and that the bar has been closed. Whether this will have any dramatic effect on our numbers attending remains to be seen. One thing is fairly certain — it will not help us to get more C.F. members.

Remembrance Day Service

The annual Remembrance Service on board HMS Belfast will soon be with us and Branch members are required to put forward their names with the number of guests that they may be bringing with them. This can be done by giving the information direct to Bernie Coot, or alternatively the Branch Secretary, their telephone numbers are on the Membership List. Do not assume you will get on board without doing so. Security measures may prevent you.

Branch Business

Our Branch Constitution requires members to be reminded at the November meeting that nominations for the election of Officers and Committee members should be lodged with the Branch Secretary by the end of December. Whilst the present holders of positions on the Committee (with the exception of the Vice Chairman, who has indicated that he will be standing down) are currently willing to continue, there will, nevertheless, be vacancies for — Branch Chairman, Vice Chairman and an additional Committee member at the AGM. This is not as bad as it sounds — we already have Charlie acting as 'Branch Meeting Chair' and the necessity to continue the formal structure of meetings will inevitably diminish with reduced numbers, and key jobs will merge. This is already happening within the surviving CFVA. Branches and will undoubtedly continue. And so can we.

The November meeting will be the last for the year, so with it comes the reminder that subs. will be due next January. It helps the Treasurer to deal with subs over a fairly short time span - otherwise he spends time chasing subs. well into the earlier months of the New Year. When this happens, the knock on effect delays the issue of an updated Members List.

Treasurer John Williamson has said that he would be pleased to accept early payments of subs. at the next meeting. For those who are unable to attend, subs. can be renewed by post. John’s address can also be taken from the Branch members list sent out earlier this year, or alternatively send them to the Branch Secretary, £5.00 will do it.

It was with much regret that we learned that the East Anglian Branch held a ceremony to mark the laying up of their Standard on the weekend of 18th September. News reached us a couple of days before the event via the South London Branch minutes, thanks to Ron Harrison who very kindly sends the minutes to us, otherwise we would not have known.

In addition to those from South London Branch, we still receive news from East Lancs. Branch and also North Midlands Branch, for which many thanks. They, together with Southern Branch seem to be the only CFVA Branches still in business. Long may we all be able to continue!

Also on the mailing list for our Branch newsletter are former Officers of the Wales, Staffs, Cornwall and East Midlands Branches (all have now closed) but who have expressed a wish to remain in touch.

Our White Ensign

Quite recently, a lady, an ex Wren, said how pleased she always was to see the White Ensign at the head of our Newsletter. And it was this chance remark that started a train of thoughts. She was right - the sight of a White Ensign does raise all sorts of quite deep emotions in most of us.

We were almost all HO*s during WW2. The time we spent in the Navy, compared with our life span so far, was relatively short. Yet here we are, some sixty or seventy years on still moved by the sight of a White Ensign under which we served for that short time. And we are affected, aren't we?

What is it that gives the Ensign such a place with us? Why do we get such a feeling of pride when we see one? And it seemed to start even in our earliest days. What about the earlier days in training barracks? Were you ever present on the parade ground for Colours at sunset, when the White Ensign was lowered slowly from the flagstaff and everyone stood silently at attention — didn't your shoulders go back and didn't you have the feeling that you were an inch or two taller?

Why is it that so many of those that have gone before, wished to have the White Ensign accompany them on their last journey? And why do so many of us, who have yet to make that journey, wish for the same?

What is the hold it has over us?

The hit musical of the 1950s South Pacific contained several hit songs. In one of them the lyrics ended with these two lines:

Who can explain it, who can tell you why, Fools give you reasons, wise men never try

Our thanks to Vera, who unknowingly started off the train of thoughts in the first place! We must blame somebody.

E.D.

And on the health front — how they are doing (or not)

Ted Else, having finished his unpleasant treatments at hospital now awaits an assessment from the experts on how things went. Ken Gadsdon has had the good news that he is now considered to be OK. for the op that was cancelled a few weeks ago. They have taken the opportunity to put him into the queue again. All part of the system!

Colin Morris has succeeded in the steps he has taken to move his very frail wife from the (much to be desired) private nursing home that she was in, to another (desirable) private nursing home. His voice over the telephone has taken on a new note of optimism and he obviously now feels able to cope much more effectively with his own problems. Good for Colin!

Sybil Reeve said that she and Dennis were not too good. Dennis, at the time of calling, was confined to bed with visits being made by their G.P. Because of things in general, Sybil said that their Heroes Return trip to the Med. which they had been looking forward to, would almost certainly be called off. Which is sad. It was something that had been earned. Bill MacAngus was experiencing few improvements and moving around was getting very difficult. Doug Elliott (suffering from flu) conveyed the message that he now realised that the years were taking their toll!

But never give up.

HMS Belfast—Mast Replacement

Many members would not have been aware of problems that arose some while ago on HMS Belfast, our Branch meeting venue. Since the war, the Belfast has been the recipient of much work, aimed at preserving the vessel for future generations, as part of the Imperial War Museum. Some three or four years ago, metal corrosion was detected that affected the stability of the Belfast's two masts. Estimates were sought on the cost of a replacements and scaffolding was erected around the masts as a precautionary measure.

The cost of replacements was estimated at around £250,000 but little interest was received from companies and organisations here, although they may have been in a position to help. The scaffolding has remained in place ever since, funds have not been available to enable any work to commence. No sponsors from the UK. came forward.

Help, however, came from much further away. From Russia.

HMS Belfast played a key role in hostile seas, together with other warships, in protecting Arctic convoys taking war materials and equipment to Russia during the war.

Hearing that ‘she’ was now in trouble, Russian shipping company Sovcomflot, together with a Russian shipyard offered to build and install replacement masts, It was their very sincere payback time.

The promises were kept. The masts were made and shipped from Russia up the Thames, through Tower Bridge to the Belfast. Russian engineers accompanied them to do the installation work.

The Belfast contributed many years ago. She was not forgotten in Russia.