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HMS GANGES
ASSOCIATION
Notice Board |
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August 2006
Crossed The Bar
I am emailing you to inform you that Scott Osbourne Russell D072701 ex Ganges boy and submariner died on the 04/08/2006.
Kind Regards
Mrs. M. Russell <rmauruss@aol.com>
Russell, Scott, Osbourne. <rmauruss@aol.com>
03/01/1963 - D/072701U - 212 Class - Exmouth - Bugbrooke, Northampton,
Northamptonshire, England.
Old Ships:- HMS Maidstone, HMS Eagle, Kranji W/T, HMS Repulse(S),
HMS Dreadnought, HMS Onyx, HMS Oracle.
Hawke 47 Mess Reunion
56 recruitment, 1963, Hawke 47 Mess, 222/223 comms class's, Stan and Terry's boys.
14th and 15th Oct this year, at the Shipwreck and or Museum at Shotley.
Contact number 01787 311118.
Yours Aye
Mick Matthews <BoogieA3@netscape.net>
2007 Australasian Reunion
We are completing details for the 2007 Australasian Reunion which will be held in Melbourne, the Commonwealth Games City, over the weekend commencing 31st August to 2nd September 2007.
We have always welcomed overseas members and enjoyed their company, the details will be posted on the Reunion List within 2 weeks.
We look forward to your company
David Rees (45 & 62/3/4) <daverees@satlink.com.au>
Visiting UK from Australia from 2nd October to 13th Nov. 2006
Arthur F. Rowsell (Roly) F970943L.
Joined Shotley May 1957, Collingwood 44 mess.
I will be visiting UK from Australia from 2nd October to 13th Nov. 2006.
I intend to travel extensively around the UK during my stay and wish to meet up with as many of my old mates that I can.
If anybody on this site remembers me, then they can contact me via <roly_rowsell4@msn.com>
I am looking forward to visiting the old Shotley Barracks and to seeing the museum at Shotley.
I am also intending to join in at the Bournemouth get together. Hope to meet a few friends there.
Looking forward to the trip.
Best Wishes.
Roly
Website Hosting Problems
There is a server problem with the website hosts which has lost me the facility to send and receive emails for the webmaster@hmsgangesassoc.org and clivewatts@hmsgangesassoc.org accounts.
The fault may result in having to close the whole website down and start again.
I will try and keep members informed for as long as the website is up and running.
Regards
Webmaster
Email and website problems now resolved. Sorry for any inconvenience. Will attempt to catch up with emails passwords/registrations back-log etc asap but if you think emails may have gone astray please send again.
Thanks.
23/08/06
From A Land Down Under
It was a great pleasure to catch up with Terry (Tubby) Priestly and Michael Pascoe at this years reunion. We were all in Hawke 47 Mess 1956/57. Terry and I received our 50 year Certificates and very chuffed we were.
Unfortunately Mike has not been a member long enough to qualify and being from the West Country too piso to buy back time!!! Interesting to note that the Reunion venue argument is still raging, pity really as we are such a great Association and should not let these things get in the way of having a good time.
For anyone visiting Australia look up: <http://www.GoStay.com.au> It has lots of accommodation and some great specials.
Rick Broniman 56 <malabar@aapt.net.au>
Subject now closed until the 2007 AGM - Webmaster
Crossed The Bar
Ronald Patrick (Pat) Turner of the Leicestershire Division crossed the bar on July 3rd 2006. Pat was unwell for a long period, but continued to attend our meetings and lunches when he was able. He was admitted to hospital after his health deteriorated and died peacefully three weeks later.
A very private person who kept himself to himself, Pat said very little about his Naval service but his medals told a different story. He was proud of the fact of being on the Vanguard when Princess Elizabeth went to South Africa where he made frienships that endured to this day. He will be missed by our group and also the Kale, Morecambe Bay and KG5 associations of which he was also a member.
Yours Aye
Geoff Garner <g.h.garner@btopenworld.com>
Crossed The Bar
It is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the death of Terrance William (Bill) ELSE, PJ934361.
Terry, as we at Beeston Division knew him, joined Ganges on16 March 1954. Served on various ships, including Forth, Cossack, Carron, Hermes and London. After leaving the RN in 1961, he built up a very successful carpet business.
After he retired a couple of years ago, his health wasn't so good. Finally he died on the 28th July 06. He leaves his wife, Janis, 2 daughters, Sally and Nicola and 4 grandchildren.
Terry was well liked and respected within our Division, and he will be sadly missed. May he find a safe anchorage.
Peter Rouse, <peterouse1@ntlworld.com>
Chairman Beeston Division.
Crossed The Bar
I am looking for old shipmates and friends of CWO-ERA Barry "Bob" Fletcher (Ret'd) who "crossed the bar" this past August 1st 2006 in Shrewsbury Shropshire after a valiant battle with Cancer. He had made his home in Little Dawley, Shropshire before and since his retirement from the Navy in the late 70's. He leaves his wife and two daughters-all resident in Shropshire.
I believe Bob served in HMS Vanguard, HMS Crane, HMS Theseus, and HMS Diamond. He was present at the Maralinga Tests in the late 1950's. His family are keen to know more about his RN service and are appealing to anyone who served with the chief to contact them in this regard. Old photographs and stories are more than welcome. Due to the secrecy and nature of the service at the time his daughters in particular have only a rather 'sketchy' picture of his service. They do not know much about any 'active' service.For example was he present in hostile waters in Korea in '50-'53? Was he on HMS Crane when she was attacked by Israeli Mysteres in '56? How involved was he and his ships during the Suez Crises? They do know that he was based at Malta and would have served at Hong Kong and possibly Singapore. He was defintely part of the Beira Patrol and called into Durban and Cape Town South Africa during his service in that part of the world. (he remembered the "Beira Bucket". What adventures and experiences did he have which he could not tell of at the time? Was he ever in danger? He might also have been based at RN Chatham for a period. There is so much that is unclear and so much information needed to clarify this all for the family record. The family will certainly be gratefully for any advice or assistance received..
It is possible that the Chiefs relatively early departure might have been due to Maralinga exposure but at the moment without more information this can only be described as speculation. CWO Fletcher was not only present at the tests themselves he was in charge of a 'refrigeration' project at the base.
The Chief is to be buried next week in Shropshire. Any old shipmates and friends who wish to attend are welcome to bid the chief farewell. Please contact daughter Isabel for directions.
His daughters also wish to know how to find and where to go to obtain their RN Fathers Service Record. Can anyone help?
For contact, news and and details please contact his eldest daughter Isabel at isabel.george@btinternet.com or at home at (952) 462-105 and/or this writer swanson@storm.ca
I have blind-copied others who might have known the chief and whose email addresses I have gleaned from searching through Navy News. The Fletcher family would be very pleased to receive and share whatever news about the Chief is possible. It would be appreciated if those contacted and copied here would please forward and pass this email request along to anyone or any association/organization who might be able to help. Clearly there must have been shipmates who were posted to other ships and who will now be part of other ships associations. I figure if anyone is going to know it will be 'you guys'. Can someone help "fill in the gaps"? By all accounts Bob Fletcher was a popular and interesting character and this writer in particular would be most interested to help try and piece together his service life for his family.
Many thanks in advance to all those who can help,
in deep appreciation,
Yours faithfully,
Jeremy Swanson <swanson@storm.ca>
50 Year and Life Membership Certificates
As Lee has beaten me to the notice board you will all now be aware that I am no longer doing the 'Certificates'. But I am certain that you can rest assured that the job is in good hands. Unfortunately due to work commitments I am finding less time to do the job but for the time being I will remain on the Committee. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those recipients who have sent me thank you letters and donations to the Association. Hopefully Lee's details will appear in the next Gazette.
In the meantime any member requiring a 'Certificate' please apply in writing to:
Lee Fleming, 35 St Marys Road, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 2 JP. Please include the date first borne on the Ships Book HMS Ganges (St George or Bruce), your Membership Number, and Address (including postcode) to which the certificate is to be sent. (Please state how you would like your name to appear on the certificate,
e.g. A.N. Other, Andy N. Other, Andrew N. Other etc.)
If you wish to make a donation to help allay costs please make cheques payable to: HMS Ganges Association.
Dave Tait <davestait@hotmail.com>
(Ex Certificates Secretary)
