HMS GANGES
ASSOCIATION
Noticeboard

December 2004

The Big Night Out
RNA Uxbridge
Saturday 12th February 2005

Shep Woolley Its back its better and its bigger

Come and see the world renowned Shep Woolley accompanied by the ever popular Band of Two. This auspicious event is taking place in the palatial surroundings of Uxbridge RNA. West London Division invites you to join them Saturday the 12 ^th of February 2005. Ticket are very reasonably priced at £7 each, the beer is even more reasonably priced including all the popular tipples plus a selection of real ales, house doubles and for the more exotic bottled cocktails. The venue is situated within easy reach of underground station (Hillingdon), the M25/M40 and we have reasonably priced hotels within minutes walking distance. This event sells out before Christmas every year so to avoid disappointment please apply early.

For more information contact Mike Wild f.boy@btinternet.com we guarantee an excellent night out .

West Country GI's Association Annual Dinner 2005

The 2nd Dinner is fast approaching and the date has been set for Saturday 19 March 2005 at The Warrant Officer's and Senior Rating's Mess, HMS Drake. Cost will be £30 per Person and £35 per female (inclusive of gift). It is hoped to hold a Raffle on the night with all proceeds going to the President's Charity, "Trengweath Children's Respite Facility," which provides care to severely disabled children, allowing their parents to take a well-earned rest.
The Association would be most grateful if you could peruse your diaries for this date and let Scouse Bladen or myself know if you wish to attend using the contact details below.
Our first Dinner, in March 2004, was very successful and it was reported that a great night was had by All.
It is a wonderful opportunity to meet up with old Shipmates again and the Missus gets a night out too.
Please feel free to forward this information and the contact details below to any other Gunners who you think may be interested in attending this Dinner. If you or they have any queries regarding it, please get in touch with Scouse Bladen or myself.
Scouse Bladen and I look forward to hearing from you.

SEMPER STRENUISSIMA

Steve Lewis
West Country Gunnery Instructors Association
Phone: 01752 815591
Mobile: 07940 133 418
Email: chopsm1@btopenworld.com

Scouse Bladen
Phone: 01752 811530
Email: ralph@ralphbladen.co.uk

NOTE: Your Chairman has more details of the event and a pro-forma booking form which he will happily forward to anyone requesting copies from thipthorpe@btconnect.com
15Dec2004

Listing the Main Gate at Shotley.

I recently wrote a letter to my MP, John Horam, about listing the Main Gate at Shotley.
Below is the text of the response from the Minister for Heritage, Andrew McIntosh.
Dear Mr.Horam,
Thank you for your letter of 11 November to Tessa Jowell, enclosing one from your constituent... about the gates at the former Royal Navy training establishment, HMS Ganges. I am replying as Minister for Heritage.
An application to list these gates has already been received. We are seeking advice on the request from English Heritage. Shortly after we have received their recommendation we should be able to notify your constituent of the Secretary of State's decision on whether the gates should be listed.
If, in the meantime, your constituent wishes to provide any additional information about the gates, to support the listing application, he should contact Helen Phillips in the Designation Branch, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5DH.
Andrew McIntosh <nozzer@freezone.co.uk>
09Dec2004

HMS Puma 1958 - 59

This is a long shot but when I was serving aboard HMS Puma during 1958 - 59 the Navigating Officer a Lt. Glennie used to spend a fair bit of time filming with a super 8 camera I would like to see some of this film if possible by contacting him on the notice board or someone who may know him or failing that do you have any contacts that could help?
Cheers Eric <eric.anderson@geography.oxford.ac.uk>
07Dec2004

Seasonal greetings
from the Guys of the Simonstown Division
to all the Divisions around the World.

Seasonal greetings from the Guys of the Simonstown Division to all the Divisions around the World. We are a very small Division at this time,(all getting older by the year) and as a small Division, we do'nt have a lot of cash in the Bank. A couple of years ago we decided that it was just too expensive to send Christmas Cards to all the other Divisions,(we are supposedly, the most expensive postal rate country in the world) so to all the Divisions which have sent Christmas Cards to us we say a very sincere thank you. Will all the adressees who have any form of contact with other Divisions which do'nt provide an e-mail contact address, please pass on our Greetings to them wherever they may be around the World. Our Chairman, Mike Dutton has been quite ill throughout this year and has had serious heart and breathing problems, but after his latest hospitalisation and operation is now improving slowly and we are looking forward to him being at our Annual New Years Day Braai (BBQ) at the 'SNOEKIE MOTH SHELLHOLE' in Simonstown and we are looking forward to meeting up with Mick Blythe (1950) who arrives on 15 December, and to seeing Steve and Liz McWilliams who arrive on 28 January to watch the England/South Africa cricket tour out here. So, to all out there in this great wide world, from SA, a very Prosperous 2005 and a joyous Christmas. On behalf of all our members here.
Yours Aye,
Dave Wood. <d.wood@mweb.co.za>
04Dec2004

German Graves Shotley Churchyard

Hello
On a recent trip to Shotley I took a small detour to have a look around the graveyard at Shotley church and to my amazement I discovered amoungst the graves of the men from naval ships of the First World War there was eight graves bearing the names of twelve individuals who were obviously German.
As someone who is in his mid thirties I felt that their story should be told so they would not be forgotten about by future generations.
To this end if anybody has any infomation as to where they came from and why they were buried there I would be very pleased to hear from them.
I can be contacted as follows:- Andrew Chamberlain, 4 Morland Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 0LE, England.
Telephone - 01473 710992
Email - <black.lab@btopenworld.com>
Yours sincerely
Andrew Chamberlain
04Dec2004

Letter of Introduction and Neptune's Notes.

Hello,
I was perusing your site with the hope that I might find a reference or link to a traditional letter of introduction. I must admit, locating such a document or anything similar has been a difficult matter.
I have been searching web-wide and at various archives in Ottawa, Canada, for an example of a traditional naval message serving as a letter of introduction to serve aboard a ship? I have been unable to locate a sample of anything approaching this type of document traditionally forwarded on behalf of a new naval officer to a Commanding Officer or even any traditional letter of introduction of any kind to broker employment by a patron or benefactor.
On another issue, I am searching for a copy or sample of another old naval document called Neptune's Notes. This was given to young sailors on being called to serve aboard a ship to educate them on the "ways of life" in foreign ports.
Hopefully, you can assist me in this quest or perhaps refer me to another source.
With much regards,
Go Navy!
Audrey Rivera
Acting Sub-Lieutenant
Phone:(613) 944-5519
Fax: (613) 945-0688
E-mail: <Rivera.ad@forces.gc.ca>
03Dec2004

ASSOCIATION STANDARD MOVEMENTS

Here is a list of the times I have been out with the 'Association Standard' since becoming the 'Bearer' in April after the 2004 AGM.

Jim Martin	Funeral	Chelmsford	14/05/04
Brain james	Funeral	Portchester	20/05/04
	Kings Stone	Rolands Castle	22/05/04
	'D' Day	Southsea Common	03/06/04
	'D' Day	Southsea Common	06/06/04
	Veterans Parade (Whilst on holiday)	Weymouth	20/06/04
	Kent County Parade	Orpington	18/07/04
Colin Webb	Funeral	Torquay	28/07/04
Gordon Foot	Funeral	Portchester	22/09.04
Harold Martin	Funeral	Kings Lynne	15/10/04
Ted Woodbine	Funeral	Norwich	19/10/04
Lt. Cdr. Morley	Funeral	West Meon	14/10/04
	Trafalgar Day	Waterlooville	17/10/04
	Remembrance Day	Shotley	14/11/04
Marian Brodie	Funeral	Reading	17/11/04
Bob Harwood	Funeral	Truro	29/11/04
Ken Scholes	Funeral	King's Lynn	07/12/04

The next booked date I have is for the 'Reunion' but who knows what is in store!

Tony Higgins <tony.higgins2@virgin.net>
Standard Bearer
HMS Ganges Association
01Dec2004

Previous Months Entries.