HMS GANGES
ASSOCIATION
Notice Board

July 2006

New Acting Membership Secretary

Dear Shipmates
My name is Martin Foster, I live and work in West London, married with two children (1 of each). My son is off to join the Army (with the state of the Navy today who can blames him) in September this year and my daughter has just got to her teens and is still at school.
I joined HMS Ganges in October 1975, Resolution. I left in March 1992 after reaching the Dizzy heights of Chief Stoker. I served on HMS Juno, Galatea, Minerva, Shetland, Guernsey, Illustrious & Hermes as well as Shore establishments HMS Sultan, Nelson, Cochrane & Fleet Maintenance, Rosyth.
Over the years I have organised a number of charitable events and like Lee have done London to Brighton bike ride on a number of occasions. The biggest achievement along with Lee walking Hadrian's Wall (78 miles) in less than three days.
I originally took interest in the Membership Secretary role at the last reunion at Pakefield after learning that Mac Brodie was standing down in April 2007. My reason for this was Lee and I are amongst the younger members of the Association and believe there are many hundreds of Ganges Boys out there that either do not know the Association exists or have left because of the way the association has been run to date.
Lee and I have taken up the challenge and are going to work together to merge both roles and along with the committee modernise the Association, increase the membership, listen to the needs of the members, make better use of the website and to help the HMS Ganges Association be the biggest and the best and to protect the name for the future. The roles are challenging and we both look forward to receiving your support.
Thank you
Martin Foster <mflg06002_2@blueyonder.co.uk>

New 50/60 Year Certificate Provider

Dear Shipmates
My name is Lee Fleming, I am married with two girls. The oldest has graduated and my youngest will be off to university at the end of 2006. I live and work near Heathrow.
I joined HMS Ganges in August 18th 1970, 19 recruitment. During my career I served on HMS Cambridge, Arethusa, Sultan, Excellent, Rhyl, Brighton, Defiance, RNDQ, Ark Royal and RNR.
I enjoyed my service life and still fly the white ensign from my house.
I holiday in the UK most of the time in Selsey. I like to keep fit and have raised over £30,000 for local charities, doing six London marathons and hundreds of half marathons. Along with a team we walked the full width of the country in less than three days. I have taken up cycling and completed several London to Brighton rides. Also this year I completed the London to Cambridge ride. (Getting slower now with age).
I have been asked by the committee to take on the task of 50 & 60 year Certificate Secretary and supporting the Membership Secretary which I look forward to. Martin and I are among the younger members of the Association and have taken up the challenge of helping the committee to move forward in making our Association the biggest and the best. We both look forward to receiving your support.
Lee Fleming <Lflg05695@blueyonder.co.uk>

F.A.A. Field Gun Association

Two Members of The Fleet Air Arm Field Gun Association are compiling a book on the history of Royal Naval Field Gunning from 1907 to it's demise in 1999.
They are including the Chatham Field Gun Crew but cannot find a copy of their crest anywhere. Can any Members help and if so could they Email me at <faafgun@gmail.com>
Kind regards,
Josh Morris <joshmorris0511@gmail.com>

Leicester Committee Meeting 16/07/06

In the hope that the Editor can fit this piece into the Summer edition of the Gazette I am hurriedly writing to inform the whole membership of recent developments. It is well known that your Committee has been having problems with reaching agreement on many issues caused by the lack of a unified view of where the Association should be going. This difficulty came to a head at Sunday's meeting, 16 July, in Leicester.

The outcome was that the Secretary and Membership Secretary both resigned office. Fortunately, we had in attendance Martin Foster who had come along to introduce himself to the Committee as a possible candidate for the Membership Secretary's position when the present incumbent stood down at the next AGM. Martin was kind enough to accept the Committee's invitation to stand in as Acting Membership Secretary until offering himself for election next year.

Also in attendance was the Acting Treasurer, Frank Parker, who had volunteered at reunion to take over from Bill Roberts and had been elected into office at the last meeting, in May. He has already assumed control of the accounts to ensure there is no lack of continuity in that connection.

To hold the fort, I have been appointed Acting Secretary, a job I held for about 6 months before becoming Chairman. I will now work with the Minutes sub-committee comprising Des Kerrigan and David Tait to ensure that the difficulties with the minutes encountered recently can be avoided. Having said this I am hopeful that another member will take over as Secretary in the very near future. Finally, to complete the picture, Lee Fleming has taken over the job of dealing with 50 & 60 year certificates from David Tait, who remains on the Committee. Lee has confirmed that he will also stand for Committee at the next AGM. Accordingly, the whole of the Committee will be standing down at the AGM and offering itself for election.

To avoid any suggestion of abuse of power whilst newly in office, the Committee has invited 3 prominent members to act as official observers at their meetings. Their task is to remind the Committee of the need to act in the best interests of the Association and not adopt policies which may be considered in the short term interests of any member or group. These observers are Vice-President Carl Jackson; former Treasurer Bill Roberts and the Secretary of Leicester Division, Peter Glover.

The venue sub-committee appointed in January and then comprising Des Kerrigan, Dickie Doyle and myself has been reformed with the addition of David Tait and the removal of Dickie Doyle, who has his hands full with the next reunion and has taken no part in the sub-committee's deliberations to date. This sub-committee has been instructed by the Committee to continue with its research into alternative venue locations and to report back in time for the AGM. In this connection, members will be receiving a postcard with their Gazette for completion and return giving everyone a chance to air their views on this question in good time. Carl Jackson and his colleagues from Beeston Division will be receiving and analysing the returns quite independently of the Committee and will report on the outcome, hopefully, before the end of this year.

These shifts in power occur from time to time in all organisations. Members should feel reassured by your Committee's prompt action and its intention to submit everyone to the democratic process at the next AGM. I call upon each and every one of you to fully support the new officers in their task and to help strengthen the Association by giving your support whenever and wherever you can.

Tony Thipthorpe <thipthorpe@btconnect.com>
Chairman
HMS Ganges Association

Secretary's Resignation

The Secretary's letter of resignation can be seen in the "MEMBERS" only "Minutes" section of the website.

Open Letter from Bob Ducker

An open letter regarding the committee meeting from Bob Ducker (3330) has been posted on the MEMBERS only MINUTES page.

Crossed The Bar

Keith Cooper, Joined HMS Ganges 08/09/1953 - P/SS 930575 - 110 Class - 15 Mess - Rodney - Christchurch, New Zealand.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Newcastle 1954 to 1955, HMS Excellent 1955 to 1956, HMS Armada 1956 to 1958, HMS Fraser 1958 to 1959, HMS Dunkirk 1959 to 1961, HMS Drake 1961, HMS Duncansby Head 1961 to Nov 1962.
Keith crossed the bar 24th June at his home in Hillmorton, Christchurch, NZ.
We were both at Ganges together and then HMS Newcastle before our ways parted for nearly 50 years. My wife and I went to NZ in 2004 and we met again and he sent a photo and letter to the Ganges Mag at the time. He did the rounds of Christchurch and then steered me in the right direction when we carried on driving the rest of the country,
He was quite unwell in the end and I am sure it was a relief for him to be free of the pain at last.
Yours aye
Dave Jackson (53) <jackson@davesue.karoo.co.uk>

Committee Meeting

The next Meeting of the Committee will take place at Leicester Senior Service Club at 1415 Sunday 16 July 2006.
Members are very welcome to attend. Directions for those unfamiliar with the area can be obtained by email from me.
Tony Thipthorpe <thipthorpe@btconnect.com>
Chairman
HMS Ganges Association

HMS Cavalier

Greetings from Chatham.
For some months now I have been one of the volunteers helping to restore HMS Cavalier in Chatham dockyard
During this time some of the 'Guides' and the visitors have asked me of details of the equipment fitted within the TS.
So far I have been lucky that my 1952 training has stopped me getting too far wrong.
However luck will only last so long and now I would like to obtain the loan of the BR's concerning Flyplane 5 and AFC Box 10.
Can anybody put me in touch with these books, they will of course be returned just as soon as I have swotted up enough to baffle every body
Peter McDonald (M GI's Q 1964) <petermcdonald4@msn.com>

RN PTI's Association

I am trying to find if there is an RN PTI's Association. I have a friend Alan Head ex UW2 (Ganges '59) who is looking for a Harry Pimblett ex FCPTI. Grateful for any help.
Aye, Pete Swann <pete@rba93.com>

The Dorset Division

HMS Ganges Dorset Division
Now meets at:
The King's Arms Hotel
30 High Street East,
DORCHESTER, Dorset.
Bi-monthly Meetings held at 1930-2000 on the 2nd Thursday of ODD numbered months.
All Ganges Boys, their Wives/Partners and/or holidaying visitors are welcome - especially from the County of Dorset or from over nearby West Country County borders.

Liz MacLeod <seawife8biscuit@onetel.com>
(Hon Div Sec.)