HMS GANGES ASSOCIATION Notice Board

	WWW HMS Ganges Association

May 2008

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Crossed the Bar

Steve Fidler ex-Chief WEA crossed the bar on Friday 7th March after a prolonged (4 years) illness.

He joined the Andrew on 7th September 1972 and served on Jupiter, Alacrity, Scilla and Antelope. Upon leaving the navy he emigrated to Western Australia. He leaves behind his wife Patti and two young daughters.

Any condolences can be sent through me at - john dot chevalier@dec dot wa dot gov dot au

Rest in peace Steve

John Chevalier

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Crossed the Bar

Crossed the Bar - Ex POM(E) Terry (Nobby) Clarke passed away peacefully in Fremantle Hospital, Western Australia, on Tuesday 8th April a few short weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.

Nobby, born 23/04/1942 in Northampton, joined Ganges on 16th July 1957 and left the service in 1969. His ships included HMS Vanguard, Belfast, Sultan and President (Maralinga), he commenced submarine service in 1963 serving on HM Submarines Otus, Amphion and Aleric.

After leaving the service he emigrated to Western Australia, he then moved with wife Moni to Miri in Sarawak, working from there as a safety professional.

Nobby was a member of the WA Division of HMS Ganges Association and was a member of the International Submarine Association (Great Britain).

May he find safe anchorage.

Submitted by

Ian Critchley contact email critchli [at] iinet [dot] net [dot] au

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Crossed the Bar

Steve Fidler ex-Chief WEA crossed the bar on Friday 7th March after a prolonged (4 years) illness.

He joined the Andrew on 7th September 1972 and served on Jupiter, Alacrity, Scilla and Antelope. Upon leaving the navy he emigrated to Western Australia. He leaves behind his wife Patti and two young daughters.

Any condolences can be sent through me at - john dot chevalier@dec dot wa dot gov dot au

Rest in peace Steve

John Chevalier

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Ganges Mast

The Evening Star runs a report on the state of the Ganges mast. Click the image to read more.

A reunion for all officers and men who served in HMS Eagle will be held at Weymouth in September 2008.
Please contact John Bryant on 0117 947 0122 and mobile 07974 208 533 or by email portland_reunion@msn.com for more details.

NATIONAL STANDARD MOVEMENT FROM MAY 2007 TO END JANUARY 2008
L.S.T. & LANDING CRAFT ASSOCIATION Church Service St Ann's Church Portsmouth Dockyard.	16th May 07
Veterans Parade Weymouth.(Deputy Standard Bearer)	10th June 07
Funeral Martlesham (Suffolk) Captain Murry Dunlop CBE RN.	14th Sept 07
Trafalgar Day Waterlooville	21st Oct 07
Bournemouth Friday While	28th Oct 07
St. Nazaire Commando Raid WW11 (Falmouth, Cornwall)	10th Nov 07
Mylor, Cornwall. (HMS Ganges Memorial)	11th Nov 07

Ex Yeoman Frank Bailey, D/JX778096 joined HMS St George 31/10/45 moved to HMS Ganges 1/1/46.
Collingwood 205/6 Class 44 Mess.
CTB 03/01/08.
Information submitted by Dickie Doyle <mail@sloproom.co.uk> on behalf of his classmates.

Michael McGoldrick - PO CK - P/066242 - Frobisher - 47 Recruitment - 04 February 1962

I was given the shocking news this morning that my very good friend, Mike McGoldrick had passed away at his home in Glossop, yesterday.
For those who did not know him Mike broke his neck in 1975 and was wheelchair bound.
His body may have been paralysed but his sense of humour remained intact to the very end.
He will be sadly missed, not only by me but by all ever had the pleasure of meeting him.
The funeral will be at All Saints R C Church in Glossop on Wednesday 16 January 2008 at 1100.
Anyone who wishes to attend please contact me A S A P for further details.
May he find safe anchorage.

Stu Shaw <stuandedna@ntlworld.com> Hon. Sec. Merseyside Division.

Fellow Gunners,

Well, here we are at the start of yet another year. It is, as ever, my duty to inform you that the Gunnery Instructors Meeting takes place tonight Thu 10/01/2008 at the St Levan Inn, Devonport - Serial Start 2010ish.

Being the January General Meeting the Committee positions of Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary are on the line. Please come along and show your support to those that "put the time in" so that our Association runs smoothly. It seems hard to believe that it is a year ago since we celebrated our 200th Meeting, had the fantastic Stag Dinner at Raleigh and Jacko borrowed my No.1 trousers and bow tie. I reckon that they must be due for return now, Jacko, as Northumberland is back in home waters again!!

On the Association Charity side of things, support from everyone has enabled us to be well on the way to reaching our target of £1000 again although the charity has not yet been decided. Outside of this concern it is also hoped that within the next couple of weeks Points and I will travel up to the Ronald McDonald House in Bristol < www.rmhbristol.com > to purchase £500 worth of items for them. So, on the whole we are doing quite well at the moment and continue to raise our profile. Thank you to ALL for supporting these relevant concerns.

With regards to our website < http://www.westcountrygunners.co.uk > it has been passed that we will upgrade our package to enable us to have a photograph album on it. Ralph Bladen (our web master) will upload the pictures he already has shortly subject to his work commitments. Please feel free to forward any that you would like displayed to him directly through the website or via myself. There is also a Guestbook that you can sign and offer suggestions on how we can make our site even better.

We also have our own group on < www.facebook.com > so please feel free to join us there too.

I have sent out an email to HMS Edinburgh today, who is down this part of the world at this time, and hope to offer a warm welcome to them tonight on behalf of our Members.

Apologies can be forwarded to our Secretary,Sam Cook <ahoyshipwreck@aol.com>, or myself.

Well, that's it.

See you there.
Aye,
Steve Lewis <chopsm1@btopenworld.com>
07737 458 708

Dear Sir,
I regret to say that my Dad, Harry Albert Cornish passed away October.12.2007 in Scottsbluff Nebraska U.S.A. after a lengthy illness.
He joined the Royal Navy in 1944 and took his basic training at HMS Ganges in 1944, graduating as a Boy First Class where he rose to the rank of Able Seaman with duties as radar operator he served on such ships as the HMS Nairana (Seaplane Carrier) in the North Atlantic and HMS Combatant (Minesweeper) in the North Sea area.
60 years afterward out on the Nebraska plains, he still liked to tell of his basic training there, and how he had to climb to the top of the mast.

Kenton C. Cornish

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Dear Sir,
Thank you very much.
I know my Dad would have greatly appreciated it.
I forgot to mention that he was born in London England January.2.1927.
He immigrated to America in 1949 and joined the U.S Air Force in 1951.
My dad lived in rural Nebraska and did not have a home computer.
We came across the HMS Ganges web page while he was hospitised in Colorado last year,
The photographs and accounts brought back many memories for him.
Thank you

K.C Cornish <kentoncornish@yahoo.com>

William (Bill) Rigg - D/JX712986 - Drake - DK96 - 01 January 1946.
Crossed the Bar 30/12/07 at Wythenshawe Manchester.
Discharged 1958 as RPO.  Last ship HMS Eagle also served onboard HMS Nigeria.
May he find safe anchorage.

Phil Wakefield <philwake@talktalk.net>

Edward, J, Lewis. - 03/05/1937 - C/JX152901 - 12 Mess - Rodney.
Life Member of the Association sadly Crossed the Bar recently.
The funeral is to be held at Randal Park Crematorium, Randal Road, Leatherhead, KT22 0AG at 1230 on Friday 11th January.
Should anyone wish to attend contact Nos. are Phil Brown (President Littlehampton RNA) on 01243551399 or Dorothy Lewis (Widow) on 02083935399.

Dave Jackson <jacksondavesue@btinternet.com>
Secretary
HMS Ganges Association

Friday 4th January 2008 Just to keep you updated 487 members are registered to date. Don't forget to post your card in to make sure you can vote for who you want on YOUR Committee and your support or rejection of any propositions. Baz Downing-Waite & Alan Barry, The Scroots.

Regret to inform that the following members passed to higher service.
Peter Smith - D/JX271843 - HO - 01 October 1941. CTB December 2007. Simon's Town, R.S.A.
Bill (Robbie) Robinson - D/SSX905644 - 13 November 1951. CTB 30/12/07 Simon's Town, R.S.A.

Paul Daykin <daykin@telkomsa.net>