|
| |
|
Minutes of RNARS 47th
AGM |
| |
|
Held at HMS
Collingwood on Saturday October 13th 2007, 1400 hrs |
| |
 |
| |
| Present: |
| |
| Angela, 2E1GDC, 4744;
Peter, G0DLH, 3049; Bill, G0ELZ, 2278; Bob, G0FEK, 2182; Roger, G0HNU,
3435; John, G0JSC, 1702; Doug, G0LDJ, 3686; Ron, G0LKO, 3573; Doug, G0MIU,
3606; George, G0NUM, 3683; Wally, G0PPH, 4491; Tom, G0PSE, 4831; Bill,
G0RET, 4139; Mac, G0RPK, 3886; Tony, G0SWS, 3286 ; Terry, G0TBD, 4677;
Keith, G1GXB, 4490; Phil, G1LKJ, 2954; Ian, G3APO, 1936; Alan, G3GZZ,
4840; Ray, G3KOJ, 594; Ray, G3KOJ, 594; Vic, G3KXV, 3976; Mick, G3LIK, 4;
Ken, G3LME, 129; George, G3OZY, 67; Doug, G3PQC, 145; Peter, G3RDR, 241;
John, G3TWG, 216; Ernie, G3VAZ, 1962; Bill, G4FRN, 937; Dave, G4JBE, 434;
Robin, GM3ZYE, 821; Les, GW0JTE, 3181; Lester, M0CPH, 4604; Warren, M0WAZ,
4841; Tony, M1AFM, 4295; Rod, M3ZCZ, ; Bob, N4XAT, 4783; Sheena, SWL (now
M3UWR), 4847; Jackie, xyl G1LKJ; George, SWL, 4417 |
| |
| = 43 members who signed
the AGM Register, plus guests who attended the social only. |
| |
| |
| |
| Apologies for Absence: |
| |
| Lt Steve Codling (ex
officio) + DF6LI, DK9OS, DL1NL, EA5AOR, EI6HD, EI7H, G0AEC, G0AGS, G0CHV,
G0EQS, G0FQT, G0GBI, G0GPO, G0HBU, G0HMS, G0IEC, G0IGB, G0ITI, G0IUR,
G0LEH, G0NCW, G0OAK, G0PMS, G0RNO, G0SLP, G0TII, G0UKX, G0UYD, G0VFE,
G0VIX, G0VCV, G1IIO, G1KRU, G1OCN, G3JFS, G3KKJ, G3KMY, G3KVE, G3LPN,
G3LWI, G3MII, G3MXZ, G3NIR, G3OPL, G3PEM, G3RFH, G3TFV, G3TIX, G3TZM,
G3VLL, G3VNH, G3WAO, G3WNQ, G3WQG, G3XOI, G3YEC, G3YFU, G3ZGC, G3ZIN,
G3ZRJ, G4BIC, G4CJY, G4CLX, G4CNW, G4CRW, G4DJN, G4DRX, G4HWK, G4KGT,
G4KLF, G4KSC, G4MSR, G4MZS, G4NNP, G4PRG, G4PTN, G4TNN, G4UST, G4USW,
GW4MVA, G4PSA, G4SJJ, G4TNI, G4TUO, G4UJR, G4UPT, G4WZI, G4ZIY, G4ZMP,
G6YGP, G7ESM, G7NCF, GI3GTR, GM3AXI, GM3HUN, GM3IBU, GM3NCS, GM3XGX,
GM4FGD, GM4GIF, GM4VUG, GM6HGW, GU0ALD, GW0ANA, GW0JXW, GW3PXY, GW4FLZ,
HB9ANE, KA4IFF, KB7NJB, K8BBT, KB9NYC, M0BVE, M0ETY, M0RMW, M3VAV, MM0WPM,
MW0AUH, NH6CN, OE6NFK, OE8NIK, ON4CBI, ON4CBM, ON6WR, OY3QN, OZ1FJB,
PA0VLA, SM6JSS, VE2DOH, VE3OZN, VE6BF, VK2WL, VK3QU, VK3SV, VK5/G4KLW,
WB2YIP, ZL1BLY, ZL2ZLW, 2E0BFA, 2E0CTS, 2E0DTO, 2E0PLE, 7Q7BP, 7Q7YL,
9H1RN, 9H1ZY, 9M6XRO, SWL DISY 4553, SWL RON NEW, SWL Vic Tindall. |
| |
| (143 members) |
| |
| |
| |
| Contents |
| |
| |
1. Chairman's
Introduction |
|
2. President's
Address: Lt Cdr Webster |
|
3. Chairman's Report |
|
4. Secretary's Report |
|
5. Membership Secretary's Report |
|
6. Treasurer's Report |
|
7. Manager's Reports: |
|
(a) QSL Bureau |
|
(b) London Group - HMS Belfast |
|
(c) Data Comms. |
|
(d) Merseyside HMS Plymouth Group |
|
(e) Area Representative Coordinator
|
|
(f) Newsletter/Magazine Editor |
|
(g) Shack Manager's Report |
|
(h) RNARS Website Manager
|
|
8. Overseas Representatives’ reports |
|
9. Announcement and Presentation of RNARS
Awards |
|
10. Activity Awards |
|
11. Amendments to the Constitution
proposed by the Committee |
|
12. Any Other Business |
| |
| |
| |
| 1. Chairman's
Introduction |
| |
| Good afternoon, ladies
and gentlemen, welcome to this the 47th AGM of the Royal Naval Amateur
Radio Society. My first task is to thank Commodore Peter Kirby RN, for
allowing us to hold our A.G.M. here at HMS Collingwood. We welcome our
President, Lieutenant Commander Andy Webster, RN. Our Ex Officio
Lieutenant Steve Codling RN is unable to attend due to family commitments. |
| |
| A special welcome to our
member from overseas, Bob, N4XAT. |
| |
| It is pleasing to have a
certain amount of accommodation for us this year, thanks to Steve Codling
our Ex Officio for arranging this for us. |
| |
| As you see, we have a
busy agenda to go through, so I would like to invite our President to
deliver his formal address. |
| |
| <
back > |
| |
| |
| 2. President's
Address: Lt Cdr Webster |
| |
| Good afternoon ladies and
gentlemen, my name is Andy Webster, it is my pleasure to speak to you at
this, my second AGM of the Royal Naval Amateur Radio Society. A particular
welcome to our friend from America who has travelled so far to be with us.
For those who where not here last year I am OiC of the Communications
school based in Mercury Building here in HMS Collingwood, I have been here
for 18 months with only 14 more of my sentence to complete! I have
recently spent 6 months attached to the Principal Warfare Officer Section
teaching Officers and in particular the final Communications Specialist
course for Officers. Previously I was the PWO in HMS Cumberland, been a
Fostie, Navigated HMS Sheffield up until her de-commission and been the
Signal Communications Officer of HMS Endurance and HMS Birmingham. |
| |
| That’s me. My intention
this morning is to give you an update on what
is happening and has happened over the last year here at the Maritime
Warfare School, and much has happened. I was perhaps a bit sceptical in my
last address about the speed of change but when it happens, boy does it
happen! I will then give you some overview of the changes in the Comms
world in particular before handing you over to Mick G3LIK. |
| |
| The biggest change here
has been the introduction of the partnering agreement with Flagship
Training Limited (FTL), this has continued to develop. The first tranche
has taken place and the new recruits came into post in summer this year,
the bulk of whom are ex-service men and we are fast approaching the next
tranche of TDBC (Training Delivery Business Case). So you may notice an
increase in civilian instructors and admin staff around the camp. FTL will
be taking over the responsibilities for 3 posts in Feb, and a further 3
posts in June in C School when TDBC will be completed. The initial
resistance and apprehension has been placated as the civilian instructors
have embedded themselves into the school. There are difficulties in trying
to find the right person for the job, but that is down to the fact that a
comms management instructor has to be of RN background, whereas a comms
equipment instructor has to just understand the principles of
communications. But FTL are doing a good job and are working hard to meet
the criteria, I personally have sat on a number of selection interviews.
We are working closely with FTL to continue to deliver the core
requirement of the school which is to ensure that all students who enter C
school leave with the expected level of skill sets. |
| |
| The Cdre here is now Cdre
Kirby who joined in the summer, and my Boss is CDR Ingram head of the
Warfare Training Group. |
| |
| The establishment gets
bigger and bigger with the integration now of the Maritime Warfare Centre
from what was Dryad, they live over in Marlborough Block and merge
Tactical Development with the delivery of training, which can only be
good. |
| |
| We still expect some of
the training currently conducted in Sultan to move here in the next five
years. At any point some 10% of the Navy is in Collingwood! Except
weekends and leave periods of course! But the rail station on Sunday
evening is a sight to behold, if anyone is thinking of taking up taxi
driving! |
| |
| Onto Comms in general: |
| |
| There is something called
“Stove Pipe Training”. |
| |
| MWS Collingwood now comes
under a new authority called Naval Training Command (NTC) which will sit
under a Surface 1 star. This will Encompass FOST and MWS enabling training
to be delivered to those that need it. This will result in more training
being conducted on units alongside or at sea. The school has already
ventured down this route and has completed some very successful training
on the Cumberland and the Liverpool. Stove Pipe training will improve the
OC of units and will mean that the CW TE will actively support the FOST
organisation. My #2 is in fact now FOST so I am a fostie again! Best dust
off that Green Foulie! |
| |
| Tactical communications
has now moved in its entirety to the Seamanship branch. I have no remit
over flags or flashing lights anymore. The vision in the long run is that
all Tac comms will move to the West Country. |
| |
| HMS Mercury that was has
evolved to a lodger unit within MWS Collingwood and is now a small dynamic
element of the Warfare Training Group. With the development of the CIS
branch it is the first time in a number of years that the communications
branch has, I believe, clear water ahead. This is in stark contrast to the
previous 17 years with the OM communicator struggling to grasp the extra
responsibilities of maintenance and tactical and strategic communications.
The CIS branch will continue to evolve. For instance in the Type 45 HMS
Darings, POCIS has responsibility for the management of 3 IS Systems. In
the second of class HMS Dauntless, POCIS will have the responsibility for
over 43 IS systems! |
| |
| The world of Bowman
rumbles on, finally the realisation that Bowman is not a Clansman
replacement has resulted in the progression to an increased capability
with the improvements in the operating system BCIP5, it has been a long
and painful path, but now CONOPS have been produced and progress has begun
to be made in the utilisation of a very versatile system. The provision of
secure HF comms to our land forces is an achievement that is already
bearing fruit with our deployed troops. |
| |
| Closer to home; the days
of well-thumbed books are nearing an end. The requirement to sign the
front of a book to say that it has been page by page mustered correct when
looking for a reference, will be a thing of the past. With the exception
of a very small number of publications (notably ATP1 VOL II) no
publications confidential and below will be produced in paper format. All
units will receive publications in disk format to be placed on their
computer systems and Collingwood have begun the process of accrediting the
bespoke LAN (Local Area Network) with the aim of delivering the Comms
management module for the next PO professional qualifying course in e pub
format so gone will be the days of balancing 23 books on a desk while
writing an optask comms. |
| |
| I think that’s enough
from me, so I’ll hand you over to the Chairman for
his report. |
| |
| Thank You. |
| |
| <
back > |
| |
| |
| 3. Chairman's Report |
| |
| Once again my report is a
summary of the activities of the Society in the past year which includes
plenty of good news and a little sad. |
| |
| The Committee met six
times this past year here in Collingwood at the Headquarters station. I
was able to attend the AGM of the London Group aboard HMS Belfast at
Easter time too, but as to HMS Plymouth ,unfortunately there is still no
news on her moving. |
| |
| Society membership is
going well under the Manager Doug Bowen G0MIU. You will be getting a
report from Doug in due course. Once again I ask all members to support
Doug in his job - especially if wishing to leave the Society please inform
the Membership Manager and not leave him wondering if your subscription
has slipped your mind. Please let me remind everyone, if you have not paid
your yearly dues by July, you will not be getting a summer Newsletter from
now on and find yourself deleted from membership. |
| |
| Sadly we have had to say
farewell to 50 Silent Keys this year which I think is a record number to
depart our company. Here is the list, please rise and take a minute in
remembrance of our friends. |
| |
|
RNARS SILENT KEYS FOR YEAR
2006/2007. |
| |
0003 |
|
G2HV |
|
JOHN |
|
|
0012 |
|
G3HZL |
|
DON |
|
|
0116 |
|
ZS1ZI |
|
JOCK |
|
|
0223 |
|
G0OYH |
|
BUCK |
|
|
0247 |
|
G3UFX |
|
HARRY |
|
|
0249 |
|
G3BEC |
|
NOBBY |
|
|
0264 |
|
G3SGQ |
|
RON |
|
|
0295 |
|
G3UCR |
|
BOB |
|
|
0366 |
|
EA/G3VNG |
|
DAVE |
|
|
0423 |
|
G3YUI |
|
PAT |
|
|
0456 |
|
F9LT |
|
ERIC |
|
|
0501 |
|
W4CXH |
|
DICK |
|
|
0515 |
|
G3ZNE |
|
NICK |
|
|
0785 |
|
G3IFF |
|
RAY |
|
|
1076 |
|
G3TKO |
|
ERIC |
|
|
1077 |
|
G4JLW |
|
WALLY |
|
|
1195 |
|
G3AWR |
|
CHRIS |
|
|
1248 |
|
VE3WF |
|
JOHN |
|
|
1304 |
|
VK4NJQ |
|
PETER |
|
|
1435 |
|
G3FGD |
|
BILL |
|
|
1472 |
|
G4KDL |
|
ALAN |
|
|
1849 |
|
G4MQC |
|
STAN |
|
|
1921 |
|
G4FCH |
|
KEN |
|
|
2005 |
|
G3GPZ |
|
PETER |
|
|
2055 |
|
G4TBR |
|
ERIC |
|
|
2172 |
|
LA1IE |
|
OTTO |
|
|
2344 |
|
G0FGB |
|
DEREK |
|
|
2352 |
|
G0GSQ |
|
GEORGE |
|
|
2374 |
|
G6HXG |
|
DAVE |
|
|
2674 |
|
GM0ALU |
|
ERNIE |
|
|
2814 |
|
G1GCS |
|
BILL |
|
|
2939 |
|
G4RTR |
|
IVOR |
|
|
3318 |
|
G3CNO |
|
JOE |
|
|
3379 |
|
G3HRD |
|
JACK |
|
|
3546 |
|
G4JBL |
|
CEDRIC |
|
|
3608 |
|
G0KYP |
|
DAVE |
|
|
3611 |
|
G0MVG |
|
HERBERT |
|
|
3696 |
|
G4LLJ |
|
AL |
|
|
3821 |
|
OZ1CAR |
|
JENS |
|
|
3918 |
|
G0PWE |
|
JOE |
|
|
4034 |
|
GM0TQA |
|
JOHN |
|
|
4060 |
|
N3PM |
|
JOE |
|
|
4199 |
|
SWL |
|
JIMMY |
|
|
4215 |
|
2E0AID |
|
JOHN |
|
|
4318 |
|
G0RCB |
|
TED |
|
|
4321 |
|
M1CHE |
|
DON |
|
|
4362 |
|
G0WKJ |
|
CHRIS |
|
|
4508 |
|
SWL |
|
ERIC |
|
|
4683 |
|
M0RRH |
|
ROBIN |
|
|
4843 |
|
G0OQG |
|
HUGH |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long may they rest in peace. |
| |
| Throughout the year the Society has been
represented at rallies and events across the U.K. Once again here in Collingwood, the
‘Freshers Fair’ has been held three
times this year. All new entries to Collingwood are invited to attend to
see the various activities that are available to them in the
establishment and the navy in general. |
| |
| I would like to thank all the various Net
Controllers for their sterling work over the past year; their
dedication with such varied conditions is worthy of high praise. |
| |
| I would also like to thank The Mess
President, WO1 Taff Jones for allowing us to hold our AGM and social in
the mess here at Collingwood, it is very much appreciated. |
| |
| I will not dwell on much of the other
activities and leave that for the various Manager’s Reports to
enlighten you their efforts through the year. |
| |
| The following is the composition of
Committee, 2007/2008 |
| |
| Mick Puttick |
G3LIK |
Chairman |
| Mike Rutland |
G0VIX |
Vice Chairman and UK QSL Manager |
| Robin Bellerby |
GM3ZYE |
Secretary |
| John Patrick |
G3TWG |
Treasurer |
| Doug Bowen |
G0MIU |
Membership Secretary |
| Lt Steve Codling |
RN |
Ex-officio |
| John Mullarkey |
2E0BFA |
Serving member |
| Dave Butler |
G4ZMP |
Shack Manager |
| Keith Ray |
G1GXB |
|
| Les Home |
GW0JTE |
|
| Mac McGuinness |
G0RPK |
|
| Wally Blythe |
G0PPH |
|
| Tony Mori |
M1AFM |
|
| Sheena Dawson |
SWL |
Scribe |
| |
| Mick Puttick, G3LIK, #0004 |
| |
| <
back > |
| |
| |
| 4. Secretary's Report |
| |
| Mr. President, Mr. Chairman, fellow
members |
| |
| I am very pleased to be present at my
first AGM and it is good to meet so many of you for the first time. I
should also say that I am rather surprised to be here at all as your
Secretary, as I have no seagoing background! I was a
schoolteacher/headmaster by trade, and my introduction to the RNARS came as a
TAVR army Signals Lieutenant in charge of a group of CCF
cadets attending a course at HMS Mercury, way back in the early 1970s.
I’d moved schools and was now Weapons and Communications Officer
in a naval foundation school - I was told not to
worry about the uniform, but was sent on a couple of courses at
Dartmouth. I still hold the record for collapsing Bosun dinghies in dead calm
conditions! On that course, and on later occasions, the
Society was extremely helpful to me and also to the amateur stations I ran
in various schools alongside cadet radio stations. I am
delighted to have this chance to pay back a little of what I owe, although
if anyone else with a naval background, and perhaps living closer to
Portsmouth, would like to take over, feel free to do so at any time! |
| My role is mainly to minute committee
meetings, and in order to save on my expenses in travelling from
Scotland each time, the Committee have recently appointed Sheena
Dawson, a civilian employee at HMS Collinwood, as scribe, so
I shall be able to confine myself to a few meetings, work on
the PR front and perhaps helping with the Newsletter. |
| I must add that much of the normal routine
that a Secretary could expect is still carried out by our
Chairman, Mick, particularly all the detail involved in organising the AGM. He
was Secretary for so long that it comes naturally to him, and I
have to thank him and the Committee for making my task relatively
simple. |
| |
| Robin Bellerby, GM3ZYE, #0821 |
| |
| <
back > |
| |
| |
| 5. Membership Secretary's Report |
| |
| This is the present situation. |
| |
| 1051 current Members |
| |
| This figure includes the following: 215
Life and Free Members. |
| Unfortunately it also includes 182 Members
who have not as yet paid their Subscriptions. |
| |
| At the last General Committee meeting it
was agreed that a chase would take place after the AGM, and all
who have not paid up by 1st January 2008 would be Lapsed. Further
to this, in the year 2008, rule 9e of the rulebook would be
applied. |
| This rule states that any member whose
subscription falls one quarter in arrears, including failure to
amend Bankers orders will have the privileges of membership
withdrawn until arrears and subscription are paid. |
| |
| Doug Bowen, GOMIU # 3606 |
| |
| <
back > |
| |
| |
| 6. Treasurer's Report |
| |
| Not shown in this web version – members
may obtain from the Secretary. |
| |
| <
back > |
| |
| |
| 7. Manager's Reports: |
| |
| |
(a) QSL Bureau |
| |
|
|
Mr President, Mr Chairman, Ladies and
Gentlemen, |
| |
|
|
The last year has been quieter as there
was no special event station from HQ. At present there are not many
cards in the bureau as I have cleared all cards dated before 2005.
I do not always wait to fill envelopes as this would mean an
unacceptable delay in members receiving their cards. |
|
Lastly, my thanks to the Society for
reimbursing my expenses incurred when sending cards abroad and to
other societies. I will continue to manage the bureau for another
year. |
| |
|
|
Mike Rutland G0VIX, #4322
|
| |
|
| <
back > |
| |
| |
|
|
(b) London Group - HMS Belfast |
| |
|
|
Mr. President, Mr. Chairman, fellow
members here is the report from the flagship HMS Belfast. |
| |
|
|
May I begin by thanking the committee for
organising another AGM and social and a special thanks to those
concerned with arranging our accommodation this year. |
|
Operation of GB2RN has not been as often
as it could be. This is still due to members not coming on board
to operate during the year. London Group members have the use of our
own galley where tea and coffee is available and they can also
cook food. I ask that members do try and visit and they will be
sure of an enjoyable day on board. |
| |
|
|
On 10th of November I met Paul Longden
(The son of George G3ZQS) and his wife on board. I took them
to see our station on board where I presented them with a
photograph of George which was taken in the Bridge Wireless Office.
As you will know, George was an RNARS member and helped to re-fit
the Bridge Wireless Office when the London Group was in its
infancy. |
| |
|
|
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the
Falkland Islands Conflict we used the special call sign
GB2FIC (Falkland Islands Conflict) from the 6th of April until the
3rd of May inclusive. This tied-up nicely with our Easter Activity
Period. I felt that The Royal Navy’s outstanding contribution in the
south Atlantic should be commemorated by HMS Belfast. |
| |
|
|
As you may know our VIP guest at Easter
was Captain Randy Durhkopf USN, who is the US. Naval
Attaché at the US embassy in London. He said he was very impressed by
the enthusiasm of our group and thanked us for a splendid time
on board. |
|
In the March issue of “CQ DL” (the
German Amateur Radio magazine) on page 195 was an article with
pictures about GB2RN and HMS Belfast. |
|
A change of committee took place at the
last London Group AGM. Bill G0ELZ is now our new secretary and
after a short spell with no Treasurer or Membership Secretary, Tom
G0PSE has volunteered his services and has now taken over and
filled the vacancies. I should like to take this opportunity to
thank Ivor M0IMJ for his past contribution as secretary and to thank
Graham G0LEH for his past efforts as treasurer and membership
secretary. |
| |
|
|
GB2RN took part in Museum Ships Weekend
and a good number of QSOs were made. Operators were Bill G0ELZ,
Roger G0HNU and Tom G0PSE. |
| |
|
|
The same three operators put GB2RN on the
air over the August Bank Holiday. |
| |
|
|
These operators also assisted the
Education Department with their annual Communications Weekend which is
aimed at the younger visitors. |
| |
|
|
We have been discussing band–pass
filters for the Bridge Wireless Office, and as we are still in need of a
shack manager, Bill G0ELZ has volunteered to construct these. We are
sure this will make multiband HF operation easier. We hope to have these
filters installed in time for next Easter. As you may know next
Easter is slightly earlier than this year and our AGM and VIP Day
will be on Thursday March 27th (A date for your diaries). More
details will be available later via the E-News and the Sunday
morning eighty-metre news. |
| |
|
|
I now formally announce that I shall be
standing down as chairman of the London Group next Easter. I have
very much enjoyed my time as chairman and after six years I
feel it is time to hand over to someone else. We are very fortunate
because Rod M3ZCZ who recently joined the London Group committee
has agreed to stand as chairman. Rod is very enthusiastic and
hard working and is also a Yeoman on the Belfast and so will be on
board most days. If elected as I am sure he will be; he will do a
top-class job. With the backing and assistance from the committee on which
I shall remain I am sure the London Group will continue
successfully with Rod at the helm. |
| |
|
|
Looking ahead I hope to see many London
Group members on board at Easter and hopefully during the
coming year as well where they can be assured of a great day out. |
|
That concludes this report, thank you very
much. |
| |
|
|
Terry Barclay, G0TBD #4677 |
| |
|
| <
back > |
| |
| |
|
|
(c) Data Comms. |
| |
|
|
The RNARS Sunday eNews is sent to over
twenty per cent of the society's current membership. The
bulletins include the latest membership changes and RNARS events. |
| |
|
|
Any member interested in receiving the
eNews bulletins should contact me by email, remembering to
include his or her callsign [where applicable], RNARS membership
number and email address. My email address is printed on the inside
of the front cover of the RNARS Newsletter, and there is also a link
to it on the "Managers" page of the RNARS website. |
| |
|
|
The RNARS Yahoo Group reflector has been
in existence for two years and is co-moderated by Dave G4JBE
and me. If you have any queries about the Group, please contact
either of us. The reflector is an ideal way for members to send out
activity reports, ask questions, reminisce about times past, old ships etc.
To join the group click on the "Join this Group" icon on
the Group's website at: |
| |
|
|
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RNARS/ |
| |
|
|
My thanks to those who send me snippets of
news, to the members of the Committee for their work on behalf
of us all, and especially to Mick G3LIK and Doug G0MIU for their
regular weekly input. |
| |
|
|
Diana Prothero, G0RNO #3926 -
rnars2news@btinternet.com |
| |
|
| <
back > |
| |
| |
|
|
(d) Merseyside HMS Plymouth Group |
| |
|
|
Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen,
Guests and all members. |
|
As George G4KCB is absent it falls to
myself to once again give the report on the current situation with
HMS Plymouth and HMS Bronington in Birkenhead. |
|
As most of you know the group has been in
limbo since April 2006, we were hoping for a quick solution
to the berthing of the ships, if not in Birkenhead perhaps
somewhere else in the UK. |
|
As time has passed and there have been
several false dawns, where we had hope the ships would be finding a
home, in each case this has not happened. |
| |
|
|
In fact at one stage we were hopeful that
a berth had been found at Millbay Pier in Plymouth, only to be told
that the site was to be redeveloped and the Ships were not
considered to be included in the redevelopment plans. |
| |
|
|
At the present time we find the situation
no better off than the day we put the gear ashore, and now as time
passes bye the chance of the ships moving seems to be as far away
as it was back in Feb 2006. |
|
The committee of Plymouth Group are now in
a situation where even if we were allowed to restart
operations on board the ships, we feel it would be difficult if not
impossible to consider regular operations of the stations from either HMS
Plymouth or HMS Bronington. |
| |
|
| < | |
