2002: In August Lieutenant Commander "Nobby Hall" RN, Mrs Helen Hall and Lieutenant John Bower RN were sitting on Nobby's 'Quarterdeck' (veranda) at their quarters in the Sovereign Base Area. It was then that they had the idea of starting a Cyprus Branch of the Royal Naval Association. They, together with POSA "Derby" Allen and Leading Writer "Baz" Bazelgate, were the founding Shipmates of the Branch.

Not long after that, in October , the first meeting and Commissioning with forty new Shipmates was held at the Warrant Officer's and Sergeant's Mess R.A.F.Akrotiri. The commissioning officer was Captain Tim Harris Royal Navy. The Band of the Royal Marine School of Music attended. Thereafter meetings were held in the Officer's mess. The Commissioning Certificate was placed in the Sovereign Base Area Church.

Helen Hall recalls" John Bower was the Treasurer in name but in fact his lovely wife Nikky did all the paperwork behind the scenes. I was Chief Cook. Bottle Washer, Membership Secretary, Minutes Secretary, Raffle Organiser and sold raffle tickets at every meeting. I'm exhausted just thinking about it now."


2003: In January the Garrison Officer's Mess Episkopi became the venue for Branch meetings and remains so to date.

Sir Edward Du Cann consented to become the Branch President in June.

By July the 100th Shipmate had joined. She was Alison Kennedy who as a hard working Social Secretary gave the Branch six years of invaluable service.

In October the first Trafalgar Night dinner was held with guest of honour Captain Alistair Halliday, Royal Navy, addressing the shipmates on The Immortal Memory.


2004: The Cyprus Branch of the Royal Naval Association won the Overseas Certificate for the most recruited Overseas Branch. Membership reached 200.
The shipmates and guests at the October Trafalgar Night dinner were addressed by Commodore Dick Twitchin Royal Navy.


2005: The Branch hosted Captain Bob Brown Royal Navy as guest of honour at the Trafalgar night dinner celebrating Trafalgar 200. Captain Brown was sent personally by the Second Sea Lord at the behest of our President.


2006: The Branch hosted Lieutenant Commander Alex Bush, Commanding Officer of the Cyprus Squadron Royal Navy as guest of honour at the Trafalgar Night Dinner.


2007: In February the Branch was visited by Vice Admiral MacAnnaly, the Royal Naval Association President, who commissioned the newly formed Eastern Cyprus Branch of the Royal Naval Association. This latter met the need for a more local Branch for those Shipmates living in the areas of Larnaca and Famagusta.

The company at the October Trafalgar Night dinner was addressed by SM Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Noyes Royal Marines.


2008: In March Shipmates Nobby Hall and Fred Cooper, first Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively, were elected as Honorary Life Vice Presidents of the Cyprus Branch. Shipmate Andrew Noyes was elected as the second Branch Vice Chairman.

In July Chairman Nobby Hall retired to take up a new appointment in the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, he was succeeded by Shipmate Andrew Noyes who took over as Acting Chairman for the remaining six months.

The Trafalgar Night Dinner was held at the Aphrodite Club, Erimi and after an amusing and somewhat poignant address the Immortal Memory toast was proposed by Honorary Life Vice President SM Nobby Hall. Sir Edward du Cann also addressed the assembled shipmates and guests.

The regular meetings shifted to Wednesday evenings from September as that was more convenient to many shipmates involved with the 'Hash' and other activities. The format of meetings changed to minimise routine reports from the Branch Officer's and to allow a break before an address from a visiting speaker or other event.


2009:

Shipmate Andrew Noyes was elected Chairman of the Branch at the January AGM.

On the 19th of March the Sovereign Base Area Church in Episkopi was closed. The Branch Charter was removed there from by Shipmate Judge Raymond Naqvi and held by him for safekeeping pending appropriate disposition.

       All Saints Church SBA
                    Episkopi.

On the 20th April the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Standard Bearer attended a Remembrance Service at Wayne's Keep British Military Cemetery marking the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Cyprus Emergency. The two former named Branch Officers laid wreaths for the Royal British Legion and the Royal Naval Association respectively.
 

The Trafalgar Night dinner was held again in the Club Aphrodite, Erimi. 49 Shipmates and guests attended. The Immortal Memory was proposed by Colonel Trevor Brewster Retd. of Tala. Sir Edward du Cann also attended and gave a stirring speech.