January 2012

The first meeting of 2012 got under way with 23 members present. The first item was a brief prayer from Alan Hodgson, who was standing in for Eric the Cleric who is currently taking a few months sabbatical leave. The various committee members then read their usual reports with the Social Secretary mentioning a few points of more immediate importance to the members present in that, a) sandwiches would be available at the forthcoming AGM, b) that, although we have access to the Mess bar for refreshments, coffee and tea is also available from the main dining room, and c) that VyVy was making her last call for those wanting to join her latest venture to Sri Lanka.

The second part of the meeting was taken up by SM John Hale (having just celebrated his 87^th birthday two days previously) who provided a DVD presentation of the sinking of the German pocket battleship the Scharnhorst north of Norway back in December 1943 . . . an event at which he was a participant all those (68) years ago whilst serving on HMS Jamaica. The DVD itself was of a BBC TV ‘TimeWatch’ programme that was originally broadcast back in 2001 and John actually featured in it as one of the interviewed veterans. He had also brought along all sorts of memorabilia of his life and times on the Arctic Convoy routes including the 4 Russian medals that had since been awarded to him by, despite the intervening Cold War years, a grateful Russian government. Despite the current problems with the world today the personal recollections that are occasionally brought to the surface by some of our members tell of times past that were infinitely harder.

 

December 2011

The last meeting of 2011 was a relaxed affair where festive nibbles and the like were provided on the usual ‘bring and share’ basis however all were saddened by the news that S/M Fred Cooper, one of our (two) Honorary Life Vice Presidents had ‘crossed the bar’ on 4^th December.

S/M Nobby Hall, a fellow Honorary Life Vice President, probably knew Fred the longest and wrote the following tribute which was passed on to Fred’s family the day before his funeral on the 15^th December.

"Fred Cooper was a Founder Member, Vice Chairman, Welfare Representative and Life Vice President of the Cyprus Branch Royal Naval Association and he will be sorely missed by all his fellow Shipmates. From day one he threw himself whole heartedly into the running of the Branch and quickly established himself as one of the main characters. Nothing was ever to much trouble for Fred and he could always be found in the midst of any meeting or event. One of his greatest achievements was the RNA Stall at the Annual Episkopi Garrison Fete where he worked tirelessly to raise money for the Naval Charities. His wine tasting lunches at his local vineyard are the stuff of legend and were thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.

 A man of the people he was totally at ease in any situation and in his role as Welfare Rep' he provided much assistance to Shipmates in need. As a former Royal Navy Leading Stoker and Diver nothing ever phased him and he could always be relied upon to undertake any task on behalf of the Cyprus Branch or any of the Shipmates. In later years he was plagued by ill health, which he suffered stoically, and although this forced him to slow down he continued to remain a loyal member right up until he Crossed the Bar. Throughout it all he was both totally and ably supported by his Wife Norma who, along with the rest of the Cooper Family, have our deepest condolences for their loss.

 We in the Cyprus Branch of the RNA will remember Fred with great affection and take comfort from the fact that we know he will now be looking down and keeping a watch over us from his Heavenly berth.

 Yours Aye,

 The Shipmates

 Cyprus Branch Royal Naval Association

 Amen."

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With the various monthly reports and updates dispensed with George Williams then gave a repeat performance of a presentation about the First World War that he had initially prepared for his grandson’s benefit who was attending the American Academy during the period of Remembrance 2009.

Apparently the object of his original presentation was to assist the History teacher and give the 1^st and 2^nd year children an informative resume about the Great War, which was to be accompanied by personal memorabilia from some of George’s relatives who had served in the army at that time. However, having compiled his IT presentation, supported with photographical images of the time, he first handed it to the History teacher for comment, who passed it on to the Headmaster . .  the upshot of which was that George ended up giving his IT presentation to the whole school (as well as all the Greek students) – over 640 of them!

Despite the accumulated historical knowledge of the subject by the members present it was still a riveting presentation and made more personal by the effect it had on his family members.

Having lost our previous RN Rep’ (Wtr David Edgar) to Afghanistan we now have a replacement - Lt Gareth Turner RN.

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November 2011

Octobers ‘meeting’ was in the form of the annual Trafalgar Dinner so the normal summary of ‘what happened’ may best be described by perusing the photo’s taken on the night which can be viewed at the next meeting.

However, the secret of the success of the night was the fact that we were allowed to hold the dinner in the Officers’ Mess and were superbly supported by the Mess Manager and his staff.

 

 

 

 

The setting was further enhanced by the six musicians from the Band of the Army Air Corps who played a comprehensive repertoire of naval tunes.

 

 

 

One person who was not able to make this event was S/M Richard Hughes who was back in the UK having taken up the ‘Commando Challenge’, along with his son (Nathan) and brother (Phillip), to raise funds for naval charities. To summarise his efforts would be to do him a severe injustice so his report is as follows:

“ I served in Her Majesty’s Royal Marines from 1967 to 1977 and have for quite a while fancied having a go at one of the Commando tests, the series of physical tests that have to be passed by all Royal Marine recruits, before I get too old and decrepit. At 61 years of age I thought I had better get a move on. I had thought about trying to arrange to do an individual fundraising effort to benefit RM charities. Last year while browsing the Internet I came across the Commando Challenge website and was immediately interested in taking part to raise money for charity.

The Commando Challenge is designed around the Endurance Course one of the Commando tests completed in the final week of recruit training at the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre (CTC) Lympstone and takes place on Woodbury Common, a small piece of heath land about 3.5 miles from the camp. The Endurance Course consists of a 2 mile cross country run with various water obstacles and a 4.5 mile run back to CTC followed by a rifle shoot, all to be completed in about 70 minutes carrying 21 lb of equipment and rifle.

The Commando Challenge team have taken the Endurance Course theme and built a weekend of fundraising consisting of the “4K fun” and the “10K Marine” around it. The 4k fun is the wet and muddy part of the Endurance Course with the 10k Marine being equivalent to the course completed by recruits in training at CTC, the 4k fun with a 6k run added to it. Royal Marines from CTC run the “endurance course” part of the event and provide transport in 4 ton military trucks from Bicton Arena to the start on Woodbury Common; with the rest of the event being run by the Commando Challenge team assisted by volunteers, 150 each day, from the supported charities, this year Devon Air Ambulance http://www.daat.org/ and The C Group http://www.thecgroup.org/new-site/about-c-group-2.html based at the Bicton Arena, an equestrian centre just east of Woodbury Common and about 3 miles inland from Budleigh Salterton 2011 was the 21st running of the Commando Challenge and took place over the weekend of the 8th and 9th October with nearly 4000 people taking part raising over £260,000 for the supported charities.

Needing a team of three, I persuaded my son Nathan, aged 37 who also served in the Royal Marines and my brother Philip, 50 who spent 27 years in the Army, most of it in the PT Corps to help me:


Calling ourselves “The Old Gits” we entered the 4k fun raising between us £381.73 and surprising ourselves by coming 3rd in the male team category.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many people from Cyprus helped me raise money including from The Cyprus Branch Royal Naval Association, The Eastern Cyprus Branch RNA, and SSAFA. I would like to thank all those who contributed to this successful fundraising event.”

 

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September 2011

Following the summer recess, a regular meeting of the RNA (Cyprus) took place on Wednesday 14th September with 29 members in attendance.

Amidst the committee reports was the announcement that a volunteer (S/M Gordon Redpath) had come forward to take on the role of Branch Secretary now that the only serving RN member, and the current incumbent (Wtr David Edgar), is hastily updating his military skills prior to being deployed to Afghanistan next month.

After the committee reports, the chairman (S/M David May) took the opportunity to donate a cheque for  € 120, on behalf of RNA (Cyprus), to Tina Graham, who had been invited to attend this evenings meeting in her role as Chairman of SSAFA in Cyprus.

Donations from RNA (Cyprus) have also been distributed to the following service charities:

-           RBL

-           RNBT

-           RMBF

-           WRNSBT

-           RN & RM CF

The second part of the evening was taken up with a video documentary drama about the recollections of the naval surgeon (William Beatty) aboard HMS Victory at the battle of Trafalgar.