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Dear,
This
year's reunion dinner, the 45th, will be on Saturday 19 May
in the Royal Sailors Home Club, Queen Street, Portsmouth.
It will again be held in the Nuffield lounge (on the right
of the main foyer). As usual the time will be 1730 for 1800.
Alternative accommodation may be available at the Foyer tel
023 9236 0001 for £17.50 per night.
The
menu the committee have chosen for our dinner is:-
Home-made Cream of Local Watercress Soup
Chicken Kiev
Minted New Potatoes
Green Beans & buttered Sweet corn
Old English Sherry Trifle
Cheese and Biscuits Coffee and Mints
Provision
can be made for those who are vegetarians, or who require
a special menu.
A glass of wine will be served during the dinner and further
wines may be purchased from the waitresses.
The dinner will be preceded by a minute's silence in memory
of those who cannot be with us, this will be followed by a
toast to Barham for which a tot of rum will be provided for
each male diner and a glass of sherry for each lady.
Thanks to Peter Yuile's gift the dinner will again be free
for survivors and one of their guests, for associate members
and one guest the cost will be £5 each, and for others £21.
If you wish to attend please will you complete the attached
slip before 28 April and send it to Sidney Petherbridge.
Late applications may be refused.
We
intend as usual to have a raffle of donated prizes.
The dinner will be followed by our Annual General Meeting
when there will be an opportunity to raise items on the management
of your association or volunteer to join the committee.
On Sunday 20 May after the dinner it is hoped that as many
as possible will attend the morning service in St. Ann's Church,
in the Dockyard at 1000.
Our remembrance and wreath laying service in Westminster Abbey
was held on 25 November to which 99 replied that they would
attend. We were directed to sit in the nave until being called
forward directly into the choir stalls for the traditional
Evensong service which finished with the Naval hymn.
The remembrance service was conducted by the Dean, The Very
Reverend Dr Wesley Carr and the Association Standard was paraded
by my son-in-law Keith Miller. Our wreath was laid by Mrs
Anne Woods, sister of Musician William R Arscott who was killed
when the ship sank. She was supported by her daughter Mrs
Maureen Wood.
The wreath which included red carnations that had been beautifully
prepared and donated by "Flowers by Patricia" of Morden, Surrey.
Following
the publication of last September's newsletter I have sadly
been informed of the following deaths: Mrs Eileen Taylor,
widow of William whose cousin Marine Robert Wood was killed.
Leslie Watson who lived in Fareham. Alfred Smith who served
as a Royal Marine on board between 1938 and 41. David Holmes
a survivor who was an Ordinary Seaman at the time. Wally Wake
another survivor who was an Able Seaman at the time, his funeral
included a recording of a country style song about the fate
of the ship composed by his son Barry.
Jimmy Annandale son of Chief Stoker Robert Annandale who for
many years attended our rememberance service in a wheelchair.
John Marsh a survivor who was a Boy at the time though not
a member. John Cross a Royal Marine survivor who was an invaluable
and popular committee member. I have previously reported on
his journey to the spot where the ship was sunk.
We
have one new member who heard of the Association through the
internet, Colin Cartmell, a survivor who joined the ship in
Liverpool graving dock and was an Ordinary Seaman at the time
of the sinking. He tells of his mother claiming contact with
the spiritual world when trying to make enquiries about Colin
after learning of the sinking from his brother a Chief Telegraphist.
We also have the following new associate members: Jim Day
who served onboard between May 37 and Jan 39 leaving as an
Ordinary Seaman now lives here in Greenwich Court. Marion
Hill daughter of Tom Cropp. Andy Cottingham who lost his grandfather
AB Wilfred Cottingham. Frank Bruce and Mrs Helen Wall who
lost their brother Telegraphist Andrew Bruce. Frank has sculpted
a war memorial for St Combs church in Grampian in the likeness
of his brother.
Michael Tilley who lost his father Supply PO Cliff Tilley.
Yvonne Simcock who lost her uncle Marine Wilfred Burton. Mick
Tapsell who is the son of a survivor, Lt Cdr George Tapsell
who was an SBA at the time. Mrs Jocelyn Holmes who lost her
brother Ordinary Seaman William Lucas and Rob Jerrard who
lost his uncle Musician Charles Jerrard. Anthony Wood whose
father Sidney was a survivor who died in 1972. Mary Phillips
who lost her uncle PO PO Cook (S) Benjamin Brookshaw.
I would like to end by thanking all those who have written
or sent me cards and also those who have helped our secretary
identify their connections with the ship either as a previous
member of the crew or relatives of those killed. Also a special
thanks to all those who have made donations including postage
stamps particularly as small contributions although welcome
may have not received a personal letter in reply.
Yours
sincerely
Please return this slip with any remittance due for associate
members and guests to: Sidney Petherbridge, 25 St Matthew's
Road, Winchester, Hants. SO22 6BT. Please print names clearly,
make cheques payable to "HMS Barham Survivors Association"
and enclose a stamped addressed envelope for the tickets.
I shall/shall not be attending the Re-union Dinner. I ......................................
require ( ) tickets. My cheque for £ is enclosed. My guest(s)
is/are ...........................................................
...........................................................
I wish to be seated near .........................................
Signed .................................. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please return this slip with any remittance due for associate
members and guests to: Sidney Petherbridge, 25 St Matthew's
Road, Winchester, Hants. SO22 6BT. Please print names clearly,
make cheques payable to "HMS Barham Survivors Association"
and enclose a stamped addressed envelope for the tickets.
I shall/shall not be attending the Re-union Dinner. I ......................................
require ( ) tickets. My cheque for £ is enclosed. My guest(s)
is/are ...........................................................
...........................................................
I wish to be seated near .........................................
Signed .................................. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please return this slip with any remittance due for associate
members and guests to: Sidney Petherbridge, 25 St Matthew's
Road, Winchester, Hants. SO22 6BT. Please print names clearly,
make cheques payable to "HMS Barham Survivors Association"
and enclose a stamped addressed envelope for the tickets.
I shall/shall not be attending the Re-union Dinner. I ......................................
require ( ) tickets. My cheque for £ is enclosed. My guest(s)
is/are ...........................................................
...........................................................
I wish to be seated near .........................................
Signed ..................................
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