Forthcoming Events – October to December 2021

Please find below details of events between October and December 2021:

  • 30th October at 1000 – launch Ferndown Poppy Appeal at Ferndown Council Office, Barrington Centre. Shipmate Ralph Dodds to represent the Branch with our President to sell first Poppy to the Mayor
  • 7th November at 0930 – Blandford RBL Service for rededication of Memorial, Blandford Market Square followed by second Service at Blandford Cemetery
  • 9th November at 2000 – Mess Night, St Ives & St Leonard’s Ex-Services Club
  • 11th November at 1030 – Armistice Day Service at Ferndown RBL Garden of Remembrance
  • 14th November – Remembrance Sunday (see detailed programme below)
  • 14th December at 2000 – Mess Christmas Party at St Ives & St Leonard’s Ex-Services Club, with entertainment from The Land Girls plus Candy’s Christmas Buffet

Remembrance Sunday Programme

West Moors

  • 1030 – Parade forms up in Riverside Road
  • 1100 – Service at War Memorial
  • 1145 – Parade dismisses in Riverside Road

St Ives & St Leonard’s Ex-Services Club

  • 1230 – Branch Service at St Ives Club

Ferndown Parade and Church Service

  • 1400 – Arrival at KGV Pavilion to prepare for parade form-up
  • 1420 – Parade formed-up at KGV Pavilion
  • 1430 – March-off
  • 1450 – Fall-out at St Mary’s Church
  • 1500 – Church Service
  • 1600 – Return parade fall-in
  • 1620 – Dismiss at King George V Pavilion

Our Chairman and Vice President will be carrying our Standard at all four Services so our wreaths will be laid by:

  • 11th Ferndown RBL – S/m Ian Scraggs
  • 14th West Moors – S/m Linda Peaston
  • 14th St Ives Club:
    • RNA S/m Lynda Drake – MN S/m Linda Peaston
    • Burma Star Association – S/m President Chevalier Robert Barnett
    • RAF – S/m Norman Drake
  • 14th Ferndown – St Mary’s Church – Parkstone Sea Cadet tbc

Events – October 2021

Shipmates Gareth and Linda Peaston attended the Royal British Legion Centenary celebrations on our behalf.

On Saturday 9 October, we held a collection outside Sainsbury’s in Ringwood. Our Shipmates had a very successful day, and raised our profile in the area.

Below are some photographs of both events; we’d like to thank Roy Setchfield for his photographs of the Royal British Legion Centenary Parade in Bournemouth, and also Norman Drake for taking the photographs of the collection at Sainsbury’s and sharing them with us.

Merchant Navy Day and National Conference 2021

Merchant Navy Day – 3 September 2021

Merchant Navy Day is celebrated on 3 September, and is intended to raise public awareness of the UK’s ongoing dependance on seafarers, and the huge contribution they have made during our times of crisis.

Why not come along to the front of the Barrington Centre at 11am to show your support, and see the Red Ensign hoisted by our Vice President Gareth Peaston, supported by local dignitaries. The Red Ensign will also be flown at our Branch Headquarters, St Leonards and St Ives Club.

Change of National Conference Date to 4 September 2021

In light of the ongoing Covid crisis and the restrictions this poses on gatherings of any kind, the decision has been made to push the date of the 2021 National Conference to Saturday 4th September, in the hope that there is a much better chance of it taking place.

The venue remains the same as originally planned for 2021 – The Crowne Plaza, Wollaton Street, Nottingham.

The new Conference booking form has been distributed with the February Issue of Semaphore Circular, and can also be found on the members area of the RNA website at https://royal-naval-association.co.uk/members/downloads/conference.

Prices range from £106.50 pp for a 1 day stay to 4 nights at £224, these prices include the cost of the Gala Night Dinner.

We understand that many Shipmates will be disappointed that we have had to reschedule the conference once again, but we hope you all understand the reason behind this decision. We are really looking forward to coming together once again and celebrating the end of such a difficult period, in true RNA fashion.

Funeral of The Duke of Edinburgh – Saturday 17 April 2021

On Saturday 17 April 2021, The Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral took place at Windsor Castle.

To show the respect of our Shipmates for HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, it was felt appropriate to fly our Ensigns at both Branch HQ at St Leonards and St Ives Ex Services Club, and Ferndown Village Hall.

Then, in true RNA fashion, Shipmates were encouraged to ‘raise a tot’ to The Duke after the one minute’s silence had taken place.

More information about The Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral can be found on The Royal Family’s website.

Countdown to Victory – VE Day 75 – 8th May 2020

VE Day 75WHEN VE Day dawns on 8th May 2020 it will be 75 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe.

To mark this occasion the sirens of Royal Navy ships at HM Naval Base Clyde will blare and their searchlights pierce the darkness on Friday, May 8.

From the immortal White Cliffs of Dover to the sands of Bahrain and Caribbean and windswept Falklands, the men and women of the Naval Service will join their countryfolk in paying homage to our greatest generation and remember the sacrifices made between 1939 and 1945.

The Royal Navy lost more than 250 warships defeating Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy; more than 40,000 sailors and Royal Marines were killed in the Atlantic, Arctic and Mediterranean.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced the cancellation of many large-scale events marking the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day including many parades and events around Scotland involving veterans.

Nevertheless, every effort is being made to ensure May 8, 2020 is a day to remember reflecting both the celebration and sacrifice befitting the greatest day in the history of our isles in the 20th Century.

Events on Friday begin at 8am with all Government buildings flying the Union Flag at full mast – something they will do on all three days of the weekend (lowering the standard at 8pm).

There will be a nationwide two minutes’ silence at 11am to remember more than 400,000 British military personnel and civilians who died in World War 2.

At 3pm, Royal Navy ships and support vessels at HMNB Clyde will join others based around the country and those deployed around the world and will blast their sirens for a minute to celebrate victory – the time marks the moment on Tuesday, May 8, 1945 when Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill addressed the nation.

The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines have produced special versions of We’ll Meet Again and A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, while the Corps of Drums will perform a special event on Horse Guards Parade, all while operating under Government rules.

Finally at 9.30pm or 10.00pm in Scotland, as it gets dark later, searchlights on naval ships – both those in harbour and those at sea – will be directed skywards for five minutes; the war’s end marked the lifting of the blackout after nearly six years.

Find out more about the Naval Service’s tributes to the men and women of 1939-1945 – and learn about the latter’s triumph over tyranny – on the Royal Navy’s website.

Tonight is Trafalgar Night!

HMS VictoryHello Shipmates

Just a little reminder for those of you who have tickets for tonight’s Trafalgar Night celebrations (black tie and posh frocks).

We look forward to seeing you at the Ferndown Golf Club at 1830 for 1900 hours, where we will be partaking of lovely food, and drinks of course, a raffle and entertainment by Second Time.

See you soon.

 

Trafalgar Night – Monday 21 October 2019

HMS Victory

Dig out your DJs and your posh frocks and come and celebrate Trafalgar Night with us on Monday 21 October 2019.

With a lovely menu, great entertainment provided by Paul of Second Time, it promises to be a super evening.

Where, when and dress code

Cost

£33 per person

Booking and payment

Please complete and return the Trafalgar Night 2019 booking form.

Payment can be made by cash or cheque at any time, but by September Mess Night at the latest (Tuesday 10 September).

Cheques to be made payable to RNA Ferndown Branch.

We look forward to seeing you there.