INCORPORATED BY
ROYAL CHARTER
FULL RECOGNITION
BY THE ROYALNAVY
REGISTERED CHARITY
REGISTRATION
NO. 266982
Annual Conference
4th June 2010
Ouistreham, Normandy, France
Conference 2009 – The City Hotel, Londonderry - 13th/14th June 2009
| Cmdre Mark Norman |
Conference 2009 – The City Hotel, Londonderry - 13th/14th June 2009
The Annual Conference commenced with the marching on of The National Standard borne by S/M R Coburn (City of Inverness), Prayers led by the Honorary Chaplain to the Association (Archdeacon the Venerable John Green QHC – Chaplain of the Fleet), the observance of two minutes silence in respect of those Shipmates who have Crossed the Bar and the playing of the Last Post by Bugler, S/M A Crisp (Waterlooville).
On the instructions of the National President, The General Secretary read a message received from HM The Queen:
“Please convey my warm thanks to the Officials, Delegates and Observers of the Royal Naval Association for their kind message of loyal greetings, sent on the occasion of their Annual Conference which is being held today in The City Hotel, Londonderry. As your Patron, I much appreciate your continued support and, in return, send my best wishes to all concerned for a most successful and enjoyable gathering”, and
The General Secretary read a message received from The Royal Air Forces Association:
The President, Chairman, Central Council and Members of the Royal Air Forces Association send fraternal greetings and sincere best wishes to all Officials, Delegates, Members and Guests attending The Royal Naval Association’s 2009 Annual Conference and AGM in Londonderry this weekend, and to all Members of the Association across the world. Once again, we recognise the traditions of our respective Associations, and are aware of your proud record of achievement and the high regard in which you are held internationally. We also recognise and applaud the continued good work you do in support to the wider RN family and trust you will continue to do so for many years to come. Every best wish from The Royal Air Forces Association. Air Vice Marshal Graeme Jones, Secretary General.
The National President welcomed The Civic Representative of the City of Londonderry (Councillor Shaun Gallagher and his wife Majella), the Second Sea Lord and Commander in Chief Naval Home Command (Admiral Sir Alan Massey KCB CBE ADC) and Commander Canadian Fleet Atlantic (Commodore M A G Norman CD) and their respective Staffs.
The Conference was formally opened by The Civic Representative of the City of Londonderry (Councillor Shaun Gallagher).
COUNCILLOR SHAUN GALLAGHER: Good Morning , May I officially welcome you to Londonderry and Derry and Stroke City and - we are going to have to do something about this name!
I will do the formal bit first - Admiral McAnally, Admiral Massey, Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Royal Naval Association, Our Canadian visitors - Commodore Norman, Captain Jolin and their Staffs: On behalf of everyone in this City I would like to extend a warm welcome to the delegates and guests here today, and I hope you have a great time while you are here. The city has a long standing connection with ships, the sea and the Royal Navy and we are delighted to support your Conference and the rededication of the Derry/Newfie Bell as part of the City’s bi-annual event of maritime remembrance. It is only a few weeks since we remembered the involvement of our City in the Battle of the Atlantic, and this will feature in your Service of Thanksgiving tomorrow. As many are acutely aware, the City was a strategic port during World War Two and has a remarkable history and legacy from this period . We hope to recapture some of this during the next four days, as we focus attention on our many maritime connections. This city has a colourful and wide history but for me the one part which is least appreciated is the role of this City in the Battle of the Atlantic and through a colleague of yours in the RNA, Wilf White, and information from Cdr Peter Campbell, we discovered that not far from here, off the coast at Malin Head is a U-boat which totally intact. Most of the U-boats which surrendered were scuttled after precious metals and anything of value were removed from them and then they were used for target practice out in the estuary, whereas this U-boar, U 778 was on its way to be scuttled when it sank in a storm and nobody knew about it. Local divers were diving on a wreck and on a particularly clear day with clear water they noticed the U Boat’s shape in the distance. They went back and because it was in 7 metres of water it was accessible.
So from that day I considered the possibility of raising this U-boat which I hoped would help highlight our role in the Battle of the Atlantic. Cdr Peter Campbell told us about the City’s role and much of this was new to me and new to a whole generation. Once our objective was announced I received over 3000 letters from ex-Royal and Merchant Navy people who had been associated either with the City or with HMS SEA EAGLE during or after the war – many of these letters came from people who were involved in the defeat of the U-boats and the interest was immense. From that, we set up a Working Group which continues to toil - the project costs are astronomical as you can imagine, and even if we can lift the U-Boat we worry whether it will stay intact as it comes to the surface However this project, and this is the important thing, is of interest to a whole new generation in that they are learning what the Royal Navy did during the Battle of the Atlantic from this City. It is not documented anywhere in the local history of Ulster and this massive gap has still to be filled - so after a few years whenever you come back, we hope to have established a Maritime Museum with an adjacent hotel across the river on the HMS SEA EAGLE Site, to which intend to build a new footbridge - I have to tell you it has been a long learning curve for me, and personally I was immensely impressed by the courage of the people who took part in the Battle of the Atlantic, especially in the early years, 1939 to 1941 when the losses of ships and people were astronomical. Little knowledge exists either of the merchant seamen involved. Recently, I met one gentleman who travelled on 6 convoys – nowadays it is considered easy to cross to America but we fail to realise how long it took it took to get across the Atlantic in then and to get back and even worse and to do that 6 times; he said “I was a jinx, I was torpedoed twice” – it must have taken great courage to go back for more having been torpedoed twice in those circumstances. Our City is wakening up to its part in that piece of history and the interest among its citizens is immense. The BBC told me that after running a news item about our participation in the Battle of the Atlantic and our U-Boat Project, it had 36,000 hits on its internet connection - this demonstrates how much the Royal Navy, the Second World War and the Battle of the Atlantic are very dear to the hearts of many. Hopefully when you return, we will have moved the project on - I personally want to thank members of the local Branch of the Royal Naval Association who have brought you here today. It was not easy and I think immense congratulations are due to my good friend Wilf White, who cannot be here today as he is unwell.
A warm welcome goes to our distinguished guests and obviously our congratulations go to Sir Alan on his Knighthood which was announced this morning in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. I hope to see you all again over the next two days - you are more than welcome to our fine City. I hope you have time to walk round our historic walls since they are probably the best complete set of 16th Century walls in the whole of Europe - please take time to walk round our City if you can. Again I wish you every possible success and hope you will enjoy your Conference. Thank you
(Applause)
Following the official opening, the National President introduced the Second Sea Lord and Commander in Chief Naval Home Command (Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey KCB CBE ADC) who addressed Conference.
ADMIRAL SIR ALAN MASSEY KCB CBE ADC – THE SECOND SEA LORD
Well after that stellar introduction I can hardly wait to hear myself speak! Thank you very much for your kind words and of course I am deeply humbled to have been awarded this honour this morning., not half as much as my wife, formerly ‘The Lady Muck” now Lady Massey. You can see why Julie is not with me. And in terms of that honour I must thank you for your part in it too- that has to have been one of the most exotic bribes on record to get a senior officer to speak at your conference, but I am very grateful. Cllr Gallagher, Commodore Norman and Shipmates it really is a great honour and privilege to come here to Londonderry and address this Association representing as I do the serving Navy today. Now I will shortly warm to my theme which concerns this excellent Association, of which by the way I have been a fully paid up member for three years, Just thought I’d add that but I thought I would start rather selfishly with just a brief glimpse of what fills my day job at the moment which is of course the ever absorbing task of trying to keep the Naval Service filled to the brim with talented, motivated and gritty people, not just for today but for the next several decades.
First off perhaps I ought to reassure you that in the eleven months since I have taken up the post of Second Sea Lord I have been to visit the Navy and Marines in 8 countries, 14 shore establishments and 44 operational units. I can re-assure you all that your Navy is in cracking shape. Anywhere you go near the front line you immediately learn that morale is very high, and that people are delivering the goods with exactly that courage and tenacity, good spirits and good humour that you will all remember from your very best days in the Service. We do try to keep the difficult stuff like demographic troughs, defence reviews and the shortage of money firmly back at our Headquarters and indeed I am quite sure that your National President will refer to such dark matters in his own address with his usual eloquence, but here’s just a few key points on the manning front that I see from day to day because it is useful perhaps to be kept up to date.
On overall numbers we are today about 800 people short of the 35, 000 or so that make up the needs of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Now that translates to about 2.5 % short. I still haven’t done well enough therefore on recruiting or retention, although the signs are that this recession is going to help us in both recruiting and retention. But even if I had that 35000 people topped up, the Navy would still not be fully manned because there would still inevitably be gaps where we lack the right specialists with the right background and the right experience to fill that hole. So that 2.5% shortfall actually translates to about 17% gap across the Navy today - so 1 in 6 in the Navy is gapped and that makes life very difficult for those who are carrying the weight of that extra 6 holes, particularly when you put as many as you can into the front line to keep the gaps away from those. When you go to Headquarters or any rear areas you will find the gaps are more like 1 in 3, so it is quite tough on people today. Hidden amongst those figures are some particularly tight areas of shortage - we call them “pinch points” - in particular Branches and those are really very debilitating. We have got about 22 of such areas, “pinch points”, and they need very minute day to day management. We know the names of the wives, the mothers and the children of every one of these people and we move them very very carefully around so that we do not carry too much operational disadvantage by not having enough people. The ones that cost me the most sleep at night at the moment, are shortfalls in Submariners (in almost all branches I have to say), Aircrew, Royal Marines, Principal Warfare Officers, where we are 100 short of the 330 that we are supposed to have, Leading Seamen and Divers.
Now we will sort them out and in five years those will be sorted, but I can guarantee that there will be another 22 branches that have “pinch point” shortfalls at that time. It is an ever moving game and in some cases we are as much as 40% short of people in particular areas, so there’s a bit of work to be done.
But looking more strategically I personally think, indeed I am certain, that 35, 000 is simply not enough to do all the things that are asked of today’s Navy and Marines, and I am personally determined not to give up any more manpower without a real fight for it. If anything we must argue for more, we have been too profligate in the past in giving up people.
Separately, I have to worry about our apparent inability to entice more than 3, 500 women to join and stay in the Navy, that’s about 10% and I need to do something about that.
Similarly we can’t seem to break above 3% ethnic minority representation which is very poor. It is not for want of trying but it is extraordinarily difficult to break into that sector of society who perhaps does not view military service in the way that we do. It is a long, cultural game.
And finally, if I may, beyond the pure numbers game of course, you all recognise this there is an altogether different game to play that has to do with quality. That is where training and culture, ethos and grit and leadership really, really matter. Now, we are putting lots and lots of effort and resource into those things because as I and you know all too well those are the qualities that will allow the Royal Navy to win rather than just to turn up when it comes to the day of reckoning. So in a nutshell that is my in-tray sorted. Any ideas you’ve got gratefully received. Where can you help, where can you as members of the Royal Naval Association help me? Well, please keep spreading the good word about the Service, keep talking up that Navy that you served in and loved and were loyal to and treasured as a precious thing and make sure that the word gets out. We are not well understood in the deep hinterland where your Branches do so much good and could perhaps do so much more. Also please uphold our ethos and our standards and also help us, and this might seem strange, help us to keep fun and camaraderie and social stimulation and activity in all of our sailors’ lives.
These things really, really do make a difference. Well that’s my advert from life in Leach Building. Actually before I move on, a small story. There was a conference recently of linguists of all things and you heard that I do a bit of Dutch and German. At this conference a very learned professor stood up and gave his paper. He said that “I have extensively researched every language in the world and I have discovered something about double negatives.” His audience were enthralled as we are of course he said that “in some languages a double negative actually means a positive”. Let me give you an example, in English if you say ‘That was not unhelpful’ the two negatives mean ‘That was helpful.’ The two negatives turn into a positive,” the place broke into an uproar of applause. Then he said that “ I have also discovered that in some languages a double negative means even more negative, for example in Russian if you say ‘Niet, Niet something something’ it means ‘I don’t mean just not but really, really not’ so a double negative means a stronger negative. But you know in no language known to man does a double positive ever mean a negative” At which point a bloke stood up at the back and said “Yeah right”
It is a privilege for me to be able to address you in Our Annual Conference here in Londonderry. I say Our Conference, because this of course is the first Conference held since the Memorandum of Understanding was concluded between the Royal Naval Association and the Royal Navy and thus for the first time, but not before time, we speak with one voice and are hopefully united by agenda and aspirations. I have said hopefully united because I personally believe that naval life is a progression starting with our induction into the RN, continuing through our Service to our Retirement from it, and lasting throughout our subsequent lives – this has been described as “The Golden Thread” principle and, if like me, you subscribe to the belief that Naval Service is a high calling and a splendid and effective way to spend a life, you will do all in your individual powers to underpin it. The Once Navy Always Navy understanding has much to commend it.
We are of course in Ireland and I am thankful for it, because the Irish as individuals contributed markedly over the years to the success of The Royal Navy, from the many thousands of Irish people who have served at every level, to the magnificent ships turned out in former years by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, to the very significant contribution to success in The Battle of the Atlantic made by the people of the City in which we are gathered. These contributions should not be allowed to be forgotten and I know that they are not.
The national Emblem of Ireland is of course the Shamrock, a three bladed plant revered though-out the world as the most immediately recognisable symbol (after Guinness) of one of the most widely dispersed races the world has ever seen – the Irish did not conquer the world – they seduced it , and wherever one goes one will find them immersed in strong drink, song, imagination, exaggeration and industry. The Shamrock is representational not only of Ireland but it has also for many centuries been used in the symbology of the Church to demonstrate the Holy Trinity, that concept which brings the various elements of Christianity together to form the basis of the Faith to which most of us subscribe. It is used in short, as a symbol of Unity, which will not continue within my own Department in Navy Command Headquarters if I continue to trespass in the paddock of the Chaplain of the Fleet!.
Our Royal Naval Association could with advantage also turn to the Shamrock for inspiration since we preach and try to practice the tenets of Loyalty, Comradeship and Patriotism all under the banner of Unity. So again we have the three basic elements which come together or should come together to form this highly desirable blossom called Unity. But to create the plant called Unity we have to ensure that each of the three blades of the plant are thriving and fit for purpose. I am certain that there is no one present whose patriotism is in doubt – were it so you would not be here in the first place.
So now we turn to Loyalty and Comradeship – Loyalty within an Association such as this is absolutely essential – Loyalty to the Objects of the Association as laid down in the Royal Charter which governs the Association and Loyalty to those institutions within the Association which seeks to deliver those Objects. You, the Membership, have the duty and privilege of electing Branch, Area and National Officials to administer the RNA and those you have elected deserve your unstinting support – this does not mean slavish obedience to all in office – by all means debate, discuss and postulate – this is healthy. However, once democratic decisions have been taken by those you have placed in positions of responsibility, the time for argument, fulmination and machination is over, or should be. Please consider what is for the greater good of the Association or even what the majority want rather than what you want – Oliver Cromwell – a man not unknown in Ireland – once petitioned an Assembly thus “I beseech you in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken”. Nothing is more unattractive to both members and putative members than continual bickering, and part of the survival strategy of this great Association must be to be more attractive to those who could be in it, but who are not. I have got to say that the confrontational nature of some Areas and Branches of the RNA has not gone un-noticed in wider naval circles, and this will undoubtedly hinder the closer integration we all seek. Remedial action for any decision which does not have your wholehearted personal support can be implemented by the ballot box on the next occasion of an election – that is the British way.
The most attractive element of RNA Membership should be Comradeship – that Comradeship we all enjoyed while serving and which we can and should take into our membership of the Association. I have been extremely fortunate in my naval career in meeting some extra-ordinarily nice people who have been kind, considerate and a joy to be with. However, I am told that from time to time in the RNA those elements which make up comradeship fail to achieve the prominence and importance they deserve, and that people unnecessarily behave badly towards each other – it is I am informed rare, but frequent enough to be noticeable. Much of this is attributed to the age profile of the membership and I am informed that old men are disputatious – even worse, I am told that old men are frequently curmudgeonly – actually as I recall, a great many young men are also disputatious and curmudgeonly. Perhaps it applies to all men regardless of age – if that is so, it should not affect comradeship since we will all be on a level playing field. It is essential that we are kind, courteous, concerned, respectful and considerate of each other for it was these qualities that maintained good order and harmony on the mess-deck, and it is these graces which will ornament our RNA Branches and draw in those who have yet to take an active part in the Association. Manners not only make the man, they make the environment in which we live.
These three elements then of Patriotism, Loyalty and Comradeship are drawn together into this unifying glue which holds your Association together and which has the power to either make it attractive or unattractive, depending on which plane is reflected in the light of day. Please encourage the Membership as you go about your business – be Loyal – support your elected officials as they work for the common good purposes of our Association – be Comradely – let your Shipmates feel respected and valued – make our Association so attractive that there will be a queue at the door waiting for the ink to dry on application forms. Have a good Conference – I look forward to reading the minutes.
The National President:
Sir Alan thank you very much indeed for talking to us so fully and so frankly and giving us one of the most relevant, inspiring and informative addresses that we have been privileged to enjoy from a senior serving Officer.
(Applause)
You will all remember, and Cllr Shaun has already referred to it the magnificent part the Royal Canadian Navy played in the Battle of the Atlantic and how in fact it expanded to become from a short base it to become the 3rd largest Navy in the world. Something which may repay the modern Royal Navy to study, how that was achieved. Perhaps sadly we may find ourselves in a similar position at some time in the future. But be that as it may we’re very privileged to have with us here in the hall today the Commander Maritime Command, Royal Canadian Navy, Commodore Mark Norman who will now speak to us.
COMMODORE MARK NORMAN CD – COMMANDER CANADIAN FLEET ATLANTIC
Good morning all,
Bon Jour Mesdames et Messieurs,
Admirals McAnally and Massey, Commodores Nance, and Stephenson, Shipmates White, Buchanan and Paddy, if I may and Cllr Gallagher.
To use the words of the Admiral who preceded me I am humbled, I am humbled by the opportunity to travel across the Atlantic, albeit in an aircraft, not an RAF aircraft - a commercial aircraft - to share with you a weekend of celebration of what it is to be, or have been in the Navy.
I bring you greetings from Canada and I bring you greetings from the Canadian Navy. I congratulate all of you on what you do and in particular this weekend that you in co-operation with the city, which I will not name because I will probably get it wrong whichever version it is, and the celebration that they have arranged in co operation with you. It is truly an honour and a pleasure to be here. Although our Navy no longer has the title Royal we clearly share the roots and traditions of the Royal Navy. I might add Admiral, unfortunately we share your challenges. My Chief of Navy could have given exactly the same presentation as Admiral Massey did and I am not sure that fact is particularly helpful but it is perhaps indicative of the global impact of what is going on around us.
Ultimately we still serve Her Majesty and irrespective of whether we wear the Royal designation or not we share that common bond. This weekend and in fact, this year, are special for the Canadian Navy. We are about to launch, later this month, our Centennial Celebration. Now for those of you in the Royal Navy that may not sound like a big deal but for us it certainly is. We are still a relatively young nation and our Navy is equally young in that respect. But none the less this is special for us. In particular, as Cllr Gallagher mentioned, we have taken this opportunity to share with you a special ceremony which is to rededicate one of two bells cast to honour what is called the Newfie/ Derry Run. I won’t get into too much personal detail because you probably really don’t care but I think you might be interested in the fact that this is quite something for me personally, because although I can only claim generations ago to have any connections to Ireland whatsoever and I am told it is somewhat questionable by my relatives, I can claim a connection to Newfoundland. My wife is a Newfoundlander and if anybody knows Newfoundlanders they are probably the closest thing to the Irish you can find outside Ireland. In fact many of them are Irish and are very proud of it. Newfoundland was not actually part of Canada during the war., they did not allow the rest of Canada to join them until 1949! Something that I am regularly reminded of by my in-laws, who I might add were born as Newfoundlanders.
But on a very personal note, a week ago today I was in the Crows Nest Club that some of you may have heard of in St Johns, Newfoundland overlooking the narrows, having a pint of Kilkenny, does it get any more Irish than this? - with my Newfoundland Bride showing her around the club and talking about the fact that a week from now I was going to be in Derry, probably having a pint of something and celebrating this very special occasion.
Tens of thousands of Britons, Newfoundlanders, Canadians served and in many cases sacrificed in order to maintain those sea lines of communication that were so vital to the effort in the early 1940s. And so it is especially important and especially powerful for me to be here today with my Command Chief and our Senior Naval Adviser who has joined us from London.
The bell which some of you has participated in supporting and will participate in the rededication of is, as these things always are to those of us with the Navy in our blood, not just a thing. It is a symbol, an icon, of the cooperation, success and the sacrifice that I mentioned. It is also a reminder to those who follow of the price of peace and of the price of the freedoms that we all enjoy.
I will end now by commending you and your over 24000 members for your service to your country, the Commonwealth and ultimately to the global community and your ongoing efforts to keep the spirit of naval service alive and well.
I wish you fair winds and following seas.
Merci.
(Applause)
THE PRESIDENT:
Thank you very much for your message Mark. We have rarely a Conference at which the addresses of serving senior officers were so pertinent to our business. Now, sadly, it is time, Shipmates, to bid, not farewell, but au re voir to Councillor Shaun, Admiral Sir Alan and Commodore Mark and their respective management groups - I have pleasure in presenting each of them with something to help them on their way. (Presentations made)
The National President's Address :
Shipmates,
It is good to see you all assembled here in this fine City which not only is of great significance in the history of our nation, but of abiding fascination to those of us who have served in the Royal Navy and who know of the magnificent contribution the City made to our success in The Battle of the Atlantic. Our relations with the City and its people have always been close and indeed a great many found their life-long partners here, during and after the Second World War – shall I ask those of you to whom this applies to put your hands up?
It is but 50 weeks since we gathered together in Dundee and as they say a great deal of water has passed under the bridge since that time. As you already know your National Council in an attempt to work smarter, has streamlined its processes by establishing an Association Management Committee to supervise Ceremonial, Clubs, Governance, Public Relations and Welfare while also establishing a Finance and Administration Committee to oversee all Financial and Budgetary matters – the crucial change which has occurred is that these two Committees are empowered to get on with things, rather than take every matter under the sun to National Council for decision. What they also do is give more power and responsibility to National Councillors who represent Areas. It is early days yet and we have much to learn and even more to achieve – however, the outlook is heartening and clearly more business is being done better.
There have been a number of high lights and low lights – two low lights occurred early in the year when our Accountant and staunch friend of many years, Mr Paul Broom, Crossed the Bar after a devastating illness – Paul is sorely missed as a companion and adviser – his work as Accountant has been assumed by his protege Kevin Cornelius and we have the utmost confidence in him. The other low light was the death at the comparatively early age of 108 of S/M Bill Stone, the then oldest member of the RNA and a fine example of what good living does for a shipmate. However this low light was followed by a high light, since in order to replace S/M Bill we recruited S/M Henry Allingham aged 113 who was awarded an Honorary Engineering Doctorate on 22 May 2009 by the Southampton Solent University – he was an apprentice for a considerable time, but is now properly equipped to take up a rewarding career. Henry was visibly and audibly chuffed to bits by this award which we contrived through the good offices of the University’s Chancellor Shipmate Admiral Lord West.
The move to Portsmouth has been a resounding success – the Headquarters Staff are now well established in good accommodation in the Naval Base, they have been made extremely welcome by the Royal Navy, they have had lots of visitors from within the RNA as well as the RN and are now getting involved in dealing with issues of organisation, process and procedures which are long overdue for review. The General Secretary has, by invitation of National Council, extended his tenure for a little longer to try to see our modernisation work through, however there is a great deal to be achieved and we cannot promise quick solutions to every problem we have. But, Shipmates, things are getting better.
It is cheering to see how relocation to Portsmouth and exposure to the serving Royal Navy has worked in practice, and clearly we are now being taken more seriously by them and are being considered as decisions are made. The Headquarters Staff are frequently consulted and I am delighted with the obvious confidence extended to them and to me. Although we have a long way to go in fully implementing the provisions of our Memorandum of Understanding with The Royal Navy we are making progress – The HQ Staff meet frequently with Senior Rating representatives and those charged with improving personal and personnel relationships within the Navy – we are afforded much better access than before and indeed people even remember us when arranging programmes.
If, as your National President I have concerns, these are mainly about segments of the Association who want to play the game to local rules, acting in isolation and in some cases detrimentally to the best interests of the RNA as a whole. I cannot stress too forcibly that the Association is democratic, that the views of all are given equal weight and consideration, and that the forum for debate is at Branch Meetings, Area Meetings, National Council and this Conference. Declamatory and defamatory letters to The Navy News do not usefully contribute to moving the Association forward, nor do venomous articles in Area periodicals or slanders uttered at Branch or Area Meetings. Too much of the time of Headquarters Staff and National Officials is devoted to rescuing situations which could damage the reputation of the RNA, or bring the Association under the review of Statutory Bodies or indeed in certain instances could lead to expensive and protracted legal proceedings which the Association could ill afford, either in terms of bad publicity or financial outlay. A great deal of time has been expended in the last 50 weeks in dealing with the unauthorised and indeed undesirable efforts of a few, who refuse to accept the decisions made at the 2008 Conference and can’t stop harping on about them. The authority of the Association is vested in this Conference and once you, the delegates, have voted and made a decision, that decision represents the policy of the Association until such time as you vote to change it. Unauthorised letters to The Navy News disagreeing with matters ratified by this Conference are in my judgement quite inappropriate, as is behaviour verging on personal harassment against individuals. I suppose in some ways what I am asking is for us all to take a wider view of the RNA and to try to step outside our personal boxes and to look at the Association in the round, and to contribute all we can to the general good of the RNA community. This does not at all mean stifling or restricting debate but it does ask those with a grievance to act inside accepted and civilised behavioural guidelines in their dealings with others, and to use the established procedures and processes to argue their case – it may be a longer way of doing it but it protects everyone in the Association, and it is important to remember that we can’t have it all our own way all the time – this is what democracy is about.
To strike a happier note. Since Conference last year I have accepted welcome invitations from the following Branches:Crosby, Maidstone, Aquitaine, Inverness, Isle of Wight, Calne, Rayleigh, Portland, Stourbridge and Lossiemouth. Without exception I have been most warmly welcomed, witnessed all our core values of Unity, Loyalty, Patriotism and Comradeship in action and enjoyed myself. Other events have included addressing an audience from the National Association of Bright Children – golly what a question period that was- the Falklands Requiem at Greenwich, playing in the annual SSAFA/FORCES HELP golf tournament invented and run for its first 10 years by Rayleigh Branch, and participating in the dedication of a plaque to Coastal Forces based at Ramsgate in WW2. My two most recent RNA engagements, last Friday and Saturday, both concerned two really outstanding Shipmates. The first was the cremation of Shipmate Chalky White of Worthing Branch. Chalky conceived a passion for history and commemorations. He roped me into 4. The dedication of a memorial plaque in RNC Greenwich to Americans who joined the RN to fight for freedom before the USA entered WW2. A further dedication to one American missed out in no 1 in Chichester cathedral. The dedication of a vast memorial stone to Malta Convoys in the City of London and the Falklands requiem I have already mentioned. Those who answered Chalky’s calls to take part in these events included The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Michael of Kent, The President of Malta, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Winston Churchill (the living one), Lord West and many others including Admiral Massey who sent a moving message via me to Chalky’s family. Chalky had a genius for persuasion and for organisation. He was the embodiment of one of his own favourite and oft quoted maxims learnt as a Boy Seaman in HMS ST VINCENT: “There’s nothing a British Boy can’t do”. After being a very fit and active man all his life he succumbed very quickly over a period of about 9 months to an asbestos related disease originating from his naval service and crossed the bar on 23rd May. The RNA had been instrumental in obtaining an enhanced pension for him but sadly he did not live long to enjoy it. His family were pleased to see so many Shipmates and Standards at his funeral. You can read more about Chalky in a forthcoming circular.
The other event was just last Saturday and was Henry Allingham’s 113th birthday party. Henry as you know was a member of the RNAS and the event took place at HMS PRESIDENT and was presided over by the Flag Officer Naval Aviation. I was one of the guests on behalf of our Association and presented a card from us all. We should be able to publish some photos as soon as I get them from the Phot.
My final topic Shipmates is our Naval Service to whose support we in The RNA are dedicated. I’m going to talk frankly to you and with all the freedom open to an Admiral on the retired list. I should start by emphasising that these views are my own. They’ve not been handed down to me. Our Navy is facing a very difficult time. The outgoing 1SL, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band has been a forthright and charismatic champion of the Service he loves and has served so well for so long. His successor Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope who takes office next month faces an almost perfect storm- a government preoccupied with its own survival; probably the worst public finances in our history; a Defence programme underfunded by up to £2B a year, a savage and underfunded war in landlocked Afghanistan and an imminent Defence Review. We must give him all the support we can. This should include taking every opportunity we get to remedy ignorance of what the Navy does, what it is for and why it is so vital to our nation. Let me offer you some thoughts.
- The United Kingdom is a predominantly maritime nation. 95% of everything that goes in and out of these islands travels in ships. Very soon that will include 70% of our energy. What that means is that the lights go out in, say Birmingham, if the chain of one LNG carrier every 400 miles between here and the Middle East is broken. We are entirely dependent on unhindered use of the sea for our security and for our prosperity.
- We live in an uncertain, rapidly changing and competitive global environment and a deteriorated world scene. It is an era of deployed operations and continual forward presence. This means an expeditionary mind-set to influence regional stability and deal with threats at arm’s length.
- Afghanistan gets most attention and awareness of the breadth, diversity and sheer size of the Naval Service’s contribution to it is often overlooked: Royal Marines who provide from just 7000 men 1 Brigade in 4 in Helmand, fixed and rotary wing Naval Air Squadrons; medical, logistics and HQ staff, and last winter 2 ships’ companies worth of augmentees.
- But Afghanistan is not the template for the future. Indeed much as I sympathise with its brave people attempting to drag it from the Middle Ages to be a 21st century democracy is frankly absurd. We are where we are and we in The RNA have to support our armed forces but the UK national interest only requires that Afghanistan should not present a threat to British security. There is a limit to how much we can or should attempt to do good in the world and I would not expect the campaign as it now is to continue beyond the life of the next parliament. Nor do I think there will be much public or political appetite for repeating it.
- Nor even now is Afghanistan the only show in town. The Naval Service is globally deployed promoting and defending the UK’s interests - protecting maritime trade routes, conducting maritime counter terrorism, surveying the oceans, countering drug smugglers and pirates, interdicting migrant smuggling, intelligence gathering and conducting fishery protection, as well as providing assistance to other Government departments and other countries and of course maintaining the national nuclear deterrent.
- The nuclear deterrent and the new Aircraft Carriers are the touchstone of whether or not the UK remains a significant power on the world scene. It is ridiculous to talk about the Carriers at £3.9B being responsible for the crisis in the Defence budget. They’ve been planned for over 10 years.
- Both nuclear submarine and frigate numbers are at tipping points of critical mass and actually inhibiting strategic choice as when recently we had to gap Falkland’s protection and deterrence by diverting a frigate from the Atlantic Patrol South to anti piracy off Somalia.
- We need a Navy that is big enough to have a meaningful presence, whether to deter or defeat attacks, and versatile enough to operate across the entire spectrum of possible tasking – everything from Search And Rescue operations in the North Sea to Focussed Intervention and beyond and its support and training must not be hollowed out.
And now Shipmates, I look forward to some stimulating debate – I feel sure that you will keep the discussions within the bounds of good manners and moderation, and remember that if there are disagreements it is because there are always two sides to everything. It is the voting that counts.
The President’s Awards for Recruiting
The General Secretary announced the awards, which are as follows:
The Sword of Honour, which is awarded to the Area with the greatest increase of full members during 2008, goes to 4 Area (Presentation made).
The Briggs Dirk, which is awarded to a Branch with more than 30 Full Members recruiting most Full Members from June to June, goes to Gosport (Presentation Made).
The Briggs Rose Bowl which is awarded to a Branch with fewer than 30 Full Members recruiting most Full Members from June to June goes to the Stroud Branch (Presentation Made).
The Overseas Certificate which is awarded to the overseas Branch with more than 30 Full Members recruiting most Full Members from June to June goes to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, (Presentation Made).
The Overseas Certificate which is awarded to the overseas Branch with fewer than 30 Full Members recruiting most Full Members from June to June goes to Eastern Cyprus, (Presentation Made).
The Tasker Bowl which is awarded to the Area recruiting the most Gift Aid Registrations goes to No. 4 Area (Presentation made).
Presentation of Life Memberships
Life Memberships were presented to S/M W Roulston (Chairman 12 Area) and S/M F Brown (Hon Secretary, Londonderry Branch).
Standing Orders Committee Report
The Chairman, Standing Orders Committee (S/m Jeremy Owens) briefed delegates on the voting procedures and outlined the actions taken on the Conference Motions by the Standing Orders Committee. A full transcript will appear in the Conference Minutes.
Election of National Council Members
National Council Members were required to stand for re=-election in Areas 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and the Scottish Areas, however only the NCM for 11 Area and the NCM for the Scottish Area were opposed (the NCM for the Scottish Area Standing Down because of a medical indisposition). S/M T Halder (the existing NCM for 11 Area was re-elected) and S/M K Kerr MM was elected to fill the vacancy in the Scottish Area.
Election of Standing Orders Committee Members
Two members were due to stand down this year, Messrs S/Ms Baker and Peatling. However, in the absence of other candidates both agreed to continue in post.
Minutes of the 2008 Conference
The National President asked if any Shipmate had any difficulty with what is recorded in the Minutes as having been said in 2008? (No Response). The Minutes were adopted on a show of hands.
Matters arising from the Minutes of the 2008 Conference
The National President asked if there were any matters arising from the Minutes of the 2008 Conference? (No. sensible Response). There were no matters arising.
The Honorary Treasurer’s Report and Annual Accounts for 2008
The Honorary Treasurer presented his Report and the Annual Accounts. There were no questions on his detailed report which appears in the full Minutes of Conference. The Honorary Treasurer’s Report was approved by acclamation.
The National Council’s Report to Conference for 2008 (Full Transcript in Minutes)
The Report (delivered by the National Chairman, S/M D White MBE MSM) was accepted by acclamation.
The Report of the Finance and Administration Committee (delivered by its Chairman, S/M D White MBE MSM) was accepted by acclamation (Full Transcript in Minutes).
The Report of the Administration and Management Committee (delivered by its Chairman, S/M C Dovey) was accepted by acclamation (Full Transcript in Minutes).
Motions of Urgency (Full Transcript in Minutes)
Proposed by the Plymouth Branch and Seconded by the Saltash Branch:
“That the year 2011 National Conference be held in Plymouth on Saturday June 11th 2011” PASSED
Branch Motions (Full Transcript in Minutes)
Proposed by Isle of Sheppey Branch and seconded by Maidstone Branch :
“That this Conference agrees to hold the 2011 National Conference at Mill Rythe Holiday Camp, Hayling Island Nr Portsmouth, and Hants” FAILED
Discussion Topics on which no Vote was taken (Full Transcript in Minutes)
- How relevant is Conference to Members of the Royal Naval Association and how could the relevance be increased?
- Area Areas operating to their full capacity in furthering the best interests of the Royal Naval Association and should they have a broader role?
The Conference Prize Draw – Results
The results of the Conference Prize Draw, the profits of which go to the Central Charities Fund, were as follows:
First Prize of £400 - S/M J Broadley, Huddersfield
Second Prize of £300 - Llandudno Branch of the RNA
Third Prize of £200 - S/M F Worrall of Clacton-on-Sea
Fourth Prize of £100 - S/M I McQueen, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
TRAVELLING EXPENSES TO AND FROM NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2009
Pooled Fares (RNA Bye Law 3)
1. a. Delegates are to report their receipted reasonable travelling expenses to and from National Conference in the manner prescribed by the General Secretary. These sums will be pooled and the liability will be equally divided among ALL Branches of the Association, in the United Kingdom and Eire.
b. The difference between the pool share and the travelling expenses for the delegate will be adjusted. Branches whose delegate's travelling expenses exceed the pool share will receive the difference from Headquarters, and those whose delegate's travelling expenses are less than the pool share will be called upon to pay the difference into Headquarters, subject to a subsidy from Headquarters for small Branches.
c. The subsidies are 50% of the pool share for Branches with 15 or less Full Life, Full and Associate Members and 25% of the pool share for Branches with 16-30 Full Life, Full and Associate Members. Branches with 31 or more Full Life, Full and Associate Members pay the full pool share. The number of Full Life, Full and Associate Members for each Branch are calculated by Headquarters for the previous year as at 31 December .
d. Branches in the UK and Eire who do not send a delegate to Conference pay the pool share, subject to any subsidy as appropriate.
(i) The total fares claimed by delegates was £8205-58
(ii) There are 367 Branches in the UK and Eire liable to pay Pooled Fares
(iii) £8205.58 divided by 367 is £22-36 (Branches 31+) which represents the Pooled Fare.
(iv) 25% reduction in the Pooled Fare is £16-77 (Branches 16-30).
. (v) 50% reduction in the Pooled Fare is £11-18 (Branches 15 or less).
EXAMPLES:
(i) Saltash (35 F/L , F and A Members) sent a delegate. His fare was £112-30. They will be credited £22-36.
(ii) Wigan (28 F/L , F and A Members) did not send a delegate.
They will be debited £16-77.
(iii) Eastbourne (61 F/L, L and A Members) did not send a delegate. They will be debited £22-36.
e. Any query should be directed to the Deputy General Secretary. Delegates who DID NOT fill out the expense claim form supplied will have, as in previous years, been charged the standard Pool Fare Rate.
