Once Navy Always Navy

The Overseas Area

Shipmate John Bailey a visitor to South African waters and apparently global traveller from Yorkshire (Huddersfield Branch?) was here just before Christmas.
John who enjoys back packing holidays first port of call was Capetown of which he contacted the

Capetown RNA branch which was closed for the holiday season as well as the East London branch which was also closed, but the secretary there was able to put together a lunchtime meeting with John and the local shipmates before he moved on to Kwazulu Natal and made contact with our Secretary Mike Jackson.
Mike in his normal tradition invited John into his inn eh sorry house for Christmas day not allowing John to spend it at a lonely backpackers place or a barn and because he was such good company was invited back to celebrate New Year with Mike, wife, family and friends.
Three days before John left South Africa on the rest of the tour he was doing, several other local shipmates joined John at Mike's again for a bar-bee-que to bid him a fond farewell and God speed.
We would like to wish all shipmates a Happy and hopefully prosperous 2008
From the shipmates of Natal, South Africa.

MESSAGE FROM THE NEWLY APPOINTED OVERSEAS CORRESPONDING REPRESENTATIVE

To all Overseas Branches
At the 2007 Annual Conference it was requested by Overseas Branches that they have representation on National Council.  This motion was agreed and it was decided that this Representative should be a non-elected Member of the Council.  As a Vice President of the Association I was invited to occupy this position on the National Council and was happy to accept.
To be of maximum use to the Overseas Branches I will rely to a great extent on your input.  This will enable me to voice your views, complaints and anything else you wish to put before National Council.  Additionally, if you consider any other ways in which I might be of assistance, do not hesitate to contact me.
My e-mail address is vhayhoe@onwight.net.  My home telephone number and fax number is 01983810919.  My home address is 5 Banbury Close, Ryde, Isle of Wight PO33 1DP.
I have already had the pleasure of contact with one Overseas Branch.  While on holiday recently in Malta I had the opportunity to spend a social evening with members of the Royal British Legion Club in Valetta".

Geoff Hayhoe MBE
Vice President  

Natal Branch Shipmates enjoy a Sunday mid-day barbeque or braai as we call it here