Merseyside Branch

of the Submariners Association

Branch President

Vice Admiral Paul Lambert CB

Submariners Times

April - June 2010

Merseyside Branch

President:  Vice-Admiral Paul Lambert CB

Vice-President: - Les West                      Vice-Chairman: - Sam Price

Social Secretary: - Dave Devins

Secretary’s Locker

Hello Sailor,

All right, shipmates, how are you keeping?  Here we are again with our latest edition. To those of you receiving on the Internet you will notice no difference, but those receiving hard copies in the mail will note that it is in colour (where applicable) for the first time. This is because, in the constant search to reduce our outgoings, your Chairman, Pedler Palmer, has undertaken to do the printing of this and future issues to help achieve some savings for the branch. For all our readers still getting copies by snail mail this is quite a task he has taken on board, and his time and efforts on our behalf should be duly appreciated by all concerned.

Our 2010 Annual Dinner, held in the Eldonian Village centre, was once again a resounding success that had Pedler’s organisation and attention to detail stamped all over this wonderful occasion. Over 85 guests attended and our tables were graced by the attendance of our National SA President, Admiral Sir James Perowne KB, his lovely wife, Lady Nicola, and our own Branch President, Vice Admiral Paul Lambert CB, who, despite having to take an early morning flight next day from Heathrow to Washington DC on official MoD business, still managed to attend our special night. There cannot be many branches that have a brace of Admirals so dedicated to their involvement in a veterans association as that which we enjoy, and we thank them both for their continuing friendship and support of the branch.

Quite a lot going on of late so I will try and summarise. The 2010 Annual SA Conference was held and hosted in Weymouth by Dorset Submariners. Traveling by various routes to the venue, the Riviera Hotel, around 28 Merseyside members and their wives attended this great weekend. David Heap and his committee pulled out all the stops by providing us with a venue that gave us excellent service with scran that was absolutely five-star fare. This was matched only by the great entertainment laid on for both evenings including singing and comedian acts, all of which were superb. Thirty-nine branch representatives along with their observers attended the Saturday afternoon conference, which was a record turnout for this event. Bravo Zulu to our Dorset shipmates for a tremendous weekend and for their warm hospitality.

The AGM was held in March and all your committee members were returned to office unopposed. As always we will seek to confirm your trust in us by providing the usual transparency with regards to branch business and finances, and continue to disseminate all relevant information to you especially those living out of town, thus keeping you all in the loop. We shall also endeavour to provide as many social events as possible during the forthcoming year. Talking entertainment, Shep Woolley, complete with his guitar and a pocketful of new songs and dits from his latest album, “Grumpy Old Matelot” wowed us all with a terrific show in April at HMS Eaglet in Liverpool. All hands enjoyed a truly brilliant evening, and we thank Shep profusely for taking time from his busy schedule to do a buckshee show for our benefit – BZ.

Yours Aye

Pedro

Top Photo: - New additions to the Fleet: Astute and Dauntless together In Faslane