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EVENTS
& NEWS |
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FAABA EVENTS /
NEWS |
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Page last updated
09 June 2021
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REQUEST
FROM BBC REGARDING 'TORREY CANYON BOMBING' |
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Mario Cacciottolo has sent a letter to various
FAA organisations as he is trying to contact
veterans involved in the Torrey Canyon Bombing
during 1967. If anyone can offer advice on tracking
down veterans involved in this incident, or they
themselves were involved please contact him at
mario.cacciottolo@bbc.co.uk A full copy of the
letter can be downloaded or viewed by clicking on
the image.
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Those who weren't at Lossiemouth but were involved
at Brawdy or Yeovilton may also want to contact
Mario with their experiences. |
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SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION - 13TH APRIL |
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Tina Cullen, Verger at the FAA Memorial Church has
posted the following message:
Following on from last year’s successful get
together of Associations, we would like to invite
you and your members to join us on Palm Sunday (13
April) for a service of Holy Communion which will
include the traditional Palm Sunday Procession, the
blessing of any Standards present and prayers for
members who have died in the year since the last
service. In good, Church of England tradition, there
will be tea and cake available after the service!
Last year we had good attendance due to the Junglie
Association being in the area following their AGM.
This will not be the case this year so we would
really appreciate your support in sending
representatives of your Association to this, YOUR
church.
Below are images of the ceremony held on Sunday 13th |
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FAABA REUNION COVENTRY
JUNE 2013 |
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The 2013 Reunion was held at the Royal Court Hotel
at Coventry from Friday 7th June until Sunday 9th
June.
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CARRIER
QUEEN ELIZABETH IN NEW YORK |
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Some pictures taken by Royal Navy
Photographers & other when the Queen Elizabeth
arrived in New York yesterday 19th October. |
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A PHOENIX
RISING FROM THE ASHES |
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809 NAS
is to be resurrected as the first Royal Navy
formation to fly the Lightning II Joint Strike
Fighter aircraft. |
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809 Naval Air Squadron, whose motto is simply
‘Immortal’, is to be reformed to operate the
fifth-generation stealth aircraft that will fly from
the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Class carriers from
2018.
The Lightning II aircraft will be jointly operated
by pilots from the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Air
Force.
Earlier this year, it was announced by the Chief of
the Air Staff that the famous 617 ‘Dambusters’
Squadron would be the first RAF squadron to fly the
jets. Both Royal Navy and RAF pilots are already
training on the Lightning II aircraft alongside the
US Marine Corps at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
809 Naval Air Squadron, which dates back to the
Second World War, has been selected by the First Sea
Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas, because of its
history of striking at the enemy in operations
across the globe. In previous incarnations, aircraft
from the squadron supported an attack on Hitler’s
flagship, supported the invasions of North Africa,
Italy and southern France during the Second World
War and saw action in Suez in 1956.
It was last reformed to support operations in the
Falkland Islands; the squadron also flew the Navy’s
last Buccaneer, a low-level strike bomber flown in
the 1960s and 1970s.
Admiral Zambellas said:
I am delighted to announce that the name of the
second Lightning II squadron, when it forms, will be
809 Naval Air Squadron. This squadron number is
chosen to link with and reflect the proud and
distinguished history of embarked carrier strike,
from the Second World War to the Falklands.
The early naming of 809 alongside the RAF’s 617
‘Dambusters’ Squadron is a very visible
demonstration of a joint ambition, spirit of
collaboration and shared equity in the Joint
Lightning Force.
When not at sea as part of the UK’s carrier strike
force, the squadron will be based at RAF Marham in
Norfolk. The joint nature of the squadrons means
naval personnel will serve with the Dambusters, and
their Air Force counterparts will do likewise on 809
Naval Air Squadron. (see
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/royal-navy-air-squadron-reformed-to-fly-new-jets
for more information.
To read the full speech by the First Sea Lord to
RUSI
click here |
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REMEMBRANCE DAY AT THE CENOTAPH & FAA MEMORIAL |
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| Pictures of the
FAABA Contingent taken by Mick Gowan at the
Remembrance Day Ceremony in London on the 11th
November and also the at the FAA Memorial
afterwards. |
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It was excellent to see so many association members
in London today on such a glorious Remembrance Day.
The gathering at the FAA Memorial on Embankment was
a fine event once again.
There was feedback about the long wait whilst
associations gathered to march to Embankment, and
whilst some waiting is inevitable at such an event
it is unfortunate nonetheless. This will be
discussed at the next meeting, but overall I am sure
an excellent day was had by all.
Attached are some poems written by the children of
Windale Primary School, which sum things up very
nicely. Many thanks to the children, and to their
Deputy Head Teacher Mrs Vicky Williams for bringing
them to London to be shared with all.
Regards,
Phil Carpenter
Secretary, Fly Navy Federation |
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Childrens Letters 1 |
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Childrens Letters 2 |
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Click on images and hyperlinks
to view pictures and the childrens' letters |
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FAA Memorial Stone at the National Memorial Arboretum
Update on the FAA Memorial at the NMA
Repairs:
Paddy Clark (FAAOA) attended the last meeting of
the FNF and gave a comprehensive brief on the
completion of repairs to the frost-damage, and
for detailing the proposals for the placement of
logos and crests. It has been decided to
monitor the paintwork, which is ‘ageing’ as
opposed to looking tatty. Currently finance for
the day-to-day upkeep of the memorial is not
considered an issue, but this will continue to
be monitored over the coming years.
Logos and crests:
A proposal for the placement of logos and crests
was discussed, and a general plan for uniformity
of design agreed in principle involving the
placing of sandstone ‘paving’ stones separate
from, but surrounding the memorial, with
association logos and squadron crests
sand-blasted on to individual stones. This was
closest to plan ‘B’ from the original 3 options
and was agreed by the majority because it was
cost-effective (requiring sandstone rather than
expensive Portland stone), offered the greatest
uniformity, excellent longevity, minimal
maintenance, and the largest number of
logos/crests to be placed (up to 78 initially,
with room for expansion in the future). Initial
ground-works will need to be completed and blank
sandstones placed. The stones will then be
removed by associations /squadrons for their
specific logo/crest to be sandblasted on to
before being formally ‘placed’. Bronze plaques
were discussed but considered too expensive due
to each having to be individually cast.
Funding for the ground-works needs to be found
(cost approximately £8000) and, if all
associations agree to assist, will be in the
region of £750-£1000 per association.
Although it is a fairly large cost to bear it
must be remembered that it is a memorial for the
entire FAA that will last for many generations,
and will be a great legacy to the generosity of
the associations of the Federation.
Association representatives agreed to discuss
this with their members at the first available
opportunity, and to let the Secretary know the
outcome and amount of funds willing to be added
to the ‘pot’, in order that the ground-works can
be started as soon as possible. The FAAOA
has generously agreed that once it is apparent
that funds will be forthcoming from other
associations it will underwrite the initial cost
in order that work can begin – hopefully before
the end of 2010. Each sandstone block will then
cost approximately £200 per association/squadron
for (in due course) removal, sandblasting with
logo/crest and final placement. We intend to
raise this money from the raffle at our 2011
reunion but of course anyone who cannot make the
reunion is welcome to send a donation to the
Treasurer.
The FAABA also will be launching an appeal for
donations for the ground works in 2011, but we
are also looking at the viability of holding a
fund raising charity dinner at Yeovilton in 2011
which will be an open invite to any serving and
ex FAA personnel. We have two ideas, one being
the WO & SR Mess the other a dinner under
Concorde at the FAA Museum. Any feedback on
support for either proposal most welcome. (see
other article further down this page)
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency
The
services of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency is
available to all former members of HM Armed Forces. Full
details of the agency can be found on
www.veterans-uk.info You can also call the free
helpline on 0800 169 2277, send an Email to
veterans.help@spva.gsi.gov.uk or write to:
The
Veterans Advice Team
Service
Personnel and Veterans Agency
Tomlinson House
Norcross
Thornton-Cleveleys
FY5 3WP
Best regards
Dave Clark
FN100 Newsletters
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COVENTRY REUNION JUNE 2010 |
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800 Squadron Aircraft Maintainers from 1970 -
1972 aboard HMS Eagle attended the recent FAABA
10th Reunion
40 years later to catch up and have a drink
together (Click on images to see them full size)
1. Mario DeMarco, 2. Nigel Garbett, 3. Tony
Wiffin, 4. Chris Walsh, 5. Dave Morgan, 6. Gary
Perkins |
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More 800 Squadron Maintainers meet again
Alistair Gilbert and Allan (Jimmy) Green decided
to recreate their pose of sitting on the edge of
a Buccaneer cockpit previously carried out
during HMS Eagle's Far East Tour during 1967/68.
Thanks go to Guy Hulme who supplied a
Buccaneer at Bruntingthorpe on Saturday
afternoon 19th June for the two friends to
recreate the photo.
A
Health & Safety risk assessment found they were
too old to use the ladders without falling off
so we had a platform provided. |
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| COVENTRY 2010 DECLARED A
RESOUNDING SUCCESS |
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All FAABA Members and Guests who attended the
10th Annual Reunion at the Royal Court Hotel at
Coventry voted it a resounding
success; many new faces were seen and found to
be enjoying themselves. The price of drinks had
risen to £2 a pint but even that was not enough
to put a damper on the weekend as can be seen
from the happy faces of drinkers in the photo
below. |
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On the left are another group of
happy faces (from the 'Happy Hermes' of
1967/68); these are some of the aircraft
maintainers from the Fleet Air Arm's longest serving
Buccaneer Squadron (809).
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| Taff Davis +
Don Cockle |
Johnny Tuke + Mal Drinkwater |
Left to Right: Jimmy
Andrews, Johnny Tuke, Don Cockle, Alex
Muir, Billy Boyd. Missing is Mal
Drinkwater who must have been sent for
the next round of drinks; he was
definitely at the reunion having
travelled from Texas two years running. |
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Three FAABA
Members who
joined up together at HMS Ganges
in 1964 as part of Frobisher 781
Class also got together over the
weekend to remember how long ago
they had first met and to drink
to 46 years as friends.
Left to Right: Jim Reynolds,
Al McGurk, Phil Glover |
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FAA CONTINGENT AT THE CENOTAPH / FAA MEMORIAL IN
NOVEMBER 2010 |
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THE
PUZZLE OF THE "CAIRD CHALLENGE CUP" HAS BEEN
SOLVED |
Peter Caird
(the Half Brother of Midshipman Alexander J. Caird) has
written to the RAF base at Lossiemouth giving further
details about his life. He was the son of
Alexander Peter Caird (an officer in
the Royal Artillery) and Doris Jarvis Caird (Both
now deceased and previously divorced). The Midshipman
was listed as Missing presumed killed whilst flying on
the 24 June 1952 from HMS Fulmar. We still do not have
any idea what the cup was awarded for although it was
presented to RNAS Lossiemouth by Lt. Col. and Mrs G A
Haward in memory of her son and his step-son.
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Further
Research has now established the following
details;
Pilot of 766 Squadron
Firefly Mk1 DK569
Flying from HMS Fulmar his
aircraft crashed into the sea at Logey Head.
Whilst carrying out a quarter attack he spun off
a steep turn and failed to recover. |
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Chris Adams (Ex Lossie &
849HQ/B Flt) has passed on a story that appeared
in the Northern Scot Newspaper in January
& February this year; has anyone heard of this
cup?
Sergeant Tony Carlin, station
historian at RAF Lossiemouth, is appealing for
help to solve a puzzle. In November, a trophy
arrived in the post in a package addressed to
the station museum. There was no letter
accompanying it, nor any information about who
had sent it - the only information available was
the inscription on the trophy and its name - the
“Caird Challenge Cup”.
Sgt Carlin says: “I have done some research and
found out that Midshipman Caird died in a flying
incident at RNAS Lossiemouth in 1952; his plane
crashed into the sea. But I don't know anything
about The Caird Challenge Cup. If we could find
out a bit more about the trophy we could decide
if the cup should stay in the museum at RAF
Lossiemouth. Also, it would be interesting to
know who sent me the trophy.” |
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The
trophy, which is silver and stands 22cm high,
was sent in a package that was postmarked
Thetford (Norfolk). The inscription on the lid
reads: In memory of Midshipman A.J. Caird from
his parents Lt Col & Mrs G.A. Haward and Family
24th June 1952.
On
one side of the trophy is the inscription: The
Caird Challenge Cup, RNAS Lossiemouth.
And on the reverse side is a list of
recipients/winners from 1952 to 1962 including
RAF Kinloss, Sgt Parsons, CPO Cox, CPO Moore and
CPO Lillington RNSA. |
Click here to
view
Article 1 &
Article 2 |
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PICTURES FROM THE FIXED WING REUNION AT
YEOVILTON |
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Pictures by Alan Breward taken at the FAA Fixed Wing Reunion
Dinner; click on a picture to enlarge |
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FAA MEMORIAL AT THE NATIONAL
ARBORETUM |
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We have been asked to provide a plaque to
commemorate the FAA Buccaneer Association that will
probably be positioned on the memorial plinth and the FAABA
have already donated £500 to
help with this project, with further funding coming from
the sale of whiskey. We are now asking for donations for the
final phase which is the outer groundworks and siting of the
stones. (updated, see article at top of this page)
Please
send your donations to Dave Clark making the cheque
payable to the FAABA and marking the reverse of the
cheque 'Nat. Arboretum Fund'. If everyone in the
Association sent £5 we would meet and exceed our target
and send out a clear message of support to the FNF.
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FAABA 9TH ANNUAL REUNION
- COVENTRY 2009 |
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FAABA Members outside the Royal Court Hotel on
Saturday 6th June. Another successful reunion was held with many new
faces enjoying the Royal Court Hotel facilities on the Friday and
Saturday. More details will be published over the next few days.....
Pictures can be viewed by clicking on the button below
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Pictures from 2009 Reunion |
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CENTENARY SERVICE AT ST PAULS
CATHEDRAL |
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A service of thanksgiving and remembrance was held on the morning of Friday 8th May 2009 at St Paul's Cathedral to commemorate One Hundred Years of Naval Aviation. The service was open to anyone who had served with the Fleet Air Arm or who has/had close connections with the Service. Alan Breward attended this event and has made some pictures available..............
Click here to view a selection |
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The Swordfish Centenary Beer
was launched in London on Wednesday 20th May and is now
on draught in Weatherspoons and in bottles at
Tesco, Please see attached image of Swordfish
Beer... the bottle has changed (it is bigger now) and
the label is slightly larger with more Fairey Swordfish
on it. A portion of the profits goes to the Heritage
Trust so get drinking with a clear conscience. A launch
of FN100 stamps was also made available from the launch
date. |
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THE LIMES CHARITY BALL - 17TH
NOVEMBER 2012 |
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This event will be held at The Limes Country Lodge,
Earlswood (just off the M42) on Saturday 17th
November, Up Spirits at 1830. The Black Tie event is
held at the premises of one of our members, Dave
(Birdie) Morris with all proceeds going to Service
Charities. Last years event was a fantastic night
out with a packed entertainment package from comedy
to music with a casino and late night dancing for
“The Stayers”!!! The association has booked two
tables of 10 so first names received will get the
tickets. |
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For those of you who did not attend the Elgin Reunion
this year why not come to the Limes Charity Ball
instead.
Those who wish to attend this excellent
Ball please give their expression of interest to
either Les Smith, Dave Clark or Brian Stanley.
We have provisionally booked two tables. |
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Picture from the
2011 ball
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Presentation of
an Engraved Bell to the WO & SNCO’s Mess HMS Fulmar |
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Dave Clark, the secretary of the FAABA, returned to
the WO & SNCO Mess on the 23rd July 2008 and presented WO
Dianne McLeish, the CMC, with a beautiful brass hand bell as
a thank you to the mess for allowing them to hold this
memorable function here. Dave once again acknowledged that
the mess had been excellent hosts for the evening and the
members of the association had been delighted at having the
opportunity to return to RAF Lossiemouth after such a long
period. Mr Hughie Williams the Chairman, of the recently
reformed HMS Fulmer Association also attended the
presentation. The CMC rang the bell to celebrate its arrival
and to signal “Toofers” before placing it behind the Top Bar
(the old Petty Officers Mess) where hopefully it will be
rung many more times by the members of the mess |
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Dave Clark, Diana
McLeish (CMC RAF Lossiemouth) and Hughie Williams |
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BUCCANEER
ASSOCIATION AT THE CENOTAPH NOVEMBER 2013 |
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A selection of pictures provided
by Mick Gowen taken whilst the contingent awaited
their turn to march past the Cenotaph |
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THE BARRACUDA PROJECT
(SUSPENDED) |
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The Fleet Air Arm
Museum currently have a project underway to rebuild
a Fairey Barracuda from a pile of damaged parts and
other items recovered from crash sites over the
years. There is no example of this aircraft anywhere
as all examples have been destroyed with no
survivors. As Captain Eric Brown says;
“Here is news to stir all naval
aviators, a Fairey Barracuda is to be
restored to rise phoenix-like form the
wrecks of others. The once prolific
Barra – some 2,600 were built by the
Fairey, Blackburn, Boulton Paul and
Westland factories for the Fleet Air
Arm, where the aircraft received a mixed
reception. It was never a pleasing sight
in flight, and a positive eyesore when
in the landing configuration. However,
to be fair to the Barra it was not all
bad news, for although it did not
perform at all well in the
torpedo-dropping role, it could lay
claim to being an effective dive-bomber.
Most indisputable of all, it was the
easiest aeroplane to land on an aircraft
carrier, and so with the help of rocket
assistance, for take-off. It was able to
operate from small carriers and give
valuable anti-submarine protection to
convoys in the Battle of the Atlantic.
All in all, a welcome will await this
orphan of the storms when it finally
re-appears as the only one of its type
in the world.”
-Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown, CBE,
DSC, AFC, MA, Hon FRAeS, RN
The Buccaneer
Association would like to publicise this to help
bring it to the attention of all who could donate
funds to the project, regardless of how little that
is.
LATEST NEWS
CLICK HERE |
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How it looks now |
How it could look like (with TLC) |
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How to donate?
Donate online via the Just
Giving website page at
http://www.justgiving.com/Fleet-Air-Arm-Museum-Barracuda-Project
Need more information? Use these links;
http://www.barracudaproject.co.uk/
http://www.fleetairarm.com/barracuda-restoration-project.aspx
To
download a poster to help publicise this
Click Here |
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JOHN KEENAN'S SELF BUILD
PROJECT |
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The culmination of John Keenan's 3
years of hard work in New Zealand building his own
aircraft, whilst the rest of us were down the pub he
was getting energy from somewhere. For those who
don't know John he was on 801 Buccaneer Squadron at
an early stage of his career. |
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FOR NON-MEMBERS OF THE
BUCCANEER ASSOCIATION WHO WISH TO ATTEND THE REUNION
AT THE MANSFIELD HOTEL, ELGIN ON THE 12TH AND/OR
13TH JUNE 2020 FOR THE MEAL AND EVENING FUNCTION
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| If you wish to attend the reunion
and are not a member of the Buccaneer Association
please download a copy of both the forms listed
below; please read the "FAABA Reunion 2020 NM Meal
letter" before filling out and returning your "Meal
Booking Form". Any queries please email Robin Harper
at
robinh49@btinternet.com as soon as possible.
Please note: This will be the only
method of booking meals as the hotel will only take
orders through FAABA; there is also a supplementary
charge towards the evenings entertainment for each
guest as well. |
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Download the "FAABA Reunion 2020
Non-Members Meal Letter":
Click_Here
Download the "FAABA Meal Booking Form
2020 Non-Members 28-6-19 Version" (Word Doc):
Click_Here
or alternatively;
Download the "FAABA Meal Booking Form
2020 Non-Members 28-6-19 Version" (.pdf):
Click_Here |
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BUCCANEER ASSOCIATION 17TH ANNUAL
REUNION - 2ND - 4TH JUNE 2017 |
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The FAABA Reunion will be held from Friday 2nd
June until Sunday 4th June at the Royal
Court Hotel near Coventry (CV7 8JG).
The
Association are inviting all Ark Royal and other
carrier Air Groups (any commission) as well as the
892 & SHAR Associations to the reunion who wish to
attend. |
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| Prices: (all prices per
person) |
£ |
| 3 Nights (Friday, Saturday,
Sunday) |
150 |
| 2 Nights (Fri/Sat or
Sat/Sun) |
120 |
| 1 Night (Saturday Only) |
80 |
| Thursday night prior (if
required) |
50 |
| Friday Carvery (non hotel
guests) |
18 |
| Sat Gala Dinner (non hotel
guests) |
25 |
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the Royal Marine Association Dance Band & Singers.
To cover the cost of the superior music provided at
the Gala Dinner; a one off charge of £10 will be
levied on all guests including members. Any
shortfall will be met from association funds. |
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The usual one-off charge of £10 for
pre-dinner drinks will be levied on all persons
attending except Full and Life Members of the
association. This covers Friday & Saturday night's.
Drink Prices (Our Bar Only):
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| 2.50 |
House Wine, Bitter, 2 types of Lager,
Cider |
| 3.00 |
Guinness |
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| Due to a change in
policy by the Britannia Hotel Group, all hotel
bookings have to be made direct with them using the
attached booking form; please print it out then
complete it and scan it. On completion email it to
the hotel using the address given on the form (or
put it in the post). For your security, the form
requires you to pay by cheque or Credit Card only
(No debit cards), you type/write in only the first
four and last 4 digits of your credit card number.
When the hotel receives the form they will email or
write to you for the other numbers on the credit
card to complete the transaction. I asked Brian
Sharrock (Event's Organizer) if the hotel could
confirm that the card details would not be used
until two months prior to the event and this is the
answer I received. “I have spoken to the Royal
Court Hotel this morning ref question raised by Phil
on payments for reunion, the hotel say that once
they receive the booking form they contact the guest
and ask them if they want to pay up front or if they
want payment made 8 weeks prior to event (2-April).
As for cancellation they will give full refund up to
48hrs before the event.” |
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Once a month we will receive
details of bookings from the hotel and we will
prepare a list of members and guests attending. If
possible would all those attending inform Brian
Sharrock at
sharrockb@hotmail.co.uk with details of their
booking.
We will send out a form nearer to
the event to all those attending with details of
payment required to the association for pre-dinner
drinks and for the RMA Dance Band. |
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SHAR
2020 REUNION
20TH-21ST MARCH AT DRAYTON MANOR
HOTEL |
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The Sea Harrier
Association would like to invite any members of the
Buccaneer Association to join them during their
annual reunion in March this year.
The weekend is 20th-21st March at Drayton Manor
Hotel, which is part of the Drayton Manor theme park
complex at Tamworth, B78 3TW.
The week end will consist of a dinner Friday night
and a Gala evening on the Saturday
Single room - Friday - £126.50. Saturday - £140.00.
both includes B+B & Evening dinner
Double room - Friday £158. Saturday £185 includes
both B+B & Evening 'Gala' dinner.
Saturday Evening will be a 'Gala Evening' to
celebrate 40 years since the First Front Line Sea
Harrier Squadron commissioning and we plan to have a
band to play. Which will be subsidised by the
Association. Therefore, should any of your members
be interested we'd charge an extra £10 for the
Saturday.
No payment is expected yet and we are going to
arrange with the Hotel that a booking can be made
using a booking code and secured with a credit card.
Payment will only be taken on arrival or should you
fail to attend and do not cancel the booking within
an arranged period.
Yours Aye
Bob Gellett
Sea Harrier Association Membership Secretary;
SHAR Association
sharamem@hotmail.co.uk |
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2020 FAABA REUNION AT
MANSEFIELD HOTEL ELGIN |
From Robin Harper:
Every available room at the Mansefield hotel, Elgin
has now been booked by members for next year's
reunion; if any members haven't yet booked they can
still contact me to be put on a reserve list in case
of cancellations.
There is also a Guest House just across the road
from the hotel called St. Michaels.
www.stmichaelsguesthouse.co.uk. It looks very
nice and the prices are not far off what we are
paying. It has 8 rooms. |
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2020
FAABA REUNION ELGIN (12TH - 14TH JUNE) |
| If any members of the association
haven't heard from the Secretary - Next year the
reunion will be held at the Mansefield House Hotel
in Elgin. This hotel is expected to provide a better
level of accommodation than our usual hotel and due
to a previous booking here our usual dates around
the first weekend in June have not been available.
If you would like to attend please make your wishes
known to Robin Harper using his email address shown
at the bottom of this page. Demand for rooms is high
so an early notice will be essential in being able
to stay in the hotel where the FAABA Reunion Dinner
is being held.
The Mansefield Hotel is in the
centre of town so booking another hotel nearby will
not be a major issue for those not able to obtain a
room there.
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THE CENOTAPH AND RBL
REMEMBRANCE PARADE 2020 (CANCELLED) |
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From Brian Stanley,
Concurrently, the Legion has been
working with DCMS, the MoD and others to define the
planning parameters for the annual Remembrance
weekend given the ongoing restrictions in place to
minimise the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The
Legion team is acutely aware that Associations
administrative timeline is now short and that your
members will be keen to understand the arrangements
that are now in place for a reduced and socially
distanced Cenotaph Dispersal in this exceptional
year.
Whilst the overall number of participants in this
year’s Cenotaph Dispersal must be significantly
reduced to approximately 2200 to comply with social
distancing guidelines, it is also considered hugely
important that in the centenary year of The
Cenotaph, every Service Association is able to be
represented. To that end, each association will be
allocated eight spaces. |
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Please respond ASAP to me if you want
to attend. Sadly I wont be attending as only
yesterday the Street RBL Chairman and I came up with
a plan to celebrate here in Street and Glastonbury
involving the Parish council and Police as I hadn’t
heard from the headquarters. |
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Brian Stanley
defstan2@gmail.com |
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THE LOSS OF THE SS ALMEDA STAR
ON THE 17TH JANUARY 1941 |
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80 Years ago this Sunday on the 17th
January 1941 the SS Almeda Star was sunk on its way
to Trinidad, this resulted in the loss of 360 crew,
Gunners and Passengers. Amongst the passengers there
were 20 Officers and 120 Ratings of the Fleet Air
Arm transiting to HMS Goshawk, the Royal Naval Air
Station at Piarco, Trinidad. Also among the
passenger were 7 family members of the Aircrew.
Please keep them in your thoughts this Sunday. You
can read more about this devastating loss by opening
or downloading the pdf files supplied below.
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Story of the Loss of the SS Almedar Star |
The Fleet Air Arm Roll of Honour - SS Almeda Star
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Click on the images above to download
or read the pdf files |
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REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY 2019 |
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Pictures from the 2019 Remembrance
Sunday event supplied by Chris Lawrence |
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Click on any image to see full size |
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VJ75 DAY
COMMEMORATIONS HELD BY THE FLEET AIR ARM ASSOCIATION
AT THE FLEET AIR ARM WAR MEMORIAL AT LEE ON SOLENT,
SATURDAY 15TH AUGUST 2020. |
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From Jim Moulson (FAAA). Just a quick
note to say thanks to all who mustered on Saturday
morning, it was a good turnout complete with
Standard Bearer and a RM Bugler. The weather was
kind to us and there were a good number of our
ladies there to support us. The Bugler was a
complete mystery to me and he said that he had tried
to contact me and sent an email which I never
received. However, the mystery was solved by the
Webmaster, Ray Day, following the post I put on
Facebook. A lady, the Bugler's friend/partner was
browsing and came across the post and contacted Ray
who gave her my contact details. Even though we
never spoke he turned up on the off chance that he
might be needed, problem solved. Below is a copy of
what was published on the FAAA Website, FAAA
Facebook and the FAAA unofficial Facebook page, so
hopefully reaching out to people who may consider
joining the Association. |
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An excellent turnout on Saturday at
the Fleet Air Arm Memorial, Lee-on-Solent to pay our
respects to the fallen of the conflict against the
Japanese during WW2. There were 16 members in total
including our National Secretary Peter Murray who
had travelled down from Pinner to join us. It was
touch and go with regards to the Standard, our
official Standard Bearer, Ben Fenn, was unavailable,
but at the last hour on Friday evening our previous
holder of the post, Ron Chitty, offered to come out
of retirement for the event. A very fine job he did
too for a mere snip of a man at 89 years of age!
Also to our surprise, a very smart gentleman was
standing with the members, on introduction it turned
out to be a ex Royal Marine Bugler who offered to
sound the last post and reveille for us. I had no
idea how he found out we were going to hold a small
informal ceremony. Just before 11:00 The Last Post
was sounded, the Standard dipped, followed by 2
minutes silence and then reveille. On completion the
wreaths were laid, the Association National by me
and the Solent by the chairman Charlie Fitzgerald. A
lot of people walking along the sea front also
stopped and paid their respects. On completion we
had a well deserved "up spirits", after a while we
dispersed to retire to the Court Barn Conservative
Club for a beer and bite to eat.
A huge thanks to all who joined the gathering, not
forgetting our ladies too who came along to support
us, as they always do and to our visiting
photographer, Jenny. I must say that the Memorial
and the surrounds are looking a bit tatty, I may
need to call on the Buffers Party (Solent Branch
volunteers) to spruce it up! |
The Wreaths |
Ron Chitty |
Mustered |
2 Minutes Silence |
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Up Spirits |
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