MINUTES of the HMS BULWARK, ALBION & CENTAUR ASSOCIATION

AGM 2007 IN HARTLEPOOL

Held on Saturday 31^st March in the Captain’s Cabin onboard HMS Trincomalee

Sir Patrick was piped onboard by member Neil Pearson (1483)

Those present

Vice-Admiral Sir Patrick Symons - President

Colonel Mike Reece - Vice President

Mike Noonan - Chairman/Editor

Mick Dunnington - Vice Chairman

Robbie Cowan - Treasurer

Leigh Easton - Membership Sec.

Denis Askham - Historian/Area Rep.

George Sexton - NW Area Rep

Bob Styants - Midlands Area Rep

Neil Pearson/Harry Roddis - Yorkshire Reps

Tim Wilkinson - HMS Bulwark Padre

43 other members and guests attending.

Apologies received: John & Jackie Truscott Geoff Gooding (579) Cheyenne Body (1507)

Don Lord (1680) Alan Yeomans (1836)

Bryn Hughes, General Manager of HMS Trincomalee Trust greeted us and talked briefly about the ship, past and present.

The meeting was opened at 1205 hours to the following agenda.

Chairman’s Opening Remarks

Mike Noonan welcomed the President, Committee, members and guests present.

Leigh Easton named personnel who had crossed the bar. A 2-minute silence followed.

(007) Ned Parkinson (089) Arthur Farrer (101) Vic Wells

(235) George Brewer Captain Bulwark (1215) Charles Atkinson

(1534) Charles Shattock Commander Bulwark

(1847) Brian Greenwood RO1 (1997) Terry VC Morgan

Non Member Len Young Non Member Stephen Bailey

Last year’s minutes were agreed with no matters arising.

Proposed – Bungy Williams (508) Seconded - Jim Ure (461)

Membership Secretary Report

Leigh said as at 31 January the Membership stands at 586. This compares with 573 at the 31 March last year. Hence we have a modest increase. All figures refer to paid up members. Stable membership appears to be around the 550 mark. During the current 10 months we have welcomed 64 new members, and there were 51 defaulters. This is the lowest number of defaulters ever.

Thanks again to our illustrious treasurer and all his reminders, and Jackie with Channel 4 Teletext, Navy News and Warship World. 178 newspapers were written to and most took our ads. You’ll be pleased to note that NARPO agreed to run our ad. free of charge in their February edition.

Website.

Fortunately the website also contributes exceedingly well to the membership numbers and hopefully continues to be of interest. Major overhauls are carried out once per year - but this is really dependant on new material arriving.

Historian and Reps. Co-ordinator

Denis reported a busy year. The usual numerous enquiries for information about our ships and men who served on them. Thanks to everyone who sent photos & information. The feedback/response to his newsletter is always excellent. The association archives are now enhanced with some of Captain Brewer’s photos & artifax brought by Mike Noonan. Sales of commission book CD’s beyond expectation & adding to association’s coffers .Planning this Hartlepool event has been challenging but enjoyable. All regional reps. praised for their efforts in spreading the word.

Treasurers Report

Bob reported that the Chairman & Vice Chairman had audited the accounts. Donations including £330 in commission book CD’s. Full report & balance sheet in next R08.

Secretary’s Report

The Vice Chairman read this out. John & Jackie unable to attend here. Sec’s interim report was in the R08. 2006 “Suez” Social went well. There will be a Black-Tie Trafalgar Dinner in October 2009. Association Secretary is up for election. John will continue in an interim capacity but not indefinitely. 2008 AGM is booked in the Home Club, Portsmouth for Saturday 10^th May. Arboretum return planned for 2008. Thanks to Sir Patrick & the committee for their support during the past 7 years.

Vice Chairman’s comments on the Secs. Report

1 - Jackie should be voted in as Assistant Sec. She would attend meetings in Pompey etc.

2 – The tree at the arboretum has died. It was trimmed too much & never recovered. 1OO’s of other trees have perished as well. I am asking members for permission to build a plinth. Mick Dunnington (692) proposed the motion of looking into the feasibility of getting a plinth.

Seconded by Dave Pinder (927)

R08 Editor

Mike said this was the only contact with the association some members had or wanted & it was improving all the time. Coloured photos were enhancing the Journal but there weren’t too many around when most of us were serving. Mike tries to balance the stories between the 3 ships but is dependant on incoming material. Please send any dits for inclusion anytime.

Area Reps.

George Sexton communicates regularly with his area members. Doesn’t get much response but is grateful when he does.

Bob Styants reported that his newsletter doesn’t create much feedback & he gets little response from members. He said everything is covered in the R08.

Neil Pearson/ Harry Roddis were very upbeat about South Yorks area members. Some of them had recently been out for an evening meal together. Harry suggested that Ron Day (1394) would be willing to do an Xmas Card line drawing for the association.

Denis Askham thanked the area reps. for their efforts. He said Alan Yeomans had sent his apologies from Australia. Denis also thanked Mick Gilhespy for his local assistance in Hartlepool.

Tim Wilkinson – Padre of HMS Bulwark

Tim spoke about HMS Bulwark (L15) & the operation in Lebanon. The ship is currently in Basin 5 in Devonport. A new Captain, Jerry Blundell is joining the ship soon. Tim will be saying grace & prayers this evening at our social gathering. HMS Bulwark will be coming to Sunderland from Plymouth commencing Tuesday 29^th May. There are 5 places available.

Chairman

Mike spoke about the flyers recently sent out for current ship’s visits & he gave dates for trips on HMS Bulwark & HMS Albion.

Committee Elections

Secretary - No volunteers

Treasurer - Robbie Cowan

Proposed – Bungy Williams (508) Seconded – Jim Ure (461)

Editor of R08 - Mike Noonan.

Proposed–George Sexton (1604) Seconded–Dave Pinder (927)

Committee member -John Truscott.

Proposed–Mick Dunnington Seconded – Mick Axford (1142)

Social Secretary -Jackie Truscott Proposed - Mick Dunnington (692) Seconded – Harold Roddis (1482)

AGM Proposals

- Sponsor a Sea Cadet from TS Bulwark, TS Albion & TS Centaur. 1 cadet a year for 1 week on TS Royalist. A cost of £220 for 1 cadet.

Proposed by George Sexton (1604) Seconded by Jim Ure (461)

- Life Membership of the association to Leigh Easton & Denis Askham for their positive contribution.

Proposed by Neil Pearson (1483) Seconded by Roy Walton (22)

Social Event

Mick Dunnington reminded everyone of the social dinner in October 2007. Contact John Truscott for tickets.

AOB

Alex Stoddart (2038) asked about a commission book for Bulwark 9 commission. Denis said that one hadn’t been produced for that period.

Peter McTaggart (1307) said there was no reference to Centaur’s 1^st commission which he was on. Denis said one hadn’t been produced but he promised to send Peter the HMS Centaur book by Neil McCart (1943-1972) for his perusal.

Mike Noonan said the pussers rum for the social evening had been donated.

Ron Day (1394) said our thoughts should be with the 15 sailors held in Iran. The Padre said he would mention this at the evening social.

Mike Noonan said that any other suggested locations for our annual event would be looked at. Bob Styants talked about Birmingham Nautical Club.

AGM 2009

Date confirmed as Saturday 9^th May.

President’s Closing Address

Sir Patrick thanked the Chairman & General Manager of the HMS Trincomalee Trust for their hospitality and wished them well for future projects. He thanked the committee & Denis in particular for organising the weekend events. Sir Patrick also mentioned Captain George Brewer who handed over command of HMS Bulwark in 1980.

Chairman closed the meeting at 1355 hours.