N. S. T. School/College. 'Gravesend' News Page
The A G M 2012
Will be held at the National Sea Training Centre.
N W Kent College. Gravesend Campus Gravesend Kent DA12 2JJ
Time of arrival 10am for 10-30 AGM Meeting. Noon for 12-30 Luncheon
The cost will be £12.00 pp. booking forms with payment to be returned to G/Sec 15 Springbok Cottages ALFOLD Surrey before April 20th 2012. The booking forms will be issued with your March Masthead.
Anyone who who wishes to attend and has not got the form please contact me ASAP on 01403 753525.
Please give us your support.I would also like to invite any of the Vindi boy's along who wish to come along and join us they will be most welcome. And look at our college of today.Much better than our time we must all addmit
John D Meadowcroft MN Ret President
Dear Members.
As you can see by the following our Chairman / Standard Bearer
John Delamere has had rather a busy year by promoting our association and attending lots of events. Also Gordon and David who have been keeping you up to date with our wonderful Masthead.
My thanks go out to John, Gordon & David, for their great effort in keeping our association together, I am sure this applies for all of our members also.
2011 - ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR THE STANDARD
Sunday 17th April 2011
St. Peters Church, Old Woking
Having formed up in the local car park to the church, all standards present marched through the village, behind the Surrey Army Cadet Corps of Drums, where the standards formed a guard of honour to the church entrance.
At the start of Hymn 460 the Standards entered the church.
4 Hymns were sung
1st. Reading: Matthew 21. 1 - 17 by his Worship the Mayor of Woking, Councillor Mohammed Iqbal.
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 26 - 31 by shipmate Ian Fraser, Chairman, Royal Naval Association, Woking Branch.
The Bisley Ladies Choir led the singing.
On returning from the church the Standards were inspected by the Mayor of Woking.
Refreshments were taken in the church hall.
Parade Marshall for the day was shipmate Mr. Rod Fraser who was very generous with the regulation tot !!
Thursday 16th June
Winchester Cathedral
The Shipping Festival Service
Having been invited to attend the evening service.
5 No. National Standards, with many Shipping Co. flags, formed up as Guard of Honour at the west door of the Cathedral
At the striking of the Ships bell within the entrance, the Standards slow marched up the aisle
The Very Rev. James Attwell, Dean of Winchester, received the National Standards and placed them beside the Altar
4 Hymns were sung
The Lesson - Revelations Chapter 21, verses 1 - 8, was read by Captain Ivor Salter, Captain of the Southampton Master Mariners Club
In attendance were :-
Royal Fleet Auxilliary
High Sheriff of Hampshire
The Mayor of Winchester
The Mayor of Southampton
Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire
Music by the band of the Hampshire Constabulary
Winchester Cathedral Chamber Choir led the singing
Parade Marshall for the evening was Mr. Geoff Matthews
Saturday 26th June
Town Square, Woking, Surrey
Armed Forces and Veterans Parade and Service ( to commemorate the 95th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme )
Having formed up many Association Standards marched to the Town Centre, led by the Surrey Army Cadet Corps of Drums
The welcome speech and service was given by the Rev. B. Grimster, Honarary Padre, Woking Branch, Royal Naval Assoc.
The reading was given by the Mayor of Woking, Councillor Kenneth Howard
4 Hymns were sung
Act of Remembrance and the exhortation read by Shipmate Rod Fraser, Secretary , R.N.A. Woking Branch, and wreaths were laid
Kohima Epitaph - Mr. Ernie White, President , Royal Air Force Assoc. Woking Branch
The Last Post was played by Mr. Lenny Cole
On completion of service the Mayor of Woking inspected the Standards.
Refreshments were taken at the Railway Club, where the Parade Marshall of the day, Mr. Rod Fraser dispensed a generous regulation Tot !!
Sunday 4th September
Holy Rood Church, Below Bar, Southampton, Hants
Merchant Navy Day Service
Having formed up at the church entrance, 5 No. Standards marched into open forum
The Royal Naval Assoc. and Sea Cadets formed a Guard of Honour
The service was conducted by the Bishop of Southampton
Also in attendance were the Mayor & Mayoress of Southampton
The invitation to attend was from Mr. Doug. Piper, Branch Secretary, Merchant Navy Assoc. Solent Branch
Tuesday 20th September
Guildford Crematorium
This was a sad occasion - I was asked to parade the Standard in honour of the late Alan Bibby, ex-Vindy Boy and resident in Merchant Seamens War Memorial Society Home, Springbok Estate, Alfold, Surrey
The service was conducted by the Very Rev. Alex. Wedderspoon
2 Hymns were sung
A tribute to Alan was given by Mr. Trevor Coacher Director MSWMS
Friday 11th November
Woking Town Centre
Armistace Day
9 Standards were in attendance. Having formed up at the town square entrance, marched to the War Memorial, followed by Service Veterans.
The Mayor of Woking, Councillor Ken Howard, attended the service and laid a wreath
Prayers were read and at the stroke of Eleven O'clock cannons fired
Last Post was sounded and 2 minutes silence observed
Standards were dipped
Sunday 13th November
Woking War Memorial
Service of Remembrance
9 Standards were present
Having formed up behind the band outside the H.G. Wells Conference Centre, under the direction of the Parade Marshall, we marched to the Town Square and took up allotted positions at the War Memorial.
On arrival of the Mayor of Woking and invited guests, Rev. Dr. Peter Harwood, vicar of Woking, opened the Service
3 Hymns were sung
3 Readings were taken
The Bisley Ladies Choir sang at the laying of the wreaths
The National Anthem was played and sung, and Standards were dipped
On completion of the service the Mayor of Woking took the salute
Sunday 13th November
Trinity United Reformed Church, Billingshurst
Songs of Praise celebrating 90th birthday of the Royal British Legion
At the start of the first Hymn at the Evening Service, John Meadowcroft, carrying the National Merchant Navy Standard and myself, carrying the Gravesend Sea School/College National Standard, accompanied by the National Standard of the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal British Legion Standard, Billingshurst Branch, slow marched into the church, where the Rev. Kenneth Lynch, who was leading the service, received them and placed them either side of the Altar
6 Hymns were sung
5 Readings were taken
Last Post and National Anthem were played and Standards dipped
At the last Hymn Standards formed a Guard of Honour at the church door.
Report by
John Delamere Chairman / National Standard Bearer
As most of you know I received a letter from our solicitor complete with a list of restrictions as to the use of the Jetty they are as follows.
( I have left this in so that our new members can see the reason I was unable to accept their offer for the Jetty)
1 No alterations are to be made to the jetty without the HQR permission save normal repairs and maintenance.
2 The jetty would be used as a monument only.
3 The Jetty would not be open to the public.
4 Fishing from the jetty will be prohibited
5 No Boats are to be moored or placed on the Jetty
6 The two davits will remain part of the jetty and would not be removed
I am very sorry and disappointed for all the efort I have put in to try and get a bit of the old school back for the boy's. Also our members who have been sending donations and hoping we would someday own a bit of the old school again. I have had to informed Mr. Shuttleworth representing the HQR that I cannot accepted these conditions on behalf of our Associations members, Who are committing themselves to take on the repair bill of around £55,000.but will have no control and say over the use of OUR Jetty once the work has been carried out.
As stated at the beginning it was our main intention to firstly save the jetty from falling into the river by a complete rebuild. Then to possibly place a boat on the jetty half filled with soil so we could plant flowers in it as part of the memorial then place a fence all round the sides with a flag pole on the two outer corners so that flags could be flown on special occasions. A secure fence would then be placed at the front replacing the small fence now in position it would have a gate for access but only for members and authorized persons not the general public Ref No 5 If we have a member who is in the privileged position to own a boat on the river I would expect him to be able to visit Gravesend and moor his boat alongside the jetty, he will be paying for its upkeep and I feel should have the right to do that. This would be very rare and they would have had to get prior permission before hand, this also applies to working boats to carry out repairs to the jetty, so I feel that No 5 should read as “With permission only”. The tide will control most of them, as it is dry land most of the time.
No’s 1 2 3 4 6. We have no problems with, providing the PLA reply is in our favor once this has been confirmed.
I did ask Mr. Shuttelworth to ask his residents if they will re-consider their restrictions. If they are not able to do this I am afraid. I will consider the project closed.
Sadly we will have to pay our legal fees but the wonderful donations received from our members should help to cover that, Will keep you all informed.
John D Meadowcroft.
NOTE
July 2011 received a call from Gravesend planning officer that he had heard on the grape vine, That they intend to remove the jetty but have not applied for planning yet, If and when they do he will send me the forms of application permission yet,But When they do he will let us have the form so we can object Please if this happens I will object to the proposal and I trust I will have all your support
Many thank John
I am going to try to put the Masthead copy on this web If I can so keep looking.
Good luck to you all for 2012.
John D Meadowcroft
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