This number could have been even greater as we also received applications from, Andy Haythorne, Ade "Itchy" Hancock and Simon Wells. However, our subsequent efforts to contact all three by phone, letter, e mail and thought transference for a little more info has yet to produce a result. We have also been attempting to contact a certain David Palethorpe - who actually attended the last re-union - by similar means - for said additional info, but both his land line and mobile are permanently switched to immediate answerphone, proving conclusively if nothing else that he is as difficult to contact now as when he was a full time PTI/part time Charge Chief in the mob!!
Sadly, we have been forced to have a little cull regarding "Members" on our mailing list. Throughout 2008 we heard absolutely nothing from Neil Anderson, Steve Bunbury, Ken Hague, The Rev Gary Keith, Craig Simpson and Brian Ward, and despite a final appeal in the last edition of the "Buzz" for them to get in touch, which produced absolutely diddly squat, we have now assumed that they have changed their land line, mobile, e-mail and postal address all in one foul swoop!… and so we feel it is now time to wish them well and move on.
Furthermore, and despite our very best efforts we have been unable to entice former Ops Room Supremo and world famous ocean going librarian Mick Pedder to join the Association despite numerous visual sightings on South West Trains, where he issues his own invitations to those travelling without a ticket!
However, on a more positive note, our website continues to prove extremely popular, with viewing figures averaging 3500 per month (far more than we anticipated) and is testament to the efforts of Alyson, our underworked and overpaid (pay review pending) Acting Local Webmistress who turns to on average 4 - 5 hours a week ensuring that the site is all ship shape, and all the allegations have at least an element of truth! Once again we repeat our plea for further material - particularly photographs - for the website. We know for a fact that there are lofts and gardens all over the UK bursting with such items, as the normal response we get is either "There is something up in the attic" or "I'll dig something out!" We have certainly come to the conclusion regarding the webby that we are either hitting the nail on the head or folk are just logging in out of idle curiosity to find out if we are still in business! Not been on the site for a while? You don't know what you are missing! One thing we have noticed recently is that there has been an absolute dirth of really good jokes - ones we can print - although we do have a good chuckle when folk send in jokes we have already featured on the webby….they must have been good!
The only outstanding action we have yet to complete is the Personality Blogs of our older members - and we hope to start the ball rolling on this very soon - honest! - so if you haven't featured yet, get your dits ready and remember, we may know more about you than you think!
During this last year contact with the ship has been very good and we have received regular updates on what's been going on from our new liaison officer - Lt Cdr John Bullock, the current MEO - and judging by reports the last deployment was pretty reasonable - a semi global by all accounts without all the boring Far East bit! As we prepared this copy of the "Buzz", another ship's visit was on the horizon for mid October , however, due to a very late change in the ship's programme, this visit has now been cancelled which will obviously be a big disappointment to the very strong team we were going to send onboard to represent the Association, particularly Shep Sheppard, who we understand has been to night school recently to study plans of the ship so he wouldn't get lost this time around!!
As we are all aware, the main objective of the 2nd HMS Manchester Association is to keep folk in touch and obviously we do this predominantly through the Annual Re-union. This is what we spend the bulk of Spring and early Summer arranging, starting with the infamous Calling Notice, and as the Association continues to grow - and mindful of the now exorbitant cost of Royal Mail - we did attempt this year to save a little on postage costs by despatching the 'Calling Notice' by individual e mail to the vast majority whose e-mail addys we have, further requesting confirmation of receipt so we could follow up with a mailshot to those who had not responded.
Surprise, surprise, we received our first response within two hours from local lad, Baz Barrett…in Australia! Hooray, the system works!! Wrong! Our 200 plus individual e-mail shot produced just 42 replies in the 2 week time slot we allowed for replies, and so we had to resort to Plan B. At least our attempt to electronically contact the membership had one aside - on returning his Calling Notice one esteemed Association member boldly stated…"but I never check my e-mails"!! How sad is that?!! and just think of all the really good spam you've missed!
Despite this initial setback, we are pleased to report that Re-union Eight in June was - judging from feedback - very successful. From an administrative and financial perspective most of our plans worked and we again got our sums right with the actual re-union paying for itself. (However we would be telling porkies if we said that everything went according to plan - it didn't - and more will be revealed in the "Members only" pages regarding a few glitches and the action taken to attempt to prevent an occurrence.)
Following suggestions from some of our esteemed ensemble, we were able to arrange accommodation in HMS Nelson from Friday through to Sunday, and as a result the "advance party" consisting of Alan Curtis, who brought along his Dad, Pete, new joiner Fez Parker, Sam Wellens and Pete Kellett, mustered in the bar on Friday evening to check out the quality of the ale.
Also joining in was Lenny Bilton who bimbled down from Cumbria, after visiting his Mum, having flown over from the States the week before, and who immediately confirmed quite conclusively that it is far far easier - and quicker - to fly across the pond than it is to get from Carlisle to Cosham! Evidently the air corridors don't have an equivalent to the M6, no roadworks, and you don't have to go through Birmingham either, which is a bargain in itself! Making up the numbers, looking mean and lean was our exotic holidays consultant, and former S and S winker, George Hubbard, who it is rumoured was enroute from Phuket to Palm Springs at the time!
As for the main event on Saturday, we sold 129 tickets, a welcome increase of 14 on last year, and our best turn out to date. We were particularly pleased to welcome a whole host of new joiners, namely, "Buzz" Bee, "Butch" Butcher, "Smokey" Cole, John Darby and wife Lydia, "Taff" Davies and wife Anne, Steve Found, Trevor Quickfall, Jez Raymond, Brian Shipman, Frank Smith, Phil Southcott, Garry Vigor and "Wally" Walton. With J.J. Fialho, Craig "Crash" Evans and Bill Paterson attending as members in their own right, as opposed to guests, and thereby relieving their previous hosts of much onerous responsibility! This ensemble at least ensured there was a healthy influx of new dits although unfortunately "Global 86" again reared its ugly head!
Once again we were delighted to welcome many WAGS to the Re-union and among the attendees were - Roy and Sonya Anderson, Peter Berrow and Susan, Archie Dickie and Mavis, Gilly and Sharon Gilchrist, Dave and Sheila Hayward, Doss and Jacqui Living, Dan and Andrea Maskill, Chris and Susan McLean, Sam and Maura McKeown, Skid and Alma Wroe and following their successful Re-union debut in 2008 Bully Bull and Andy Hazelden returned with wives Rebecca and Michelle respectively.
Not content with bringing just a partner along, some chose to inflict the Re union on friends and neighbours too, and also filling up the tables and loitering at the bar were - Alan and Alison Ivison with outlaws Michael and Valerie Woodgates, Steve and Anne Mourby with Mark and Jenifer Watson, Mick and Susan Whitehouse with Karen Spinks and Lenny Goodwin, who staggered in with bosom pals Lorraine Lundbech and Graham Tighe. Of course it wouldn't be a proper 2nd HMS Manchester Association Re union if Steve and Carol Jack hadn't brought along their normal entourage of Andy and Wendy Dunning and Darren and Sharron Williams who have cracked more re-unions than some of our original members! (Well Done, and Thank You). Making up a trio of dads and sons out for a good run were Taff Coombs and his lad Stephen.
It was particularly good to welcome back Tom and Julie Petty, and Brian and Jackie Logan. Brian continues to make good progress from his debilitating illness attending this year without his two wheeled undercarriage, and was seen at least on one occasion lurching to the bar totally unaided…just like in the old days, although reports regarding whether he actually bought a round remain unconfirmed!!
Other Association stalwarts in attendance were Joe and Lynne Cocker, Ned and Karronann Naylor, Paul and Alison Snape and Don and Anne Hazeldon (nice shirt Don, and your own!) and Mike and Val Smith.
A strong contingent of first commissioners and global vets were on hand including George Annable, Mick D'Arcy, Barny Foster, Jack Guntrip, Whiskey Haigh. Rum Ration Rep Slim Richards, Bungy Williams, Serial Cyclist Kim Darker, Chris Day and Daz Major along with the seldom photographed or mentioned Ken Hinchliffe. Recording events for posterity and possible future ransom, Shep Sheppard.
The period of the ship's absolute hey-day - (87 - 90) was equally well represented with Dave Arthur, Dave Merrick, Bob Mullen, Roger Jones, Jan Leeming, Andy James, Terry Partington, Knocker White, Keith Woolven, and the only man known to have stood up in the quasi shack of a Type 42, Ian Poulter, whilst completing a trio of absolutely brilliant retired Stores Chiefs in attendance was Barry Lucas to name but one.
And last but definitely not least, making his re-union debut after being a member for nigh on seven years, former tenant of the large en-suite cabin with sea views, owner of the uniform with 3 rings on each arm and the luckiest man ever to have such a cracking ship's company - Sir Rick Cosby… who we understand had simply run out of plausible excuses not to attend, which we can discreetly disclose have included in the past - call rounds from Lord and Lady Whatknot, Budgies Birthday, and an unusually heavy fall of snow in Somerset!! (In June!) to name but a few. Nice to see you shipmate, and hope you can make it back next year!! It was also interesting to observe Rick chatting to the only other "Commanding Officer" in attendance, the master of the yacht "Seashell" and former leader of the "Cherry B Four", the big man himself - Sting Wray! And finally, finally the real benefactor of everyone turning out - Percy Purcell - who was celebrating his 50th Birthday on the night with wife Louise and outlaws Guy and April Wilson.
Non Attendees - It matters not what date we hold our annual re-union, there are always some shipmates who cannot make it due to either distance, work or family social secretary made other arrangements without alerting the leader of the house, and among those who sent apologies, (which we much appreciate) were:-
The Foreign Legion - Baz Barrett (Australia), Alan Buchanan (Spain), Dave Furnival (Australia), Si Jarrold (in the Gulf), Andy Kemp (Australia), Ken Lewis (Canada), Steve McMillan (New Zealand), Bill Morgan (Abu Dhabi ), Prickey Price (Falklands - courtesy of Pusser UK Limited), Brian Roberts (France), Stu Sadler (Iraq), John Scott (Ireland), Mark Traynor (secret location) and Carl Williamson (USA).
The Work Force - both Bill Bailey's, Bob Chapman, "Ginge" Crook, Mick Farrow, Andrew Griffiths, John Holland, Jim Kirkland, Burt Lancaster, Jones the Rocket, "Slinger" Woods, Ron Young, and at the last minute, Andy Rafferty.
We also received apologies from Tony Aimson, Ivan Asciak, Nick Athawes, Martyn Banner, Dougie Barbour, John Bodsworth, Dave Childs, Bill Churchley, George Coverly, Dave Cozens, Jonathan "Happy" Day, Colin Fortune, Archie Geddes, Stuart Gerrard, Andy Green, Dougie Harper, "Ginge" Hiscutt, Les Howard, Errol Kepple, J.J. Lloyd, Pete Rosier, Colin Smith, Mark Stowe, John Tucker, Al Walkinshaw and John Wallace.
