Presidents Dit.

Report by the Area President Commodore Paul Sutermeister DL RN

Area Meeting held at Mexborough 12th December 2009

Shipmate Chairman and Shipmates good afternoon.It is good to be in Mexborough again and hopefully this time everybody has the right date.

This time of year is a busy time for everyone and I have been no exception.I attended the 8th Destroyer Squadron Annual Reunion in Scarborough which unfortunatly coincided with our last Area Meeting.There was,not surprisingly a large number of this area's members also attending together with our Standard. 8 Royals from 42 Commando,recently returned from Afghanistan were invited as guests.They were excellent and I suspect set a few ladies hearts aflutter on the dance floor.Their sergeant was married to a female Chief SBA (or whatever they are called now)IN HMS OCEAN and we learnt later that he had been awarded a Military Cross shortly after the reunion.

I had a Sea Day in the Humber in HMS EXPLORER,the Yorkshire Universities Naval Unit's sea tender,together with university lecturers and civic dignitaries.They put on a good performance working with an RAF SAR and the Spurn Head Lifeboat.

Some of you may recall Noel Jones who was Chaplain of the Fleet,then the Bishop of Sodor and Man,based in the Isle of Man and finally retiring to North Yorkshire.He died in August and the RNA,RMA and the RBL Standards were paraded at his funeral in York.Their presence and performance were much appreciated by his widow,the family and the mourners.

I attended the RBL Annual Northern Reunion in Bridlington at the beginning of October and again we were well represented with Standards and Members.

Sadly Sid Hindle who was a member of Leeds RNA and the recruiter for the 8th DS died in October and I attended his funeral in Leeds Together with members of the RNA and 8th DS.It was a non religiouse event and was almost jolly if funerals can ever be that.Leeds RNA'S Standard was paraded.

I attended Trafalgar Night Dinners onboard HMS TRINCOMALEE and with Driffield RNA.Driffield's dinner coincided with its 10th Anniversary and having been at their inaugural dinner in 1999,It was a good feeling to be also at their 10th. (The Area President then Presented S/M Ron Dibble with the Branches 10 year certificate).

HMS ILLUSTRIOUS was in Liverpool at the end of November to do a northern celebration of the Fleet Air Arm 100th Anniversary.I attended along with hundreds of others from RNAs,Fleet Air Arm Associations,Lords lieutenants,High Sheriffs and Civic Dignitaries.The event was hosted by CinC Fleet and the VIP WAS the Duke of York. The fly past is covered in this months Navy News.It was a bit thin on the ground-or perhaps in the air-on aircraft,but they did manage to get fixed and rotary wing aircraft in formation as they passed ILLUSTRIOUS which I gather is quite an achievement.

My final function was the Yorkshire Universities Naval Unit's Annual Dinner in Hull along with members of the Hull RNA and the Commanding Officer HMS WESTMINSTER.

Commodore John Madgwick retired as the Naval Regional Commander Northern Endland at the end of November and had been relieved by Commodore Dickie Baum,who is a submariner and has commanded the Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS GUERNSEY and the submarine HMS TRIUMPH.

That Shipmate Chairman concludes my report, but in closing I would like to wish all members and families a Happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.
Thank You.