From the Chair 2025 Members

I can’t believe how time has flown and that it’s now been 4 1/2 years since I became Chairman, and in particular how the world has changed quite dramatically even in that short time, through the aspirations of world leaders that I for one find difficult to understand. I suspect that due to the late stage of life of the large majority of our members, and the way the world had evolved over the years since we all first joined the service, that our reaction to that change is somewhat mutual. I don’t doubt, however, that our younger members will continue to embrace that continual change, adapt to it and move forward with hope for a more balanced future.

Our Association continues to go from strength to strength in all respects, through gaining new members who are currently serving in the branch and who are destined to be the custodians of our legacy for years to come, thanks to the recruitment efforts of Tre Bailey and others. The Association’s fiscal stability is wholly thanks to the accounting experience of our long-time Treasurer Tony Kenny, who willingly devotes quality time to maintaining our financial prudence. The development of our state of the art website over the last four years has been monumental, and has received accolades from external specialists.

This is in whole attributable to the mammoth efforts of Callie Neale and any help she can beg or borrow from wherever she can. The last 6-9 months have been particularly tough with some health challenges. However, she has battled through the task of data security, accuracy and compliance and the inevitable technical glitches commensurate with a website of such breadth and quality. We share the view that inevitably there is some ageing of some of our website content and I am refreshing this missive and helping with some other updating, to try to keep us current whilst Callie concentrates on the technical nuts and bolts of our website’s health.

In fact this is where you could help. If anyone has any creative or technical IT skills and could find a little time to volunteer them in support of Callie on fairly routine tasks then she would welcome your help. Nothing onerous but just a little time consuming but very important routine tasks which would free her up for the operational IT challenges. If so, then please contact Callie direct or me in the first instance. The other way that we are all able to help is through the creation, writing, capturing of interesting dits, service memories, experiences, short stories, pertinent/related local news items etc. that would be of interest to our members, then please take the time to do so and submit them to either Callie or me for editorial support.

One other initiative that is worth reporting at this point is one prompted by our Patron, Admiral Sir Alan Massey, who takes an active interest in our Association affairs and has identified an opportunity for our members, particularly those who moved on to second careers in both the public and private sectors, to provide a mentoring service for those currently serving branch members who are coming to the end of their service (at whatever stage) and contemplating/requiring support, advice or guidance on how to successfully navigate the transition from service to civilian employment, life challenges etc. in addition to services offered through the Naval Resettlement services (whatever that amounts to these days). Provost Marshal (Navy) Commander Lizzie Grant is fully supporting this initiative and publicising it within the branch and I have undertaken to do the same within our Association membership. Many of our members went on to have rewarding and successful careers when they left the branch/Navy and will have learnt a great deal about making that transition and well beyond, that could be of great benefit to those transitioning, whether by avoiding pitfalls or pursuing opportunities to improve their options thanks to the experience of those who have gone before. I for one have mentored dozens of members of all three services, and the Police Service, during my corporate security career and subsequently through my Risk Management Consultancy, who were looking for guidance on making that transition, and all benefited from my experiences when pursuing their second career.

So it would be good to know what industry experience is out there amongst our membership, that could be put to good use in a mentoring relationship matched with a currently serving member approaching that transition. Feel free to contact me if you would like to be put on a list of potential mentors.

Finally, we have enjoyed some really good reunions in the last few years, and continue to work hard with IOW Tours to find great locations to thoroughly enjoy our weekend. They are only successful if they are well attended, so don’t hesitate to sign up for this years’ in early October, and make merry with old pals. Please remember, everything that happens within our Association does so through the efforts and goodwill of volunteers such as our committee members, who willingly give of their time on your behalf in their various roles. As mentioned earlier, if you can spare some time to support Callie, please don’t hesitate to volunteer.

Nigel Carpenter FSyI RISC

Chairman & Standard Bearer