The Meeting was Opened by the Chairman at 1935 Via Zoom
The Chairman explained to the Committee the reason for the extraordinary meeting was that our Hearsay Herald Editor has resigned and that he wished to discuss the way ahead for the publication, and a couple of associated issues. To that end the Chairman decided that we should consider a full committee Agenda at this meeting.
The only Apology received was from our Treasurer Tony Kenny.
The Minutes of the Last Committee Meeting were sent to all Committee Members by email. The Minutes were approved by all and confirmed as signed by the Chairman.
There was one matter arising. Our Social Secretary will contact former Chief Wren Regulator Moira Fisher to ask for her assistance in contacting retired Wren Regulators to encourage them to join the Association.
Website Manager Report
(Callie Neale)
Whilst I am reporting an Amber status, several key milestones have been reached and we remain on a positive track. Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. Ever closer. I am encouraged by the feedback from the Committee who had a Christmas preview, that the website is very well received in terms of quality, content and offering. The requirement to data cleanse the membership import file again is the correct decision to ensure that all required systems data loads correctly. Whilst it is disappointing to pause at 95% readiness, whenever we encounter a delay, it is with the interest of robustness in mind. Critical path activities, in addition to the membership import file include the setting up of a new domain for a nominal annual fee, completion of payment gateway and end to end testing, migration of the current, domain www.rba93.com. There has been an agreed change in approach in that we will not turn off the current site for the 24-48 period but will set up a parallel site to complete the final testing and transition once all approvals are met. In the interim, the payment process sub-committee will review and sign off the hybrid online and offline payment processes and I will prepare the member communications as part of the pre-Go Live pass criteria. Once completed we will agree a Go Live date and inform the membership of next steps.
Callie – Website Creative and Online Support.
Secretary’s Report
(Willie Dick)
First of all, I would like to express my thanks to MAA Steve Holmes for taking on the duties of Secretary during my recent illness, he has really done a fantastic job. I have been reading some emails from members who also thanked him for his sterling Work. As I have not been involved with the administration of the association since August last year it is going to take me a little while to get back up to speed. It was nice to read that we had a very successful Zoom AGM and the minutes produced by Sherlock confirmed the full commitment of the Committee.
Welfare Report
(Father Michael Brown)
As I write this, we are in yet again another National Lockdown, but hopefully with light at the end of the tunnel, in the form of a vaccine. That said, the following remain on the sick list and need our prayers: Paul Edwards, Gerald Cooper, Charlie Dinsdale, Arthur Crane, David Tindale. Since my last report found in the last Hearsay Herald, three members of the Association Have Crossed the Bar:
Harry Diamond – 15 12 20
Bill Donnelly – 12 01 21
Ray Board – Association notified in Jan 2021.
As far as I am aware, no other non-members of the Branch have died.
In closing, please consider using this prayer:
Father we ask this day that you be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation. In their loneliness, be their consolation; in their anxiety, be their hope; in their darkness, be their light; and keep us all under the shadow of your wings. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Treasurers Report
(Tony Kenny)
Regulating Branch and Royal Navy Police Association Report January 2021. Mr Chairman and Members of the Association, please find enclosed the Annual performance of the accounts as we are at the earlier end of the Fiscal year, I am pleased to report that we continue to remain in a healthy position. Please accept my apologies for not being able to attend.
- This is an interim report for the extraordinary meeting on Tuesday 26th January 2021.
- The Balance at the bank with no outstanding liabilities is as of today £5,636.36, like for like at the same time last year we had £5,694.00 in the bank so we are £ (60) deficit on 2019/20, or (1.1) %.
- We have had a lean year on our income notably because we were unable to hold our annual reunion due to COVID restrictions.
- Annual subscriptions are in a good position and I am pleased to report that overall, most were paid (I will let our Membership sec update this section) however, there continues to be a small decline in revenue from this area which is the Lion’s share of our income. However, on a more positive note we have had several new joiners to the Association in recent weeks.
- There continues to be a significant reduction in income for our sales from Jack Dusty which I know “Sherlock” has been proactively working on. I won’t steal his thunder on the results of his work.
- I have attached a small graph at the bottom of the report to show the growth we have achieved financially over the previous 2 years. The Association continues to be in an extremely healthy fiscal position.
Membership Secretary
(Graham Brayshaw)
I am showing 213 names on full members list. The process of checking life/foreign membership is in hand. 4 new additions on members list. Les Johns, who has re-joined, Rab Butler, Chris Sewell re-joined and Sid Marshall. I have been in touch with Tom Rees who I have asked to complete the application form so as I have up to date DPA information. Also, Michael Hinds is wanting to re-join. Information passed to him. I have 13 Associate members shown which I hope to contact them soon and see if they are still all well. There are 17 honorary members shown, and there are 47 Widows shown. I will also contact them, when I can, and see if they are still Okay.
Social Secretary’s Report
(Paula Gent)
Unfortunately, due to the current situation we still find ourselves in, my report will be short and sweet!!
At this present time, I am unable to move forward with any planning or arrangements regarding this year’s Reunion.
Until the restrictions have been lifted and hospitality is back up and running there is very little I can do.
If we come to the point where we are able to meet in groups, I will make sure that a 2021 Reunion is organised and if not, then we may have to look at postponing again until 2022.
Merchandising Report
(Steve Holmes)
Since the last meeting (AGM) the slops have sold the following:
27 x Facemasks – £270.00
6 x Poppy Pins – £67.50
2 x Blazer Badge – £28.10
2 x Lapel Pins – £19.50
1 x Cufflinks – £16.00
TOTAL – £401.10
PayPal fees (approx. 6%) – £24.00
P&P fee (approx.) – £27.60
GRAND TOTAL £349.50
After some research I have decided that instead of paying more money for ready-made fridge magnets, that I can purchase the raw materials and make them myself for a fraction of the price. (the difference being £2.99 for one off the shelf, to approx. 30p each if I make them!). Similarly, the cost of RNP mugs can be greatly reduced, by as much as £3 per mug by designing them yourself and ordering them online. Therefore, it is my intention to make some test purchases and if these purchases prove to be of a sufficient quality, I will pursue this route in order to maximise the profit for the Association. I will be pushing these on the FB page as well as it seemed to boost sales of facemasks!
Standard Bearers Report
(Nigel Carpenter)
Not surprisingly the standard has not been paraded since the AGM back in October. It had been hoped that it may be paraded at the traditional involvement in the Defence Policing College’s Remembrance ceremony, but that was cancelled due to Covid. Additionally, the Confederation of Naval Associations to which we belong has decreed that a standard can only be paraded at a funeral if the bearer is classed as a family member and falls within the current restriction of 30 attendees. The standard is offered to all bereaved Association members families, but, except in the case of ex MAA Gerry Toghill, most families are, understandably, reluctant to give up a family member’s space. The Association coffin pall, which was kindly donated by Paula’s husband Colin some years ago is also generally offered and its use managed by Colin on our behalf.
Serving Members Report
(Steve Robertson)
Steve said that he has not been able to contact any serving member recently as he has been working from home due to the Covid Virus. He did inform the Committee that he is due to leave the Navy later this year and that we will need another Serving Member on the Committee.
Hearsay Herald
(Chairman)
Sadly, I have to report the resignation of David Gill as Hearsay Herald Editor for personal reasons. In accepting, I wrote to David on the committee’s behalf thanking him for his short but professional contribution of editing the recent pre-Christmas edition of the Herald.
Joyously, I am delighted to report the appointment of Lt Cdr Michelle Thompson RN, the Executive Officer of the Defence Policing College, as the new HH Editor, and the committee looks forward to supporting her in her new volunteer role.
Curators Report
(Willie Dick)
Due to the Covid Pandemic it has been impossible for me to visit the Museum since March last year. I am looking forward to returning once this horrible virus is under control. I was given information from PM(N) that there was a post on Facebook about the Master at Arms that lost his life on HMS Hood when she was sunk by the Bismarck in 1941. Since then, a lot of research has been done by Mr Paul Bevant a Member of the HMS Hood Association and he has given me quite a lot of information and photographs of the MAA and two RPOs that sadly lost their lives on the Ship. Also, some information and photographs of the first Master at Arms of HMS Hood. Paul has said that he will do further research to find the names, service documents and photographs of all the Regulating Staff. His assistance is greatly appreciated. I have also been promised items from the opening of the Regulating School when it moved to De Jersey Building. What I look forward to is having more visits from members of the Association when we get back to a bit of normality.
Co-Opting Committee Members
Vote for Lt Cdr. Michelle Thompson as Editor of the Hearsay Herald. This was Approved Unanimously. Vote for Commander Dean Oakey in his position as Provost Marshal Navy and Chairman of the Museum Committee. This was Approved Unanimously. These two nominations will be ratified at the next AGM.
Vice Presidents Address
(John Masterson)
It gives me great pleasure to accept the position of Vice President of the Association and thank you all for giving me this opportunity. It is both an honour and privilege to serve as your Vice President and I will support our illustrious President, our Chairman and Committee to the best of my ability.
I would also like to welcome Cdr Dean Oakey, PM(N) and Michelle Thompson onto the committee. I am sure they will add a lot of experience and knowledge to our association which will benefit us all.
I would like to thank the committee for all the hard work and dedication they continue to contribute to the Association as individuals and a committee.
Presidents Address
(David Lodrick)
A warm welcome and belated but sincere wishes for a peaceful New Year to you all. You will have observed that, since taking post, our esteemed Chairman Nigel Carpenter continues the work of his predecessor with his own brand of panache and passion as he fires the enthusiasm of committee members to direct their energies to the aims and ambitions of the Association.
An absolute delight to see John Masterson at the meeting in his role a Vice President.
An all embracing and warm hug of welcomes to our ever-effervescent Secretary Willie Dick as he returns from his period of Sick on Shore. So pleased and relieved to know that he is nearly back to category P2, however, I understand that he is still under doctor’s orders and, accordingly he must adjust to the prescribed pace of life.
Our sincere thanks and deep appreciation in the greatest measure to Master at Arms Steven Holmes who most willingly, ably, and efficiently acted as Willie’s deputy during his (Willie’s) absence. This in addition to his portfolio of “Jack Dusty”. Yet another gratifying example of care and the thriving special inter-relationship that exists between the serving and retired elements of our Association.
Communication is of special importance as we eagerly look forward to the imminent launch of our new website. After her total and selfless commitment to the goal, Callie deserves our deepest thanks and support as she has strained every sinew and relentlessly coaxed every last of her little grey cells to achieve the shortly forthcoming launch of the first phase of the new website. She is dealing with so very much personally yet uncomplainingly always gives us her all.
I extend the warmest of welcomes and thanks to Lt Cdr Michelle Thompson, Royal Navy – the Executive Officer of DSPG at Southwick Park – who has kindly agreed to take post as Editor of the Hearsay Herald – this in addition to her busy professional diary. This publication is essential to enhanced communication which will motivate our readership to appreciate and understand more fully our vision for the future. I am positive that Michelle’s future input will make it so.
I also extend a warm welcome to the Provost Marshal (Navy) Commander Dean Oakey as he is co-opted onto the main committee in the role of Chairman of the RNP & RBA Museum sub-committee. His past and present interest and enthusiasm in the Association is beyond equal and for that, and so much more, we are extremely grateful to him for his continued dedication in pursuance of our aims.
Finally, congratulations and a huge BZ to Steve Robertson on the well-deserved award of the Meritorious Service Medal.
Chairman’s Report & Address
As is often the case, our esteemed President steals my thunder in his usual balanced and complimentary remarks, but I still have to offer my personal thanks to all committee members for their tireless support to the aims of the Association. In particular, it is comforting to see Willie back to his old self after his worrying illness and I would particularly like to express my gratitude to Steve Holmes for filling the gap as interim secretary during Willie’s absence, and assuming the mantle of Jack Dusty with some fresh merchandising ideas. I would also like to reiterate our President’s words of appreciation for Callie’s exceptional efforts beavering away at the technical challenges of meeting the system requirements so critical to the impending launch of the new website. I talk with Callie regularly on website issues, and am always impressed and totally encouraged by the way she navigates the shifting sands environment she is working in. Additionally, my thanks go to Tony our treasurer, in his absence this evening due to another commitment, on the meticulously managed and presented interim accounts he has prepared for us, which will be circulated to all by our Secretary.
I plan to update the Constitution in the coming weeks to take account of the changes that have occurred since the AGM and its previous review. This update will be made available to all Association members once completed. I am also pleased that the Committee have this evening co-opted Cdr Dean Oakey, the incumbent Provost Marshal (Navy), and Lt Cdr Michelle Thompson, currently the Executive Officer of the Defence Policing College, onto the Committee, both positions to be subsequently ratified by the full Association membership at this year’s AGM in early October. Dean is co-opted in his position of Chairman of the Museum Trustees Committee which is now a sub-committee of the RB&RNP Association. Michelle has kindly volunteered to take the role of Editor of the Hearsay Herald, to lead the next chapter of this publications’ continued existence. Given their status as senior officers of the Royal Naval Police I am excited at the prospect of their strong support to the committee and the two ’Steve’s’ in particular in their quest to continuously promote the Association’s heritage amongst the currently serving members of the Branch, as the successful protection and promotion of our heritage will be through recruitment of younger serving members who are now part owners of the legacy we have all stewarded on behalf of our predecessors since the Association’s inception.
Finally, it was a real pleasure to welcome John back to the committee in his new role as Vice President, and to share in his positive vibes for the future. Additionally, as ever, I pay tribute to the wise counsel and unstinting support of my dear friend and our esteemed President David Lodrick, and fully expect to be proficiently kept in check by both David and John in the weeks and months of my pilotage ahead! Lastly, I offer the committee’s sincere thanks to Admiral Sir Alan Massey for his continued and much valued patronage to our cause.
Any Other Business
No further Business. The Meeting was closed by the Chairman at 21.28.