FOREWORD

                      Lieutenant Commander Keith Davies

                                          FOREWORD

                               State of the Association

                               Presidents Address 2012

They say that time seems to pass more quickly as you get older, well the past year, certainly fits into that category. My first full year as your president seems to have flown past and yet another reunion has taken place and it was enjoyed by just about everyone I spoke to. The only downside was the turnout, which your committee and I had hoped would have been much better. It was therefore decided to try a different time of year, 26/27/28 April 2013, at the same venue, so here is plenty of notice, please make a note now and let’s see everyone at our 10^th anniversary reunion at Bosworth Hall in 2013.

Our membership numbers remain almost the same, but we would very much like to see our association membership increase, so please try to encourage anyone you know, not already a member, to join our association and anyone who is already a member and doesn’t attend the reunions to join us at the next one .

The call on our servicemen and servicewomen shows little sign of reducing for several years, but despite that we have also seen the first phase of service redundancies, with another phase scheduled in the pipeline and the effect on morale is starting to show.

The current financial situation seems to be unending and the outlook for the near future seems bleak and the 2 new aircraft carriers saga goes on. If one believes what is reported in the media, one will go straight into reserve and of course the aircraft will follow eventually, but of course all the expertise to maintain and operate them will have been lost.

On a personal note there have been many pictures/photographs I have seen this year and one of HMS Invincible in a Turkish scrap yard being broken up, having served the 1^st commission on her from 1980 to 1982, made it for me that much more sad.

We have seen Libyan regime overthrown with help from RAF/NATO airpower and to a lesser degree involvement by the RN frigates/submarine, but how much easier it could have been with an aircraft carrier with harrier jets embarked.

Finally, I would like to thank and acknowledge your committee members for all their continuing hard work and enthusiasm, the recent reunion’s success was a credit to your hardworking committee and of course our loyal association members. I would like to send my best wishes to you all and your loved ones for 2012.

14 November 2011



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