 |
| |
Please send items for inclusion to the Association Secretary or by Email to enquiries@d-boats.co.uk | ||
|
| |
Please send items for inclusion to the Association Secretary or by Email to enquiries@d-boats.co.uk | ||
Return to D - Boats Home Page
| |||
 | appeared on BBC1 Bargain Hunt On Friday 5th February 2010 |  | |
Joe Erskine, a Member of the Federation of Naval Associations, has asked that this item be posted on the D Boats website. Please click on this link to view the item - Do you remember the Sods Operas? (Word 20kb) Use your back button to return to this page. |
|||
 | Nobby Clark's report in Assn. Christmas magazine |  | |
|
At 7-30am on the 20th October I left home to travel to Glasgow by train. The journey began with a typical down pour as I caught the ferry across the Great River Ouse on the start of my journey. So soaking wet I arrived at Kings Lynn station in time for the 8-27 train. After 3 changes en route I arrived at Glasgow Central at 1440 on a equally wet and wind swept day. I have to say the journey with the changes went really well and was comfortable. I had never been to Glasgow before which was to prove to be a moment of panic later on in my stay. At this point I would recommend to you that if you are to travel by train and know sometime in advance and are computer literate, then you book your tickets via trainline.com. The return journey to Glasgow cost me £41-30p. All the seats were reserved for me without extra cost and all you must keep to is the travel plan of connections. On arrival at the Swallow hotel and having booked in I went to the bar to see who else from “D” Boats had arrived. The bar was full to bursting at the seams with Rangers Fans as that night was a big night for the Team. The first person to arrive was Bungie Williams who had flown up to the event. Suddenly all went quite in the bar as if by magic the Rangers fans left and what remained was the two of us and a mountain of empty bottles, glasses and the like. Gradually as time progressed Derek & Clare Tolmie arrived and Tony Bramwell . Norman popped in to say hello he was staying at a different hotel to us but was to meet us the following morning with Geoff McKenzie and family. All of us were feeling the travelling bit a bit tiring so after a bit of lamp swinging we retired for a good nights sleep. The morning of the launch day arrived and so did ship mates Sharky and Pat Ward, followed by Trevor Morris all of who had travelled up early that day. Norman joined us for travelling to the BVT Yard and the launch and told us that Geoff McKenzie was not feeling at all good so his family would not be coming with us. At that time our thoughts also went out to Jim Mumford – Phil Hardy – Tony & Julie Parker who had been unable to make it for one reason or another. The day was over cast and the forecast was for rain which thankfully except for a few spots didn’t happen. At around Mid day this intrepid group gathered all smartly dressed to go to BVT ship yards. On arrival at the yards we queued to gain access with a whole range of different school groups and the public in general. There was a real carnival atmosphere. As we entered we gathered balloons – Shields and cutlass made out of a type of foam rubber with the Defender crest on it as well as other goodies. It seemed to us that the whole of Glasgow had turned out for the launching. In front of us sat “Defender” D32 in all its splendour. On one side was a huge TV screen which showed the gathered crowds and the ceremonial parts of the occasion. Lady Sarah Massey the wife of Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Alan Massey arrived to launch “Defender”. Having given her short speech she broke a bottle of champagne across Defenders bow and for what seemed a very long pause the ship never moved. Lady Massey laughingly pushed on the bow and at last Defender was on the move in a cascade of noise and movement as balloons soared skyward and crescents of bright lights as firework rockets soared up into the sky in brilliance of colours and shapes. The crowd were cheering and the Royal Marine band was playing Defender slide down the slipway and into the Clyde. It was an occasion not to be missed. As a group we returned to the hotel and had a tot or two before (Photo above taken of Defender shown on big TV Screen) leaving the hotel for a meal. Prior to finishing off in the bar for a further few drinks. Having had an enjoyable day we went to our beds as some of us had an early departure the following day. I left early the next morning after having my breakfast in the company of Bungie Williams to catch my train which was the 0830 from the railway station. Some of you will know that I tend to through the columns of this magazine take the gentle mickey out of whoever comes within the firing line. Well guys the last laugh is really on me. On getting my Taxi I said to the driver that I wanted Glasgow central. I arrived at 7-55 in plenty of time for the train. I kept looking at the indicator board for the 8-30 to Edinburgh Waverly but it did not appear. At 8-10 I wandered across the station to where a Ticket Inspector was on the gate. I said have I got the right platforms for the 8-30 Edinburgh Waverly train. ”Och No” he said you need Queen Street Station. Its 15 minutes walk away. Before he could say anything else I was out of the station and climbing in a fast black taxi going to Queen Street Station. I arrived and got the right platform and on the train as the guards whistle blew and the train drew out of the station. I just hadn’t thought about there being another Main Line Station. I don’t know why but it certainly caused me to sweat a bit. | |||
 | Just coming down to earth after Jo & myself had two days of filming on BBC1 Bargain Hunt (This is broadcast on TV at 1230 week days). First day of filming 0800—1700 was at Peterborough East of England Showground collectors fair where we were given £300 and a nice expert who was Charles Hanson to go and buy three items. About a month later the BBC put us up in a very nice hotel in Grantham and after a 0600 breakfast we started filming at 0730 at Golding Young Auction house “ With Colin Young” taking the Auction. We made £25 overall which we sent that off to Help for Heroes. I must say that Tim Wonnacote was very good and said a lot about our Museum although I did have a job to show off the D Boats badge but got there in the end. The programme they think will be going out about February next year so we will let as many of you know as soon as possible when it does so you can see me making a prat of myself. | ||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Wednesday 9th December 24 East Anglia `D`Boat members mustered for a Christmas lunch "get together" at the Olde Barn restaurant near Wisbech Cambs. A very nice meal and banter was had by all and included Mack`s 70th birthday celebration, as you can see by the `special` birthday cake he received. Also you may notice that Mike Smith had to have A sign to remind him what his name is!!! Report sent in by Bernard Berry |
||||
 | It is displayed here in the hope that someone knows something about it? If you can help, please contact Mike Smith or post an entry on the Guestbook. | | ||
There are four tickets availiable to `D`Boat members to attend the launching of HMS Defender, the latest type 45, that will take place in Glasgow on the 21st October 2009. Anyone interested please contact Mike Smith at enquiries@d-boats.co.uk or on his home phone number which all members have. |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Wall to wall sunshine and a cloudless blue sky could not have been better. A good crowd of 71 attended being a mix of D Boats, Ton Class and RNA. Everybody mixed in and greeted Michael Pitcher the Mayor of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council with a tot of pussers rum. He then cut the ribbon to officially open the new Marshland Maritime Museum building. At the end of the day he was piped ashore in naval tradition. With all monies collected put togther we made £880 which will be split equally between Help for Heroes and the museum. Thank you to our members who attended and contributed in any way, especially Elizabeth Berry and Ada Cragg who made endless cups of tea and washed up at the end of the day Report sent in by Jo Smith - D Boats Assn. Treasurer |
||||
 |
The first of the Type 45s is commissioned Four of our D Boats Association members received a late, last minute invitation to this ceremony that took place on Thursday 23 July 2009. Click here to see some pictures of the event PHOTO PAGE 11. Report sent in by Bernard Berry (Info. from Mike Smith) |
 |
||
 |
D boats Association 27th Reunion at Portsmouth 4 July 2009 We hope you all enjoyed the reunion weekend as much as we did. The weather was reasonably kind except the drizzle at the Southsea Cenotaph during the Saturday morning service although that was ‘drowned out’ by the noisy Paras performing on the common behind us. Even the Padre made comment about Paras and noise! It was good to see so many D Boaters on parade back at the barracks for the march past and salute. What a smart bunch we all looked, well done! Soapy Watson has produced a video and a small section is available by clicking here (2.6 mb - 1 min 22 secs). There are also some photographs that Elizabeth and I took on PHOTO PAGE 10. If anyone has more please submit them to the webmaster for inclusion. The dinner and evening ‘do’ went very well and again I think everyone enjoyed it. A big well done to Mike, Jo and Nobby particularly for their hard work and organisation. We new committee members got involved in selling raffle tickets, ‘cocked it up’ and we had to go round again to change everyone’s tickets, but all was well in the end. Thanks to all for the generous donation of prizes (150 in all). The proceeds helped to subsidise the costs of the reunion. Report sent in by Bernard and Elizabeth Berry |
 |
||
Eastern Daily Press report 21 May 2009 - Marshland Maritme Museum Doubles in Size |
 |
More people will be able to experience an extraordinary collection that chronicles the long naval history of Britain, after the Marshland Maritime Museum has doubled in size.
Ex-naval man Mike Smith and his wife Jo, who own and curate the fenland museum, have built a second bungalow in the garden of their Clenchwarton home to accommodate their growing collection of naval artefacts and enable more visitors to see their collection.
Two rooms are packed to the ceiling with maritime history and the displays include old uniforms, model ships, crests, bottles of rum and magazines and books.
Visitors can use an old ship's telephone and ring a bell.
“It's like being back in the navy”, he said. “It is history. Items like this must have taken months to make.”
“We want to get more schools in. They need to know history, where they came from and what life was like before they were born. If it wasn't for the people who were on these ships we wouldn't be here. They do not realise how many thousands and thousands of men were in the services. School children are so interested, but schools don't have time to teach them these things.”
The pair started the Marshland Maritime Museum five years ago, after spending 27 years collecting.
Visitors are given a cup of tea or coffee by Mrs Smith and they charge no entry fee, only accepting donations towards the upkeep.
Many of the exhibits from the original part of the museum have been moved into the new area. A model of Nelson's HMS Victory, which was the flagship of the Battle of Trafalgar, has been added to the collection.
A former admiral also donated his uniform, which is shown in the new display.
|
||
 |
What a coincidence! I was reading the latest D Boats magazine and came across Mike Smith's report on a day at sea on Daring, May 5. I was a guest of the RN Diving Medical Branch that day. It started out with a trip up the spinnaker tower. While we were up there we saw Daring leave the harbour (photo left). Earlier the Illustrious departed (photo right)! Small world! (See Photo Page 9 link for more pictures - Webmaster) |
 | ||
(Picture submitted by Bernard Berry) |
 | |||
 | visited the Marshland Maritime Museum (Picture submitted by Keith Norton) |
Wednesday 18th March 2009 - Exterior completed Thursday 19th March 2009 - Roof completed Friday 20th March 2009 - Electrics completed Info. from Mike Smith |
||
Contact Mike Smith the D-Boats Association Secretary or by Email to enquiries@d-boats.co.uk  200 x 60 mm. 50p each Available from Mike Smith | ||||
|
A great "well done" to Mike and Jo Smith (Submitted by Bernard and Elizabeth Berry) | |||
at Hayling Island on 6 - 9 February 2009. During this meeting he put in a bid for some of the Raffle prize fund and was given £71 which he has donated to the Help for Heroes. A copy of their letter is attached. Help 4 Heroes Letter format (90kb) | ||||
 |
Watch out for it. (Submitted by Bernard Berry) |
|||
| Mike Smith (Association Secretary) and Michael Anderton (D Boats webmaster) met for the first time on Friday 22nd August 2008. Here they discuss the finer points of producing the new website and the contents of the museum. (Picture submitted by Bernard Berry) |  | |||
(Submitted by Bernard Berry) |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Mike Smith (Association Secretary) and Michael Anderton (D Boats webmaster) met for the first time on Friday 22nd August 2008. Here they discuss the finer points of producing the new website and the contents of the museum. (Picture submitted by Bernard Berry) | |||
|
Return to D - Boats Home Page
| ||||