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Shipmates et al

Just a short update as time goes by...

Plans are maturing for next years reunion in Coventry, I will place the full agenda on the website for the Sat 25th May 13 in due course once plans are finalised. However, for now I would encourage all attending to make hotel bookings for the Sat evening in order to secure a room. In order to keep admin simple and because it is very easy to book hotels on line these days, please go ahead and make your own arrangements. I have looked at options and the City Centre Premier Inn appears to offer good value and is far better than the Brittania we used in 2011, which left a lot to be desired. I have personally booked the Premier Inn for the Sat 25th at £60.00 inc breakfast (for 2 pers).

Everything we will do over the weekend is within walking distance of this hotel. There are other options as well...Britannia being one of them and IBIS is a little further away.

Also, arrangements for the tree and commemorative plaque are now finalised with the National Memorial Arboretum Site. I am in the process of agreeing a date for our own dedication service at the site. It is most likely going to be Sunday 10th March which is the day following the annual SAMA AGM and dinner in Derby. Please put this date in your diaries for next year.

That is it for now but if anyone has any questions at all about anything next year then please contact me on the email provided or indeed on my mobile: 07786 156763 when I would be happy to provide answers of some description.

Meanwhile, take care.

Yours Aye - Chris Howe MBE
Chairman

Anybody fancy a 909 operator's seat? Check out ebay item 390431417078

Photo : Ian Luff picture front row far right hand side Peter (Swampy)Marsh still living and working in Sheffield ship mates Not 18 anymore old bastard at 48 now!! xxx

Shipmates et al

First of all many thanks to Heather Todd and Portsmoouth CC for the offer below which will certainly be of interest to HMS Coventry D118 Ass. of that I am sure.

For everyones benefit I will discuss off line re the very kind offer below re attendance at the Portsmouth re-dedication ceremony on 6 Dec 2012.

However, should anyone wish to take part I would ask that you contact me by email/phone directly and not post to this site. Then in due course I will put up a note detailing what we will do as an Association.

More later then

Yours Aye - Chairman

Thought this may be of interest?

FALKLANDS MEMORIAL PLANTATION RE-DEDICATION CEREMONY – THURSDAY 6th DECEMBER 2012

A number of events and commemorations have taken place during 2012 to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands conflict which has allowed us to remember and honour the men and women who took part or lost their lives during that conflict.

To mark the end of this special year The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Frank Jonas would like to invite you to attend a ceremony on Thursday 6th December at 11.00am to Re-dedicate the Falklands Memorial Plantation on Portsdown Hill, where 258 Beech trees – one for each member of the Task Force and Falkland Islanders killed during the conflict - were planted in 1982.

The dedication of the Plantation was carried out in 1982 by Lt Col Sir James Scott, the then Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire. On December 6th, exactly 30 years to the day of the first dedication, Dame Mary Fagan, the current Lord Lieutenant will undertake the Re-dedication in this anniversary year.

The ceremony will commence at 11:00am.

Your association is welcome to provide a Standard to take part in the ceremony but unfortunately, we are unable to provide any expenses for them to attend.

If you wish to attend the ceremony, please contact the Events team on 023 9284 1400 or by email at events@portsmouthcc.gov.uk by Friday 23rd November 2012.

Yours sincerely

Heather Todd
Assistant Events Manager