2299 entries.
Dear shipmates, families and friends of D118. I wish to announce that the 45th anniversary service and reunion will take place on Sat 22 May 2027 in Porstmouth. Full details will appear under the reunion tab in due course but the format will be the same as previous years.
I feel the will and pleasure for all of us is to simply meet up to remember and have a social gathering on completion. That is to say, not a grand and expensive silver service dinner. I trust you will all be happy with this.
I wish you all well and see you in May 2027.
Yours aye - Chairman
Remembering you all today and especially our dear son and brother Stephen Dawson.
You are missed and wil be forever in our hearts and thoughts xxxxx
Dear shipmates, families and friends of D118, I sincerely hope all are well. A quick dit to those attending reunion 2025.
It is that time again when I ask that anyone intending to join us in Portsmouth on Sat 24 May to let me know in good time. To that end, please let me know all names of your guests, plus car registrations in order for me to assess the catering requirements and for the main gate staff at Whaley.
Also, please ONLY SEND ME EMAILS with this information, it is e… See more
Reunion 2025 – 24th May, Portsmouth – HMS Coventry D118
hmscoventry.co.uk
Reunion 2025 – 24th May, Portsmouth – HMS Coventry D118
Shipmates, it is with great sadness I have been asked to inform our D118 family that our dearest shipmate Derek Kimber crossed the bar yesterday. Derek was a stalwart onboard COVENTRY and indeed in the years since 25 May 82 he continued to play a major role within our community. He will be sorely missed. ??
(Any further details re funeral will be made known as and when the family request it.)
Chris H - Chairman
Shipmates et al
Although a long way off to our gathering next year, but as I have been asked in past days about intentions for May 2025, here you go:
Answer - Due to several very valid reasons (health, travel, expense etc) it was decided quite unaminously at this year's gathering, to hold all future Reunions in Portsmouth, so future itinerary same as this year. Next year will be Sat 24 May 2025. I will place a new dit for 2025 in due course, please check this website and/or FB pages now and again for any updates. Thank you and take care.
Yours aye - Chairman
It is with great sadness that I have to announce that Jerry Hardy has passed away. He died after a short illness on the 21st August 2024. No further information is presently known.
RIP Jerry
Remembering Stephen Dawson.
Thinking of you and all shipmates.
Forever in our thoughts and hearts.
Dear shipmates, families and friends, it is that time again when I ask that you start to let me know by email (cahowe500@gmail.com) if you are attending this years Remembrance and Reunion on Sat 25 May 2024.
All the details have been posted up on the Reunion Tab (https://www.hmscoventry.co.uk/d118/reunion/) on the HMS COVENTRY D118 website for around 6 months now so I am assuming you are all aware of the usual itinerary. Muster Still and West around 1645 and we will march off around 1735 or so.
I will need full names of any quests you are bringing as I need to make the main gate at HMS EXCELLENT aware, and of course for catering purposes in the GIs Ass.
I look forward to seeing many of you again on 25th May, please bring a raffle donation if you are able to do so, thank you. I do have a couple of very nice auction items which I have managed to obtain, so hoping we can raise some funds to keep us going as there is no charge for attending.
Yours aye - Chris Howe MBE - Chairman
Just had a look at the website after many years and a read through the guest book. Good to see so many familiar names of friends and shipmates. Thinking of you all and those still on patrol. Woody
Hi Andrew hope you are well. I remember the bike ride to Coventry well for the wrong reasons. I had just completed the inter service marathon with PTI john Haynes. I thought it would be a piece of cake after that. WRONG it was a nightmare my backside felt like it had been stung by a thousand wasps.
Happy days. Get my old pension next year seems only yesterday we were in 2Q Stbd.
During the next couple of months I am doing some presentations on 'The Coventry Story' for the RNA. The presentations are about Coventry Cathedral, Coventry Reconiclliation Ministry, and the Cross of Nails. There is reference to D118, but this is in the context of the relationship with Coventry and the Cross of Nails. As one who wasn't with you in May 82 I wouldn't presume to tell the ships story - that is your story to tell not mine. See you in the Still & West next May, Martin
Mick Braid ,,, I remember the bike ride from Pompey to Coventry. I think it was around April, 1979 and was to raise money to buy a canal boat for a group who ran holidays for disadvantaged kids
Shipmates et al, following the service of remembrance on Sat 27 May, at the Holy Trinity Church in Coventry, many asked me on Sat evening at the reunion (and since) for a copy of my poem which was read during the service. Having been humbled once again by so much positive feedback and by so many emotional comments, I have decided to create a small memorial booklet with all 5 of the poems I have written since 2019 in memory of our shipmates left on patrol.
After a few wets and dits on Sat I cannot remember all those who asked for a copy, so if anyone would like a soft copy of this new booklet, which includes this years, you are most welcome, just email me requesting a copy, dont PM as I dont always see it for days!
I hope you get the same comfort from my words as I have in the writing of them, take care everyone and hope to see many of you next year in Portsmouth on Saturday 25th May 2024, we will follow the usual routine for Pompey.
Yours aye - Chairman
Remembering a dear son and brother, Stephen Dawson.Thinking of you and all of your shipmates .
Shipmates all. Will be conducting “up spirits” across Valletta Harbour this evening, whilst remembering with deepest sorrow, those still on patrol.
Yours Aye.
Well as the 25 May approaches I would just like to say that my thoughts are with the lads still on watch. Its funny this year, I find myself currently working onboard Cunards Queen Elizabeth for this years anniversary. It is an honour to be here but my thoughts go back to the QE2 all those years ago. I will raise a glass or 2 for them all tomorrow night.
Hi All
The photograph (Ian Luff) Stokers on QE2, back row second from left is Martin Cook, I joined HMS Coventry just before Springtrain 17 year old at the time. First ship apart from a loan draft to HMS Beachampton (Hong Kong).
Best Regards
Martin
Dear shipmates, families and friends of D118, as many of you will now have seen the agenda and details for this year's annual Service of Rememberance and Reunion (if not its been here since Nov 2022 - https://www.hmscoventry.co.uk/d118/reunion/)
I now need to ask you to confirm to me, by email only please, (cahowe500@gmail.com) that you will be attending and details of any guests you may have with you. I do need this information for catering purposes and logistics of service sheet printing etc all a cost for the D118 Association. Hopefully, the generous raffle prizes we all donate and anything raised in the auction will cover our costs as usual.
As you will have seen we will once again be using the Holy Trinity Church in Coventry Citry centre but the Reunion after will be held at a new location, namely, the Albany Club, just a short taxi ride from the Church.
Finally, should anyone have any questions about this years gathering then please do not hesitate to contact me direct 07786 156763.
Take care and hope to see many of my old shipmates and families on Saturday May 27 2023, muster at the usual location for parade to Church.
Yours aye - Chris Howe MBE - Chairman
Still clearing out the loft amazing what you accumulate. I found a light blue scarf with bikes on and about 25 names on it of the mad gits who cycled from Pompey to Coventry. Can't remember the date of the ride though.
I thought I had better clear out my loft before I cross the bar to save my kids ditching it all? I came across a commemorative Coventry evening telegraph extra of about 8 pages detailing the commissioning of Coventry. Youngest rating who cut the cake with Mrs Burne was JMEM Graham Daniels. I also come across an brass ashtray of a 4.5 shell from HMS Coventry first firings 18th July 1978 donated to me by Captain Burne's widow.