The 2000 Reunion Weekend.
Excerpts from Newsletter.
Shipmate John Parker (Chairman),
HMS London 1947-49 Association,
Portsmouth,
May 2000.
Distribution to All Full and Associated Members of HMS London 1947-49 Association.
Dear Shipmates,
On behalf of myself and your committee members, I wish to thank all Shipmates and Guests
who attended our Reunion at Portsmouth on April 22/23 2000. The Reunion was well received
and the weather helped to make a good reunion week-end. Special thanks to Dan Scully &
Jimmy James(& Carers) for their dedication in attending in wheelchairs, Bert
Jones(& Carer) and Bernie Mullings who travelled from Canada to be with us, again,
thank you all for your attendance regardless, all our thoughts were with Shipmates who
could not make the reunion because of ill health or other reasons.
The Association was honoured to have as our principle guests, Commander Bill Evershed accompanied by his Wife Penny (it was they and their Daughter Katharine who placed wreaths of Poppies in April and November last year at the location where some of our fallen Yangtze Incident Shipmates were buried) Penny and Bill have since written to me expressing their sincere thanks for the wonderful hospitality and also the gifts they received from our Association. Members will be interested to know that Cdr Bill Evershed is presently negotiating the placement of four chairs (one for each Yangtze ship) in Guildford Cathedral, I will inform Shipmates of final details when known.
The Four Ships Yangtze Association has now gone into suspended animation but can be revived again quite easily should the need arise. As you all know, Taff Williams and myself have been our Assoc. representatives and from your own opinions, all Shipmates have enjoyed our involvement with the other Ships Associations, there will be a small amount of money left over from the Four Ships Assoc. funds which will be divided.
At the reunion, it was decided by a show of hands, that in fairness to our Northern Shipmates that next years reunion will be held in Blackpool on April 21/22 2001.
I have a request via the internet from a retired Royal Canadian Naval Rear Admiral. In 1949 two Midshipmen from HMS London were assigned to HMCS Crescent for Destroyer familiarisation, whilst at Nanking, Officers and the two Midshipmen visited the Sun Yet San Memorial, half way up the long stairs it was noted that two flags (one from each side) were missing but were found later in the Gun Room of HMS London, if you are or know who the Midshipmen were, the Rear Admiral would like to hear from you!!
I am very pleased to welcome new members who have joined us, SIM (Stoker) M Braithwaite, SIM (Shipwright) C. Thorley, S/M (Lt(S) D Grace, 51M(RM Band) A Johnson, New contact. S/M (RM Band) L Jordon.
On behalf of all Shipmates/Guests, A very special Thank you to Taff Williams for all the gifts we received from his Ditty Bag at the reunion, and you will be pleased to know that Eileen is making a good recovery from her operation, albeit a slow recovery period, may our thoughts be with you Eileen.
Yours sincerely and aye, John P.