3rd August 1989
Shipmates of HMS 'HAZARD'
Association.
'FIRST and LAST' sounds
like a Pub, but it came to mind when I decided that the latest
happening of importance to take place before I write this, our sixth
Newsletter has got to be :
SHEILA'S BABY
ADAM. WILLIAM TH0MAS HILL,
a very bonny wee Boy, weighed in at 6lb 13oz at 10.00 AM on Wednesday
19th July within half an hour of Sheila's admittance to Queen Charlotte
Hospital. Sheila's youngest sister Paula (Auntie Paula) and Sheila's
daughter Sarah 11 yrs (Big Sister) was at the bedside to witness what
must have been a Classic Birth, no problems and a 'Gorgeous Baby'
Sarah's words, to boot.
I slipped up to London the
next day and found both Mother and Baby looking very fit and well
indeed. Sheila tells me He is a very quiet baby, he didn’t seem to
object to my holding him for a while. I have taken a dozen photographs,
so you will be able to see them and ADAM I hope at our next re‑union. I
learn that Adam is the twelfth Grandchild for Tibbs HALLFORD. The HILL'S
and the HALLFORD'S are to be congratulated on the new arrival.
Now that the champagne
glasses have been drained, it's return to 'Steady as she Goes'.
Harry and Mary PAUL live
not far from Plymouth and having a Son who owns a Luggage Shop in our
City Centre; they enjoy helping out in the Son's absence. I make the
occasional call on them for a pleasant chat over coffee. Both appear in
good health.
I have inserted further
notes in the 'NAVY NEWS' in the hope that more of our Shipmates would
learn of our Association. No luck of late. Other outlets like Thames T/V
'Contact' or Cilla Black have produced negative results.
Our Shipmate Stan STANNARD
and Connie have moved to a beautiful part of the New Forest, and I'm
sure you will wish them health and happiness in their new home. Their
address is :
30 Rufus Court, Gosport
Lane, LYNDHURST Hants. S047 7BM
I was delighted to hear
from Harry EGLINGTON who on reading the last Newsletter and learning of
Peter and Betty SPANTON in Highbury, got in touch and arranged to meet
in Harry's club for a possible glass and yarn.
My 'Mini Breaks' to London
to visit Tibbs Hertford have continued I was there on 11th & 12th April
and enjoyed Tibbs and Daughter Paula's usual excellent hospitality. The
week after ‑ heavy seas running in the Tooting area, Number 21 takes a
lurch to starboard, Tibbs, Cook of the Mess, caught off guard, shoots
across the deck, slams into the bookcase, came up all standing with a
broken rib. After spending a miserable weekend, in pain every breath,
he's admitted to St Georges Hospital, Tooting, on Monday 24th April. I
went up to visit him on the Thursday and found him in a 'Two Bed' ward.
Having been on Pain killing drugs for four days he was looking his 'Old
Self' and was discharged the following day. Since that he has had an
infection in one knee, this needed draining, and after something like
three weeks it became badly swollen again. Almost complete rest was
ordered for that leg and that was how I found him when I went up to
visit Sheila and the Baby.
Don Matthews tells me he is
organising a GANGES ASSOC'N in his area with good results. After
spending an excellent weekend in LOWESTOFT with the GANGES Assoc'n (500
Member) in company with Shipmate Frank TAYLOR. The highlight of the
gathering was a trip to SHOTLEY far the re‑dedication of the Mast
witnessed by a massive parade. You may know that this famous mast was to
be dismantled and scrapped. Several people got of this and a hue and
cry went up. The outcome, a collection was organised and the refurbished
mast again dominates the skyline over the Rivers Orwell and Ouse, and
can be seen for miles in the Harwich and Felixstowe area Syd BEDWELL
jogs my memory regarding the RUSSIAN CONVOY CLUB who will be holding
their annual meeting in YORK in September. Several of our members
Qualify for membership, so a note in your diaries.
Following my note in the
July 'NAVY NEWS' I have received two letters, one from Kevin TIMM S of
Stevenage asking for details of HAZARD'S wartime duties. It seems it is
his hobby, I have sent him a good deal of information. The other letter
came from NOTTINGHAM, Ian R. FRASER Ex. L/Tel who served in RUSSIAN
waters, remembers HAZARD very well when she was N02 before she became
J02 Ian was a Leading Telegraphist on the deep sea trawler 'CAPE ARGONA'
based in RUSSIA, and filled in his spare time painting ships in company.
Since the war he has studied the art and now offers his services. I have
seen photographs of some of his paintings, and these so impressed me
that I have commissioned him to paint in oils a 16 x 12 picture' of
HAZARD. I hope to bring it to our re‑union in October.
A short note from Ron
MORLEY, reminds me of the return from Russia in very bad weather and by
the time she reached the U.K. the Ensign was almost completely flapped
away. This went to the Girl's School at the time.
Thank you Margaret GUNNELL
for your kind comments regarding the standard of reporting in our past
news‑letters.
Barney HOGG is still making
plaques of Hazard and other Ships, and how lovely to hear that Ellen has
sent 3 hand knitted Matinee coats to the Baby. Sheila will be pleased.
Steve KEELER in response to
my request for a song etc. on our re‑union night will be pleased to
oblige. Many thanks Steve.
Jim BISHOP talks of the
Minesweeping Medal. This is awarded to those men who swept mines after
cessation of hostilities and up to 1951. If you think you qualify, then
it isn't too late to apply.
Regarding the RUSSIAN
MEDAL, I have had no further news, but, Tibbs HALLFORD received his on
the 6th July last.
Jenny CRAWFORD D has
written from ISLAY wishing Sheila and Baby well, and hopes that Dad John
didn't suffer too many birth pains.
Last year Mike Pratt was
unable to attend the HAZARD re‑union because a previously arranged
commitment clashed. We shall be delighted to see him this year, the same
goes for Sid Broad who plans to be with us.
A note from Don Matthews
which told of the GANGES Assoc'n also mentioned that wife Jean was busy
knitting for Sheila's Baby. Seems young Adam will be kitted up enough to
set off on an Arctic run. Very nice too.
A note from Frank TAYLOR
also mentions the GANGES weekend and has since come down to the Isle of
Wight for a holiday.
Bill FREWIN hopes to be
with us this year, and popping north of the border John DAVISON hopes to
attend. We hope Anna has mastered the new car in spite of her
disability. Andy Duncan just missed out last year because of a long
journey south a week or so before the re‑union.
Frank GODDARD was pleased
to tell me his Son has recently retired from the Navy having completed
full time service. His last ship was HMS 'BRAZEN' on which he served as
a Chief Petty Officer. Prince ANDREW served on BRAZEN at the same time.
A letter from BARNEY
BELCHER confirms the position regarding the NGS Medal (Minesweeping) he
also seems to be kept busy as Standard Bearer for the R.N. Association,
attending at the Cenotaph and the Royal Tournament at EARL'S COURT.
You will remember that we
were pleased to see George and Doris COOMBER last year at our re‑union,
they have recently visited ISTANBUL and very kindly sent me a card.
Apparently it was pretty hot there too.
Thanks must go to Mick
PRATT, Frank GODDARD, and another Shipmate who wishes to remain
anonymous for their kind donations towards the expense of printing and
posting these News‑Letters.
What a marvellous spell of
weather we have had this summer, at least I hope you all enjoyed it.
Pity about the effects this has had on the gardens, lawns etc.. The
bright weather prompted me to carry out a 'Dicky Refit and paint
overall' of my little flat. I have just cleaned the last paint brush and
stowed it away for next year. Expect you know the feeling. And now to
sit back and admire the handiwork. Lucky Dog.
YOU ALL KNOW THAT OCTOBER
14TH IS OUR NIGHT AT THE KING'S HEAD
PLEASE WRITE OR PHONE AND
TELL ME HOW MANY WILL BE IN YOUR PARTY
Best wishes to you and
yours, hope to see there
Tom McKnight
Plymouth
