August 2024 The Branch meeting for 22 August was a presentation by Dr Noel Stimson about the Bembridge Royal Naval Air Station. With rare and unseen photographs takes from glass negatives by a pilot serving there, Noel gave a thoroughly researched narrative on the Air station which was sited there from 1914 to 1918. He featured some of the float …
Isle Of Wight – June 2024
June 2024 The Branch welcomed Glyn Evans for its meeting on 27 June to give us his presentation on ‘The maritime art of Kenneth Shoesmith.’ A highly illustrated talk which the speaker had trawled from many sources. We learned that Shoesmith had started his sea-going career as a cadet at HMS Conway before joining Royal Mail Lines as a deck …
Isle of Wight – April 2024
The Branch held its AGM on 25 April last. At this the following Committe members were re-elected: Branch Chairman-Nick Hawkins. Branch Secretary-Richard ‘Dick’ de Kerbrech. Branch Treasurer-Ken Lowe. Visits & Social Sec- Vacant Newsletter Editor-John Cheverton. The AGM business was followed by Past Chairman, Chris Bancroft, showing some of the slides and photos taken be the late Phil Fricker. Chris …
Isle of Wight – February 2024
February 2024 Our 22 February Meeting was held at our new venue, Arreton Village Hall in Arreton. The Branch’s Annual Photographic Competition was postponed from January was held and judged by Ian Pratt LRPS. The winner of the Phil Fricker cup [for the second year in succession] was Andrew Collins with his photo of a starboard quarter of the PS …
Isle of Wight January – Branch Report
January 2024 The Branch was looking forward to the Annual Photographic Competition on 25 January last. Sadly, the Judge became indisposed. The Branch Chairman brought along a DVD on the Branch’s laptop called ‘The Battle of Jutland’ presented by Dan Snow. This proved an interesting alternative to the scheduled programme. The Photographic competition was postponed until the February meeting. Branch …
Isle Of Wight Branch News November 2023
November 2023 The Branch’s presentation on 23 November last was David Williams’ ‘Rivalry on the Atlantic’ . Dave introduced the race for the fastest North Atlantic crossing, aka The Blue Riband, early in the twentieth century with the rivalry between four German liners through to 1969, the end of the reign of the last ‘genuine’ holder, the United States. He …
Isle Of White Branch News – October
October 2024 For our meeting on 26 October our Treasurer, Ken Lowe, gave his epic presentation on ‘The Manchester Ship Canal’ illustrated will his own images, some black & white back in the 1960s, to his more recent colour ones. His talk traced the journey on various ships he had sailed on from the Eastham Lock all the way to …
Isle of Wight Branch- 28 September Meeting
September 2023 On the afternoon of 28 September last our Chairman, Nick Hawkins, gave his presentation on ‘HMS Vanguard’. He traced the 20th century purpose behind the building of such capital ships and the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 which effectively limited the tonnage and fire power of such vessels. He picked up from there the reason why the Rodney and …