Happy New Year

The committee wish everyone a happy and prosperous NEW YEAR.

Cadets Christmas Dinner 27 December 2012

The Sea Cadet Unit T S Queen Elizabeth invited some of our committee to a Christmas Dinner held at their unit in Clydebank. S/ms David Carlin, Brian MacKenzie and Frank Halliday attended accompanied by their wives. The hosts laid on a sumptuous repast and the welcome speech was given by their President, George Troupe and replied to by our Secretary, B MacKenzie. A good time was had by all.

St Gabriel Wood Visit

The visit of our guests from St Gabriel Wood home in Greenock went well. After a night of food, wine and entertainment we presented them with a cheque for their funds. The committee would like to thank S/ms Joan, Anne, Anne and Rita for catering for their visit. Thanks to all who attended and made it a night to remember. And as you can see in the bottom picture we have a HAPPY LITTLE ELF

Yorkhill Hospital Visit 5 December

On Wednesday 5 December S/m’s Joan Lowe, Anne McKinnon, Frank Halliday, John Fox, Thomas Gates and our chairman Kenn McKinnon visited Yorkhill Childrens Hospital to deliver toys, games and drawing materials to the Play Group. We were invited up to the Play Groups office for tea and goodies where our shipmates had a good chat with the staff nd discussed the dispersment of the toys etc. After the tea chairman handed over a cheque for their funds which was raised by our members throughout the year. Thank you to all who donated to the funds and all who donated toys etc.

Laying Up of Old Standard

On Wednesday 29 November S/m Frank Halliday (Hon LVP), Brian MacKenzie (Secretary), David Carlin (Treasurer) and Kenn McKinnon (Chairman) attended at TS Queen Elizabeth cadet unit in Clydebank to hand over our old standard to them for safe keeping. A short service was presided over by the unit’s padre Lt David Eynon who accepted the standard on behalf of the cadet unit and passed it to their President Lt Cdr G Troupe for safe keeping. Whilst there, The City of Glasgow RNA took the opportunity to present Leading Cadet Ciaran McElhinney, their Cadet of the Year with a trophy. The unit having won a Jubilee Pennant our Hon Life Vice President S/m F Halliday presented all the cadets with a jubilee pin to celebrate the Queens Jubilee Year.

Remembrance Day 2012

We had a good turn out for the Remembrance Day Service in George Square where S/m Joan Lowe laid a wreath on behalf of the RNA. The weather stayed dry but cold. S/m C Lord carried the standard for the RNA. I thank all who participated in the service.

Garden of Remembrance 6 Nov George Square

Eight of our members attended the wreath laying ceremony in George Square today. The service of dedication was conducted by The Reverend Dr Campbell the RBLS Padre. The service went well and the weather remained cold but dry. After the service we retired to the City Chambers for a hot buffet and glass of wine. In attendance were S/m’s T Gates, G Dury, T Dickie, E Pollar, B Donnache and C Lord. The standard was carried by S/m D Carlin and the wreath was laid by S/m K McKinnon.

Standard Dedication/Trafalgar Day Service

On Trafalgar Day in the Glasgow Cathedral we integrated the Trafalgar/Seafarers Service with the dedication of our new Standard. The day went well with a good turn out from our members. In attendance there were standards from all over Scotland and from the Parachute Association. There was a civic reception held in St Mungo’s Museum where Bailie Green the City Chamber representative gave a speech and our chairman gave the response. Our two Standard bearers S/ms David Evans (old Standard) and David Carlin (New standard) did extremely well with their respective escorts, Jack Duncanson, Frank Taylor, David Trimble and Chris Lord. Thanks to S/m F Halliday for training them. Well done lads.

Trafalgar Dinner

The visit to the Arrochar Hotel went reasonably well the food was good and everyone enjoyed the entertainment provided by our good friend Raymond. There were a few hitches to the start of the weekend. All were resolved. We will await the responses from our members as to next year’s venue.

Scottish Area Meeting

Today our branch were host to the Scottish Area Meeting it was well attended by our members and visitors from areas around Scotland. The meeting was chaired by S/m Brian Mackenzie. We thank S/m Joan Lowe, Anne McKinnon and Rita Fox for an excellent buffet. There was a raffle which raised a goodly sum for the area coffers. The meeting was closed with the loyal toast. The next area meeting will be held on 15 December in Perth.

BBQ 21 September

We held our second BBQ of the year which turned out to be successful but the lack of members has to be deplored. The food was excellent as usual and we thank S/m Brian Mackenzie and his wife Irene for such a fine repast. We need the members to support these events and not leave it to a few staunch members and thier friends.

Awards

To celebrate the Queens Jubilee year three of our members received awards for their loyal support of our branch throughout the years. They attended meetings, outings and functions such as dances, dinners and BBQ's etc. It was an honour to present S/m's Edward Hardie, William Bannerman and Thomas Gates with these certificates and on behalf of the members the committee thank them for their support.

VJ Memorial

On Saturday 18th August 5 of our members attended the Memorial Service at Knightswood Cross. After the service they retired to the memorial where wreaths were laid then paraded for a march down Great Western Road to the Lincoln Inn where a buffet was laid on by the Paras.

Armed Forces Day June 2012

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On 30th June was Armed Forces Day where we had a stall set up in George Square which was manned by S/ms Joan Lowe, Frank Hart and our chairman Kenn McKinnon. On the stall we had gizzits for the public in the form of hats for the kids, stickers for cars with a rum barrel for adults which went down very well. S/m Eddie Pollar assumed command of our members who took part in the parade and marched from Holland Street to George Square. A big thank you to S/m Kenny Grieves for acting as standard bearer. After the parade there was a civic reception in the city chambers. Many thanks to all who attended

BBQ

We held our BBQ at the TS Queen Elizabeth cadet unit in Clydebank on Saturday 23rd. The night went extremely well and the raffle was excellent with our chairman winning a few prizes. Many thanks are extended to S/m Brian and his good lady Irene for doing the catering and cooking with S/m David assisting. We also extend our thanks to the Cadet staff for allowing us to use their premises and to the members who attended.

Fish Boat Night

Wednesday 30th was our night at McMonagles fish boat in Clydebank. Fourteen members attended with four guests. The meal was superb and the plates well laden. Afterwards the company retired to the T.S. Queen Elizabeth cadet unit in Clydebank Where we enjoyed an evening of good conversation and a few wets to get the ditties going.

Falklands Remembrance Night

HMS Duncan/RNA Falklands Remembrance Night On Tuesday 22nd May six of our members attended at the Windsor hostelry in Partick for a get together with the ships company of HMS Duncan to commemorate the ending of the Falklands War in 1982. Our veteran members were honoured with a celebration drink of excellent malt whisky. Our Chairman S/m Kenny presented the C.O. and the crew one of our plaques and wished them good fortune for the future. A great night was had by all.

Dunkirk Veterans Remembrance Service

On Sunday 20 May S/ms, David Evans, Frank Hart and myself attended the Dunkirk Veterans Association remembrance parade at Balloch. The parade marched from the Co op Car park to the Jamestown Parish Church where the service was conducted, then a march past with the Lord Lieutenant taking the salute. We then dismissed and adjourned to the church halls for a buffet where up spirits was piped.

Knightswood VE Memorial Service

On Saturday 12th our branch members paraded our standard at the Knightswood Memorial service to commemorate Victory in Europe. This was followed by a march down the Great Western Road to the Lincoln Inn where a buffet was laid on for all those who attended.

On Sunday 26 February some of our members were invited onboard HMS Liverpool at the KG5 dock where we enjoyed a tour of the ship and a few singing gingers. We exchanged plaques and we also received some posters to auction off to members etc. A good time was had by all.

TS Queen Elizabeth visit

S/ms Kenn Mc\kinnon (chairman), Brian MacKenzie (secretary) David Carlin (Treasurer) and Frank Halliday (life vice president) were invited to the sea cadet unit TS Queen Elizabeth in Clydebank for the capping of a new cadet. S/m Brian presented cadet Andrew Murray with an RNA Diary and our chairman presented the unit with the City of Glasgow RNA plaque.