Kent Branch History

2008

In June 2008 Peter Nixon (Ex Chock head) and Mike Foote (Ex Greeny) both Committee Members of Ramsgate RNA and Chairman and Vice Chairman of The Channel Dash Association, were wondering why Kent did not have a National Fleet Air Arm Association Branch in the county. Mike, a member of the Daedalus Branch, and Peter thought it was a ridiculous situation that Kent, the birth place of Aviation in the UK and Naval Aviation in particular was not represented.

By early August they decided to look into the possibility of starting a Kent Branch and contacted the National FAAA Secretary Arnold Thompson who advised them to attend the next General Meeting being held at Derby in October where they would be able to address the National Committee and put forward their proposal to form a Kent Branch.

At the meeting in Derby, Peter and Mike explained how they proposed to base the Branch in Ramsgate but wanted to recruit members throughout the county. Monthly meetings would be held at the Ramsgate RNA Club, but once a quarter the meeting could be moved to a venue anywhere in the county to accommodate members from outside the Ramsgate area. The FAAA Committee gave them their full support and wished them every success.

2009

Peter arranged a Press Release using a freelance journalist contact he had, and an article appeared in the local papers during early January 2009.

The inaugural meeting was held at Ramsgate RNA on 31^st January 2009; the attendance was 14 of which 10 joined... A Branch Committee was elected, Peter Nixon (Chairman), Mike Foote (Secretary) and John (Dinger) Bell (Treasurer).

The following day Peter and Mike attended the FAAA Committee meeting at RNA Hanworth to report on the Kent Branch inaugural meeting, from this the Committee gave them a generous grant of £200.00 to help establish the Branch.

The Inaugural Meeting.

Left to Right.

Peter Nixon, Mike Foote, Harry Field, Mike Adams, Ron Bowers, Ben Parish, John Williams, Dick Richards, John Bell, Peter Stokes, George Meaden.

Seated.

Patricia Knox-Duignan, Jennifer Nixon

Mike and Peter with the National FAAA Committee at Hanworth RNA.

Monthly meetings were held at Ramsgate RNA and by April membership had grown to 16. Peter and Mike said that recruiting new members would be a slow process and were pleased the Branch was growing at a steady rate.

4^th April. FAAA AGM and Reunion Weekend at Bosworth Hall. This was attended by the Secretary who had booked as a Daedalus member before the Kent Branch was formed. During the weekend he managed to recruit 2 members for the Kent Branch.

1^st May. Pioneer Memorial Service at Eastchurch Isle of Sheppey.

Branch Chairman and Secretary with Rear Admiral Charlier

This event also marked the start of celebrations to commemorate the start of Fly Navy 100 the Centenary of Naval Aviation.

7^th May. The Secretary attended a Fly Navy Heritage Trust event at HMS President. This was to launch stamps depicting Naval Aviation, and a new bottled beer consisting of a 4X beer and “Pussers Rum” called “Swordfish”.

The Chairman attended a Mess Dinner on HMS Illustrious that evening; his invite was under this position as Chairman of the Channel Dash.

8^th May. Again under his position of Channel Dash Chairman Peter Nixon attended the Memorial Service at St Paul’s Cathedral.

10^th May Trip by Kent Branch members to visit and tour HMS Illustrious at anchor in London. The day out was attended by a combined party of FAA and Channel Dash members.

Branch members on the “Goofing” deck of HMS Illustrious.

Left to Right. Christine Loveday, Jim Loveday, Sheelah Foote, Dick Richards.

By June the Kent Branch membership had reached 19.

17^th June. Jim Loveday offered to give members a tour of Southwark Crown Court where he works as a Police Liaison Officer. Dick Richards and Mike Foote made the trip to London for the visit and also met up with members of HMS Belfast Association, of which Jim is an honorary member.

18^th June. Members who served at HMS Peregrine made a nostalgic return to the air station, which is now HMP Ford. It brought back many happy memories and was a very interesting day

27^th June. Members joined with the Ramsgate RNA for a coach trip to attend Veterans Day at Chatham Dockyard.

9^th July. Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. This was one of if not the main high light of the year for the FAAA. The weather was good and those of our members who attended had a very good day out.

3^rd October. The Secretary attended as the Branch delegate the FAAA General Meeting at Derby.

21^st October. An invitation was extended to the Branch by HMS Belfast Association for members to join them in a Trafalgar Day lunch in London. This was taken up by three members, Jim Loveday, Mike Foote and Dick Richards; it proved to be an excellent run ashore.

8^th November. It had been agreed by the members that we would lay wreaths at Ramsgate and Margate Remembrance Sunday Parades.

Member Ernie Coppard Lays our wreath at Ramsgate War Memorial

Branch Treasurer John 'Dinger' Bell Laid the Branch Wreath at Margate War Memorial.

14^th November. The Branch held a Taranto Night Dinner at The Racing Greyhound in Ramsgate, 26 members and family attended, who all declared the event a great success. This will probably become a fixture in the Branch calendar.

16^th December. HMS Belfast Association extended an invitation to those members who attended the Trafalgar Lunch in October to join them onboard HMS Belfast for a Christmas Dinner.

Left-Right. Dick Richards, Jim Loveday, Mike Foote.

21^st December. Unfortunately the planned Christmas Social Evening had to be cancelled due to the very severe and adverse weather conditions.