21 Monks Way
Hill Head
Fareham
Hampshire
PO14 3LU
Tel. 01329-662137

President. The Rt Hon. The Earl of Gainsborough

NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2007

We the Association would like to start off this newsletter in a different manner by offering our congratulations to:

Firstly, our President and his wife on the occasion of the celebration of their DIAMOND wedding. We don’t not know the actual date but feel that sixty years of marriage is a wonderful achievement and a milestone in any persons life.

Secondly, Andrew and Eugenie Gillespie on the occasion of their wedding on 18th August. We hope you had a lovely day and that we will see some of the wedding photographs on the HMS Barham website that Andrew manages so well for us.

And thirdly to one of our committee members and stalwart of the Association CPO Bob Woodgate on being presented with a Citizenship Award for 2007 by the London Borough of Brent for services to the community.

Our sincere congratulations to you all.

The Very Reverend John Hall, Dean of Westminster Abbey has kindly given permission for out REMEMERANCE SERVICE to the help at the Abbey on SATURDAY 24th NOVEMBER. This will be the first time he has welcomed the Association to the Abbey and he has said that he hopes to meet as many of us as possible. Survivors, members and guests are requested to enter the Abbey by the WEST DOOR no later than 1430. Abbey staff will direct us to seating in the nave before leading us to our seats in the choir stalls for the evening service. For anyone who has never been to the service I find it one of the most moving celebrations in which one can participate. Would all those wishing to attend please complete the attached ship and return in to the Chairman.

The actual Remembrance service for HMS Barham will be hold on completion of Evensong when the wreath will be laid on behalf of those lost. Please would any volunteers to lat the wreath inform the Chairman. Our wreath will again be very kindly mad and donated to Pat and Alan Pickett, thank you. CPO Bob Woodgate will parade the standard as Mick our bearer for the last two years has been unwell, so hurry up and get well Mick, and thank you Bob.

Last year over 97 people including three survivors came to the service. It is marvellous that so many wish to keep the name of HMS Barham and loved ones in their memories. At the service some members managed to take photographs of those attending and the secretary has been asked if these could be published on the website or made available for purchase.

Jim Pratt writes from Gloucester saying that he will be at the Abbey and would like to meet “old shipmates”. Jim is now 89 years old and has just managed the computer system. He was in the canteen service and was in HMS Barham’s sick bay when the ship was hit. He had cut his hand badly when preparing rashers for the next meal. He jumped off near the bow just before the magazine exploded. His brother Teddy, a Boy Seaman, was unfortunately lost in the sinking.

Some members have planned to meet at the Methodist Central Hall restaurant for a light lunch and get together prior to the service. The Union Jack Club, on Sandell Street adjacent to Waterloo station, has again given permission for any for us who wish to gather there after the service to make use of the very welcoming bar and restaurant.

We are still actively pursuing the purchase of a Memorial stone to be placed at the National Arboretum near Litchfield, Staffordshire, and now hope to have a joint dedication service in Spring 2008. Peter Yuile is currently liaising with the sculptor about the choice of stone and plaque. The names of all those who replied hoping to attend the dedication have been noted and further details will be forwarded when available.

Sadly I have been informed of the death of a survivor, John Masters, aged 83 in June. He was a Midshipman at the time of the sinking and leaves a widow Babs. I have also been informed of the death of Mrs Margaret McHugh in July. Her late husband, John, was also a survivor.

The secretary has received a query from Steve Collins who is researching his family tree and have discovered that his great grandfathers’ sister married a John Dickson who was an artificer in HMS Barham. At the battle of Jutland he suffered from shattered eardrums. Steve would like to find out more about him. Steves address is steve.collins@collinsfamily23.fsnet.co.uk.

Jill Walton says that she has just discovered the website and states that her uncle Able Seaman Jack Chardan was killed when HMS Barham sank. Jill’s father passed on to her brother, as series of photographs taken showing the sinking. She wishes she had listened to her grandparents more. Her grandmother used to go to the Abbey to look at the Book of Remembrance whenever she could.

I would like to end by thanking everyone who has forwards gifts to the Association. Thank you all very much.

Yours sincerely,

Michael K Stratton-Brown

Chairman