1.         Please find enclosed your joining instructions and information for attending the events planned for our 40th Reunion weekend in Portsmouth. As this weekend is a bit of a change from what has been arranged to celebrate previous milestones, there are a few key points to get across. If you need to contact us here at the Flagship, you can do so on  brnc85@hotmail.com. 

 

Information about all the events can be found on the BRNC85 website.  You may need to scroll through, but the Shortcast and Midshipman's Blog has it all. 

 

 

2.         Timings remain as previously published and a final Shortcast will be posted the week before. Please remember the Five Minute Rule!  Joking aside, we need to be escorted within HM Naval Base and probably HMS EXCELLENT too, therefore if you are not where you should be, at the right time and in the right rig, you may dip out. 

 

 

3.         All activities should have been previously booked via the website and the "Sign Up to 2025" page. If you have not booked, there is a chance you will be missed off the official lists that we need to hand to the Security Staff to ensure our access. Please check for your name against our current lists for each of the activities below;

 

a.        Friday Evening RPC Admiralty House, HM Naval Base.

 

We have the following people booked for this event;  Hugh Anderson, Lance Batchelor, Wiggy Bennett, Mark Blackmore, Dick Bone, 
Nicholas Boyd, Wayne Brads, Keith Broughton, Tony Carruthers, Graham Casey, Suzanne Clark. Jeremy Coughlan, Bruce Crawford, John
Davies, Nicholas Davis, Marc Evans, Brian Fenton, Andrew Findlay, Andrew Goodman, Jon Green, Neil Grice, Stephen Harpin, Rhett 
Hatcher, Nick Hibberd, Kevin Hood, Keith Hubber, David Jones, Nick MacDonald-Robinson, Peter Nelson, David Noyes, Simon Powell, 
Jennifer Schofield, Patrick Seakins, Tim Searle, Charlie Smith, Jill Spicer, Richard Swarbrick, Elizabeth Walmsley, Graeme Waugh, Tony Welch, 
Iain Whyte, Jos Williams, Tim Winter, Darroch Woodward, Stuart Wright, Gavin Young & Steve Young.

 

Rig - Smart Casual, Dog Robbers, Planters etc.  I'm sure we can work it out! 

 

Timings - We need to muster at Victory Gate from 1830-1900 in order to be escorted in small groups (8 people) into the Dockyard. 

 

Security - You are not allowed to make your own way to Admiralty House other than by foot. Similarly, we are not allowed to leave without an escort either, so please wait until the event has concluded. Photo ID, passport, driving licence, Veterans ID Card (!) required. 

 

Access - If you are unable to walk from Victory Gate to AH, let the Flagship know, we cannot arrange vehicle access but can arrange for a car to meet you. 

 

Post RPC - Act independently  - pubs (various). 

 

b.         Saturday - National Museum of the Royal Navy. 

 

We will pass a list to staff of those people who have expressed an interest, we recommend the Ultimate Explorer Ticket which should cost us £20,, non serving or veteran family members will need to pay the going rate!

 

On our list for this event we have: Tony Carruthers, Graham Casey, Simon Cheesley, Suzanne Clark, Jeremy Coughlan, Paula Every, Paul Every, Andrew  Findlay, Kevin Hood, Shivaun Mason, Simon Mason, Peter Nelson, Simon Powell, Iain Whyte Darroch Woodward, Steve Young.

 

Make your own way to the Dockyard, again you need to be heading for Victory Gate. Staff will have a list of our group but after that it is up to you what to see and how to plan your visit. Don't forget, it includes HMS ALLIANCE and EXPLOSION! The Museum of Naval Firepower, both in Gosport. 

 

c.         Visit to the RN Trophy Store. 1230-1430.

 

This is being organised via Dave Cunnigham and his fellow Trustee of the RN Trophy Collection.  

 

Muster at 1200 at Victory Gate, there are sixteen people booked, we cannot accept any more bookings as, again, this is a visit within the secure dockyard site. The same security arrangements are in place so you cannot go off piste and need to be accompanied at all times!

 

The following are expected; James Boyd, Susanna Boyd, Nicholas Boyd, Nicholas Davis, Paula Every, Paul Every, Brian Fenton, Andrew Goodman, Keith Hubber, Shivaun Mason, Simon Mason, Jennifer Schofield, Tim Searle, Richard Swarbrick, Tim Winter, Stuart Wright. 

 

 

A bus has been hired from BUSROUTE - it's a 33 seater so keep an eye out for that.

 

You must have booked a place via the BRNC85 website - spaces are limited and we are almost at capacity. 

 

Departure and return will be to The Hard Bus Stands, we cannot pick people up on the way there, but may be able to drop people off on the way back at the driver's discretion. 

 

The following have a seat on the bus... Hugh Anderson,  Lance Batchelor, Wiggy Bennett, Tony Carruthers, Graham Casey, David Chitty, John
Davies, Nicholas Davis, Paul Every, Brian Fenton, Andrew Findlay, Jon Green, Neil Grice, Stephen Harpin, Kevin Hood, Guy Hope, Keith Hubber, Simon Mason, Peter Nelson, David Noyes, Simon Powell, Jennifer Schofield, Patrick Seakins, Tim Searle, Richard Swarbrick, Tony Welch, Tim
Winter, Darroch Woodward, Stuart Wright, Gavin Young and Steve Young.

 

 

There will be welcome drinks served from 1900 in the Wardroom Ante Room. 

 

Seating plan will be by Divisions.  

 

Menu - 

Starter  - Chicken and Chorizo Terrine OR Tomato Olive red Pepper Terrine with Onion Chutney (Ve)

Main Course  - Confit Lamb Rump with Charred Leeks, Potato Rosti and Mint Gravy OR Portobello Mushroom Steak with Confit Parisienne Potato, Tender Stem Broccoli (V)(Ve)

Dessert - Baked Soft Centred Chocolate Fondant OR Plant Based Hazelnut Finger. (V)(Ve)

 Wine List - TBC

Port - Thanks to the Association of Royal Naval Officers, we have a round of port on them. We encourage you join them if not already a member.

Rig - Black Tie – negat (no) medals and decorations. 

Those booked and attending the mess dinner are as follows; Hugh Anderson, Chris Baldwin, Lance Batchelor, Wiggy Bennett, Philip Blackman, Dick Bone, Nicholas Boyd, Wayne Brads, Keith Broughton, Tony Carruthers, Graham Casey, Simon Cheesley, David Chitty, Suzanne Clark, Jeremy Coughlan, Bruce Crawford, John Davies, Nicholas Davis, James Doble, Paul Every, Brian Fenton, Andrew Findlay, Andrew Goodman, Jon Green, Neil Gregory, Neil Grice, Paul Hanson, Stephen Harpin, David Heley, Kevin Hood, Guy Hope, Guy Hope, Keith Hubber, Alun Jones, David Jones, Jerry Kyd, Simon Mason, Tom Mills, Tim Mullett, Richard Murrison, Peter Nelson, David Noyes, Simon Powell, Jennifer Schofield, Patrick Seakins, 
Tim Searle, Charlie Smith, Jill Spicer, Richard Swarbrick, Elizabeth Walmsley, Graeme Waugh, Tony Welch, Iain Whyte, Jos Williams, Tim Winter, 
Darroch Woodward, Stuart Wright, Gavin Young and Steve Young. 

We have a band and some song sheets.....

Bar closes at 2330. 

All to be clear of HMS EXCELLENT by 0045.

 

g.         Sunday Brunch 1100 - 1300 The Wardroom (of course) Old Customs House, Gunwharf Quays.

 

Currently around twenty people have booked, orders for brunch are required in advance, see email to those attending, choices please a week before (14 Sep).  Room for a couple more, bookings required via the usual page. 

 

Places have been set for..... Hugh Anderson, Wiggy Bennett, Keith Broughton, Tony Carruthers, Simon Cheesley, Bruce Crawford, John Davies, Nicholas Davis, Andrew Goodman, Kevin Hood, Keith Hubber, David Jones, Peter Nelson, Simon Powell, Patrick Seakins, Tim Searle, Graeme 
Waugh and Tim Winter. 

 

Rig - whatever you can find that's still clean in your pusser's grip. 

 

 

 

3.         The BRNC 85 Website is still active and so if you have a favourite dit that you would like to share with everyone, please add it to the site. 

 

4.         We hope to get an official photographer for the Mess Dinner. If you wish to get group, divisional or individual photos, please chat to the Leading Phot on Saturday evening. We aim to get at least one group reunion photo for the album. Please also share your own photos (standards!) via the BRNC 85 website, there is already a lasting legacy there of reunions past, let's keep it going. 

 

 

5.       A few miscellaneous instructions:

a.    Remember to let us know if you have any dietry requirements - deadline please Sunday 07 September.

b.    Please make sure you are up to date with payments for all activities. 

c.    Complete your profiles in the ‘Your Shipmates’ section of the BRNC 85 website if you have not done so already.

 

d.    Name Tallies!  We are not intending to order any more of these, if you have attended one of the previous reunions, feel free to wear your name tally. It does help matching names to faces given we are all getting older..... Who are you again?

 

e.    We are unlikely to have an active WhatsApp Group up and running by the 19th, so keep an eye on the BRNC 85 Website for last minute changes via the Front Page or Midshipman's Blog.  This update will be live on the system under the tab "Joining Instructions".

f.    Finally, have you booked all the events for the weekend via the "Sign Up to 2025" page? If not, you know what to do!

 

It is going to be another great weekend highlighting the camaraderie and connections across 40 years, hard to believe it has been that long! Thanks folks for making the effort. 

 

Yours Aye,

 

 

AKA;

Paul Bennett

Keith Broughton

Tony Carruthers

Kev Hood

Simon Powell