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RNA Biennial Parade, London 2015

Karl Webb , , , ,

On Sunday 6th September 2015, shipmates Bill Small and Karl Webb joined the mass gathering of RNA, CONA, and visiting Naval forces personnel at the Cenotaph, London, for our Biennial Parade. Chairman of Huntingdon Branch, S/M Bill Small, was to parade the Branch Standard, whilst Huntingdon’s Hon. Secretary, S/M Karl Webb paraded the Standard from St Neots & District Branch (their Standard Bearer, S/M Keith Ridley is also No 6 Area NCM and was to parade with the National Council).

Shipmates Karl Webb and Bill Small at the Biennial Parade
Shipmates Karl Webb and Bill Small at the Biennial Parade

On arrival in London, RNA shipmates joined other Confederation of Naval Associations (CONA) members from the UK and overseas (e.g The Irish Naval Association, a naval contingent from Belgium, UK’s Type 42 Association and the Type 21 Club). Standard Bearers fell in behind the Sea Cadet Band and veterans took up their places behind the Standards. The parade moved of in true naval style and formed squads around the Cenotaph.

Standard Bearers on parade (Photo: S/M Nigel Huxtable)
Standard Bearers on parade (Photo: S/M Nigel Huxtable)

As well as the RNA National President and command team, our guests of honour included the Fleet Commander; Minister (AF)
Penny Mordaunt; Minister Mark Francois; the Chair of the House of Commons Defence Committee; and our own Chaplain of the Fleet.

Penny Mordaunt MP thanks shipmates on completion of the Parade
Penny Mordaunt MP thanks shipmates on completion of the Parade (Photo: S/M Nigel Huxtable)

As always, the parade was a great success, the full article will be published in the Semaphore Circular in due course (links to S/M Nigel Huxtable’s photographs can be found below). Once the parade had been dismissed, it was time to enjoy scran and a few wets at the Civil Service Club.

A crowded Civil Service Club (Photo: Nigel Huxtable)
A crowded Civil Service Club (Photo: S/M Nigel Huxtable)

Also in keeping with tradition, S/M Nigel Huxtable dished out a tot for the Standard Bearers.

Standard Bearers are issued with their tot from S/M Nigel Huxtable
Standard Bearers are issued with their tot from S/M Nigel Huxtable

And everyone had a chance to chat with the trainees from HMS Sultan, and of course to catch up with old shipmates from their time in service.

S/M Dean 'Deaks' Deakins spinning a few dits
S/M Dean ‘Deaks’ Deakins spinning a few dits

Huntingdon shipmates Bill and Karl had both served onboard Type 42s (Karl’s time onboard was short-term drafts as a Phot) and had a great time catching up with the troops from the Type 42 Association.

S/Ms Karl Webb and Bill Small with the Type 42 Association
S/Ms Karl Webb and Bill Small with the Type 42 Association

As the day drew to a close, shipmates began heading back to their homes, it was a great day out and with new freindships forged, we shall loo forward to the next gathering. BZ Shipmates.

 

Click here to see the rest of S/M Nigel Huxtable’s photographs.

More images from Huntingdon & District Branch at the Biennial Parade:

 

Naval Associations gather in Whitehall Huntingdon Shipmates Karl Webb and Bill Small S/Ms Karl Webb and Bill Small Shipmates Karl Webb and Ros Hastie-Murray (Tyne RNA)
Time for scran and a wet At the Civil Service Club At the Civil Service Club Tot issue
At the Civil Service Club A crowded bar At the Civil Service Club Deaks can teach the new recruits a thing...or two
At the Civil Service Club Steady as a rock! Type 42 Association S/Ms Karl Webb and Bill Small with new oppos from the Type 42 Association