On the 15th January the Trustees met with the Branch Chairmen in the Conference Room at the Marine Society Headquarters in Lambeth. This is the first such meeting and is hoped to become an annual event.
Given that the RFA Association membership extends from “Muckle Flugga to the Bishop Rock and Belfast to Bridlington”, not to mention our world wide members from Australia, canada, Thailand, Malta, the Seychelles etc. Such a meeting is very important to ensure that we all know each other and that suggestion and problems can be dealt with on a face to face basis.
Front Row Left to Right.
Ian Thompson North West Group Chairman
Peter Fry Honarary Treasurer
Frank Andrews National Chairman
Rupert Drew COMRFA Ex Officio Trustee
Richard Fernley London Branch Secretaty
Robin Lock Trustee and Fundraiser
Back Row
Russell Downs COMRFA Ex Officio Trustee
Ray Bennett Trustee
George Mason Trustee
Gil Forth Co Chairman S&N Branch
John Sail Chairman Midlands Branch
John Halford Chairman Plymouth Branch
Alan Williamson Secretary Solent Branch
Robert Settle Trustee.
Behind the camera (thankfully)
Pat Thompson Deputy National Chairman.
At the start of the meeting Captain Roger Robinson-Brown and Marine Artist Louis Roskell presented the Chairman with a specially commissioned painting of RFA Tidespring during Operation Paraquat, the Liberation of South Georgia during the Falklands War. This painting will be presented to the new RFA Tidespring when she commissions into the RFA Fleet.
The Artist, Louis, is a Master Mariner and active Member of the Merchant Navy Association.
He has painted many fine art works of ships and shipping and has illustrated books on marine subjects as well as producing posters for the marine industry. Recently his painting of the Malta Convoy, (Operation Pedestal 1942) with the tanker “OHIO” under attack was displayed at the the Hon. Coy. of Master Mariner’s exhibition aboard HQS Wellington marking the 70th Anniversary of this vital and critical Naval Operation of WW2.
Louis is a holder of The South Atlantic Medal having served throughout Operation Corporate on
MS St Edmund, one of the many ships “Taken Up From Trade.”
