Welcome shipmates of the HMS Llandaff Association to your first newsletter of the New Year.

Well where did last year disappear too???? Who knows time seems to go by so quick or is it that we are not so young anymore.

I am taking this opportunity of putting together this newsletter as I recover from my latest operation and short stay in Hospital , well on the mend now and should be fit for sea again in around about 6 weeks , thank you to all shipmates that have been keeping an eye on my health problems of late .I think all these problems started after meeting up with John Tommo Thompson again after 30 odd years

Reunion went very well last year with a record attendance and it was great to see Captain George Oxley looking so well and giving us his usual performance.

This year marks the 50^th year since the old girl was first commissioned into the Royal Navy so it’s a very special year for all of us especially the very first commission boys so Birthday celebrations are a must for this year. We still have around about 20 of the first commission boys onboard so I expect all of you that can attend to do so.

Eastbourne is the new venue this year with a much better deal price wise that we have ever had in the past and also making this year a 3 day event due to the travelling that some members have to undertake.

I will be making a short visit to the Afton Hotel over the next month or so and hope to meet up with John Holness who will look over all the facilities that are on offer to us.

It’s very difficult having a change of venue after 7 years in one place but I feel that in the end the Holiday Inn at Cardiff were not playing the game especially on the price of the drinks etc anyway we will try out Eastbourne this year and see how we do.

The one and only Shep Woolley will perform for us on the Friday Evening and we will have a band of some sort for the main event on the Saturday evening, On Sunday this year we have been invited down to the old Naval Comrades club in Eastbourne for a Lunch time session with buffet. I’ve been to the club once before and is well worth the visit.

As far as a Guest of honour for this years reunion Dinner I have searched high and low for an officer who was serving onboard during the first commission without any luck what so ever, I think age has caught up with us on that issue so I have been in touch with a very young Lt David Snelson who was onboard back in 1975.

David Snelson has attended Reunion once before and retired from The R.N about 18 months ago and finished up a Rear Admiral.

David now runs the Port of London and is a very busy man but has promised to look into his work load and has promised to honour us all as guest of honour if at all possible in October.

David’s Naval C.V stretches quite a distance and if my memory is correct I think that he was in command of about 3 ships including the Ark Royal so I personally think the Admiral will make it a very interesting after dinner speech , lets hope he can get time off to attend our next reunion.

Don’t forget the dates for Reunion are the 10^th of October through to the 13^th, bookings are going well, we have about 13 twin rooms left to book and then we will be full.

If you have not booked yet please get the booking form back to me ASAP with a £10 deposit per head then you have until August to pay the balance, Please note deposits are non returnable as I have had to pay up front a deposit to the hotel which also is non returnable.

Sorry about the date being so late this year it was the only weekend I could get, the bride is a little bit upset as it’s our Wedding Anniversary and I promised her a cruise so now I’ve had to pull all the stops out to secure a room at the hotel with a sea view so that I can show her some ships in the channel!!!!!!

The web site www.hmsllandaff.co.uk  seems to be going well and don’t forget if any of your personal details on the crew list are wrong please contact Ian our webmaster direct and he will correct them for you , if you are not listed then contact me and I will pass on your details. Also on the web site Ian has created a new page for Photos of yourselves past and present, it’s a bit of fun to see how much we have all changed over the years so send yours in if you haven’t already done so.

A couple of months ago a couple of Llandaff items appeared up for sale by auction on the world’s famous web site E Bay. One item pictured below

Its a little shield to commemorate losing the tot issue in the R.N, well the shield is now in my possession as an oppo of mine wanted to buy this item for me for a Christmas present and he wishes to pass on a message to all Llandaff members who bid against him on E Bay !!!! Please don’t do it again as what started out as a £2 Bargain ended up costing him over £20 !!! And being an ex submariner he wasn’t too pleased at spending so much money on a skimmer.

Membership is ticking along quite nicely and at present we have about 109 fully paid up members and for those of you who have not yet paid membership for 2008 please do so , its only £3 a year to keep us afloat also all other donations are gratefully received .

We have a new slops provider based down in Weymouth (ex R.N ) and we can now provide most items of clothing with the ships crest on them and even your name or nick name included  if so desired .  

Fleeces, Pilot Shirts, Polo Shirts, Base ball caps etc etc Name your colour and requirements and I will get our supplier to mail items directly to you, most items range price wise between £10 - £20 plus £4 P&P per item, I also have some ties in stock with the ships crest on them priced at £8 Each plus £2 P&P.

Please be reminded that all cheques are payable to The HMS Llandaff Association and send to me at my usual address  178 Sutcliffe House, Addison Way , Hayes, Middlesex UB3 2DJ.

The Bank balance is looking good at around about £300 after all the latest invoices are paid the only other funds in the account are reunion deposits making us a little bit of interest until I have to pay out .

Well shipmates that’s about all for now, we now have calm waters ahead all the way to this reunion.

Yours aye             Slinger & the Bride