A tour onboard the Falkland veteran submarine HMS Courageous a British Churchill-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine which served in the Royal Navy. HMS Vanguard is undergoing a major refit and the affiliates saw her from a distance. Following lunch in the dry dock crew facilities the affiliates then experienced life onboard a submarine in two simulators joining in some exercise simulations. A visit then took place onboard the type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland and their crew were keen to show us their pride of their ship.

In the evening Captain Steve Waller and his officers and ships company hosted all the affiliates at a mess dinner. It turned out to be a fantastic experience for all the affiliates.

The Royal Navy is still in good hands but somewhat smaller than when we were serving.

It was a cold and wet November morning but several thousand members of the public watched serving personnel and the Armed Forces Veterans march through the city followed by the laying of the wreaths at the cenotaph. The branch chairman laid a wreath for the RNA.

It was a day for the nation to remember and honour those who have sacrificed themselves to secure and protect our freedom.

Following the service all the armed forces personnel along with the veterans were invited back to the Civic hall for some refreshments.

Our Vice President shipmate Geoff Thornton laid a wreath at the memorial at the New Headingley Club and shipmate Phil Brown laid a wreath at St Michaels Church memorial in Headingley.

Commodore Phil Waterhouse (Naval Regional Command Northern England & Isle of Man) and Captain Scott Bower the Commanding Officer of the submarine HMS Audacious were the guests of honour on this great naval occasion. HMS Audacious is affiliated with the City of Leeds and our RNA Branch. Both VIP guests gave interesting speeches during the evening.

We were also thrilled to have with us some of HMS Audacious’s ships company, and 14 ships company from HMS Ceres the Leeds based Royal Naval Reserve. We also had former Falklands War naval veterans and their partners attending who previously served on the frigates HMS Yarmouth and HMS Danae. Major Laxmi Bantawa who previously served with the Gurkha regiment for many years attend the function along with his wife.

It is important these days that organisations such as the FAA and the RNR along with other military organisations attend each other’s events also we were thrilled when the Yorkshire branch of the Malaya & Borneo Veteran Association attended this commemoration dinner to Admiral Lord Nelson.

Everyone who attended enjoyed a wonderful evening of traditional naval formalities and lots of nautical banter. We set up a naval rum barrel and the “rum bosun” issued out the tots of rum when we “Spliced the Mainbraice”. A toast to both “Admiral Lord Nelson” and “Her Majesty The Queen” took place following the speeches.

Everyone is looking forward to next year’s Trafalgar Night dinner which will be held on Saturday 19^th October 2018.

On a Hot and sunny day a knowledgeable guide gave us an interesting tour of the historical port of Hull, which ended at a nice pub for a few drinks. Several wandered around the many sightseeing attractions a few spent their money improving the local economy within Hull’s many shops.

In the evening Andrea organised an evening meal at “The Minerva” overlooking the harbour and Humber Estuary.  Following the meal we visited several bars adjacent the marina on route back to the hotel.

The following morning after breakfast we walked around the marina and went onboard HMS Pickle (top sail schooner) which the original HMS Pickle was one of the fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar.

“The battle was won and England was once again safe from the threat of the Spanish fleets as Nelson secured British naval superiority for the next one hundred years but the victory came at great cost. Admiral Lord Nelson, the nation’s saviour, had been killed”.

“Make haste, little Pickle” the Admiral said “Go and tell England that Nelson is dead.”

The news of victory at the Battle of Trafalgar and of Nelson’s heroic death could only be entrusted to the swiftest vessel in the fleet. That vessel was HMS Pickle.

We were given a guided tour which also had a bonus viewing between decks in the cabins. The captain and Master Mal Nicholson arranged for one of the onboard cannons to be fired. A few of us also went on the converted “Spider T” a super sloop, the living space was amazing.

Later that afternoon all shipmates returned to Leeds.

Some trip photographs can be viewed in the photo gallery.

The Royal Naval Association set up a stall alongside our affiliate shipmates from HMS Ceres in Millennium Square. This provided the chance for the public to speak to serving and former service personnel.

A military parade through the city centre featuring service men and women, past and present alongside cadets from across the city. There were a huge array of displays, military vehicles and military related stalls. This gave one the chance to suit up in real military kit and get up close with some of the weaponry used on the battlefield. The day also provided the public the opportunity to speak with a range of military charities and veteran’s groups, and to hear their inspiring stories.

It was a bitterly cold November morning but several thousand members of the public watched serving personnel and the Armed Forces Veterans march through the city followed by the laying of the wreaths at the cenotaph.

It was a day for the nation to remember and honour those who have sacrificed themselves to secure and protect our freedom.

Following the service all the armed forces personnel along with the veterans were invited back to the Civic hall for some refreshments.

We were also thrilled to have with us some of HMS Audacious’s ships company, Lt James Young from HMS Montrose and 20 ships company from HMS Ceres the Leeds based Royal Naval Reserve. We also had former Falklands War naval veterans and their partners attending who previously served on the frigates HMS Yarmouth and HMS Danae.

It is important these days that organisations such as the FAA and the RNR along with other military organisations attend each other’s events so we were thrilled when the Yorkshire branch of the Malaya & Borneo Veteran Association attended this commemoration dinner to Admiral Lord Nelson.

Everyone who attended enjoyed a wonderful evening of traditional naval formalities and lots of nautical banter. We set up a naval rum barrel and the “rum bosun” issued out the tots of rum when we “Spliced the Mainbraice”. A toast to both “Admiral Lord Nelson” and “Her Majesty The Queen” took place following the speeches.

Everyone is looking forward to next year’s Trafalgar Night dinner which will be held on 20^th October 2018.

The main evening entertainment was provided by the Ceilidh Band, as the evening went on and the more the drinks flowed everyone was on the dance floor trying out the many ceilidh moves.

This went on until the early hours.

Photographs can be viewed in the HMS Ceres photobook within the photo gallery.