Shipmates,

Away Weekend Thursday 8th to Monday 12th October to Daish’s Hotel, Shanklin. We’ll be there in 7 days time.

Pickup approximate times:

• • • • Bridport bus station 0900 – Vaughan, Carole & Sue.
      • Portland, Victoria Square, bus stop near chippie at 0945 for the other 31.
      • We are booked on the 1400 ferry from Pompey.

As we are sharing the coach, we have no say in a possible lunch stop. The driver may decide to go directly to the ferry terminal, although I would expect a comfort stop at Rownhams Services. You may want to take a packed lunch.

I issued luggage labels to most of you at the September meeting. I’ll have labels for the rest at the October meeting. Please make sure you use the Daish’s labels marked DT for luggage being stowed in the hold of the coach and porters will take it to your hotel room. Most important to use these labels for the return journey so that your luggage is stowed on the correct coach.

The weekend is completely informal. Hope that everyone has an enjoyable time.

Regards
Dave
Social Sec

Original post here

Reserve this weekend in your diaries.

The next No 4 Area Reunion will be held at Durrant House Hotel, Northam, Bideford EX39 3QB on:

Friday 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th March 2027 – Booking details with costs below:

ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION No.4 AREA REUNION
FRIDAY 5 MARCH TO MONDAY 8 MARCH 2027

BOOKING INFORMATION

2 nights package Fri buffet to Sun Lunch or Sat Gala Dinner to Mon b/fast. Cost: £180.00 pp

Those that request 2 nights only, please let me know if it’s Fri & Sat or Sat & Sun that’s required.

A number of single rooms are available with no supplement; all rooms have baths with shower over or walk in shower on request.

A £20 deposit per person is required by Sat 21 November 2026. Please note that the £20 deposit is non refundable as we will already have incurred expenses at that point.

The account name for payment is: No 4 Area Reunion Fund

Bank transfer to:          Sort Code 30-95-08           A/C Number 01009530

The Reunion Treasurer would prefer one bank transfer per branch where possible.

Those of you who haven’t been before, it’s a fun weekend with a full entertainment programme.

All branches have their own table for the whole weekend, but tables seat 10 so smaller branches might have to share.

Travel is self drive.

Please contact your Reunion Rep, S/m Pete Shoesmith to make a booking, with £20 deposit pp, at the Oct & Nov branch meetings.

Rhonda Hopkins would like to know the number of shipmates attending the wake; she has to give the Marquis of Granby the number of people attending by Sunday 4 October.  If any shipmate is planning to attend the service please contact S/m Roy Dean at Dorchester Branch to let him know.

Some sad news from Dorchester Branch:

Shipmate Derek Hopkin’s niece, Rhonda Hopkins, has been in touch to inform us that, sadly, Derek has Crossed the Bar.

The funeral is at the Weymouth Crematorium at 1215 on Thursday 8 October 2026. She would like to invite any friends that he had in the Weymouth and Portland branches to the service and wake.

If you know of any one, please give me as the point of contact. My Mobile number is 07788 892908.

Yours Aye,
Roy Dean
Secretary, Royal Naval Association Dorchester

On 7 September S/m’s Dusty & Karen mustered at the Corner House Inn to present Amy and Dorian with an RNA Portland Branch Plaque as further thanks for the generouse donation to the Branch as a result of the fundraising on 1 August for Death of the Tot Day.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of the patrons and organisers, both the Portland RNA and the Portland Sea Cadets were presented with a whopping £578.88 each to support their ongoing work in the community.

Speaking after the presentation, RNA Branch Chairman S/m Dusty expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Amy and Dorian for their hard work in hosting the event.

On 3 September 2026, members of the local community and the branch gathered at the memorial site in St George’s Church Cemetery to mark Merchant Navy Day with a dedicated service of remembrance.

The service, which commenced at 12:00, provided an opportunity for attendees to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who gave service and indeed, continue to give service to the Merchant Navy.

The commemoration was jointly led by the Reverend Helen Harrell, Minister of Easton Methodist Church, and the Reverend Shan Litjens.

Among those paying their respects was the Mayor of Portland, Councillor Pete Roper, who attended the service to represent the island. Councillor Roper laid a wreath at the memorial site on behalf of the Portland community to honor the enduring legacy of the merchant fleet.

S/m Dusty Miller our Chairman, later said:

“It was nice to see the Merchant Navy Day Memorial Service being well attended by Branch members,
unfortunately a large number who attended were not in the photo.”

Shipmates, the Semaphore Circular Monthly
Newsletter for Friday 5th September 2026
is available here.

Message from Area Secretary:

“It is with sadness that Bridport branch reports the death of S/m Chris Barnes, late Treasurer of Bridport branch. RIP Shipmate. His funeral details as below:

Thursday 24th September 2026 at 1400. To be held at St John’s Church, West Bay, near to Bridport. The wake is still being finalised but will be promulgated when known.

Attendance of Shipmates and Standards from other branches would be greatly appreciated.

If attending, then please contact Bridport branch secretary who will liaise with the family.”

Members of the Branch attended the Memorial Service at All Saints Church, Portland, on 15th August 2026.

Yesterday lunchtime, representatives from the Portland Royal Naval Association (RNA) and the Portland Sea Cadets gathered at the popular Corner House Inn to attend a special presentation ceremony.

The event was held to distribute the proceeds from a highly successful “Death of the Tot” fundraising day, which took place at the Corner House Inn on 1st August. The traditional naval-themed event was organised to raise vital funds for chosen local charities.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of the patrons and organisers, both the Portland RNA and the Portland Sea Cadets were presented with a whopping £578.88 each to support their ongoing work in the community.

Pictured above are S/m Dorian, S/m Nige, Lieutenant (SCC) Rachel, S/m Dusty, S/m Ian, and Amy.

Speaking after the presentation, RNA Branch Chairman S/m Dusty expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Amy and Dorian for their hard work in organising the event, as well as everyone who attended and contributed to making the fundraising day such a massive success.

And here’s all of us…

Many of you will know that our good friend and Shipmate Steve Skerman Crossed the Bar on 2 August 2026.

Being RNA through & through, Steve requested an RNA led cremation with blazers and medals, Standards to be paraded if available.

The Funeral, to be held at Weymouth Crematorium at 11:30 on Friday 18 September 2026, will be conducted by Rose Funerals (Sam Wilding) and officiated by Michelle.

The funeral will be live streamed, the link is watch.obitus.com  Username is wanu3354, P/w 216935

Refreshments will be available in the main hall at the Masonic after the Funeral from 13:00.

Donations can be made in Steve’s memory for RNA Portland Branch or Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, c/o Rose Funeral Service, 23 Shrubbery Lane, Wyke Regis, DT4 9LY. Tel 01305 785832 or online via Tribute to Stephen Skerman, 20 May 1948 – 2 August 2026

Our thoughts are with his family. RIP Steve.