The Warsash Association: news

New Zealand Earthquake

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:44:39 -0400

On behalf of the Warsash Executive Committee and our worldwide members, I would like to express our thoughts and concerns following the earthquake and after shocks in Christchurch.
According to our news reports no deaths have occurred. But this must be a real disaster when we see the level of destruction in and around Christchurch. I don't know where each of you live in New Zealand but we hope that none of you suffered serious injury or damage.

Our thoughts and best wishes are with you,

John Turner
Honorary Secretary

WA website Bulletin 2010/17 Sunday 29th August 2010

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 07:47:33 -0400

WA website Bulletin 2010/17 Sunday 29th August 2010

To use the links below, first login then press the Ctrl key on your keyboard whilst you click a link in this bulletin.
It's easy to generate a new password yourself - simply use the link in Welcome box on the Home page and follow the instructions.
Please read "Website Tips repeated" at the bottom of this bulletin and if in difficulty refer to the online Help Forum.

NB I shall be away 1 - 5 Sept sailing with Peter Davy 1959. Jim MacIntyre away on holiday 29 Aug - 9 Sept. Normal service will be resumed asap.

WA Southampton Branch

Due to various circumstances the number of members attending Southampton Branch meetings has dwindled in recent years. Anyone interested in helping to restore the Branch's fortunes is invited to contact John Downs with copies to John Turner, Jim Macintyre and Chris Clarke. John Turner 1962 (new Exec Committee Hon Sec) has already volunteered his services; others are sorely needed.

A special bulletin focusing on recovery of the Branch has been emailed from the website. You can see it here >> Rebuild Southampton Branch. Background information and a list of the 68 potential members of the branch currently living in Hampshire, Dorset, West Sussex of the Ilse Of Wight are available for downloading.

Hampshire alone has the largest number of current WA members in any UK county - 46. There is great confidence that we can soon have a sizeable and active organisation in the area once more. All it takes is a little of the same enthusiasm demonstrated by Warsash cadets in bygone days for Pay Parade! So if living in Hampshire or adjacent counties and you would like to re-kindle friendships with ex-Warsash colleagues at occasional informal lunches please do make contact.

All Hands Summer 2010

As mentioned in the previous bulletin the Summer All Hands (see Journals) was inadvertently mailed using a slightly wrong mailing list. If you have any queries e.g. imperfect copy, missing enclosure, printed copy expected but not received, please email Ron Caine with copy also to Chris Clarke.

What's new

Photos 1950-52: Click the last link here > Gallery Home > Warsash courses > Member's own photos > HoulisS50 to see a great set of photos from Stelios Houlis 1950. There are some very evocative shots (for old codgers like me) e.g. in front of the old refectory, outside the Guard Room and a third one of the Guard formed up on the parade ground for the evening Sunset ceremony and lowering of the colours. As usual if you can add names to faces, after loading up the full size picture, write these in the comment box below and Save.

Stelios's photos complement very well the 44 pictures taken from Captain Wakeford's archive albums covering 1950-52 recently uploaded here >> 1951-52.

Old edition of All Hands: Another early edition of All Hands, AH 67 Winter 1976-77 from Alan Jordon, scanned by Keith Trayner is now available in the Journals section to download and read. It contains an interesting article about the London Sailing Project's Great Britain II. She was skippered by one of our current members Captain Phelan, at that time Director at Warsash (School of Maritime Studies), on the second leg of the Trans-Atlantic Tall Ships Race from Tenerife to Bermuda. Great Britan II was first to berth at Georgetown. Download and read at your leisure.

Nautical websites: I recently came across the following maritime related websites which many members will find very interesting: Wars Sailors, Tyne areas and Photoship.

Piracy on the high seas: John Clark 1958 has written a Topic in the Forum here on >> Piracy. As John reports a global campaign has been launched calling upon governments to recognise their duty to regain control of the Indian Ocean and bring those responsible for these attacks on Merchant shipping to justice. He also identifies a related website here >> Piracy Petition. We all surely have an interest and feel outrage that these appalling incidents have not been eliminated. So I urge you to read John's informative message, write your own views or describe your own experiences in the Forum and visit the petition.

Graduation photos aid to recruitment: Term photos taken at the end of your cadet course are located in the Gallery here >> Graduation photos by year. Relatively few have been uploaded. The earliest photo we have on record is Summer 1955 - none before that. Since then we are missing December 1955; Spring 1956; Spring and Summer 1957; Spring and Summer 1958; All of 1961; Winter 1962; All of 1963; Spring and Winter 1964; Summer and Winter 1965.

If you have your term's photo and its not yet on the website please let Jim MacIntyre know. If possible scan the picture (go here >> Gallery - scanning graduation photo for advice), upload it and insert as many names and detail as possible in the written style you'll see in the third photo here >> 1959.

Jim MacIntyre and others helping with recruitment are currently focusing on the December 1961 photo (view here >> 1961) and is busy putting names to faces and tracing those in the photo. Can you help? Have you any other photos or information to help this locate and recruit new members? If so email Jim MacIntyre.

Have you any idea of when these end of term photos were first taken? Again, if you do please let Jim MacIntyre know.

Are you a Skype user?: If so you can now insert your Skype address in a new data field added to your Profile. (Skype is a software application that allows users to make video and voice calls over the Internet often without charge. There are other competing products but probably Skype has the largest user base).

If not an existing Skype user you can find all relevant information here >> Skype. You can also read an introduction to setting up and using Skype here >> Video calls via Skype. You will need to download and install the Skype software and to set up your user account, all quite simple to do. Unless your laptop has a built-in webcam(era) you will also need to buy and install one for your PC. Many recent laptops however include a webcam in the lid.

These are the members I've so far found are registered Skype users: Jim Macntyre (US), John Hensford (Tuvalu), Geoff Stokoe (Florida), John Turner, Alan Knott (Australia), Mike England, Roger Purdue (Canada), John Noble, Bob Fozard (NZ), Ray Briskham, Neil Martin (Australia) and Tony Tanguy (Jersey). I expect there are many others.

Try it and and see what you think, not just for calls to other WA members but to family and friends overseas. I think it's a great way to improve communication with other members around the world.

Personal or business website?: Do you have a personal or business website you'd like to invite others to visit? If so you can also now display the address in your website Profile. Load up your Profile as explained above and you'll find the new data field "Personal/ other website" immediately below the Skype address box.

You might also like to include any address details and website in your Signature so they are shown with every Forum message you create. Use the same process via "Edit profile" in 1 above, but this time using the "Edit signature" box , then click on the "Save" button.

Website usage

The number of unique visitors to the website so far in August averaged 54 (45 throughout June).
There are 1,973 posts in the Forum, 1,161 photos in the Gallery, 4,121 names in the database including about 390 members.

Kind regards,

Chris Clarke 1959

REMINDERS FROM EARLIER BULLETINS

Online All Hands Editions

If you don't need a printed All Hands you could set an indicator in your website Profile denoting this, which will save us printing and postage costs. Unless you decide to change the default setting you will of course continue to receive printed copies.

To read how to set the indicator go to sub-forum >> Member's Profile then load the Topic Profile - opt for online or printed All Hands.
Anyone belonging to our Australian or New Zealand Branches choosing to rely on a downloaded copy only should also let Neil Martin know.

All Hands Journal: If you have an article for the next 2010 edition please contact our co-editor Ron Caine.

All Hands download times - The time taken to download All Hands from the website depends on size and the speed of your Broadband connection at the time. You may need to wait patiently sometimes especially as Broadband speeds vary so much. I usually indicate download times based on 5 Mb Broadband speed at which speed journals with few exceptions, download within 1 1/2 minutes and most under 40 seconds. There are several exceptions however but even so its well worth the wait.

TRY YOUR HAND ON THE WEBSITE (even if not computer experienced - you won't break it!)

Put more in - get more out of the website!

Try your hand in the Forum. It's not difficult and you'll find plenty of guidance here >> Forum.

We have a number of Forums where you can raise and discuss a host of issues for anyone to read and respond to. You can ask questions, start discussions or try to track down out of touch colleagues. See an excellent example here >> Warsash legends. Further examples:

To help trace long lost colleagues visit one of these e.g. Ex-School of Navigation, Ex-College of Maritime Studies or Ex-Warsash Maritime Academy.
To relate your experiences with a particular shipping company visit here >> Shipping companies. If your company name is not shown let me know and I'll create a new sub-forum.
In need of a laugh? Then visit here >> Have you heard the one about? for the latest humorous entries. Try this one for size >> Navy Recruiting Office! Better still create your own entries.
What do you get up to in your spare time? Tell all in this forum >> Pastimes and hobbies. It might be golf, reading, sailing, dancing, climbing - even train-spotting (once had a friend who read old train timetables before going to sleep)!

Fancy a challenge?

Go to Gallery Home > Where in the world is this? for a picture quiz. Five photos, only two solved so far, both by John Marshall 1959. Clues added. See if you can identify any of them.
Upload your own photos to this gallery for others to identify. But don't give any clues in the name of the file uploaded which could give the game away!

WEBSITE TIPS REPEATED

Your first actions after logging in:

List recent messages and photos created on the website using the function "View" in the top right corner of your screen.
Click on "View - Posts since last visit".
Click on "View - All photos last 4 weeks".

Lost your password?

Generate your own new secure password via the website click "About this website/ Unable to login?" in the drop-down menu.
This will email to you a link to change your email address and then another email to notify after the new password has been generated.
Remember - passwords are case sensitive.

Step by step website instructions

Click here >> Forum Home then place your cursor on the forum "Help".
Lessons from the "Help" forum are sent out periodically from the website.

Website Bulletin - Branch Rebuilding

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:10:56 -0400

Website Bulletin - Southampton Branch Recruitment 28/08/2010

Unfortunately Southampton Branch meetings at the Southampton Master Mariners Club Room have dwindled in numbers over the past few years due mainly to changing circumstances including illness. Fortunately due to our recruitment success we now have an expanding body of 68 members in Hampshire, West Sussex, Dorset and the Isle of Wight, 58 of whom are online.

Please download and read the attached document which invites members living in Hampshire, Dorset, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight to help rebuild the Southampton Branch.

Attachment

Southampton Branch Recruitment
» Download: 100828 Southampton Branch bulletin.pdf (85 Kb, 158 downloads so far)

A list of members living in those counties is also attached.

Attachment

WA members living Hampshire and adjacent counties
» Download: 100828 Southampton Branch Potential members list.pdf (14 Kb, 16 downloads so far)

Kind regards,

Chris Clarke 1959

WA website Bulletin 2010/16 Wednesday 18th August 2010

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:26:26 -0400

WA website Bulletin 2010/16 Friday 18th August 2010

To use the links below, first login then press the Ctrl key on your keyboard whilst you click a link in this bulletin.
It's easy to generate a new password yourself - simply use the link in Welcome box on the Home page and follow the instructions.
Please read "Website Tips repeated" at the bottom of this bulletin and if in difficulty refer to the online Help Forum.

What's new

Photos 1950-52: 44 more School of Navigation photos from Captain Wakeford's archive albums covering 1950-52 have been uploaded here >> 1951-52. I have another 1950-54 batch almost ready to upload but there are still some duplicates to weed out. In addition John Downs has passed on to me a great set of photos from Stelios Houlis 1950 which I will upload as soon as possible.

All Hands old editions: Three more early editions of All Hands from Alan Jordon, scanned by Kieth Trayner are now available in the Journals section. They are AH 63 November 1974, AH 64 Summer 195 and AH 65 Winter 1975. A lot to read so best to download and read at your leisure.

All Hands Summer 2010: As mentioned previously the latest All Hands was inadvertently mailed using a slightly wrong mailing list. It is taking me some time to accurately check the details so that any problems can be remedied. If you have any queries e.g. imperfect copy, missing enclosure, not received but expected, received copy but option set for online version, please email Chris Clarke with copy to Ron Caine.

Graduation photos and recruitment: Term photos taken at the end of your cadet course are located in the Gallery here >> Graduation photos by year. Relatively few have been uploaded. If you have yours and its not yet on the website please let Jim MacIntyre know. If possible scan the picture (go here >> Gallery - scanning graduation photo for advice), upload it and insert as many names and detail as possible in the written style you'll see in the third photo here >> 1959.

Jim MacIntyre and others helping with recruitment are having great success using graduation photos as a focus for tracing new contacts. Jim is currently focusing on the December 1961 photo. He has uploaded the picture here >> 1961 and is busy putting names to faces and tracing those in the photo. Can you help? Have you any other photos or information to help this locate and recruit new members? If so email Jim MacIntyre - NOW! (Sorry - old habits die hard?)

Warsash Association Accounts 31/03/2009: You can download or read a copy of the Association's 2009 accounts here >> WA accounts to 31st March 2009, which due to our Treasurer's illness at the time, were not available at the last AGM. It was agreed at the WA Committee Meeting on 2nd August (minutes should be available shortly) that in addition to each preceding year end accounts, an interim statement to 30th September of each current year would also be presented.

Are you a Skype user?: If so you can now insert your Skype address in a new data field added to your Profile. (Skype is a software application that allows users to make video and voice calls over the Internet often without charge. There are other competing products but probably Skype has the largest user base).

You can read an introduction to setting up and using Skype here >> Video calls via Skype.

If not an existing Skype user you can find all relevant information here >> Skype. Read about using Skype including free video and phone calls to other Skype users) and accessory prices (camera's, phones), also Policy and Legal information. You will need to download and install the Skype software and to set up your user account, all quite simple to do. Unless your laptop has a built-in webcam(era) you will also need to buy and install one for your PC. Many recent laptops however include a webcam in the lid.

So far I've discovered the following members are registered Skype users: Jim Macntyre (US), John Hensford (Tuvalu), Geoff Stokoe (Florida), John Turner, Alan Knott (Australia), Mike England, Roger Purdue (Canada), John Noble, Bob Fozard (NZ), Ray Briskham, Neil Martin (Australia) and Tony Tanguy (Jersey). I expect there are many others.

Try it and and see what you think, not just for calls to other WA members but to family and friends overseas. I think it's a great way to improve communication with other members around the world.

Personal or business website?: Do you have a personal or business website you'd like to invite others to visit? If so you can also now display the address in your website Profile. Load up your Profile as explained above and you'll find the new data field "Personal/ other website" immediately below the Skype address box.

You might also like to include any address details and website in your Signature so they are shown with every Forum message you create. Use the same process via "Edit profile" in 1 above, but this time using the "Edit signature" box , then click on the "Save" button.

Website usage

The number of unique visitors to the website in July averaged 49 (39 throughout June). The average so far in August is 54.
There are 1,963 posts in the Forum, 1,144 photos in the Gallery, 4,123 names in the database including about 380 members.

Kind regards,

Chris Clarke 1959

REMINDERS FROM EARLIER BULLETINS

To read how to set the indicator go to sub-forum >> Member's Profile then load the Topic Profile - opt for online or printed All Hands.
Anyone belonging to our Australian or New Zealand Branches choosing to rely on a downloaded copy only should also let Neil Martin know.

TRY YOUR HAND ON THE WEBSITE (even if not computer experienced - you won't break it!)

Put more in - get more out of the website!

To help trace long lost colleagues visit one of these e.g. Ex-School of Navigation, Ex-College of Maritime Studies or Ex-Warsash Maritime Academy.
To relate your experiences with a particular shipping company visit here >> Shipping companies. If your company name is not shown let me know and I'll create a new sub-forum.
In need of a laugh? Then visit here >> Have you heard the one about? for the latest humorous entries. Try this one for size >> Navy Recruiting Office! Better still create your own entries.
What do you get up to in your spare time? Tell all in this forum >> Pastimes and hobbies. It might be golf, reading, sailing, dancing, climbing - even train-spotting (once had a friend who read old train timetables before going to sleep)!

Fancy a challenge?

Go to Gallery Home > Where in the world is this? for a picture quiz. Five photos, only two solved so far, both by John Marshall 1959. Clues added. See if you can identify any of them.
Upload your own photos to this gallery for others to identify. But don't give any clues in the name of the file uploaded which could give the game away!

WEBSITE TIPS REPEATED

Your first actions after logging in:

List recent messages and photos created on the website using the function "View" in the top right corner of your screen.
Click on "View - Posts since last visit".
Click on "View - All photos last 4 weeks".

Lost your password?

Generate your own new secure password via the website click "About this website/ Unable to login?" in the drop-down menu.
This will email to you a link to change your email address and then another email to notify after the new password has been generated.
Remember - passwords are case sensitive.

Step by step website instructions

Click here >> Forum Home then place your cursor on the forum "Help".
Lessons from the "Help" forum are sent o periodically from the website.