Chairmans Christmas message 2018
Hi Association members and followers,
The Association continues to survive via the internet, Facebook Page, the Annual Dinner and Christmas Drinks in both Plymouth and Portsmouth.
We may unfortunately will never return to the glory days of the ASWIs with our own Club House, but it is important to continue the Association into the 64thyear and beyond. Could I please ask serving CPOs / POs to continue to push the association to their Divisions?
The Association has now been open to all ex serving ABs / LHs for the last 2 years and new members from this cadre have fully enjoyed the events / benefits of being a member and have proven to be assets to the Association.
The annual ASWIs Association Dinner rotates on a yearly basis between different parts of the country – in recent years we have visited Portsmouth (60th), Plymouth (61st), Weymouth (62nd), Portsmouth (63rd) – the 64thdinner will take place in Plymouth on Saturday 28thSeptember 2019 at The New Continental Hotel behind Plymouth Pavilion’s.
The annual dinners are a formal but informal event. Members present at the last AGM still wished to continue with a sit-down meal, black tie for gentlemen and for ladies either a ball gown or cocktail dress to knee length. I always ensure we have round tables for the event with no top table – this ensures you can interact with your guests. I have done away with the ‘ease springs’ rule and fines. We follow a set run plan for the event with toasts, a speech by both the Chairman and Guest Speaker. The main aim of the evening is to meet old and new friends, to enjoy yourselves and not to be restricted with loads of rules but at the same time keeping some of the traditions of The Royal Navy.
We have reintroduced Portsmouth ASWIs Christmas Drinks and it is planned to continue this. It was great to see new and old faces at the Plymouth ASWIs Christmas Drinks; this event is proving more popular with each year.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bill Bailey who has now retired from the position of Treasurer and thank him for all his hard work over the years. I would also like to thank Bob Burton for all his continued support to the Association as Treasurer and running the website / FB Page.
Finally, I would like to wish all our members and their families a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Yours aye,
David Coleman ‘Pompey Dave’
Chief Petty Officer Underwater Warfare
Anti-submarine Warfare Instructors Association Chairman