See Stu Shield's report down below the photographs.

The weekend began on Friday afternoon/evening as all members arrived in the bar at the Chepstow Hotel on the outskirts of Chepstow. As usual, the gathering was rather rowdy until the call to eat and then we passed into the dining room, which was even more rowdy.

 The Friday evening meal was at a very reasonable price in the hotel restaurant and I thought it was delicious. It was also very nice to be dining with old friends once more. After the meal, everyone returned to the bar to continue talking and making just as much noise as before, very late into the night.

Several members won “Last Man Standing” certificates and I have to say, I just don’t know how they do it. With the passage time, some of our members no longer have the capacity or stamina they once had……myself included.  

I have tried to obtain return of the room deposits for those members who had to cancel but unfortunately the Chepstow Hotel and indeed, at the time of writing, the Beaufort hotel, have not responded positively to my request.  

As usual, Saturday morning was spent by some of our members nursing horrible hangovers……..one even had bloodshot eyes…..no names mentioned.  

After breakfast we took control of the “Two Rivers Suite” which was transformed into a conference area for the annual meeting:-  

Annual General Meeting  

1.                  The members filed into the Two Rivers Suite at approximately 1000hrs and  the four committee members took their places at the top table. The meeting then came to order and all members were welcomed.           

2.         To save time, the minutes of the meeting last year at Falkirk were not read but

      as usual, members were asked if anyone wanted to take the positions of  the

      Association Chairman and secretary/Treasurer. Once again no volunteers         

      came forward, I wonder  why,  therefore, G.A.Drewery and S.A.Shields will

      continue as Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer for another year.  

      Always remember though, if there are any volunteers out there for these   

      positions, please advise the secretary and their names will be put to the vote by

      the committee. Full training will be given if required.     

      The meeting was called to a halt at 1030hrs for a cup of tea and to enable our sponsors, “Marks Jacobson” to set up their equipment for a very interesting lecture on money and how to keep it. After tea, we returned to the Two Rivers Suite where the lecture took place but I have to admit that a lot of what was said went right over the top of my head.  

3.        On completion of the lecture, we returned to SMA business and the main  discussion of when and where our gatherings should take place in 2008.      

Several venues were put to the vote, one being Hartlepool and perhaps a visit to the Trincomalee but the thought of Hartlepool itself didn’t fire the attending members with any kind of enthusiasm so it was rejected, as was Norwich , Dover and Brussels .

The final decision was Newcastle on Tyne and the date chosen was the 3^rd weekend in September, commencing Friday 19^th September.  

With this in mind, Bill Hobson has volunteered to do some research regarding hotels and exciting things to see in Newcastle but I think it was the lure of the famous Newcastle Broon ale that finally swung it for this venue.  

            4.        The summer gathering, which includes wives, friends and family is to be held,     

                       once again in mid summer and hopefully, it can be booked for Tuesday 11th June 2008.  

It was felt that the Thames cruises we have attended in the past have been a huge success and therefore another cruise would be nice. (Lack of originality I hear you say). This time however, research will be undertaken by Jim Conybeare to discover the cost of a meal aboard TQS Wellington moored in the Thames on the Victoria Embankment and very close to Temple Underground station. (We want special price)  

Built at Devonport in 1934, HMS Wellington served in the Pacific mainly on station in New Zealand and China before the Second World War. TQS

Wellington is now the home of The Honourable Company of Master Mariners. Research will show if it is a viable option for a short Thames cruise before or after the meal aboard the Wellington but of course, cost will be a major factor in any final decision making.              

5.         Julian Thorogood then gave us his usual informative talk on the “State

      of the nation” as regards activities in the Swire shipping empire and all

      still appears to be financially healthy.  

6.            Members should be aware that the annual subscription will remain at £15 and  

            you will see from  the enclosed accounts that we are once more back into the 

            black.  

7.            Raffle tickets were not sold at the meeting this year but monies were collected      

            to pay for the castle tour and drinks kitty.  

8.            Once again, our sponsors will be approached to see if they still wish to join   

            our gathering in Newcastle on Tyne in 2008 and of course the Summer   

            gathering aboard the Wellington . As in previous years, I expect they will

            provide funds for the Saturday evening meal at Newcastle , along with drinks

            as usual. Their sponsorship at Caldicot was most appreciated, so once

            again……Hip hip hooray for Marks Jacobson.             

9.            After the SMA business concluded, the meeting was brought to a close and

members made their way out of the room. Those fit enough went for a  

walk into Chepstow town centre to see what delights were on offer.

The Caldicot Experience

At 1730hrs, we all boarded a coach to take us to Caldicot castle and at 1800hrs we were given a short tour of the castle, which proved a little difficult, since the place was almost in total darkness. However, this tour had been laid on especially for us as well as the opening of the small gift shop, this special treatment of course came at a price and that was reflected in the cost of it all (£160).

After the tour, we were ushered into a small bar area where our thirsts were finally quenched after all this tourist excitement and we stayed there for a short period before moving to the Guard Room where we were able to take the group photo shown at the head of this report.

  On the command of the castle Master of Ceremonies, we left the guard room via a  

  winding stone staircase…very medieval, and into the great dining hall where a long

  table had been arranged with two special Baronial looking chairs at the head. These

  were obviously for our “Lord and Lady”……didn’t they just love that.

Mead was served, followed by red and white wine, with more wine, followed by song,

  and the meal started with a bowl of delicious soup. Can’t remember what it was but it

  was tasty. After that there was a hunk of lamb that had to be eaten with a dagger. Then

  half a chicken was served with a huge baked jacket potato, also tackled using the

  dagger. Other veggies were available which were dipped in a very nice sauce. The sweet

  course was a custardy thing with bits of sponge mixed in, all very tasty.

  Throughout the meal, we were entertained with music and song from the assembled

  minstrels, as shown in the above photo, and finally David Falkner proved what a

  wizard he is on the piano and I never heard the old phrase once…”You played a bum

  note there Paddy”. Baron Drewery also gave us a laugh as he made an attempt to

  emulate Les Dawson on the piano with his version of “The Entertainer” and other

  numbers by Scott Joplin where every second note was a bum one. Hardly surprising

  though after all the mead, wine and  beer. Didn’t seem to bother the “Irish one” though.

  Court Jester this evening was Julian Thorogood who taught us a serious lesson about

  not messing with any of the seven dwarfs.

  After the meal we returned to the bar at the castle for farewell drinks, some of which

  were very nicely paid for by our sponsors before they made their departure.

  As is usual on these occasions, more certificates of achievement have been awarded and 

  there were several “Last Men Standing” certificates as well as a couple of “Star Turn”  

  awards for services to musical and comical excellence.

  Needless to say, the whole evening, and indeed the entire weekend was a complete    

  success and it was really good to see everyone once again. Hopefully , all will return

  next year and even perhaps some new SMA members will also appear.

   Hope to see you all again next year, on board the Wellington and Thames cruise in

   June with your families and friends and of course in September at the Newcastle on

    Tyne weekend.

   At 2330hrs we said farewell to our hosts and boarded the coach for the return journey

   to Chepstow…permission to sing was granted….those that did should take lessons.

   Being a full blown coward, on reaching the hotel, I retired but a few of the hardy

   members had a night cap in the hotel bar.

   Sunday morning, after breakfast, we all made our way home, vowing to return and 

   meet again next year.

   Photos were taken at the Chepstow hotel and during the banquet at Caldicot castle

   and these are posted on the SMA web site at www.Swiremariners.com . The usual

   laminated phone card/photo is available on request at £2.50.  

HHappy to see you again chaps.                                                                         

   ______________________________

   Stuart A. Shields, Secretary/Treasurer

"Wherever they went, there they were" - Anon.