Swire Mariners Association

" SOFA, so good "

Meetings

Annual

It is intended that members have an opportunity to get together once a year and, to date, annual weekends have been successfully arranged in Bournemouth (1997), Scarborough (1998), Bristol (1999), Chester (2000), Portsmouth (2001) north of ye border in Dundee (2002), Chatham (2003), Plymouth (2004) and more recently, in York (2005), Falkirk (2006), Chepstow (2007) and Newcastle-on-Tyne (2008). The venue for 2009 was Warwick, or close enough. Members usually congregate cordially on the Friday night and gregariously and expansively socialise until sometime on Sunday or whenever they fall over: whichever comes first.  The degree of social intercourse is optional, but members have been known to become legends in their own lunchtime.  Wallets are mandatory, and must be unlocked. Pictures of all these historic occasions are linked above or are to be found from our Photos page, as received.

Yet more yarns will be spun in 2010 in Hartlepool, aboard HMS Trincomalee, pictured above. It's rumoured that the sun is always over the yardarm at SMA events, but you'll be able to check this for real on this fine English frigate. October 1-3 are the intended dates; more details to follow.



Perhaps this would do the trick for an SMA meet! An inflatable pub! Every SMA member should have one! Just the thing for that cold bus queue in Neasden, or when wandering the desert in UAE and you fancy a pint! Fits easily into the pocket of your overcoat. Impress your friends! Visit www.airquee.com (yes, it's real) to see internal views, including shots of the cozy fireplace and quaint hunting scenes on the walls. SMA are ready to negotiate a bulk order if you'd all like one.

Occasional

The SMA Summer Thames Cruises have proved to be a great success: see sample pictures linked from our Rogues Gallery. Wives are included: after all, somebody has to row.

For the 2010 Summer Cruise Joe Walford, creator of SMAshing experiences, has worked with Stu to secure a vessel from Mersey Ferries that operates six-hour cruises on the Manchester Ship Canal. By his reckoning, that is an hour or so longer than most pub opening hours, so as there's food and drink on board it's a no-brainer. We can only hope that this waterborne, wife-friendly wassail does not consist of 50 trips back and forth across the Mersey. Stu assures us it will be 30 nicker well spent, and includes a visit to a WW2 German U-Boat which is understood to be on the surface. Download more details here and grab a booking form too.

Here's a history of the summer sessions:

2002: Blind Stu reported that members, wives and/or guests met on Tuesday 13th June 2002 for a few bevvies in the "Hung (sic), Drawn and Quartered" pub, which is close to the Tower of London. Shortly thereafter, the shower of London embarked on a private, hour-long tour of the famous historical landmark; followed by a buffet supper in the Warden's Mess, a viewing of the Ceremony of the Keys and more grog in the Mess! All this for a tenner each plus drinks (reported to be only about a pound a pint!) It's believed that no-one lost their head.

2003: Our stalwart Stu was also pleased to announce that the 2003 "bring-the-missus" event was well supported and a resounding success. Members and their wives/friends/family rode on 'The London Eye' on 5th June 2003, and then partook liberally of cocktails at Swire House, graciously hosted by Ye Olde Firm. Our intrepid aviators needed them, we think, although some were happy enough that they had achieved a round trip on British Airways for only ten quid. The weather was fine, as was the wine. Sir Adrian kindly said a few words, and the assembled throng provided plenty more until FJT hid the bar. Find a couple of snaps here.

2004: To quote Blind Stu: "It was originally voted at Chatham to visit the Houses of Parliament but we learned that they only take 20 visitors at a time and each group of 20 must be sponsored by a peer." He had thought they said "beer", so that was out. Anyway, our gallant team finally met at Westminster Pier in late June and took the ferry to Greenwich to quaff at the 'SE10' Restaurant in Thames Street. 43 turned up. The National Maritime Museum was duly perused thereafter and the adventures of 'Tin Tin At Sea' studied with some curiousity.

2005: Punters enjoyed yet another boat trip (what is it with these guys?) on the Thames in June, comprising a four hour run up and down the river from Hampton Court. Lunch was taken, and ale imbibed. See the proof in pictures here .

2006: yet more waterborne activity, but this time further afield. Having been banned from London's waterways, it seems, our trusty throng took off for Lundy Island (which is over on the left of the UK map a bit) with one Colin Darch in command. More adventurous than a waddle down the Thames, you'll agree, as seen here:



2007: See the pictures, as linked from our Rogues Gallery. General mayhem in the vicinity of Henley-on-Thames, with a certain member of the SMA very much dressed the part.

2008: Again, you can see the pictures of the latest frolic as linked from the Rogues Gallery. A wonderful day out was had by all.

2009: Stu and the gang (sorry, the SMA Executive Committee) agreed that a jaunt on the "Waverley" would be fun this summer, as long as it were going nowhere near Somalia. SMA members and support crew (wimmin) sailed from Clevedon, near Bristol, at 1115hrs on the 9th June and cruised down the coast to Ilfracombe, arriving there at 1500hrs. "Waverley" then departed Ilfracombe at 1630hrs, arriving back at Clevedon at 2000hrs. Could anything have been more delightful? See pictures here.

Special mention: as 2006 was the 10th Anniversary of the SMA, a splendiferous cocktail party was held in London, courtesy of The Firm. Pictures of the event are not yet forthcoming, except for this one:



Anyway, fun was had, and curiously enough the free beer proved exceedingly popular with our faithful members.

Curry

On the last Friday of every month, in London or sometimes Kingston (a popular outport), stalwart folk with ex-CNCo or Swire connections gather in a reputed curry house (location varies) for luncheon et al.  All ex-Eastern staff are welcome, and the event also attracts a few waifs and strays who lay claim to suitable references. Contact Stu for details of places and popadoms. This is a regular event (attendees may not be regular afterwards) not to be missed if you are in town. Hong Kong rules apply - it's pay as you go.  Many go but sometimes it's not so easy to leave.



Would members please advise of any other world curry meets of which Bombay Duck aficionados should be aware. By way of example, visitors to Long Island, NY, will be delighted by the Web-brat's intimacy with locally-sourced Punjab cuisine; following, perhaps, a relaxing excursion on the SMA's unofficial but enticing floating cocktail lounge, "BearBoat III". The legendary "BearBoat I" remains afloat in Florida but "BearBoat II" has a new owner.

© Swire Mariners Association 2009. All rights reserved, all beer paid for.