Espana Levante Submariners

Espana Levante Submariners Meeting

15 October 2022 Regente Hotel Library, Benidorm

1. 1300 Up Spirits

Toast: The King!

2. 1308 Meeting Commences

3. Chairman welcomes members and friends

Welcomes new member Robert (Bob) Briggs

4. One minute silence for Her Majesty the Queen and departed members

5. Apologies

John Bowles
Kev Blenkinsopp
Jan Booty
Phil Oliver
Roy Bayliss
Terry Hoyland
Les Little
Albert and Leslie Barlow

6. Minutes of the meeting held 23rd April 22 (as circulated)

Acceptance proposed Mal Blenkinsopp. Second Les Catlin

7. Any matters arising

Submarine Family/Submarine Association

There was a proposal from the previous meeting to adopt a “wait and see” approach to The Submarine Family. There then ensued a discussion on the pros and cons of joining
Les Catlin explained the problems that the SA have had with deletion of their website and membership list.
Andy Norris asked if we should just let it stand and revise if necessary down the road.
Mal Blenkinsopp mentioned he is working closely with the SF

Action: Close the Item and leave as is, members of ELS are welcome to join “The Submarine Family” or any other of the Submariner organisations as individuals.

8. Chairman's Report

We have come a long way since that first meeting 18 years ago in Liverpool when Bob, Roy and myself decided to form a submariners group in Spain.
18 years later we still cherish our basic ideals of providing a meeting point where submariners can meet, drink and tell very tall tales without ever letting the truth get in the way of a good story.
Ladies and gentlemen. It has been an honour to serve as your Chairman and I know España Levante Submariners will continue in the safe hands of Mal Blenkinsopp and Stephen Hemingfield.

Thank you

9. Vice Chairman and Historian's Report

Mal Blenkinsopp thanked Roger Parsons for his dedication and sterling work for ELS

Historian report of project Barney’s progress
Reported on the work of the SF for the S/M memorial at the National Arboretum
Les Catlin commented on the design of the memorial.
Les Catlin stated that the SF page gives recognition of Mal Blenkinsopp’s work on the memorial
Mal reported on the plan to put mini biographies on the memorial starting with VC’s and then CO’s, Mal is working on the 16 year olds.
The memorial will go ahead but now Mal needs assistance, he asked for help from the membership by email but didn’t receive any offers. Anyone willing to help , please contact Mal.

Should those who committed suicide, death in hospital, etc be included on the memorial
Bob Head said that all submariners that have crossed the bar should be on the memorial unless they are guilty of treason.
Roger Parsons asked where do we stop,
Les Catlin stated it should be those that died in service.
There was then a discussion on what should be included on the memorial and if christian names and dob, should they be included?
First christian name and then initials and first surname, age to be included - unanimous vote for!

10. Secretary's Report

Secretary stated that as he is only just taking over as Secretary there was little to report, however he mentioned communications and emails. It would assist if when members receive an email they respond to it, even if it's only a “thumbs up”. This is needed as the membership list has addresses that “bounce back” so in the near future they will be deleted, however this won’t happen until all efforts to contact the individual have been exhausted.

11. Treasurer's Report

The treasurer ,unfortunately, couldn’t attend due to illness, however he forwarded his report which was
No expenditure or income since the last meeting and the balance in the cask stands at 345 euros .

12. Social Secretary's report

Paul Lock gave the reasons behind the Showboat closure, and reported on the social calendar for the weekend.

13. Proposals received

a. To appoint Mal Blenkinsop as the Provisional Chairman
Proposed by Roger Parson, Seconded Stephen Hemingfield
Carried unanimous

b. To appoint Stephen Hemingfield to Secretary E.L.S.
Proposed by Roger Parsons Seconded by Mal Blenkinsopp
Carried unanimous

c. To agree in future all meetings of the E.L.S. shall be described as “General Meetings”
Proposed by Roger Parsons Seconded by Mal Blenkinsop
Carried unanimous

14. Date of next meeting.

Proposed 22-24 April 2023 and 20-22 October 2023

Carried unanimous

Les, Catlin asked if we can have a meeting in uk school holidays?

Dusty Miller mentioned that its Trafalgar night on 21st Oct and should we look at changing the date of the Oct meeting so there isn’t a conflict of interests.

It was decided to confirm the dates of October meeting at the April meeting.

15. Any other business.

Geoff Mountstephen, recalled his days in Australia and distributed a list of Submarines that were lost during the WW’s

Les Catlin stated the Gosport branch read a list of all submarines lost at their meetings. Might be an idea for us to consider?

SLOPS for SA - Stephen Hemingfield said he had been in touch with Andy Knox who is the SA’s SLOPS rep, at the moment the SA SLOPS webpage has not been migrated to the Submarine Family’s website, (they currently only have SF merchandise). SA Merchandise is available direct from Andy, contact me for more details.
Leslie asked for photos of ELS members Submarines as the website is missing quite a few.
Les Catlin apologised for being verbose
Bob Briggs will send photos he has to Leslie

16 Meeting shut @1359

After the meeting, Chopper Gane gave a pictorial presentation of Submarines from “yesteryear” and some of the recovery of the KURSK.

DATE OF NEXT GENERAL MEETING 22 TO 24 APRIL 2023 

Venue to be confirmed