Dear Member of the HMS Dunedin Society

As some of you may know, Stuart as been appointed H.M. Consul-General in Melbourne, and as a result we have to consider how we will run the Dunedin Society for the next 4 years while he is away. Stuart will still remain in charge and operate the website from there. However, the database and administration of information to members by email and post is kindly being undertaken by Karen Kebby who is circulating this invitation.  The main points of contact are Anne who maintains links between everyone, and Chris who maintains the hard records and the 16 volumes of facts about HMS Dunedin which the Society has managed to put together. If you have any queries, please ask him.

The Society will continue in future to organise yearly Remembrances at the Portsmouth Memorial on 24^th November at 13.15 (and similarly at our Memorial at the N.M.A. in Staffordshire) without further notification except on the website, where Stuart will post updates.  However, we are hoping it will be possible to organise another summer Reunion at the Arboretum in the not too distant future, details of which will be circulated to all.  Apart from that, all communication will be by email only, as the postal system is an added expense. And, of course, we have this web site.

So, we are very pleased to invite you to a combined HMS Dunedin Service of Remembrance and Reunion, on Saturday 22^nd November at the Southsea Royal Naval Memorial and afterwards at the Royal Maritime Club (RMC) in Portsmouth. Since the usual date of our annual memorial, 24^th November, falls on a Monday this year, we thought it would make sense to hold the event on the Saturday to enable more people to attend.   We intend, for future years, to revert exclusively to 24^th November for our annual informal gathering as usual.

Please note that formal proceedings will begin at 12.noon this year at the Southsea Common Memorial. This will be followed by lunch and an afternoon reunion and programme at the RMC. Lunch will be from 13.00. in the Nelson Lounge . There will be a chance to mingle and then hear presentations on HMS Dunedin. Our survivors and veterans will once again be on hand to give you their personal accounts of their experiences. In the display area we will be showing Dunedin memorabilia and photographs. Do please bring yours along to share with members, and if possible label the name /description and your connection.  

For those staying the whole day, members’ dinner will be at 1900 in the Club’s Horatio Restaurant. You will be most welcome if you can only come for part of the day; just indicate on the return form which parts you will be attending. The price of the finger buffet lunch is £7.00, and the three course carvery dinner with choice is £16.00 per person.

The RMC has kindly agreed to offer accommodation at a discounted rate £34.00

for a single room and £68.00 for a double or twin room for any or all of the nights of 21, 22 or 23 November which includes breakfast  You should make your room reservations directly with the Club, but be sure to mention that you are with the Dunedin Society to get your discount. It would be helpful if you could tell us whether you will be staying so please include this on your return form. Directions to the Memorial and RMC are attached to this letter.

Please let us know – by 31^st October at the latest – whether you and any relatives will be attending, by completing and returning the form at the end of this letter, together with a cheque (for lunch and/or dinner) payable to “The HMS Dunedin Society”.

To those who accept, we will be sending an acknowledgement nearer the time when circulating the details of the day’s events.

We hope to see you in November,

Chris Broadway.

The Royal Maritime Club address is:

Queen Street

Portsmouth

Hampshire

PO1 3HS

Tel: 023 9282 4231 (Advance bookings: 023 9283 7681)

e-mail: info@royalmaritimeclub.co.uk

web site: www.royalmaritimeclub.co.uk

Directions:

Entering Portsmouth from exit 12 on the M27, proceed via the M275, until the motorway ends at a roundabout. Continue straight across turning right at the next roundabout. Follow the road over a mini roundabout taking the right hand fork at the second set of traffic lights. Continue straight into Queen Street. The Club can be found towards the end on the left hand side. 

Parking this year will be no problem as the Historic Ships Car Park for 300 cars is now fully open, and is opposite the Club, under the Admiralty  Quarters Tower block. Take your ticket to the Club reception desk to be stamped for half price parking. Also there is parking in the adjacent roads costing £2. for 24 hours on a Visitor Parking Permit. Again apply to the Club for this.

The Royal Naval Memorial is on Clarence Esplanade, Southsea. Parking here is by meter.

DUNEDIN SOCIETY ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE SERVICE AND REUNION, 22^nd NOVEMBER 2008

I/we will/will not attend the Service of Remembrance at the Southsea Royal Naval Memorial at 12.00 Noon.

I/we will/will not attend the HMS Dunedin Reunion at the Royal Maritime Club at 13.00 pm.

I/we will be representing (name of ship’s company member):