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We very much hope that you will be able to join us on WEDNESDAY 24 NOVEMBER at the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on Southsea Common, starting at 1 p.m., around the time the ship was struck by the first of two torpedoes. You can find more details here which we will update, as necessary, as we approach the 24th, covering the events of the day and the catering and accommodation facilities at the RMC. If you are a member of the HMS Dunedin Society you should already have received an email. If not, you are very welcome to join us. In any event, just drop us an email at info@hmsdunedin.co.uk and let us know who you are and which member of the ship’s company you will be representing. 

 

Dear Friends and Members of the HMS Dunedin Society

As you are aware, 24th November will mark the 80th anniversary of the loss of HMS Dunedin and the great majority of her 491 crew members.

We very much hope that you will be able to join us on Wednesday 24th November this year – the date of the sinking – for a remembrance service at the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on Southsea Common. This will take place at 1 p.m., around the time the ship was struck by the first of two torpedoes.

After the service, you are warmly invited to join us at the Royal Maritime Club (RMC) in Portsmouth. In addition to displaying material relating to HMS Dunedin (books, memoirs, and other miscellanea relating to the ship), we will also be giving a presentation on the sinking, for the first time since the Society’s inaugural event in 2001, in the Nelson Lounge of the RMC. We will publish the timetable for the day nearer the 24th, but here are a few pointers for what is available at the RMC (and you can find it all on their website, here):

Order your lunch at the Victory Bar and it will be served in the Nelson Lounge. 

Accommodation can be booked through the website or directly by phone. We recommend that you book by phoning the club directly (023 9282 4231) and mentioning that you are part of the HMS Dunedin Society to get a membership discount on the room rate.

Dinner is available in Horatio’s Restaurant for those who wish to stay for the evening. Have a look here for prices and menu and do let us know if you intend to stay for dinner (which is available from 1800). 

Parking at the RMC is limited, but some spaces are available on a first-come-first-served basis at the front of the Club. Alternatively, there is a 24hr car park across the street. 

We are of course aware of the backdrop of Covid-19, and that our indoor gathering at the RMC may be at risk if the current case numbers continue to increase and the Government applies new restrictions. We are keeping a very close eye on this – including on mask-wearing and social-distancing – and we will provide a further update on this closer to the time.

Even if no new restrictions are applied, the Society would respectfully suggest that attendees (including those who are who are fully vaccinated) take a rapid flow antigen test on the morning of the event. These can be obtained free of charge from your local chemist, take just a few minutes to do, and give a positive/negative result in around 15 minutes. This will ensure that the event can be held as safely as possible for all attendees.

We hope to see as many of you as possible on Wednesday 24th November at 1 p.m.  Please bear in mind that the ceremony is outside, and that the elements may call for an umbrella as well as warm clothing!