News: 2022

Ann Soanes RIP It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Ann Soanes, widow of our long-serving former Chairman John Soanes. Ann was a tremendous suppport to John throughout his many responsibilities as an RN Petty Officer, Senior Police Officer and Chairman of both Torbay Branch of the RNA and the TON Class Association. She was well-respected and much loved by TCA members and a … Read More »

Report of the July meeting of the White Rose branch held in York. Present, Terry Foreman, Trevor Dixon, Alan Hewitt, Clive Dennison, "Pincher" Martin, Phil Fluke and myself. Allan Brown. Apologies were received from Pancho Brett and  Jeremy MackRell ( due to ill health), Jim Virgo ( broken arm), Ken Rutherford and Dave Parrish. I gave an update on correspondence received and our present financ … Read More »

Visit the Summer 2004 edition of the newsletter of Vancouver Island Military Musem under Further Information page for the impressive story of Royal Canadian Navy contributions to the Korean War and also the REAL story of actor James Doohan, aka Engineer Scotty from StarTrek. YARNTON's Cyclone 1966 We have been contacted by Chris Vasper, whose father was a Royal Signals Sergeant and Ham Radio op … Read More »

TCA PATRON On 3rd May 2024 His Majesty King Charles III graciously consented to continue as Patron of the TON Class Association, thus maintaining the role he has had since February 1994, as HRH Charles, Prince of Wales, formerly Commanding Officer of HMS Bronington in 1976.  White Rose Group On Saturday 20th April the White Rose Group met at the Premier Inn, York North West. Thanks to Terry … Read More »

Chris Prentis, minesweeper commander during Confrontation, who gave the Royal Navy’s last order to ram – Obituary © Daily Telegraph On Line Commander Chris Prentis, who has died aged 91, fought a short, bloody action during Confrontation and served 10 years in the Sultan of Oman’s navy, largely under sail. Prentis commanded the minesweeper Fiskerton during Confrontation, the Communist- … Read More »

Enquiry received via our website from David Cartwright [] My grandfather George Cartwright, who sadly died in 1972, served in WATCHFUL and LETTERSTON in 1960’s. I would be interested if anyone in TCA knew him. Lieutenant George Cartwright is seated on the right of the photo of WATCHFUL’s ships company.  The graphic photo is of WATCHFUL in Mounts Bay.  George serv … Read More »

Congratulations to Ray and Marcia Brooks Who were married on Trafalgar Day, 21 October 2023 at St Peter’s Church, Folkestone. Marcia is a proper sailor with seagoing experience in yachts, Customs Cutters and RFAs with the RNR. Fr David, who officiated, used to be a RN Chaplain. Before that was a Mounted Police Officer in the Met. Graham Gatehouse was Best Man, althogh Chris Green took over … Read More »

This article was kindly written by Rob Hoole for December’s edition of TON Talk, but we ran out of space ! It is shown here so we do not lose the information MCM NEWS Dec 2023 by Rob Hoole Owing to the gradual replacement of MCMVs with autonomous systems, I have renamed this column ‘MCM News’ vice ‘MCMV News’. Operation KIPION MCM UKMCMFOR (UK MCM Force), based at the NSF (Naval Su … Read More »