The Watch Ashore

Officers of the Plymouth branch

Chairman: Helen Croft

Vice Chairman: Sue Williams

Secretary: Fran Hyde

Treasurer: Wendy Hawkins

Minutes Secretary: Sally Ellam

Committee members:
Ann Vickery, Helen Rendle, Sheila Edwards and Jenny Higham.

Forthcoming Events

Coach trip to Truro 27 October 2010

Fun Casino Charity night 12 November 2010 at the Moorland Links Hotel - Tickets £15 (www.Theroyalecasino.co.uk)

Christmas Lunchtime Meal Thursday 16 December 2010

For more information please contact the branch committee.

Past Events >>

Freedom of the City of Plymouth

The Merchant Navy received the Freedom of the City of Plymouth on March 22nd 2009. The presentation ceremony was held at the Piazza off Royal Parade on Sunday 22nd March 2009.

See below for images in the gallery and watch the video of the event from The BBC.

The Watch Ashore in Plymouth

The Plymouth branch of The Watch Ashore was conceived by Mrs Mary Sutcliffe.   She put an advert in the Evening Herald asking if there were any other Merchant Naval wives who would be interested in forming a local support group.

The local group were part of the national association which was initially formed to fight for the needs and welfare of our Merchant Navy Officers – the Plymouth group whose members were made up from wives, mothers, sisters and “sweethearts” not only supported their national association’s beliefs but forged strong bonds of friendship and support whilst their husbands were at sea.

An inaugural meeting during the winter of 1962 was held at the Duke of Cornwall Hotel – those attending were – Mrs M. Sutcliffe (Capt Hughie Sutcliffe, Inston Line), Mrs Joan Hughes (Captain G. Roy Hughes Head of the School of Navigation),, Mrs Virick (Captain Salvesons), Mrs B. Espley (Commodore Bill Espley, Manchester Liners), Mrs E. Martin (Barry 3/0 Blue Funnel), Mrs Mary Hunt (Capt, Everards), Mrs Paula Harper (Captain Ron, Cable Ships) Mrs Peggy Cook (Capt Alex – Coasters).  They agreed to meet monthly at the Duke of Cornwall.

Other early members and husbands were – Phylis Butterworth (Chief Officer Gordon RFA), Mrs Marie Sherlock (Capt Plymouth pilot), Mrs Olivia Johnson (Widow of Capt Fred Johnson Head of Navigation School), Mrs Ann Vizer (Captain Port Line), Mrs Iris Hawk (Engineering Officer Bertie, RFA), Mrs Edna Holmes (Capt, China Navigation), Mrs Avril Bailey ( 2/0 John, Houlders) Mrs Wendy Hawkins (2/0 Alan, Royal Mail), Mrs Monsen (Monson’s Chandlers), Mrs Pearl Burman (Capt RFA), Mrs Gwen Hayward (Navigating officer John, RFA), Mrs Doris Barry (Captain David, B.I.) and Mrs Beth Proudlock (Navigating Officer Archie, RFA)

Following the first meeting it was agreed that Mrs M. Sutcliffe would be the Chairman and Mrs Elspeth Martin would be the treasurer.

Meetings

The Plymouth Branch meet every 2nd Wednesday of the month in the Duke of Cornwall Hotel, Plymouth for a light lunch followed by a business meeting with guest speakers attending.

Each month there are various events taking place either outings to nearby towns for shopping, gardens/National Trust etc and also usually we have some sort of entertainment in member's homes either during the day time or evenings.

Membership

Annual membership is £15 per annum for local and an additional £10 for National.

Newsletters (PDF)

Oct 2008

Jan 2008

Oct/Nov 2007

Excerpt taken from the original rule book

Their subscription in addition to the prevailing subscription to the National Watch Ashore, all members had to purchase a badge on joining and the local subscription was £2.50 per annum.   The officers – Chairman, Vice Chairman Secretary and Treasurer were elected by the Branch at the AGM and shall retire at the AGM following their election but shall be eligible for re election at such meeting although  in  the rules the Chairman may hold office for a period no longer than 3 years.

Several members were married to Lecturers at the School of Navigation, which had been formed in 1862 by Dr John Merrifield, a scientist who bought 13 Gascoyne place and ran this as a school of navigation.   The houses opposite housed the boarders and was subsequently called Merrifield Hall.

Mrs Olivia Johnson (d.2008) who was the matron of Merrifield hall had been married to Captain Fred Johnson who had been the Head of School of Navigation until his death in 1958.   It would appear that Mrs Sutcliffe’s husband Hughie had been an apprentice pilot in Hull when he had an accident – the Humber pilot was sent out to his ship and brought the apprentice ashore for treatment.  Subsequently he befriended this young apprentice and it turned out that the pilot had been Olivia Johnson’s father William Colbridge!

The school of navigation started a 2 year Cadet Course, and this led to the marriage of many of the cadets to local Devon girls who subsequently became members of The Watch Ashore.

Mrs Sutcliffe remained Chairman of the Plymouth Branch for until 1970 when Mrs E Holmes took over when she retired to take up office in local government.   It is believed Mrs Sutcliffe returned to Yorkshire in 2004.

Initially, when the husbands were home on leave, they were part of the Watch Ashore until 1971 when Gordon Butterworth had the idea to form, The South West Company of Mariners.   This Company of Mariners continues to both support and join in with many events held by The Watch Ashore.   Some early Annual events which were to follow were The Cheese and Wine held at The Guild Hall Plymouth, and theChildren’s Christmas parties held at Merrifield Hall.

The Plymouth branch now has 55 members.

The Lady Mayoress		Mrs J. Lannin	Wife of Capt P. Lannin RFA
Mrs A. Bailey	Wife of Capt J. Bailey Teekay Shipping (Canada) Ltd	Mrs D. Lonsdale	Wife of  Mr B. Lonsdale KOTC
Mrs D. Barry	Widow of Capt D. Barry, P & O	Mrs E. Martin	Wife of Capt B. Martin
Mrs H. Crofts	Ex-wife of Former Capt M. Crofts with Lamnalco and Shell Tankers UK	Mrs E. Paddon	Mother-in-law to of Capt(E) M. Ellam RFA
Mrs S. Ditcher		Mrs L. De Boo	Ex-wife of  Capt R. Payne Teekay Shipping (Canada) Ltd
Mrs J. Dodge	Wife of Capt  P. Dodge	Mrs S. Portchmouth
Mrs S. Ellam	Wife of Capt(E) M. Ellam RFA	Mrs E. Proudlock	Widow of Capt A. Proudlock RFA
Mrs J. Escott	Wife of Ch Off K. Escott	Mrs C. Rankin MBE	Wife of Capt J. Rankin Tidewater Mother of 1/0 J. Rankin Tidewater NZ
Mrs P. Evans		Mrs S. Spencer	Capt C. Spencer
Mrs B. Everett	Widow of Cdre F. Everett BWSN Mother of Capt D. Everett	Mrs M. Strick	Ex-wife of Capt. R Strick Formally of Shell Tankers UK and British & Commonwealth
Mrs T. Foster		Miss M. Smith
Mrs L. Griffin	Wife of Ch Eng M. Griffin	Mrs S. Vaughan	Widow of Cdre J. Vaughan Reardon Smith and Sons
Mrs A. Guy		Mrs A. Vickery	Wife of Capt G. Vickery
Mrs P. Halford	Wife of Capt J. Halford	Mrs S. Vickery	Widow of Capt K. Vickery
Mrs V. Harrison		Mrs S. Walker
Mrs C. Payne	Wife of Rtd Capt R. Payne Widow of Cdre(E) A. Hawk RFA	Mrs V. Way	Widow of Capt J. Way, Esso Petroleum
Mrs W. Hawkins	Widow of Capt A. Hawkins Teekay Shipping (Canada) Ltd	Mrs J. Weeks
Mrs. G. Hayward	Widow of Capt J. Hayward RFA	Mrs C. Wheeler
Mrs J. Higham	wife of Captain J. Higham Plymouth pilot	Mrs B. Williams	Capt H. Williams
Mrs F. Hyde	Widow of Capt K. Hyde	Mrs S. Williams	Wife of Capt M. Williams
Mrs O. Johnson	Widow of Capt F. Johnson	Mrs R. Wood	Widow of Capt A. Wood Mother of Capt C. Wood

 

Past Chairmen on the Watch Ashore

Past Chairmen

M.Sutcliffe 1962 – 1967	Elizabeth Proudlock 1973-1976
Edna Holmes 1970 –1973	Gwen Hayward 1979 – 1982
Barbara Everett 1976 – 1979	Wendy Hawkins 1985 – 1988
Monica Mitchell 1982 -1985	Sue Vickery 1991 – 1994
Sue Williams 1988 – 1991	Lorna Griffin 1997 – 2000
Fran Hyde 1994 – 1997	Chris Rankin MBE 2003 – 2006
Pat Halford 2000 – 2003	Helen Rendle 2007 - 2008
Julia Escott 2006 – 2007	Lynda De Boo 2008-2010
Marie Sherlock 1967-1970

Gallery