South Kent Submariners Association

 

The branch was first conceived back in October 2000 during a dinner hosted by Louise and Bryan Hearne.

The Four original members present were Mike Inshaw, Ken Budd, Vic Everson and Bryan Hearne.

After a very pleasant dinner the four of us got down to business drawing up the constitution and planning our

next moves to get the branch up and running.

Ken volunteered to be the Secretary, Mike took on Treasurer, Vic the role of publications officer and finally

Bryan agreed to be our Chairman.

Our Meeting place was talked about and we decided on the "Lydd War Memorial Club" third Friday of each month subject to getting permission.

It was then agreed to hold our first meeting on January 19th 2001, this would be to discuss the way ahead for the Branch to be formally formed on Friday 16th February 2001. This would give us time to arrange the National Council to attend.

The evening finished with everyone to go forth and recruit members Vic to put adverts in all local papers.

Meetings progressed well over the coming months and more members wer found and recruited.

Thoughts started about getting a Standard for the Branch, and how to raise the money.

A horse race evening was organised, inviting other branches to partisipate in the event our own Alan

Easterbrook provided al the equipment. Our good lady wives were the horses for the night.

the evening was a roaring soccess and we raised enough money for a Standard with some to spare which helped.

pay for the Dedication day events. Which was quite something for the size of our branch.

Next was to organise the actual dedication, June 2003 was the elected time.

 

The day soon arrived all invited gathered outside and inside the Royal Mail public house.

The time came to muster, the first and only disaster of the day then happened the Police forgot to turn up

so we had to police the roads ourselves.

The church service went off very well it was the first time our Rector had ever taken a Dedication service

and he was thrilled to bits to have done it.

a parade round the town of Lydd then took place the Salute was taken by the President of the Submariners

Association with the mayor outside the town hall. On completion a reception and evening social was held

In the Lydd War Memorial Club. (Pictures of this event can be seen on the photo page)