SPRING - -SUMMER2014
Honorary President – Rear-Admiral John F. Newton, O.M.M., M.S.M., C.D.
Admiral Desmond Piers Naval Association
450 LaHave St, Unit 17, Suite 121
BridgewaterNS. B4V 4A3
EXECUTIVE FOR 2014
Verne Lunan ------PresidentIvan Foote------1st Vice President Frank Wells ------2nd Vice President/Membership Al Cox - Secretary/Editor Richard Moss ------Treasurer Steve Daubs------Master at Arms
Representing 140 members
From the Bridge……
As we get ready for summer (hopefully a nice one) a lot has been going on for the ADPNA and still more is to come.
Rear Admiral John Newton has accepted, on behalf of the posting of Commander, Maritime Forces Atlantic/Joint Task Force Atlantic, to be our Honorary President. Rear Admiral Newton, then Captain (N), attended our Church Parade in 2010 during our RCN Centennial Celebrations. He would like to attend some of our functions if he can work them into his busy itinerary. We welcome him aboard !!
S/M Ivan Foote and his committee did a great job of organizing the Annual Battle of the Atlantic Mess Dinner on 25 April 2014 at the Bridgewater Legion. Our Speaker was Commander Matthew Bowen, Captain of HMCS Toronto. He spoke on the Toronto’s deployment in Operation Artemis in the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean. Commander Bowen was accompanied by his wife Lyn. We also hosted the Toronto’s Cox’n, CPO Craig Pike and his Joan. It turns out S/M Frank Wells had been CPO pike Cox’n at one time. A Bravo Zulu to S/M MAA Steve Daubs and his team for another successful Candlelight Service. The RCL provided another excellent meal and a Special Thanks to S/M Les Southwell on Lunenburg County Winery. A BIG BRAVO ZULU to S/M Ivan for all his work on the Mess Dinner.
The Battle of the Atlantic Sunday Parade in Chester on 4 May 2014 was well attended. We paraded with the Llewellyn Sea Cadet Corp and the Chester Branch of the RCL. It was good to see S/M Larry Truelove in attendance. We wish you well Larry and miss your participation.
On Friday May 9th, we celebrated a National Day of Honour at the cenotaph in VeteransMemorial Park, Bridgewater to recognise our Canadian Forces who served and are serving in Afghanistan.
This year’s Annual ADPNA Banyan (aka Picnic) will be held Saturday 23 August at the residence of S/M Steve and Yvonne Daubs. Good food; Good games; and a few “Wobbly Pops’ will highlight the day. More information will be forwarded in the near future.
We have been having our Bingos at the Veteran’s Wing of the Lunenburg Fisherman’s Hospital and will resume them in the Fall under the guidance of S/M MAA Steve Daubs. We are planning our usual summer BBQ for them and will update you on the particulars when they are confirmed.
The two models from Cornwallis (HMCS Preserver and HMS Victory) remain at S/M “Sticky Lepage’s Refit Yard and Chicken Ranch.” The winter conditions this year have brought workon them to a standstill. S/M Ed Toombs has already started on some of the work on the Victory. We will be sending out information soon as to when we will be able to muster work parties now that the weather has improved.
We plan on entering in Three (3) Parades this year; New Germany on 1 July; The Big Ex in Bridgewater on Tuesday 22 July; and WesternShore in
August. Times; muster points; etc. to follow as available. What our Float(s) will be are yet to be decided.
Have yourselves a good summer. Watch out for the black flies, mosquitoes and dandelions. If you can, spend some time out on the water to avoid them.
I wish you calm seas, a following wind and smooth sailing.
Ready Aye Ready
L. R. Verne Lunan, President
Admiral Desmond Piers Naval Association
Phone: (902) 543-5826
Email: or
Sea Cadet Scholarship Raffle
*Our Raffle this year was not quite as successful as in the past mainly because of a change in venue which put us in the Mall where our kiosk was not in a position to capture the attention of shoppers as well as we would have wished. We did however make the effort and did come out on top thanks to the participation of the dedicated few volunteer sales persons. – It has been suggested we re- think our fund raising activities in the future.
*Trophies have been purchased for presentation at the seven westernareaSea Cadet Reviews coming up.
EVENTS
More on our Battle of The Atlantic Mess Dinner- -
*With an attendance of 91- Our Annual dinner went very well on April 25th., thanks in great deal to the efforts of S/M Foote who volunteered to organize the event in the absence of an Events chairperson. - - - President and Master of Ceremonies S/M Lunan, Master at Arms S/M Daubs and Webmaster S/M Williams started the evening off by leading us through the Candlelight Ceremony. We all enjoyed a delicious roast beef dinner followed by a well presented and inspirational talk by Commander Bowen. He took time to recognize the three WWII Veteran’s (RCN and Merchant Navy) at our head table. Both the Commander and the Chief readily mixed with the ADPNA Shipmates and our guests throughout the evening. - - - They were made members of the Admiral Desmond Piers Naval Association.
*President S/M Lunan plans to attend the Christening/Launching of the Model Liverpool Packet on Saturday 21 June 2014 at 1400hrs at the Queen's CountyMuseum in Liverpool.
* Unfortunately the planned RCNA Reunion in Kitchener/Waterloo this May had to be cancelled due to lack of registration. – Sadly enough our ranks appear to be thinning and we don’t seem to be getting an influx of new members from the next generations.
*Plans are being made for work parties to prepare our model ships to be included in local parades this summer.
*This years Summer Banyan will hopefully be preceded the same day by a voluntary work party aimed at refurbishing our artefacts enclosure there.
* Mr. James Frank, Asst. Mgr. of the local store and representing Wal-Mart Canada recently attended our general meeting and spoke on behalf of the company; thanking all Veterans for their service and presented WW11 Veteran Shipmates Frank Hammond, Max Croft and Elmer Mason with commemorative watches. - S/M Frank Hammond thanked Wal-Mart for their continued and valued support of Veterans affairs. - *See photos below.
Birthdays Coming up:
S/M Al Cox May 27 (1942) - - S/M Frank Jones June 21 (1942) - - S/M Robert Bell July 8 (1931) -- S/M Sticky Lepage (75) July 22 (1939) S/M Harvey Girardin August 7 (1932) - - S/M Max Croft -August 12 (1923) - - S/M Richard Moss August 13 (1960) - - S/M Sharon Butler Sept. 5 (1946) - - S/M Richard Logan Sept. 6 (1930) - - S/M Richard Ferrand Oct.11 (1935) - - S/M Sam Sampson Oct. 23 (1932) - - S/M Donald Joudrey Oct. 29 (1928)
Crossed the Bar
*S/M Sharon Butler lost her husband George in January - - A service is planned for May 25th at the Bridgewater Legion. Dress #1s with medals.
*S/M Daniel Fowler, Moncton, on February 5, 2014.No service information.
*S/M Bradley Boyd C.D. -Memorial Service for Shipmate Bradley Boyd –Was held at 2:00pm April 26th at Port Royal Legion, 66 Victoria Street, Annapolis Royal. The ADPNA provided a color party.
*S/M Richard Logan C.D. – May 21st, 2014 – The Service for S/M Richard Logan will be on Tuesday 27 May 2014 at 1400 in New Germany at St. John's in the Wilderness Anglican Church. Dress is #1's and Medals.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families.
Infirmed: Shipmates Ernie Pridham (Veterans Memorial Lunenburg), George Aucoin (Sydney) are in hospital.
- Popeye wants to know why"fat chance" and "slim chance" mean the same thing?
Sea Cadets
*We have been invited to attend the annual review of the RCSCC Llewellyn at the ForestHeightsCommunitySchool on June 7th at 1245 hrs. – S/M Lunan volunteered.
*RCSCC Neptune has also extended a similar invitation for Saturday, May 24th at 1300 hrs at the Memorial Arena in Lunenburg. S/Ms Daubs and Jefferson will attend.
*RCSCC Niobe will have their review at 1330 hrs. on June 1st at the Bridgewater Arena. – S/M Foote volunteered.
*RCSCC Chabot on the 17th of May in Yarmouth. S/Ms Foote, Toombs and Williams volunteered.
*Volunteers will present trophies .S/M Dawe looking after RCSCC Unicorn in Barrington May 12th and Saxon in Shelburne which has been done.
* The Annual Cadet Review in Cornwallis has been held.
* For this year we have approved two of $1,000 scholarships–one cadet (Chelsea Collicutt) from Chester and one (Desire Atwood) from Barrington. The Scholarships in each casewill accompany the trophies.
* Joe Bishara of Yarmouth’s Maple Grove School has sent a scholarship request for our consideration. Brianna Cleveland (daughter and granddaughter of veterans) has accomplished a great deal above and beyond with the Veterans programs over the years however is not affiliated with a Cadet Corps. We will award a one-time only scholarship in the form of a club donation of $500.
*Mentioned by S/M Dawe that RCSCC Saxon in Shelburne ,a mix of Sea and Air Cadets almost disbanded in the not too far distant past has been honored as the most improved Corps in Nova Scotia – Bravo Zulu to them for sure !!
Directions to Banyan – Travelling west - From the #103 Hwy. Exit 12, Bridgewater go North 300 yds to the Boston Pizza – turn right – travel approximately 7 minutes to the end of the road – turn left – go 3 kms. – Sign by the driveway on the left side “Steve’s Iron Works. – You have arrived !
Vets to Europe - This year marks the 70th Anniversary of D-Day – We hope to have S/M Frank Hammond come back with a tale to tell.
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Humour:
On a street called Hollis, Halifax in the Fifties
There was a place on a street called Hollis, - I found soon after I left Cornwallis.
Basically a lower-deck seaman’s pub. - It went by the name of the Seagull club.
Sailors looking for company. but having no luck, - could find a bed there, for half-a-buck.
You could shoot some snooker, or maybe pool, - but the place; it had one golden rule.
You had to be an A.B. or an O.D, - and present your card: with your current I.D.
If you wanted to drink, and have some fun, - You had to prove you were twenty-one.
Some young sailors committing a sin - dodging shore patrol, they manage to sneak in
And beer was cheap, by the pint or the quart - .and drinking under age, hoped you didn't get caught
And under that club was a nightly dance, - where a sailor could go, to find romance.
Dancing to the music of the fifties vintage, apparently, sometimes led to marriage.
And down the road, was Arcadia Hotel - Where on Sundays you could dwell,
and drink booze, if you order and buy, - something to eat: like a piece of pie.
And east of Hollis was another street yet, - After Lower Water Street , your feet got wet.
Halifax Harbour where our ships were tied, Sailors joined those ships, most served with pride.
Submitted by S/M Cam Scott :
Battle of The Atlantic Ceremony – Chester, 2014 WWII Vets Receiving commemorative watches.
2014 ADPNA Battle of The Atlantic Mess Dinner - - - 87 Guests
And you thought you were aging ?? - -S/M Lepage’s New Getup !!
Poor Tweety –(60) - Just worn out !!
Here’s hoping you all have a safe and eventful summer - -President Verne and Editor Al