Welcome to issue 14 (2019) of the Historical Diving Society Newsletter.

Annual General Meeting

The Society’s AGM was originally to be held in December, but we were unable to get the notification to members within the 42 days stipulated in our Articles of Association and had to cancel. The meeting has been re-scheduled for Sunday 23rd February at 5 Nepean Close, Alverstoke, Gosport, PO12 2BH, commencing at 12 noon.  The AGM notice has now been posted to members, so if you haven’t received yours please advise the Secretary, secretary@thehds.com

Lead is on the up again ….

Not content with walking up Ben Nevis in full standard dress, WEG Officer Ty Burton and his team of 4 or 5 fellow intrepid divers have now set their sights on Mount Snowdon for a second Sub-Sea to Summit event.  True, its 850 feet lower, but then Ty and the team will be 2 years older and every little helps!  As with the Ben Nevis escapade, day one will start with a standard dress dive, though in a lake rather than the sea followed by a walk through town, collection boxes rattling.  The climb will occupy days 2 & 3 and all proceeds will be divided amongst Snowdon Mountain Rescue, the HDS and possibly another worthy cause. Date is to be confirmed, but sometime in July/August. Given that Ty will have other things on his mind he would very much welcome as much assistance as possible.  So can you assist with any of the jobs below? Phone calls and emails Posters Labels or Stick-on posters for collection buckets Setting up a ‘Just Giving’ page Helping man the Gazeebo for 2 or 3 days Donations of snacks, drinks, etc. Publicity and organising Sponsor for T-shirts Ty will be supplying the diving gear and Gazeebo He can be contacted on tyburton12@hotmail.com or telephone 07799524584 Picture is of the successful Ben Nevis climb

Special bonus from the Co-op!

The Co-op runs a scheme that enables customers to nominate 1 of 2 local charities for a 12-month period, the Co-op then donating a small percentage of their spending to the charity of their choice.  The 2 local charities chosen for the Gosport area last year were the Society and the Girl Guides and the Society, thanks to great local support raised a whopping £2304 for the Museum, so well done Co-op shoppers and well done Kevin Casey, who got the society selected. Picture – Museum volunteer Martyn Bellamy and Kevin & Hazel Casey receive the cheque from the Co-op manager (second from the left)

Awards – an apology

In a recent RopeSignal we listed the award winners for 2019, amongst them the Father Graham Hullett trophy, which goes to a non-member for their contribution to the Society’s work.  The award for 2019 was a long overdue recognition of Melo Wallace-Potter’s efforts, but unfortunately we listed it as going to Jenny Logan, the 2015 winner!  Too much cut and paste, I fear.  Anyway, belated recognition and congratulations to Melo on her very well-deserved award and apologies to Jenny for the confusion and any embarrassment caused.

The latest issue of the US Navy divers’ magazine, Faceplate, is now available at http://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/SUPSALV/00C3-Diving/Faceplate-Magazine/ You can also access back issues at this address.

It’s that time of year again ….

as if you hadn’t noticed, so here’s wishing everyone a Merry Xmas and successful New Year.  And may the mysterious brown paper wrapped present at the bottom of the tree turn out to be that rare signed first edition you have always promised yourself.  More likely to be another scarf, though!