THE ROYAL NAVAL

ASSOCIATION

Incorporated by Royal Charter

Patron: His Majesty The King

Registered Charity No: 1068408

LISKEARD BRANCH

Commissioned 20th April 1986

Full Recognition by The Royal Navy

The Bilge Rat

September 2025

Issue No 431

COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2025/26

Any items for inclusion in the Bilge Rat are to be

sent to: - editor@liskeard-rna.org.uk

Branch website www.liskeard-rna.org.uk

Blog https://liskeard-rna.blogspot.com/

President

Chairman

Vice Chairman

Secretary

Treasurer

Membership Sec

Branch Support

Wellbeing Officer

Area Delegate

Social Secretary

Standard Bearer

Slops Bosun

Rum Bosun

Fundraiser

Auditor(1)

Auditor(2)

Auditor(3)

PR Officer

Branch Chaplain

Bilge Rat Editor

Sports Officer

Vacant

S/M Marie Belfitt

S/M Bill Billing

S/M Lisa Strutt

S/M Warwick Belfitt

S/M Christina Whitty

S/M Maureen Parker

S/M Steve Parkinson

S/M Jerry Fleming

REQUIRED

S/M Adam Strutt

S/M Warwick Belfitt

S/M Adam Strutt

REQUIRED

S/M Adam Strutt

S/M Steve Parkinson

Chrissie Henwood

REQUIRED

S/M Ian Wheatley

S/M Adam Strutt

S/M Terry Whitty

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01579 346606

01579 343605

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07508785122

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01579 345198

07855861450

01208 821272

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01579 343605

DISCLAIMER

Whilst The Bilge Rat is the magazine of the Liskeard branch of the

Royal Naval Association, it should be clearly understood that the

contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the Association, the

branch members or the Editor and should not therefore be interpret-

ed as such.

A colour version of the Bilge Rat may be viewed on the RNA website.

Branch website: www.liskeard-rna.org.uk

COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2025/26 2

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 4

S/M LEONARD STROUD 5

HMS RHODODENDRON 6

HMS ROYAL ARTHUR SENIOR RATES LEADERSHIP

COURSE LATE 70'S.

HMS AGAMEMNON 8

NEW JOINER 10

TRAFALGAR NIGHT DINNER 11

MENTORS 12

SEPTEMBER QUIZ 13

AUGUST QUIZ ANSWERS 14

SOCIAL CALENDAR 2025 15

Contents

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Birthdays for October

Members;

Life 3

Full 48

Associates 31

Total 82

3-Oct Fay Briggs

8-Oct Lauren Johnson

15-Oct Mairi Murdin

18-Oct Roger Grace

22-Oct Dennis Philp

S/M Leonard Stroud

The funeral of Life Member S/M Leonard Stroud was held on

Wednesday the 27th of August at St Martins Church, East Looe. I

had the privilege of carrying the Liskeard Branch RNA Standard, and

was accompanied by several other Standards from around the region,

including the RBL Branch Standard and the National Standard carried

by Simon Cassidy.

Following the ser-

vice, the Regions

minibus was used

to ferry people to

the Looe Social

Club, where re-

freshments and a

slideshow of pho-

tos of Len were

shown.

S/M Adam Strutt

HMS Rhododendron

HMS Rhododendron, a Flower Class Corvette, was launched in 1940,

she was deployed for the vital task of defending Atlantic convoys from

U-boat attacks. Her service also included North Africa (1942), the Arc-

tic convoys (1942-45), and the Normandy landings in 1944.

In 1941, a national campaign called Warship Week was launched to

encourage communities to raise money for the war effort through the

purchase of National Savings stamps and bonds. During a Warship

Week Campaign in December 1941, the people of Liskeard adopted

the Ship

This adoption signified a close, albeit symbolic, relationship between

the town and the warship, with the community's efforts directly contrib-

uting to the upkeep and supplies for the ship and its crew.

After World War II, HMS Rhododendron was sold in 1947 for mercan-

tile service and later traded as the vessel Maj Vinke.

She was eventually scrapped in South Africa in 1968.

Her Battle Ensign that she flew throughout her service is currently pre-

served in Liskeard Museum where there is also a scale model of her

made from Icing Sugar.

S/M Simon Cassidy

HMS Royal Arthur

Sent on this course, which at the time was in Corsham Wiltshire.

On joining, we had a briefing from our Instructor, with the warning

"don't try anything funny we have seen it all before."

So 4 weeks of Leadership training commenced. Our course Presi-

dent was a CPO Radar. The course went well, we had a great social

life, enjoying Jo's night club just up the road, along with various other

public houses.

Finally we reached our last day, just divisions to go, read our report,

then return to our ship/shore base. Well this is where we hit a prob-

lem, our course President was missing, last seen at approx. 2300,

leaving Jo's with a female. So what to do? Divisions started at 0915,

so we waited just in case he made it back, but at 0900, I was

"volunteered” to go to the staff mess to break the news.

The instructor thought it was a wind up at first, however, I managed

to convince him it was genuine (first and only time this had ever hap-

pened) so Vice President stepped in Divisions carried on, we all read

our reports and by 11:00 were all sent on our merry way.

Some two weeks later I discovered that course President made it

back at about 1300 that Friday, and was returned to his ship for his

Commanding Officer to deal with, the result was 14 days stoppage of

leave along with £120 fine.

S/M Jerry Fleming

Senior rates leadership course late 70's.

HMS Agamemnon, the world's most advanced attack submarine, has

been officially commissioned into the Royal Navy by His Majesty King

Charles during a ceremony at BAE Systems’ site in Barrow-in-Furness,

Cumbria.

Named after the ancient Greek king who launched the Trojan War, the

nuclear-powered powered boat weighs in at 7,400 tonnes and is 97

metres long.

Once operational, the submarine will join her five Astute-class sisters at

HM Naval Base Clyde.

In a separate ceremony led by the Defence Secretary, steel was cut on

the fourth and final Dreadnought Class submarine, King George VI,

marking the start of its construction.

Link to Article and images

provided by Judith Roberts

HMS Agamemnon

New Joiner

Hannah Henderson being presented with her membership pack

and tot of rum, from Chair Marie .

Trafalgar Night Dinner

THREE WEEKS TO GO

The venue is The Hannafore Point Hotel, Looe, on the Saturday the

October 2025.

The cost per person for the formal dinner is £47.50.

If you have already paid—Thank you. If not—Payments for the meal

are to be made to the branch bank account via BACS, by the 25th of

September 2025

Account Name Liskeard R N A

Sort Code 30-95-08

Account Number 00215366

Ref Traf 2025

Please contact Adam and Lisa, in person or by email, for a guest infor-

mation form. lisaj.strutt@gmail.com

All monies for the meal to be paid and other details to be

completed by the September meeting.

Mentors

Winners of the veterans certificate and John Bartlett trophy

ET(ME) CRAYTON ET(WE) BURGESS, LOG (CIS) KANKAM

The winner of the

John Bartlett trophy

ET(WE) Burgess

September Quiz

A general Knowledge Quiz

1. Who is the Patron Saint of lost causes?

2. A 'night glow' features in which sort of festival?

3. 93% of US homes have at least one and the Thomas Nelson Co

sells 8 million a year. What are they?

4. What are the first 2 lines of the second verse of the national an-

them?

5. Which English university has the most enrolled students?

6. A codicil is a supplement to what sort of legal document?

7. Poplin is a type of what?

8. In Islamic countries, what is the equivalent to the red cross?

9. In astrology, Aries is a fire sign, what are the other two fire

signs?

10. A sudden life-changing revelation, is called the Road to where?

Many thanks to S/M Tim Briggs for the Quiz

August Quiz Answers

1. How many shillings in a Guinea?

There are 21 shillings in a Guinea

2. 100 Pfennig is what?

There are 100 pfennigs in a Mark (German pre-Euro)

3. And 100 Centimes makes?

100 Centimes make 1 Franc

4. In Federal Money 10 Cents makes?

10 Cents makes 1 Dime.

5. In Avoirdupois Weight 16 Drams make?

There are 16 Drams in 1 ounce. Avoirdupois. For interest sake the

term Avoirdupois comes from an Anglo-French phrase meaning “

goods of weight” or “property.”

6. 24 sheets of paper make?

24 sheets of paper make 1 Quire

7. In square measure 4 Rods make?

In square measure 4 Rods make 1 Acre

8. 8 Furlongs make?

8 Furlongs make 1 Mile

9. How many Gills in a Pint?

There are 4 Gills in a pint. When we received the Tot we were giv

en ½ Gill of rum; this is 71 ml, nearly three modern spirit

measures.

10. How many Acres in a square mile?

There are 640 Acres in a square Mile.

Social Calendar 2025

Date Event

5th April Community Fair

3rd May Army/Navy Rugby.

11th May VE Day Wreath Laying

31st May Skittles

12th July Liskeard Show

19th July Liskeard Carnival

25th-27th July Boconnoc

3rd August RNA Croquet St Austell—Cancelled

17th August VJ Day

23rd –25th August Great Trethew

27th September St Mathews Fair

18th October Trafalgar Night

23rd October RNA Quiz

25th October Poppy Concert

2nd November Field of Remembrance

9th November Remembrance Parade

11th November 2 min Silence

6th December RNA Christmas Dinner

Liskeard RNA usually meets on the last Thursday of the month, in

the room above the Royal British Legion. The room and bar are open

from 1930 and the meeting starts at 2000. You do not have to be ex

Royal Navy to join. All are welcome.

ONLY DRINKS PURCHASED IN THE RBL CLUB

ARE TO BE CONSUMED ON THE PREMISES

Anybody who has content for the Bilge Rat, please send to

the Bilge Rat Hon Editor.

Email: - editor@liskeard-rna.org.uk

Breakfast Club· Market Cafe Liskeard

Now meeting every Wednesday 0930

and 2nd Saturday of the Month 0930

Facebook.

Terry Whitty has set up a Facebook page to record the events of the

Liskeard Branch of the RNA.

If anybody would like access please contact Terry who will arrange

access.