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Autumn 2016

Welcome to the new style Newsletter… By Mick Malone

A warm welcome to the new style newsletter. The aim is to have a newsletter published every three months or so. which will obviously be shorter than if we had one large update annually. The committee feel that it would be better for everyone to have more regular updates on social events, news, buzzes and the meaning of life. That’s not to say we won’t fill up the newsletters – if you all send in lots of articles, dits (they don’t have to be true), news, photographs, basically anything that you think we’ll be interested in, they can be included in the next edition. The aim is to post the newsletter on the website and via email unless anyone specifically asks for theirs to be sent in the post.

Can you all please check your bank account to see if you have a standing order set up for £15 for your Association membership fees. We only have around 115 members who have a standing order, so technically we only have 115 members.

Clearly we want everyone who has ever manned the loops, been on the staff or been one of our long-time supporters on board. If you don’t have a standing order set up, please see the “Join” section of the website. You will see details of how to make a payment by either cheque, standing order or by PayPal. Cheques for membership fees and all correspondence should be sent to the Membership Secretary (Sparky Coombes) to the address listed on the “Join” page.

Eventually PayPal will be the preferred payment method for the

Autumn 2016 Newsletter �1

In This Issue:

Chaiman’s UpdateThe thoughts of our noble dictator Chairman

Committee Updates & Socials After the sudden passing of our friend Pete Ruddock, we have re-allocated Committee tasks, see who’s doing what, plus a summary of the forthcoming social calendar.

Heritage ProjectDetails of the plans to protect, refurbish, repair or replace parts of the statue and the gun in Portsmouth Naval Base and the wheel and wall on Whale Island.

Pete RuddockAn extract of the Eulogy to Pete by Brum Gough.

New Web Site & Social MediaDetails of our exciting new web site, Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Army Navy Details of the Twickers and how to get your tickets

Dockyard Derby Details of the Portsmouth FC v Plymouth Albion football match.

NEWSLETTER Portsmouth Field Gunners Association

Autumn 2016

Association not only for membership fees but paying for tickets (Army/Navy at Twickenham etc).

From the Chairman… by Tom Dooley

Welcome to the autumn 2016 newsletter. I am writing this one week on from the funeral of Pete Ruddock. I believe it is fair to say that we gave him the send-off befitting of such a great man.

I first met Pete at Field Gun in 1981 when I was 18 years old so he has been around for my whole adult life and I am sure everyone has their own dit and tribute about Peter so I will relate mine purely to the Field Gun Association. As Chairman he made not only mine but the whole of the committee’s job easy, he was the glue that held everything together and with his vast network of contacts was able to get just about anything done, at little or no cost! His enthusiasm for what we are trying to achieve as an Association never wavered and he was the driving force behind many of the projects and events we have undertaken over the last 14 years since the new Association was formed. He will be sorely missed but it now up to the remaining members on the Committee to step up to the mark and continue what Pete

worked tirelessly to achieve.


Autumn 2016

We have had a committee meeting and all members are up for the challenge. We have restructured responsibilities and all committee members can now be contacted directly by clicking their profile on the new official website, www.pfga.online. The new website is live and will be updated in ‘real time’. This along with the Facebook page will be the main method of communicating updates, news and events along with a member’s forum. Committee meeting minutes will also be posted along with dates of meetings which are open for any members to attend. Future social events are contained within the newsletter and I look forward to seeing you all at these events.

I would like to thank Hughie Doyle for his work on newsletters and contribution to committee work over the past four years. Hughie has had to retire from the committee due to an ever growing list of personal commitments (her name is Katerina)!

Finally, my usual messages, if you are in contact with an Ex who is not a member get him to join. New membership forms will be on the new website. I would also like to give a special mention to all of the committee members but in particular Maggot Malone and Brum Gough for the help and support they gave to Pete’s family in the organisation of the funeral. I would also ask you all to continue to support Cheryl, Mark and Luke by visiting the 4-8 club as and when you can.

Ring a Ding Ding…

Tom Dooley


http://www.pfga.online

Autumn 2016

Committee Updates… There has been some re-structuring of tasks and titles in the committee since the passing of Pete. As we discussed the make-up of the committee and what went on behind the scenes to make things happen, it very soon became apparent how much of the committee business Pete actually took care of. So, after quite a bit of discussion, acquiring some willing volunteers and some pressed men, the make-up of the committee is now as follows:


President Bug Wrightson

Chairman Tom Dooley

Vice Chairman Pat Patilla

Treasurer Gabby Hayes

Social Sec Bill Parry

A/Social Sec Wayne Hodkinson

Secretary Brum Gough

A/Sec Mick Malone

Membership Sec Mark Coombes

A/Membership Sec Ronnie Scott

News Letter Editors Mick Malone &

Mark Coombes

Web Master Steve Rowlands

Kit Man Ronnie Scott

Inter Command Liaison Pat Patilla

Regional – Midlands Merv Bates

Regional – West Darby Allen

Regional – North Steve Rowlands

Regional – Wales Brian Powell

Autumn 2016

Social Program… The social program will continue to follow the three main events per year, namely the Army v Navy rugby match, the Summer Reunion and the Xmas Social.

The committee have split into teams of three to take the lead on arranging social functions. Teams are; Tom, Hodge and Bill (Xmas social); Sparky, Scotty and Pat (Summer Reunion) and Maggot, Gabby and Brum Gough (Twickenham). Teams will change around after each year.

Xmas Social: This year will be held in the WO’s and SR’s mess on Whale Island on Saturday 3rd December from 19:00 to 23:59, £5 entry fee paid on the door. For security reasons we must inform the gate who is attending. Can everyone who plans to

be there please email Bill Parry or Hodge (click directly on their profile on the

website) with their names, their guests names and also vehicle registrations if you intend to take a car onto Whale Island.

Army – Navy: Date for the 2017 outing is 29th April. Please see the article later in the newsletter.

Summer Reunion: The 2017 reunion will be held in Portsmouth. More details to follow early in the New Year. However, following the successes of the 2015 (Earl’s

Court) and 2016 (HMS Victory) reunions the intention is to try and have somewhere “different” every other

year. Suggestions for venues are more than welcome from all Association members. Additionally, over the

weekend of 28/29 July 2017 there will be 30 & 20 year reunion dinners for the 1987 & 1997 Silver Medal Winning Crews.


In BriefSunday 13th November 10:30 Remembrance Service St Barbara's Church Whale Island

Saturday 3rd December 2016 - Xmas Social

Saturday 29 April 2017Army V Navy

Friday 28 July 2017 1987 30 Year and 1997 20 Year Anniversary Dinners

Saturday 29 July 2017 PFGA Re-union Day

Autumn 2016

Pete Ruddock… by Brum Gough

An extract from the Eulogy to Pete Ruddock:

We are here today to celebrate Pete Ruddock, to remember with fondness the great times we shared with him and to do this with a smile on our faces just as Pete would want. I am starting with a short Poem which I think is very poignant. It is entitled “How Do You Live Your Dash”? (see left column)

Well, Pete Ruddock had some Dash. But how do you fit all the things Pete achieved in a few minutes. This is really some task but I will do my best to tell you a small portion of how Pete lived his Dash.

Peter John Ruddock was born on the 24 July 1952 in Norfolk. He was one of six Children and his family are present here today to help us celebrate his life.

At the age of 15 Pete left Norfolk to join the Royal Navy. Pete joined the Royal Navy at HMS Ganges in January 1968 where he did his basic Navy training until December when he joined HMS Pembroke to complete his basic training as a Royal Navy Cook. On completion of his training his divisional officer wrote “A Willing lad who should do well in the branch, has maintained a high standard throughout his time at HMS Pembroke. Clean and smart in appearance with a cheerful nature”. So early in his career his character was shining through


I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning – to the end.

First he came to the date of the person’s birth, then the date of the person’s death with very many tears,

But he said what mattered most of all, was the dash – between those years.

For that dash represents all the time they spent on Earth, and only those who loved them, knew what that line was worth.

For it matters not how much we own; the cars, the house…the cash. What matters is how we live and love. And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard…Are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left. That can be re-arranged.

If we could just slow down enough. To consider what’s true and real. And always try to understand, the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger. And show appreciation more. And love the people in our lives. Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect. And more often wear a smile. Just remember that this special Dash might only last a while.

So when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to re-hash. Would you be proud of the things they say, about how you spent your Dash.

Autumn 2016

Pete left the Royal Navy in April 1983. The assessment of his service throughout his naval career reads:

“Ruddock served in the Royal Navy for 15 years, during which time his character was assessed as VERY GOOD, the highest that the service can award. Ruddock’s professional performance has been exemplary with all his annual efficiency assessments as being superior of which he can be justly proud. Ruddock demanded and achieved a high standard of food preparation, presentation and cleanliness from his staff. His sound managerial skills and his own personal qualities, together with an ability to communicate effectively earned Ruddock respect from his juniors and seniors alike, Ruddock has been a loyal and dedicated senior rate, had he remained in the service then he would have been a strong candidate for further promotion”.

Pete decided that he would stay in Portsmouth and applied for a job at The Mountbatten Centre. This is where he first met Cherryl as she interviewed Pete for the job. When she asked Pete “what do you see yourself doing in a year’s time”? Pete replied “doing your job”! Anyway, he still got the job and went on to get the lady as well. Pete and Cherryl were married in 1986 and they were blessed with two Sons - Mark and Luke.

Pete was a kind man who loved his family and was so very proud of Mark and Luke. He and Cherryl brought them up to have sound values, and they are the people they are today because of those values which were instilled in them when they were young. I know when they were small they lived in a delicatessen and there would be chocolate bars and cakes around. Mark and Luke would bring friends around but Pete would not let them have a chocolate bar if this was not shared around with their friends. Pete would tell them “This is a Sharing House”. They have always remembered this and are a real credit to the Ruddock name. I have known them both from birth and watched them grow up to be the fine young men they are today. I am very proud to know both of them.

Pete was my best friend. I knew Pete for nearly 40 Years. All that time he was always the same – loud, cheerful, positive about life and there for you if you needed him. He was a loyal friend with a big heart. I always knew if I was ever in any trouble or had a problem he would be there to support me, offer advice or just to listen, lift my spirits, have a drink and a good laugh together.


Autumn 2016

Now Pete would not want this to be a sad day. I know he would be telling each and everyone of you that. This is a get together of friends and should be a celebration. He would want this to be a happy event with jokes and laughter, a chance to catch up with people we do not see too often and to remember him with fondness. I know that will be easy. Pete had the ability to make you smile and lift your spirits if you were feeling down, just a word or a gesture and you would start to feel that little bit better.

At the age of 15 Pete left Norfolk to join the Royal Navy. Pete joined the Royal Navy at HMS Ganges in January 1968 where he did his basic Navy training until December when he joined HMS Pembroke to complete his basic training as a Royal Navy Cook. On completion of his training his divisional officer wrote “A Willing lad who should do well in the branch, has maintained a high standard throughout his time at HMS Pembroke. Clean and smart in appearance with a cheerful nature”. So early in his career his character was shining through

Pete left the Royal Navy in April 1983. The assessment of his service throughout his naval career reads:

“Ruddock served in the Royal Navy for 15 years, during which time his character was assessed as VERY GOOD, the highest that the service can award. Ruddock’s professional performance has been exemplary with all his annual efficiency assessments as being superior of which he can be justly proud. Ruddock demanded and achieved a high standard of food preparation, presentation and cleanliness from his staff. His sound managerial skills and his own personal qualities, together with an ability to communicate effectively earned Ruddock respect from his juniors and seniors alike, Ruddock has been a loyal and dedicated senior rate, had he remained in the service then he would have been a strong candidate for further promotion”.

Pete decided that he would stay in Portsmouth and applied for a job at The Mountbatten Centre. This is where he first met Cherryl as she interviewed Pete for the job. When she asked

Pete “what do you see yourself doing in a year’s time”? Pete replied “doing your job”! Anyway, he still got the job and went on to get the lady as well. Pete and Cherryl were married in 1986 and they were blessed with two Sons - Mark and Luke.


Autumn 2016

Pete was a kind man who loved his family and was so very proud of Mark and Luke. He and Cherryl brought them up to have sound values, and they are the people they are today because of those values which were instilled in them when they were young. I know when they were small they lived in a delicatessen and there would be chocolate bars and cakes around. Mark and Luke would bring friends around but Pete would not let them have a chocolate bar if this was not shared around with their friends. Pete would tell them “This is a Sharing House”. They have always remembered this and are a real credit to the Ruddock name. I have known them both from birth and watched them grow up to be the fine young men they are today. I am very proud to know both of them.

Pete was my best friend. I knew Pete for nearly 40 Years. All that time he was always the same – loud, cheerful, positive about life and there for you if you needed him. He was a loyal friend with a big heart. I always knew if I was ever in any trouble or had a problem he would be there to support me, offer advice or just to listen, lift my spirits, have a drink and a good laugh together.

Now Pete would not want this to be a sad day. I know he would be telling each and every one of you that. This is a get together of friends and should be a celebration. He would want this to be a happy event with jokes and laughter, a chance to catch up with people we do not see too often and to remember him with fondness. I know that will be easy. Pete had the ability to make you smile and lift your spirits if you were feeling down, just a word or a gesture and you would start to feel that little bit better.

Finally, remember Pete as you have a beer today. Get together talk about Pete and spin a few dits about him, tell stories about all the good times we spent with him - tell it as it was, you will not

be upsetting anyone. This will be something Cheryll, Mark, Luke and the rest of his family and friends can look back on and smile.

I know Pete will never be forgotten, a common phrase we hear now is one, which for me, will always be Pete its - HAPPY DAYS, whenever I hear that I can’t help but think of Pete. I know he will be looking down today and will be saying they have done a good job with my celebration - everything looks TICKETY BOO.


Autumn 2016

Remember the last line of the poem I started with – it said “So when your eulogy is being read. With your life’s actions to re-hash. Would you be proud of the things they say? About how you spent your Dash.

Well, Pete, his family and friends can be very proud of how Pete spent his Dash. I have only touched on a very small part of Pete’s life, but I hope I have given you all a little insight into what a truly Decent man Pete Ruddock was. I am sure you all have your own special memories of Pete, share them with everyone today, He was a special man who touched everyone who came into contact with him. Like me I am sure you are all proud to have known him. Raise a glass to him today, I know that is what he would have wanted.

Happy Days! and Farewell my friend, you will be so sadly missed.


Autumn 2016

Portsmouth Command Field Gun Heritage… by Gabby Hayes

The PFGA Committee is dedicated to upholding the legacy of Portsmouth Command Field Gun on behalf of the membership. Since the demise of the Royal Tournament and Command Field Gun in 1999, the PFGA has commissioned five heritage exhibits sited at Whale Island (PFG Memorial 2004, Memorabilia Museum 2012), Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard, Victory Arena (Bronze Field Gunner Statue, Mounted Field Gun 2006) and the National Memorial Arboretum, Lichfield (Commemorative Bench 2013 – thank you Derek Cousins).

Pete Ruddock was at the forefront of all Association heritage projects; before his sad passing, he was looking at the long-term conservation of the PFG Memorial, Mounted Field Gun and Bronze Field Gunner plinth plaques, which after 10 years require some husbandry.

It is the request of Cherryl, Mark and Luke that this work is continued. As such, donations from Pete’s funeral will be used, at the discretion of his family, to fund the preservation work required.

Pete was without doubt the driving force behind the heritage displays we have today; his enthusiasm, fundraising and organisational effort are the reasons we are lucky enough to have permanent physical reminders of Portsmouth Command Field Gun and those involved.


Autumn 2016

It is the Committee’s intention to ensure that the immediate work required is completed and maintained for future generations; as Pete would have wished. As ever, volunteers are always welcome, pleased contact the Committee if you would like to get involved.

Left: The wheel outside Navy Command HQ at Whale Island when the memorial was commissioned in 2004.

Right: The wheel as it is now, showing rotten woodwork and a corroded rim.

The pointing in the wall and the tan also requires attention (weeds and moss).


Autumn 2016

New Website & Social Media… by Steve Rowlands

I’d like to give a big thank you to all contributors to past websites and Facebook pages over the years. Florrie Ford, Tommo the Phot and Brum Wyatt instantly spring to mind and obviously anyone else who has spent time and effort to perpetuate the continuance of the PFGA. Without their legwork it would have been a much tougher task for me and I drew a huge amount of inspiration from past endeavours. So once again from the WebDude, many thanks!

We now have a new official web site www.pfga.online, a twitter page @pfga100 and a Facebook page www.facebook.com/PortsmouthFieldGun/ all linked and talking together as one and so raising our online presence. At the moment we are ranking around page 4/5 but this will improve in time as more of you visit the site.

As well as being a primary mode of communication, it is our intention to collect and display as much Field Gun History as we can. I have managed to collect quite a wealth of photographs but I know that I am only just scratching the surface. You will see that on the “Crews” page of the website that there are quite a few years missing and also that some of the years we do have are not of the best quality. If you

are in possession of any old photos / old brochures that you are willing to copy, scan or donate we will be eternally grateful.

If you have photographs that are damaged I can arrange for some of them to be restored, depending on the amount of damage. Get in touch to sort out arrangements at [email protected]


http://www.pfga.online/

http://www.facebook.com/PortsmouthFieldGun/

http://www.facebook.com/PortsmouthFieldGun/

mailto:[email protected]

Autumn 2016

Army v Navy 2017…

The annual pilgrimage to the home of rugby for the 2017 Army – Navy game will be on Saturday 29th April. The Association will no longer be providing a coach from Portsmouth. The reasons for this are mainly because the day had become an unwieldy evolution that was very labour intensive and difficult to manage, plus the RFU are clamping down on individual bars in the car parks of Twickenham and are guiding supporters to the bars of the stadium. The Association will, however, continue to arrange tickets for members who want to make their own travel arrangements and we will also arrange wrist bands for access to the Will Carling lounge. The intention is that we still be able to get together as an Association, put a few guns over and a few rigs up, talk lots of sense and also to meet up with the Oggies and Waffus.


Autumn 2016

The Association will purchase 80 tickets for members that will be sold on a first-come first-served basis, with tickets limited to two per member. Cost will be £30 per ticket which will include a wrist band to get access to the Will Carling lounge and also a small admin fee (for the RFU, not us). Any monies left over will be donated to the Portsmouth Field Gun heritage fund.

To book tickets please email Brum Gough ([email protected]). In your email, please provide a mobile phone number so we can contact you if we need to. We will acknowledge your ticket booking by return and there will be a reserve list. Payment will be required by Tuesday 20th December 2016. If we haven’t received payment by this date tickets will be re-allocated to the next member on the reserve list. Payment by Paypal on the Website Shop or cheques to;

Mick Malone, C/O The Naval Families Federation, Building 25, HMS Excellent, Portsmouth PO2 8ER.

Again, email acknowledgement of payments received will be sent out on return. Tickets will be dispatched once we receive them from the RFU, probably mid-January 2017. Details will be posted on the web site.

ps. For anyone interested, the lad in Navy kit in the picture is ex Oggie Russ Williams’ lad who scored the championship winning try in the game in 2016.



Autumn 2016

2017 Dockyard Derby… Portsmouth FC v Plymouth Argyle FC - KO 15:00 14 April 2017

The Portsmouth Field Gunners Association have managed to acquire 50 tickets for the above football fixture. Tickets will cost £90 which includes entry into the VIP lounge from 12:30 (drinks are not included). However, there is a bar in the lounge for individuals to buy their own drinks (excluding draft beer). The deal also includes a 3 course meal prior to kick off, executive seating for the match, drinks at half time, if required, and on completion of the match we can stay in the lounge until 19:00.

To help maintain the long term friendship we have with our friends in the West Country we have allocated 10 tickets to the Oggies which have been snapped up already and 10 tickets for PGA committee. Therefore, the remaining 40 tickets are available to anyone who is a member of Portsmouth Field Gunners Association.

We anticipate a high level of interest for this event and tickets are likely to go quite quickly. Tickets are strictly limited to one per Association member and we must have payment in full on ordering.

Ticket sales will be done on a first-come-first-served basis, so whoever pays first gets a ticket. To book tickets please email Ronnie Scott ([email protected]). In your email, please provide a mobile phone number so we can contact you if we need to. Scotty will acknowledge your ticket booking by return and there will also be a reserve list. Payment will be required by Tuesday 31st January 2017. (The address for cheques to be sent to will be emailed to all applicants in December). If we haven’t received payment by 31st January tickets will be re-allocated to the next member on the reserve list.

Please be aware that if you purchase a ticket and then can’t make it to the game your ticket will be non-refundable so it will be up to you to sell on your ticket. However, as these VIP tickets have been provided to the Portsmouth Field Gunners Association, it must be sold on to another member of the Association.

Rig for the day will be Field Gun blazers and ties.

We’ve had a long affiliation with Portsmouth Football Club, so let’s keep it going and if Portsmouth and Plymouth get promoted the Oggies will reciprocate and invite us to Plymouth for the Dockyard Derby 2017-18



Autumn 2016

Once we have all names of attendees we will organise a get together to hand out the tickets and inform you all of the agenda for the day of the match (those who can’t attend will be informed via email).

Ring a Ding Ding!

And finally A poem from 1966…


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