The Humber Branch of the Watch Ashore was founded in 1947 and celebrated its 60th Anniversary in 2007 with a dinner attended by Sue Vickery, the National Chairman of the Watch Ashore. The guest speaker was Christine Barker of Radio Humberside’s “Making Waves Appeal” for the local lifeboats. 2012 saw Humber celebrating its 65th birthday
Humber hosted the National Triennial meeting in May 2009, having acted as host on two previous occasions.
Meetings
Following on from a decision made last year to meet during the day-time, we had to find another meeting venue as the room we had used for a number of years, was not available in the afternoons. We were offered the use of a room at Hull Golf Club and now meet there for coffee and a chat on the first Tuesday and third Thursday of each month. We are well looked after by the staff and providing we buy a drink there is no charge for the room. This arrangement allows those members who cannot make Tuesdays to come along on Thursdays and vice versa. We average 8-9 members at these meetings and now that we feel settled in our new home we may look at having a speaker occasionally. This, of course, will depend on their willingness to come and talk to a small group. Catering at the Golf Club is first class and we had an enjoyable lunch in the summer and more recently an excellent Christmas Lunch
Events 2012
This year we celebrated our 65th birthday with a dinner followed by a birthday cake and sparkling wine. We have initiated one or two changes this year, the first to move the annual dinner from March to May giving lighter evenings and better weather conditions. The second is to meet for lunch on the Tuesdays when there is no speaker.
Events 2013
We have enjoyed excellent speakers this year including: The Titanic, The Hull Daily Mail, Street Angels, Hull churches home from hospital scheme and the History of the East Riding Landscape. Coffee evenings, a pie and pea supper and mulled wine with mince pies have been served in members’ homes. The introduction of a lunch venue on the second Tuesday of each month has been well received.
Our Annual Dinner was held at the Hull Golf Club after which we were entertained by a gentleman who collects strange items at car boot sales. Those members who attended the AGM in London thoroughly enjoyed the 80th birthday celebrations and look forward to seeing everyone again at Birmingham in 2014. Two members attended the Annual Seafarers Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral in October. This year it honoured the Watch Ashore’s 80th birthday with our National Chairman reading the WA prayer.
We maintain our links with the Hull Trinity House Academy by way of an annual prize which is awarded for ‘service to the Academy’ and some members attend the Annual Distribution of Prizes. We continue to support the Hull Sea Cadets by attending fund raising events and by making a donation to their funds.