BRANCH HISTORY

Atherton Royal Naval Association was commissioned as a Branch on the 8th of November 1983, and next November will see the celebration of our 20th Anniversary. The idea of a local R.N.A. goes back a bit futher than that. As we know people get chatting at social occasions and down at the local pub and it came about that there were quite a few ex-matelots resident in the Atherton area. They came from a variety of backgrounds and covered a wide range of age groups. The Secretary-elect at that time, Shipmate Jack Richards, wrote to the R.N.A. Headquarters in London for guidance, and from humble beginnings the Branch held its first meeting in June,1983. There were five further founder members present - Frank Wilson, Fred Wilcox, Tommy Proctor, Mike Needham and Jack Gibbons and others soon joined them. Before long things snowballed and the membership began to grow. Monthly meetings were held at the Sailors & Soldiers Club in High Street, Atherton, on the second Thursday of each month. This meeting date has continued ever since, but sadly to say, the Sailors & Soldiers Club is no longer in being and closed down in the September od 2001. Meetings are now held at the Atherton Arms, Tyldesley Road, Atherton, ahich is close by. On the 12th August 1986, Commander M.E. White, Royal Navy, approved the Branch's requiest to be affiliated to the Swiftsure-Class Submarine HMS Sceptre. Over the years we have had some memorable times on board the Sceptre and have attended a re-commissioning at Devonport and a re-dedication at Rosyth. As recently as June, 2001, we were able to visit Faslane and Rosyth to commemorate the centenary of the Submarine Service with our friends on board Sceptre. Members of the Sceptre's ship's company have visited us to celebrate our tenth anniversary and to join us on Remembrance Sunday's. HMS Sceptre is also affiliated to the town of Wigan and when the Wigan Branch of the R.N.A. was formed in the mid 90's they also became affiliated to the vessel. We try to organise trips and ships visits whenever possible and have recently been on board HM Ships Lancaster, Orwell, Northhumberland, and Cromer to name but a few, and have also visited a number of other R.N.A. Clubs in our area. Several of our branch members belong to other Associations including the LST & Landing Craft Association, the Ton Class Association, HMS Collingwood Association and the St Austell Bay Association, so there is always something to chat about. We also have close ties to the Wigan Sea Cadet Unit, T.S. Sceptre. Currently the branch has 21 Members and we are always willing to accept new Members and Associate Members. If you are already an R.N.A. member visiting the area please come along to one of our meetings and help to "Swing the Lamp". If you have any problems accessing our full Web site URL below, just refresh the page until it comes on, seems to be a quirk of Freeserve. ATHERTON RNA