31st Annual MCDOA Operational Updates and Dinner
25 Nov 2023 - I think it fair to say that this year’s events were the best attended for some time, mainly because our ‘new’ (three-year-old) MOJO website membership database means that every one of our 214 bona fide members receives emailed announcements and updates and, as a result of our Chairman’s survey, the AGM is held online at a different time of the year. If you are entitled to MCDOA membership and haven’t re-applied and subsequently made your first annual subscription payment via the MOJO website on being approved, you are no longer a bona fide member, despite any existing Standing Order, which is now obsolete and should be cancelled.
The day’s events started with over 50 members gathering in the Officers, Warrant Officers & Senior Rates Mess on Horsea Island before sitting down for a free lunch in the dining room.
After lunch, we wended our way to the Reclaim Conference Room in Bridge Building for the afternoon’s Operational Updates.
Adrian Visram, Cdr Second MCM Squadron & Mine Warfare Battle Staff (B), kicked things off with a presentation on the Royal Navy’s Conventional MCM Vision.
Dan Herridge, Cdr Mine Threat Exploitation Group (MTXG), then delivered a presentation about the Interim-MCM Vision which included a discussion of the Royal Navy’s transition from a mainly MCMV-based capability to a mostly autonomous MCM system force. This was followed by a presentation by
Sean ‘Central’ Heaton MBE, CO Diving & Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG), expounding on DTXG’s “Move into tomorrow” which involves much ‘sexy’ gear and doing a lot of ‘sexy’ stuff.
Chris Stephenson then treated us to a discourse on developments in MCM & Maritime Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).
Finally, Mark Shaw gave us his view from the Military Diving Capability Cell.
As we learned from all the updates, today’s watchword is ‘agility’.
The standard of presentations was superb and we owe a debt of gratitude to all the speakers for giving up their valuable time, as well as Ali Aindow, our Treasurer, for coordinating the briefs and mastering the IT.
On completion of the presentations, Bernie Bruen MBE DSC donated his last copy of his Falklands memoir, Keep Your Head Down, to the diving community and it was taken into custody by Ali Aindow, our Treasurer. David Sandiford, MCDOA co-founding Chairman, former SofD (Superintendent of Diving) and Project Manager of the Vernon Mine Warfare & Diving Monument and Martin Holloway, former MCDOA committee member and Senior Officer of the 11th MCM Squadron of minesweeping trawlers during the Falklands war, then presented the Horsea Island Officers, WOs & SRs Mess with a framed print of the painting Roughers off Port Stanley in 1982 by the marine artist Adrian Thompson, which depicts two of the trawlers. The print was accepted by Sean ‘Central’ Heaton MBE on behalf of the mess.
The afternoon session was rounded off with a few fitting words by Martin Mackey, MCDOA Chair and Superintendent of Defence Diving (SODD).
Later in the day, over a hundred members and their guests assembled in the wardroom at HMS EXCELLENT for the annual dinner. Our Guest of Honour was Honorary Capt the Rt Hon Penny Mardaunt MP RNR, Lord President of the Council & Leader of the House of Commons. She is seen here flanked by MCDOA co-founding Vice Chairman & Webmaster Rob Hoole, MCDOA President & Head of Military Diving Capability Cell Ben Vickery, and MCDOA Chair & Superintendent of Defence Diving Martin Mackey. Earlier this year, Penny Mordaunt hosted members of her affiliated Second MCM Squadron staff and ships at the House of Commons and 10 Downing Street as described in this article for 28 Jun 2023.
As usual, the evening started in the bar.
We then moved into the dining room where, as customary, the members of HMS NELSON’s Volunteer Band, under the direction of Neil Silvester, accompanied our entry with their usual panache. The food, cooked by Head Chef Marcus Elbourne and his team, was delicious and the service, under the direction of Maître d’ Leanne Miller, was faultless. The company, of course, was perfect and the atmosphere couldn'‘t have been more convivial. During a pause between courses, Bernie Bruen gave a rendition of his poem We Are The Cowboys, written about the clearance divers he led during the Falklands conflict in 1982.
After the port, kindly provided by Submarine Manufacturing & Products Ltd (SMP), and the loyal toast, the singing started at its raucous best. As usual, the band members entered into the spirit of the occasion and fully enjoyed themselves, particularly during our rendition of I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles. They always tell me this is their favourite function of the year.
After Ease Springs, our President welcomed our right honourable guest and presented bespoke bottles of port to our members leaving the Service: Chris O’Flaherty, Keith ‘Mabbs’ Mabbott and Pat McQueen. The toast Absent Friends was also made in memory of those members who have crossed the bar since we last met: Peter Benton, Norman Brookhouse, Mike Emary, Steve Field, Bob Hanson, Bob Hawkins MBE, Richard Lowther and Mike Wignall,
Penny Mordaunt, our Guest of Honour, then delivered a glowing tribute to our community which she deliberately kept short as she said she knew the bar was beckoning again and the night was already late.
It was then back to the bar for the final part of the evening where I managed to capture five former RN Superintendents of Diving as well as the current SODD. As the first CO of the Hunt class MHSC HMS BERKELEY, I was also pleased to be reunited with Chris Davies (one of my XOs), Chris Ashcroft (one of my Ops Officers) and Graeme Waugh (my only Gunnery Officer/CORRO) who stood in for the Ops Officer when I was gapped an XO for several weeks in the Gulf in 1988 and my other officers had to step up one place.
We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Kev Giles, our Social Secretary, for organising such a fun evening and to his fellow committee members Alex ‘Snowie’ Snow and Ali Aindow for giving him such incredible support.
This announcement was published in the following morning’s Telegraph:
