Author Archive

EDITOR’S NOTE: The 2019 Newsletter went to the printers this morning (23/March/2020), so if all goes well I’ll be posting the newsletters out by the weekend, including a flyer and the membership cards, therefore should be with you all w/c 30th March.  

Firstly, I’d like to say that I hope you are all keeping well and safe through what will be a difficult period for all of us. The situation we find ourselves in is constantly changing, and the impact of the pandemic is being felt in almost every aspect of our lives.  

Like many articles in this newsletter, was written long before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. This edition was always going to be delivered later than normal due to family commitments away from home (i.e. I was in France for two months!!) but events have delayed publication far more than was ever envisioned.  

Lock-down is going to be tough for some but we were in effect on lock-down during our time at the old school so it’s nothing new! Plans are already being made for the reunion in 2021, and if the situation improves we may hold an impromptu get-together later this year. And if you are stuck for something to do you could always write a piece for the next newsletter!

The full Newsletter edition will be uploaded here (June 2020), once the hard copy has been received by all subscribed members of the IOBA.  

All the best, Tony Eastham: IOBA Newsletter Editor.

Important News About the IOBA Reunion 2020: It is with deep regret and disappointment that we must announce the cancellation of the 37th Annual Indefatigable Old Boys Association Reunion and Annual General Meeting, which was due to take place Friday 4^th June through to Sunday 6^th 2020. 

The challenging and unprecedented environment presented by COVID-19 and the recent government measures announced on Friday 20^th March 2020 made this the only viable option.

This decision has not been taken lightly as a significant amount of work has been carried out by the Committee to date.  The situation which appears to be worsening on a daily basis and the implications of which are becoming more profound, has led us to conclude that the most prudent course of action is to cease any further planning to deliver this significant event. 

The Committee has agreed to return to Anglesey and the 37^th Annual Indefatigable Old Boys Association will now take place on Friday 4th & Saturday 5th June 2021.  The proposed re-election of the following roles; Vice Chairman, Secretary and Merchandise will also be delayed and reopened next year.

The Committee would like to send their sincere apologies to all those who had already booked and paid and those planning to attend the reunion.

REFUNDS – If you have purchased Lunch & or Dinner tickets for the 2020 IOBA Reunion we are currently putting in place the process to claim a full refund or transfer your booking to 2021 reunion. Please be assured we will be in touch with regard to this so there is no need to contact us.

Deo adjuvante, we have agreed to return to Anglesey on Saturday 5th June 2021.

Take care and best wishes,
IOBA Committee.

The Indefatigable Memorial Window now acrylic on canvas!

On behalf of all of us here, we would like to thank both Diane and Mike Rotherforth 60/61 for the time, inspiration & dedication to produce such a fine piece of art for us.

Both Diane & Mike have asked that the acrylic is auctioned at the 2020 IOBA Reunion (6th June), so to raise funds to be put to good use on behalf of the greater community we swerve to support. We trust it finds a new home where the memory will live on.

The acrylic painting’s dimensions are: approx 58cm (23″) x 40cm (16″).

The ‘Indefatigable Memorial Window’ is a more modern stained glass window in the North Wall of the Nave, which commemorates the work of the Indefatigable Nautical Training School which was located nearby from 1864 until its closure in 1995.  

St Mary’s Church, Llanfairpwllgwyngyll ;

The village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll is named after St Mary’s Church. The long form of this name, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, was first adopted in the 19th century as a promotional device. In English, the first and older element of the name means “The Church of St Mary at Pwllgwyngyll [the white hazel pool]”.  The second part translates as “near the rapid whirlpool, near St Tysilio’s red cave”, Llandysilio being the name of another local parish.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mary%27s_Church,_Llanfairpwllgwyngyll

OLD Indefatigable Memorial Bench at the National Memorial Arboretum (Alrewas, Staffordshire)

In 2019 the IOBA removed the old Indefatigable bench from the National Memorial Arboretum Alrewas, and placed it in the Memorial Garden at JSMTC Indefatigable (the Old School).

Names of those ‘connected to the Indefatigable Ships and School’ (who have passed away), may now have their names attached to the old bench (as on 2” brass plaques). Names so far included are, LT COL Simon Hall OBE, Spencer Bell 1958 (past IOBA Chairman) and now Mac McNeill 1941/42.  

It has been agreed to include named plaques of past ‘Indefatigable Connected’ Old Boys & Staff at the following cost of £40:00 each, paid by the requester, to be coordinated through the IOBA Committee. <https://www.ts-indefatigable-oba.org/contact-us/>  

If you would you like to purchase a named brass plaque please contact us <https://www.ts-indefatigable-oba.org/contact-us/>, once payment has been cleared, we will ensure named plaques will be attached to the Indefatigable Memorial Bench at JSMTC Indefatigable by the following IOBA Reunion.  

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NEW Indefatigable Memorial Bench at the National Memorial Arboretum (Alrewas, Staffordshire)

<http://www.thenma.org.uk/>  

The replacement Indefatigable bench has been placed in the Navy Review area at the National Memorial Arboretum.   Mapped location: Please note the bench’s mapped location is not at any of the NMA kiosks in the remembrance centre at this time (Jan 2020). So to find the Indefatigable Bench, please ensure you have a copy of this map (attached) and or bench reference B343. B343 is the bench behind the Indefatigable, B343 has been here for a while so will be on the kiosk maps.   

The National Memorial Arboretum is an evolving, maturing woodland landscape featuring 30,000 trees and a vast collection of memorials. The 150-acre site is a living, growing tribute to those who have served and continue to serve our country.  

Other than the Indefatigable Memorial Bench, we have another memorial called the TS Indefatigable Memorial. The NMA team of volunteers are always happy to help visitors locate memorials and individual dedications in their grounds. You can also use the computer terminals in the Remembrance Centre to search for individual dedications and their locations.  Memorial listing R-Z: TS Indefatigable Memorial <http://www.thenma.org.uk/whats-here/the-memorials/memorial-listing/>  

Dedication Ceremony 26th April 2001 took place at the National Memorial Arboretum: In memory of the ships and men of the Merchant Service who were lost in the Second World War, the National Memorial Arboretum was established near the village of Alrewas in Shropshire and was dedicated in October of 1998.  The Arboretum takes the form of 2,536 trees representing all British merchant ships and fishing vessels known to be lost in World War 11.  Certain shipping companies have adopted specific avenues of trees, each one of which is marked with the name of a ship lost.  In addition there are a variety of specific plaques, benches and other forms of memorial.

The purpose of that dedication service was to dedicate plaques and avenues of trees for six shipping companies, Union Castle Mail SS Co., Clan Line Steamers, Scottish Shire Line, Houston Line, Bullard King & Co. and King Line, and plaques in memory of former cadets and staff of five training establishments, H.M.S.Conway, H.M.S.Worcester, the Nautical CollegePangbourne, S.A.T.S.General Botha, T.S.Indefatigable and T.S.Mercury.

Indefatigable Old Boys Association (IOBA)

© www.indeoba.com 2020