Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Dedication to: IOBA Founder Pat Purser
Dear all,
It is with sadness and deep regret that I inform you of the passing of IOBA Honorary Member Pat Purser.
I could write pages of eulogy regarding Pat, and I am sure many of you will wish to publish your own thoughts and stories, which we would welcome, of this wonderful man.
I would like to summarise my sentiments by reminding you of the note I read out when we voted Pat into the Association as an Honorary Member back in 2008.
“It would be remiss of me not to say a little more about Pat Purser. It would be an understatement to say that the IOBA would not be what it is today without the tremendous enthusiasm, and dedication shown by him in the dark days of the schools liquidation. For those of you who have had the opportunity to read Pat’s memoirs from that time, you cannot fail to be amazed at what was happening behind the scenes, such incompetence and mismanagement on the part of the schools governing body clearly resulted in its early demise. I know that Pat would be the first to admit that the writing was probably on the wall for some time, but with a responsible Board, the end of the Indefatigable as our school, could and should have been far less painful. Pat, battling against such adversity, was instrumental in setting up what we have today, his motivation and tenacity has lived on in our membership”.
Although Pat had been absent from our reunions for a while, it was a great pleasure for all of us to see him return in 2008, and I am just so grateful that we were able to hear wonderful stories of his days at the Indefatigable and his unstinting efforts to save the School and the formation of our Association.
The funeral will be held at 13.30 on Wednesday 1st February at Bangor Crematorium.
Yours with great sadness.
Bill O’Leary
Chairman
IOBA
Pat Purser and Barry Priddis
TRIBUTE TO TITANIC …AN EXPERIENCE
Saturday 24th March 2012 – 7.30 p.m
Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
With the IOBA Chairmans approval, Steve Humphries (75/76) IOBA Secretary,was invited as one of many VIP guests to the ‘Titanic 100th anniversary memorial concert’, representing the Bridge Boys & Crew members of RMS Titanic. The Indefatigable Ships Bell was used in the event, which was at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. Marc Hardman (1961) paraded the IOBA Standard once again.
The event was an excellent PR move for the IOBA, where the shows organisers included the ‘Indefatigable’ in their Souvenir Programme, giving us great publicity and acknowledgement.
Three of the Bridge Boys on RMS Titanic and many of the sailors in the crew were trained on board TS Indefatigable moored in the river Mersey. All three Bridge Boys were ordered to stay on board, as the Titanic sunk! To this account the ‘Titanic Heritage Trust’ www.titanicheritagetrust.org.uk are considering having a memorial set up to the Bridge Boys of RMS Titanic.
The Ismay family, owners of the White Star Line and RMS Titanic, instituted the “Ismay Prize” of £20 to be awarded to the best Indefatigable Cadet of the year. £20 at that time would have been more wealth than the family had ever owned.
Steve would like to thank ‘all’ who helped him move the Bell to and from the event, and to ‘Marc Hardman, Russell Jones & David Owen’ who so proudly showed off ‘the bell’ on the night in question. Sir Michael Bibby Indefatigable OBA Honorary President and his Wife were at the event too. We hope to see them both at the Indefatigable 150th Celebration in 2014!
The Indefatigable Song!
(Sung to the Indefatigable March)
We are some of the Inde lads, sailors of Britain are we,
We man our Merchant Ships, and we man our Navy ships,
We are respected upon the high seas.
We are going sailing from shore to shore, ports and hatches battened down,
When we hear our bosun call, hands on deck – one and all,
We are the Inde lads.
(Sung to Anchors Away)
We are the Inde lads, sailors are we,
We know our seamanship, and we man our nations ships.
We are respected on the high sea,
We proudly fly our ensigns as we sail across those seas.
(Sung to the Indefatigable March)
We are some of the Inde lads, sailors of Britain are we,
We man our Merchant Ships, we man our Navy ships,
We are the Inde lads.
Re-created for Brass Band by Bruce Jackson from research by Pat Kissane 1946/47 – 2011
Played by: ‘The Golden Rail Band of York’.
Download the Inde Song (4mb) (Right-click, Save link as…)
IOBA Photobook for Sale
Steve Humphries (IOBA Secretary) has kindly taken the time to create a Photobook of the Inde and IOBA. He will be bringing a copy along to the reunion this year for you to see, but if you can’t wait until then you can buy one now direct from Photobox (Click Here)
The book is of excellent quality. It is a little expensive (£83) , but Photobox regularly have half price sales so we suggest you register with them so you’re alerted when they have a promotion running.