Every effort must be made to keep this Boating Station open, we owe it to the youngsters many of who will be our srvice personel of the future, we also owe it to Ivan and all his team. Can an approach be made to the national Association Comittee forsome help.
 
Baz Downing-Waite Ganges 52

Thanks for your support shipmates - I will ensure you are kept up to date on the 'lobbying/meetings' taking place and subsequent outcome.  As you can appreciate, this is not the best time of the year for moving things along!!
Martin

Thanks Baz.  
I am currently awaiting feedback from SCC HQ, Marine Society Sea Cadets (MSSC), and Yns Mon MP Mr Albert Owen in response to questions and suggestions made by the boating station supt: Lt/Cdr Geoff Shaw RNR and support group president Lt/Cdr Stuart Wallace RNR;  In Stuarts words "I would like to think that some of the pressure we have managed to exert through Colonels, Commanders, Commodores and Lord Lieutenants is paying off".  
All we can do is offer full support, and keep the pressure on. I will naturally update everyone as and when.
Wishing you a happy new year.
Martin
 
 

The Following received from Terry Hall. . . . . . . .
 
The Submariners Association (Derbyshire) has supported TS Kenya
(Prev TS Malaya) the local Derby Sea Cadet Unit for over twenty years
in the form of sponsoring at least one (Many times four) Sea Cadet to
Annual Training at TS Ganges.  I have regularly put the 264's of cadets
in our newsletter and personally feel it would be a great shame if the
Sea Cadets Nationally lost this facility.
 
I am not appealing for anything, but feel it right and proper that the possible
demise of this excellent facility should be promulgated to as many people
as possible for you to delete, discuss, or forward as you feel appropriate.  
This facility encourages our youth of today and I appreciate the dire financial
position of the country, but surely a facility of this type deserves lottery money,
or some form of funding from our government, somehow?
 
It is an ill wind to open the New Year with.
Terry Hall Sec, Derbyshire Submariners Association

I have just emailed my Member of Parliament (Ben Wallace, Wyre and Lancaster), asking him to take a look at the website and also asking for his support.  He is an ex-Army officer and I am sure that he will have some sympathy for this cause.  With a bit of luck, he might even get involved.
Keep the faith, it's not all over yet.

Following extracted for HMS Ganges forum
Robbie, Have you gone down  this road. Welsh Assembly, then Petitions committee,there is now an online petition scheme  
 
National Assembly For Wales   Regional Co-ordinators  08450105500 can be seen on line  
 
They have helped me in my Road safety campaign  
Doug Harris

Thanks for your input Bill - the support group, and the Staff in Holyhead, appreciate you help and lobbying.  We will not let it close without a fight!
Regards,
Martin

I am a member of the Unit management committee of Bradford Sea Cadet Unit (TS Aurora) and they are staggered at the news of TS Ganges boating station. The cadets who have been sponsored to attend there have all enjoyed their stay and learnt quite a lot and gained experience and qualifications. In addition the Unit sends cadets on a weeks training there every year. It would be a great loss to lose this valuable facility, here's hoping that the problem can be resolved.
Norman Wilson (Ganges 1948)

Thanks for the post Bill - and for your continuing support.
There does appear to be a note of confidence from Albert Owen MP.  However, I feel this optimisim needs to radiate from SCC HQ.  I asked Geoff Shaw (Boating Station Supt) if he had received any update - he said there was nothing really except that HQ are exploring our options, and the feasability report and site valuation he did over Xmas ties in with the information HQ has gleaned from various sources - read into that what you will.
I did write to the Duke of York (Admiral SCC) a couple of weeks ago, and emailed his Private Secretary.  I've not received any response, and don't expect any invite down to Buck House for a Tot any time soon.
Thanks again Bill, the staff at TS Ganges need to know we are with them all the way on this one.
Martin
 

Thanks Bob, your help & feedback is much appreciated.  
 
I know that many of you following the events of this sorry saga have ties with The Sea Cadets.  Like me, you have probably been a Cadet, and in latter years helped out with your local unit - either as instructors or serving on your own Unit Management Committee.  Keeping these Units operational, fully staffed and financed is not easy.  To lose a Boating Station of the quality and standard of TS Ganges - through no other reason than the intransigence of another Sea Cadet Units' management committee is downright disgraceful, smacks of neglect and is not in the spirit of the Corps.  Further, I would suggest that the Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) are being negligent in their duties if they do not do all in their power to resolve this matter quickly.  
From the feedback recieved from many of you, I know you feel just as aggrieved as the TS GANGES support group about the mishandling of this whole affair.  I would urge you to register your support in this matter direct to the MSSC via any of the contact details below.
Thank you all.
READY AYE READY
Martin Randle
 
The Marine Society & Sea Cadets, 202 Lambeth Road, London SE1 7JW  
tel: 020 7654 7000   fax: 020 7928 8914   email: info@ms-sc.org
 
 

To:- Mike Cornish Chief Executive M.S. S.C.
 
 
 
Dear Sir
Having spent almost 25 years involved  with TS Ganges along with many others, fund raising within the HMS Ganges Association, organizing the annual Scarborough weekend in aid of TS Ganges, administrating & instructing on Sponsor Weeks, acting as Secretary for the Support Group, I think I am entitled to have my say in the future of TS Ganges.
In order for you to understand the feelings that many ex Ganges Boys have for TS Ganges. May I suggest that you pay a visit to the following 2 web sites:- www.hmsganges.co.uk & www.hmsganges.org.uk visit the Forum on both sites to see the support for TS Ganges from over 4000 members. Some of whom feel that TS Ganges is being sold down the line for a flagship Olympic Sailing Centre at Weymouth. Members of the Ganges Association who belong to other ships associations have said they have been approached by the Marine Society asking for donations for Weymouth, and think you are making cut backs in favour of Weymouth.
 
Holyhead harbour is a safe haven for all boating activities and many other outdoor pursuits, to close these facilities because of an ill managed management committee (TS. POW) who will not co-operate, and a weak organization who will not call them to book is a disgrace. Please read the enclosed Support Group Statement that we have prepare to release to the media.  
If my response to this situation upsets anyone - I make no apologies, the only response I want is get people working together to keep TS Ganges afloat so our grandchildren and those who follow will  be able to benefit from this excellent Boating Station, and to keep the first class staff in jobs.
Yours sincerely
Ivan Hayward
Secretary TS Ganges Support Group
 

The welcome response from Mike Cornish (MSSC) confirms issues that we suspected- and indeed were aware off from the outset. It’s clear that the MSSC is, and has been, willing to invest in the Boating Station (TS Ganges), and in so doing TS Prince of Wales.  Understandably, any such investment needs to be of a secure nature, agreeable to all parties.  
Attempts in recent weeks to establish a working relationship with the Management Committee of TS Prince of Wales has fallen on deaf ears.  We, as members of TS Ganges support group, are not aware of any response by their committee as to the reasoning or unwillingness to cooperate.
It would appear burying one’s head in the sand is the preferred option of the TS Prince of Wales Committee – I can think of a better one, how about burying the hatchet (assuming there is a hatchet to bury?), sitting round a table (like a responsible SCC Committee), and talking through your objections in a coherent and logical nature so that all concerned can understand and make sense of it.
 
For the sake of the SCC is this too much to ask?
Martin Randle

Just to bring you all up to speed regarding TS Ganges.  The Boating Station Superintendant has received email confirmation from the MSSC that any decision on closure is being deferred until December.  Early days yet, but I would like to thank  those of you - and I know there are many, that voiced your opinion to the powers that be over this issue.  Thankfull of the breathing space afforded, options on the way forward can now be explored.
 
Many thanks guys, we still have a long way to go.
 
Martin Randle

Thanks Bill - Hopefully we can move positively forward
Martin

Well the latest news makes pretty sad reading, what a dreadful outcome. Are there any other avenues for sites in the near vicinity that could be made use of?
I still cant believe that those on the Sea Cadet committee could have brought about this situation. I could think of some choice phrases to describe them, but I'll restain myself.
Where do we go from here?
Bill Lott