Brackley (Ginge) Warnes

John Hedges

We have just heard from David Hedges that his father John Hedges passed away on 21 July 2011.  John served as a Telegraphist onboard during the ship's first commission.  R.I.P.

Anthony H Watson (Soapy)

Pete Barley has just informed us of the sad death of his oppo Soapy Watson of cancer last year on 22 April 2010 in L'Estartit, Costa Brava, Spain.  Both Pete and Soapy attended the 2006 reunion in Babbacombe and as well as being shipmates in HMS Carysfort they also served together in Paladin and Armada.  R.I.P.

Jacqueline Land, widow of ex AB (R) Ken Land has advised us of Ken's death in Spain from cancer  on 5 February 2005.  Ken spent 22 years in the RN and attained the rank of MAA.   R.I.P.  

JENNY - BEM

Generations of sailors who visited Hong Kong will mourn the death of Jenny.  She was a much loved figure and an incomparable institution for well over half a century.  She died peacefully on 18 February 2009 at the age of 92.

Much of her life was an enigma.  However, the authors of her twenty seven Certifcates of Service generally agreed that she was born in a sampan in Causeway Bay in 1917.  Her mother, Jenny One, according to her one surviving Certificate of Service, which was copied in 1946 from an older, much battered and largely illegible document, "provided sampans for the general use of the Royal Navy, obtained sand, and was useful for changing money".  Behind her perpetual great gold-toothed grin Jenny complained "I velly chocker.  All time work in sampan.  No lead or lite".  But what she lacked in education she made up more than a hundredfold with her immense and impressive experience in ship husbandry; her unfailing thoroughness and apparently inexhaustible loyalty and integrity; her infectious enthusiasm and her innate cheerfulness.

Officially Jenny's date of volunteering was recorded as 1928.  From then until 1997, when the colony became a Special Administrative Region of China and the Royal Navy moved out, she and her team of tireless girls who at one time numbered three dozen, unofficially served the Royal and Commonwealth Navies in Hong Kong by cleaning and painting their ships, attending their buoy jumpers, and dressed in their best, waiting with grace and charm at cocktail parties.  Captains and Executive Officers would find fresh flowers in their cabins and newspapers  delivered daily.  Many a departing officer received a generous gift as a memento of Jenny.  For all of this she steadfastly refused ever to take any payment.  Instead, she and her Side Party earned their keep selling soft drinks to the ships companies and accepting any item of scrap which could be found on board. 

Jenny's huge collection of photographs - too big she said to be put into books - she stored in a large envelope.  They dated back to the mid 20th century and showed her in the ships she so faithfully served with Buffers and Side Parties along with grateful officers, many of whom became distinguished Admirals.  In two thick albums she proudly kept her letters of reference, all without exception filled with praise and affection for her.  One was a commendation from the Duke of Edinburgh for her work in the Royal Yacht during her visit to Hong Kong in 1959.  She had a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal presented to her in 1938 by the Captain of the heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire and a Bar to the LS & GCM from the frigate Leander in 1975.

Most treasured of all Jenny's distinctions was the British Empire Medal awarded her in the Hong Kong Civilian List of the Queen's Birthday Honours in 1980 and with which, under her formal name of Mrs Ng Muk Kah she was invested by the then Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Murray Maclehose.

In latter years Hong Kong was no longer visited by the great fleets of the warships which gave jenny and her Side Party their livelihood and she found it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.  Yet she stayed fit and willing to undertake any work available.  To the end of the Royal Navy's presence in Hong Kong there could be seen in the shadow of the towering Prince of Wales building within the Naval Base, a small round figure in traditional baggy black trousers and high-collared smock with a long pigtail and eternal smile who, regardless of time remained it seemed for ever - just Jenny.

R.I.P. JENNY BEM

Barry Notcutt, nephew of AB Tommy Notcutt has advised that Tommy died of a heart attack at the age of 33 in 1976.  R.I.P. 

George Hale passed away on the 13th October 2008. R.I.P.

Bill Elliot, AB first commission born 19th October 1926 died on the 6th March 2008.  R.I.P.

At this time, Ron Downes is mourning his son who was lost in Afghanistan last weekend.  There is a book of condolence on the Manchester Evening News website.  A shipmate whose son was proud to serve his country.     Peter Johnson - 12th June 2007

Rod Channell ex AB first commission born 18th January 1924 passed away on 6th June 2006 aged 82 years.  R.I.P. 

Steven Ayling, son of Lt (SD)(WE) L E Ayling - WEO 1966-68 has advised us of the  death of his Father on 28th September 2005.

This plaque in recognition of Leslie Ayling's charitable work was unveiled in The Church of England Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Gibraltar a year after his death at a memorial service held there.  The Leslie Ayling Charitable Trust is intended to support Gibraltar's poor and disadvantaged.   However, from London to Ceuta and Gibraltar he cared for others anonymously.  He gave discreetly, not just donations, but his time and himself. 

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