North Wales MNA is up and running – and in person!

A year on from our appeal for members in the Nautilus Telegraph and other publications, I am pleased to report that the new North Wales branch of the Merchant Navy Association (MNA) held its first in-person meeting on Wednesday 7 July 2021 at the Cae Mor Hotel on the promenade at Llandudno.

Although we had communicated electronically during the worst of the coronavirus restrictions, the twelve at the Cae Mor were largely unknown to each other. But, as seafarers do, we quickly relaxed in our collective company and were exchanging reminisces before we got anywhere near the luncheon table. The meal ensured that any remaining inhibitions melted away and all of us were in good form ready for the more formal part of our inauguration.

For future meetings we have decided on the second Wednesday monthly, in the same hotel. We are open to anybody with a maritime interest who may wish to join us, so if that is you, please contact us by email on mnagc21@yahoo.com or phone on +44 (0)7971 221 671.

We would wish to thank all of you who have helped us along the way from publicity to explaining how the system works in addition to local papers we have had assistance from the MNA administration staff, in particular from Malcolm Mathison and Ian Hodge, also from Darren Miller and others - we thank you all.

Mike Ridehalgh
Chairman MNA North Wales

• MNA update: The central office of the MNA has decided with regret that there will no national service in September 2021 to celebrate Merchant Navy Day at the Merchant Navy War Memorial at Tower Hill in London. This has been a very difficult decision, but the committee responsible has taken into account the on-going uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. It is hoped that branches will be able to hold a less formal event in their locality, dependent upon government advice at the time, but the formal annual service in Dover has been called off. See www.mna.org.uk for more information.