Club News 2025
Annual General Meeting February 2025
Annual General Meeting February 2025
On February 19th our Annual AGM attended by 50 members saw current Chairman Mike Appleyard hand over the reins to new Chairman Trevor Jones who outlined the club programme for 2025.
Lady of Mann January 2025
A story of large and small boats..... It was appropriate that on the 85th year anniversary of the evacuation of Dunkirk that MATT CAIN was invited to tell us the fascinating -and complex story of RMS (Royal Mail Ship) Lady of Mann. The story begins in 1910 when the Isle of Mann Steam Packet Co. Ltd was the oldest continuously operating passenger company (predating Cunard) and operating between the Isle of Man and England and Ireland with 18 ships carrying 500,000 passengers annually. During WW! some ships were converted to warships and many sunk!
On to 1930 and the Lady of Mann was the largest ship built, beautifully appointed with 1st, 2nd and 3rd Classes carrying 2,873 passengers and 81 crew on 4 hour cruises.
Then, in 1939, on the outbreak of WWII, all the fleet boats were requisitioned. Famously, the Lady of Mann became involved in May 1940 in Operation Dynamo, evacuating soldiers from the Dunkirk beaches. Over one week the boat made 5 dangerous visits under heavy enemy fire carrying 5000+ soldiers each time from Dunkirk and, also later, from Le Havre. In 1944 the boat was converted to assist the allied D-Day landings on Juno beach in Normandy and ,later, commended and visited by both Field-Marshall Montgomery and King George VI. Matt's grandfather was the captain on the ship and later awarded an OBE.
Matt later acquired from the ship one of the original lifeboats which he wonderfully converted and can be seen cruising the Thames at Chertsey where he resides. This craft will join the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships at the Dunkirk Anniversary in May 2025.
In 1951 five foot long fully operating model of the boat was built by Roy Sturmey and friends including Cyril Drayson. Recently, when both men died, the boat collection was given to our ex-chairman Peter Roger, married to Lesley Drayson, daughter of Cyril Drayson on preserving this historic replica Peter made contact with Matt Cain, our presenter, and they agreed that Matt should become the registered “keeper” of the Lady of Mann at his Chertsey home. Unfortunately, the model was too fragile to bring to the meeting as planned but Matt was able to show many photos of the original and model.
Both Peter and Lesley attended the meeting and enjoyed the talk and a splendid lunch with us and Matt with whom they remain close friends.
A delightful, personal story to launch our 2025 Probus year.
