… the Church Plate
By Bill Evershed
Sir, – Having served for 3 years in a Chatham-based ship, I was saddened to read Michael Harris’ letter ‘…AND THE CHURCH PLATE’ in NR 111(1). It certainly does seem that all the Family Silver and all the Church Plate has been or will be melted down or sold. ‘Vanity of Vanities… all is Vanity!’
Despite this, from the evidence of the photograph on page 10 of their current Journal, the RNSA is still holding out as a last bastion in revering its Silver.
Wither the generations of ‘Term’ Photographs at Dartmouth whose silent fortitude and spirit imbued every successor? Times change. Tradition Out. Awake to Woke. HMS Heritage? ‘Abandon Ship’. The moral now would seem to be never again subscribe for or donate any Trophy to the Navy for any reason, howsoever deserving this may seem.
The only foci now remaining seem to be, as evidenced by the cover picture of NR 111(1), at the National Memorial Arboretum and at other War Memorials and at CWG Cemeteries around the World. Just Two Minutes Silence: Just Once a Year. Except for those of us who still have cause to remember them a little more often.
