Lewes Branch

Lewes Branch decomissioning.09.05.07

Lewes Branch of the Royal Naval Association was commissioned in 1965 and was awarded their Silver Jubilee Certificate in February 1990. Sadly due to lack of Branch Members the Branch has had to decommission in May 2007.

Sunday 6 May 2007 at the Parish Church of St. Thomas a Beckett Cliffe Lewes saw the Laying Up Service of Lewes Branch Standard. The Service was Officiated by No.3 Area Royal Naval Association Padre the Reverend David Farrant. Seventeen Standards consisting of Royal Naval Associations in the South and Lewes Ex Service Associations were paraded to honour the occasion.

Shipmate Ralph Twinch of Lewes RNA carried the Branch Standard for the last time and was escorted by TS Lewes Sea Cadets Igraine Pendragon and Cassie Hamm. On completion of the Service, the Parade under the watchful eye of Sea Cadet Corp CPO Wells marched the short distance to Lewes Royal British legion Club, where the Mayor of Lewes Councillor Merlin Milner and Chair of Lewes District Council Councillor Marina Pepper inspected the Standards and spoke to the Cadets and Branch Members of the Royal Naval Association. There followed, in the RBL Club a poignant ceremony where the Chairman of Lewes RNA S/M Steve Bristow presented the Branch Bell to Lieutenant (SCC) Mark Reeves RNR Commanding Officer Lewes Sea Cadet Corp.