2016 ReunionSeptember 16th to 18th, 2016 at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
 | Updated July 26th, 2016 Revised information is coloured blue September 15th, 2016 will be the 50th anniversary of the launch of HMS Resolution from the slips at Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, Barrow-in-Furness, so we are returning to Barrow to celebrate this great anniversary. We are very pleased and proud to announce that a request to Her Majesty, The Queen, for a representative to attend the reunion has been answered with the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, Mrs. Claire Hensman, "delighted" to attend both the Remembrance Ceremony at the Cenotaph and our formal dinner later that evening at the Fairway Hotel, Barrow. She will be accompanied by Mr. Peter Hensman, her husband. She and Mrs. Elma Henry, wife of HMS Resolution's first captain, will be our guests of honour. Other dignitaries, including the Mayor of Barrow, Cllr Ann Thomson, will also be on hand. A contingent from TS Resolution, Swindon, have been invited to attend. There was a lot of pressure to respect the actual date of her launch but it soon became clear that holding a reunion mid-week was not going to work for our members. Instead, it will be starting on
Friday, September 16th Also, the idea of having the Remembrance service on the slips was discarded as some VIP's, the wives, would not have been able to attend the event as only the crew would have been allowed access to the yard. It was proposed and unanimously accepted by the committee that the service will be held at the Barrow-in-Furness Park Cenotaph in order that all could be involved. |
The agenda for the BAE Systems events are:
We have been in discussions with BAE Systems, Barrow, about a visit to the yard since January. Unfortunately, they are unable to accommodate us at the weekend but have offered alternatives outside the reunion period. As this visit was to be a highlight of the reunion we, your committee, are disappointed that BAE Systems could not entertain a visit during the weekend of the reunion period. In addition, it appears that restricted access regulations have come into effect.
| Date | Time | Event | Security restrictions | Wives |
| Thursday, Sept. 15 | Afternoon | Naming of the "Resolution" building | No; limited to 20 total; cameras not allowed |
Yes |
| Thursday, Sept. 15 | Evening | Reception at Barrow Dock Museum A chance to meet some who built HMS Resolution |
No; limited to 20 total; cameras allowed |
Yes |
| Friday, Sept. 16 | Morning | Visit to Devonshire Dock Assembly Hall | Yes; UK citizenship only; cameras not allowed |
No |
We encourage the membership to take full advantage of all events offered.
MoD or BAE Security Restrictions (as we understand them and to be confirmed)
Guests to the Friday afternoon visit must:
- provide their name, nationalitiy, home addresses, an emergency contact name and phone number
- be British nationals only (no dual nationals are allowed).
- bring photo ID for showing to security on arrival (British passport or photo driving licence).
- inform BAE systems of any visitor with disabilities.
- pass this information to the shipyard so please reply to Martin (Taff) immediately.
- Cameras and mobile / cellular phones are not allowed on BAE premises. They can be left at Security.
We are attempting to clarify with BAE the exact timing of events.
The agenda for the 2016 HRA Reunion events are:
| Date | Time | Event |
| Friday, September 16 | Afternoon | Meet & Greet - the official reunion begins |
| Friday, September 16 | 1800 | Annual General Meeting (AGM) |
| Friday, September 16 | 1900 | Buffet Dinner |
| Saturday, September 17 | 1600 | Remembrance Ceremony, Barrow Park Cenotaph Guest of Honour - Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, Mrs. Claire Hensman |
| Saturday, September 17 | 1900 | Formal Dinner Guests of Honour - Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, Mrs. Claire Hensman, and Mrs. Elma Henry |
| Sunday, September 18 | Morning | Farewells - the official reunion ends |
As Events Manager, Martin "Taff" Kaupa deserves a great deal of credit for having put it all together and working diligently to make it happen. We will be staying at The Fairway Hotel, Barrow and that will, also, be the location for the Meet & Greet, the AGM, buffet dinner, formal dinner and Farewells. He is the central contact for any and all question you may have. If you are interested in attending or have questions contact Taff. At the time of writing, there are 58 members registered but the number is growing daily. Time to get involved?
N.B.
- The reunion is open only to full members in good standing; if you wish to become a full member, payment of dues can be made at the Forum, and if you have any questions about your status contact the Treasurer, Richard Berridge.
- In addition, all those wishing to participate in the Yard tour must pass BAE security clearance. All members must be registered by July this year or they cannot be included.
- Unfortunately, non-members (the ladies) cannot take part in the Devonshire Dock Hall visit as stipulated by BAE.
- Unfortunately, there will be no transport provided for any of the BAE System sponsored events. However, coach transportation to the Cenotaph will be provided by the association.
There will be further e-mail, updates to the Forends and posts to the Forum and Facebook as news becomes available so keep watching.