3 Issue 39 – Spring 2014 THE KEDGE ANCHOR many naval monuments and graves that were fast disappearing because of their neglect. Four ordinary people came together to help save that heritage and are now recognised as founder members of this Club. However there was a fifth member, already known to us through his active interest in the Georgian Navy; his name is Randy Burdett Mafit. When invited to join The 1805 Club as its North American Secretary he immediately accepted and can perhaps be described as the founding North American member as well as founding editor of The Kedge Anchor. Dear Randy, I am very sorry I cannot be with you today, but I THANK YOU so much for all your hard work on behalf of us all. Finally may I say from one shipmate to another, this is truly an occasion to “Splice the mainbrace”. From John McCarthy Jnr., son of Lily McCarthy, our first President: If I may presume to speak for my late mother and the McCarthy Clan, thanks for your long service to The 1805 Club both as North American Secretary and Founder-Editor of The Kedge Anchor. I hope to have an opportunity to thank you in person one day at an 1805 Club event. You have been a pillar of the Club and The Kedge Anchor has always been a good read from start to finish. Please enjoy your break from the editorial pressures and my best wishes for the future. From North American Vice President, Rear Admiral Joe Callo USN Rtd: Randy Mafit has made a unique contribution to advance awareness of the relevance of Vice Admiral Viscount Nelson to our own lives and times, and in the process he has also advanced “The Special Relationship” between the United States and Great Britain. Randy was the first to assemble a roster of the North American branch of The 1805 Club and he established and edited The Kedge Anchor for many years. In addition Randy facilitated the administrative connection between the North American and United Kingdom members. Randy’s unselfish attitude and hard work has been a unique inspiration to his fellow members and he has our profound respect and deepest appreciation for what he has accomplished. From our Spanish Vice President, Dr Agustín Guimerá Ravina: Dear Randy, I have been a member of The 1805 Club since 1998 and in those years I have admired the development of The Kedge Anchor, your creation. It has always been full of interesting information and is a great means of communication for the Club. In particular it shows the Club’s internationalist values. As a Spanish vice president that is important to me. From 1996 Spaniards and British worked together in the commemoration of our common Naval History, during the Nelson Decade. This international “Band of Brothers” is still going on, with good results. You were one important pillar of this project I congratulate you and your wife Dana on your achievements. Finally, from our President, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band GCB DL: I am very sorry not to be present tonight in this very British setting to lead the tributes and give thanks to these great friends of the 1805 Club. Randy and Dana, you have been stars. Randy, your stewardship of our US dimension over all these years is of course notable but we also wish to commend you for your creation and development of The Kedge Anchor – one of the hallmarks of the Club. So on behalf of the Club may I say what a pleasure it is for us to appoint you Joint Life Presidents and award you Joint Life Membership. Impressive indeed! Fortunately, for The 1805 Club, the North American Station is now in the impressively capable hands of John Rodgaard. With kind regards and best wishes to you all, Peter Warwick Chairman AMA DataSet Limited are pleased to be associated with both The Kedge Anchor and The 1805 Club. AMA DataSet Limited, 5 School Lane, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 6QD Telephone 01772 627534 www.ama.uk.com Please note the next edition is due in the summer. The deadline for copy will therefore be 21 June 2014. We will be pleased to receive your ideas and contributions at an early date. FROM THE EDITOR Remaining closely connected to the Club since its inception I am constantly delighted at the Councils energy and enthusiasm to carry us forward with new ideas as well as its ability to hold outstanding Events. A key feature for any organisation is one that draws the membership together to engage in and encourage its core interests. An initiative still in discussion within council is to make its publications available in digital form for the North American Station. Achieving significant savings on postage while more importantly introducing the Club’s appeal to an international audience by its further circulation; hard copies would also be available to the membership by printing in situ. The move to a full colour edition was made in the last issue while here we see changes to the typescript enabling us to produce a clearer and easier to read print, small but important changes to layout including the simple use of a header to identify the issue and year for ease when copying articles or information. Content is becoming evenly balanced with the introduction of new features not least the Book Review Section. The standard has been magnificently set by our President, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band GCB DL and Vice President founder member and life member Keith Evans. We aim in this particular undertaking to become somewhat of a bench mark for this type of book review. Success is built on team work and I am appreciative of AMA DataSet of Bamber Bridge in providing their considerable expertise in helping to produce a Newsletter of note. They bring a collective capability in producing The Kedge Anchor that also includes its printing and distribution. The Club is established in the traditions of the navy and its heritage, maintaining and promoting that heritage via its membership is fundamental to The Kedge Anchor. We would ask for your ideas and contributions to achieve these aims. I am delighted to be able to move your magazine, The Kedge Anchor to a different level. Editor
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