Royal Naval Association - Eastbourne Branch

03/09/2026

13/08/2026

A wonderful afternoon cream tea, enjoyed by about 30 of our shipmates, at the Hydro Hotel Eastbourne. All enjoyed with a great view over the sunny East Sussex coast line and a great vantage point to watch the Eastbourne Air show. Great food and great company. Just a shame that the Red Arrows are stuck somewhere in Canada, what can I say, let down by the RAF again. 🤣🛫

Once again our thanks to our Social secs, Jen and Val for organising the tea. Also thanks to Area 3 Chairman Paul Stone, and his sister in law Sheila, for travelling from near Chichester to join us. Paul was last seen enjoying the extra Pimms that became available. 🥂🥂🍹⚓️

07/08/2026

Set up to support a Veterans drop in event at Mais House RBL care home in Bexhill.

01/08/2026

All set up at ASDA on the Crumbles retail park. Many thanks to Katie, their community champion. Come down and meet us. Find out what the RNA is all about.

29/07/2026

Visit this drop in event, open to serving members and Veterans. Find out what is being offered.

23/07/2026

Our thanks to shipmates from Portsea and Portsmouth, Worthing and Horsham, who travelled to support us, at the funeral of RN veteran James Watson, in Brighton on Tuesday. James was not a member of the RNA, and he sadly crossed the bar without friends or family or savings. Many thanks to his dedicated carers and District Nurses who contacted us to let us know. This meant that our shipmates could come together to ensure that, in our best traditions, the RNA was able to give him a suitable send off.

Royal Naval Association - Eastbourne chairman, S/m Mal Chumbley was honoured to be asked to read the poem, by Alfred Lord Tennyson - Crossing the Bar.

James served for 15 years from the early 70's, although we do not know where. His passion was pinball and he apparently travelled the world and won international tournaments at pinball. I have sadly been privileged to attend many funerals for veterans since becoming our branch standard bearer. I have now witnessed a tot of Rum during a service and now, The Who - Pinball Wizard played at the end. (That made me smile).
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18/07/2026

Fast becoming a branch favourite, another night of ten pin bowling, including hecklers 😅 here in Eastbourne. Well done to team two on winning our light hearted competition and well done to our treasurer and S/m Keith Geddes, once again coming out on top. Thanks as always to S/m Jennie, our social sec for organising.

Nothing will convince me that someone isn't sticking those pins in place. 🤣

17/07/2026

As part of our branch drive to get out and meet RN veterans, in the local area but not from Eastbourne. Some of our shipmates met up in the, veterans run, Stand Easy cafe in Hastings, to meet with RNR Veteran Bill Shoesmith, for coffee, and breakfast.

06/07/2026

At last Thursday's branch meeting our Chairman S/M Mal Chumbley presented our new members S/m's Neil Taylor, Alan Passmore and Matt Crees, with their RNA membership cards and pin badges - Welcome shipmates
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04/07/2026

All set up to go at Morrisons.