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Friends
Of H.M.S. Conway About The Friends The Friends of HMS Conway was formed in 1996 as a Charity dedicated to preserving the memory of HMS Conway through the acquisition, maintenance and display of artifacts and memorabilia connected with the ship and the subsequent shore establishment. The Friends is continuing the work started by the Centenary Appeal Fund but with wider objects. Its first task was to find a home for the Conway memorabilia that had been collected over the years, particularly the Memorial and Honours Boards from the Conway Chapel at Plas Newydd, and we were most fortunate to be granted the use of a small chapel in the Birkenhead Priory. The Priory is a 12th century building overlooking the River Mersey where the old ship used to lie and therefore an ideal resting place for items of "Conway" history. In addition another important task is to make a list of all Conway cadets who lost their lives at sea other than in the two world wars. Some such as James Moody, sixth officer of the Titanic, are well known, but the majority who perished did so in the sailing ship era and have no known memorial. The Trustees of the Friends are as follows:
Honorary Members
Donations & Subscriptions The Friends relies almost entirely on subscriptions and donations to continue its work. Details of how to subscribe can be found below. The Conway Chapel and Museum The Birkenhead Priory was founded in 1150 and closed in the monastery dissolution by Henry VIII. It is the oldest building on Merseyside and is now part of Wirral Borough Council's Museum department which provides information and guiding services at the Priory. The most interesting features of Birkenhead Priory are the 2 working chapels. The first is part of Birkenhead Priory Parish and is a small 12th Century vaulted Chamber which seats a congregation of about 60. It celebrates Sunday services and holds baptisms and weddings. Above this is the new HMS Conway Chapel which acts also as a 'Conway' museum holding the Memorials and many other items which were once in the HMS Conway Chapel in Anglesey. The Conway Chapel holds a service on Remembrance Sunday, which is well supported by Conways and their families, and occasionally other services on special occasions. Images of the Priory are in the Image Archive. The "Gulls" Window
On 6th July 1996 the commemorative Conway window shown above was unveiled in the west window of the Conway Chapel by the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside and dedicated by the Bishop of Birkenhead. The window was designed by David Hillhouse and made by William Davies Stained Glass Studios and depicts scenes from the River Mersey prominent in which is HMS Conway. The window was designed to celebrate the homecoming of the Conway Chapel memorials. Thousands of Conway Cadets were trained for the sea and too many lost their lives in their early voyages. The window which is shown above reflects in some measure this loss.
The Conlan Window
From the small south facing window visitors can see that part of the River Mersey known as the Sloyne where the Conway used to lie from 1859 to 1941. She lay at the head of a line of other ships, the training vessel 'Indefatigable', and the Reformatory Ships ' Akbar ' for Protestants and 'Clarence' for Roman Catholics. The Akbar was in service until about 1912 and was thus the last prison ship in the United Kingdom until 1997 when a new one was moored in Portland Harbour. At the Annual Remembrance Day Service held in November 2001, an additional window was unveiled. The window was kindly donated in memory of Captain Trevor Conlan by his family. The window is located in the side of the Chapel overlooking the Sloyne were the ship was moored whilst in the Mersey,David Hillhouse who designed the window has cleverly created the illusion of seeing the 'Ship' as she would have looked when lying in the Mersey.An inscribed brass plaque has been mounted on one of the Gig footboards and has been set on the window sill
The Robinson Window
A further window was dedicated at the Remembrance Day Service in 2002 in memory of John Robinson, funded by donations from his family and friends and other Old Conways. The window was designed by David Hillhouse and reflects John's love of the sea, showing the creatures of the deep rising up and the text taken from Psalm 148 reads "So praise the Lord from the Earth you great Sea Creatures and all Ocean Depths"
The Plas Newydd Window
On 13th November 2004 a further window was unveiled and dedicated. As 2003 was the 50th anniversary of the loss of the ship and 2004 the 30th anniversary of the closure of HMS Conway, 2004 seemed a particularly appropriate time to install a window which reflects the history of the ship. As well as showing the three ships the window also focuses on the shore establishment which is how many Old Conways will remember "Conway".The Friends of HMS Conway commissioned this window in the East end of the Chapel and the project was entirely funded by generous donations from Old Conways and other supporters. The window was designed and made by David Hillhouse who has done so much to help preserve and commemorate items of Conway history. The window complements beautifully the Conway ?gulls? window at the West end of the Chapel. The focus of the window is Plas Newydd where the majority of Conways alive today were educated. The top half of the window shows the buildings at Plas Newydd as opened by the Duke of Edinburgh. The bottom left half shows pictures of HMS Conway (1st Conway), HMS Winchester (2nd Conway), HMS Nile (3rd Conway) and the Marquis of Angelsey's home Plas Newydd part of which was used as a dormitory block by cadets when they first joined the ship. These are in vertical order. On the bottom right uppermost is the HMS Conway Chapel and below that in a roundel, the Huts at Plas Newydd with the figurehead in the foreground. Thus the window shows in quite brilliant form the history of the various Conways. At the peak of the window is a small picture of the present Conway Chapel which we hope will be the home of Conway near her original mooring place for hundreds of years to come. Those who have not yet seen the window should try to get to the Chapel next time they are in the area – it is a stunning work of art and not to be missed. What must not be forgotten is the generosity of those who donated the money which allowed this splendid window to be designed and made. Photos of the window, ceremony and the lunch are to be found at: David Hillhouse's site http://www.comphoto.co.uk/priory/priory.html
A commemorative Spode plate, reproduced above, illustrating this splendid window has been commissioned and will form an excellent companion piece to the first Spode plate which showed the Gulls Window.You can purchase the plate here.
The Bangor Window
The last in the present series of windows shows Conway off Bangor pier. The window represents the period during the Second World War when the ship was moved to Bangor from Liverpool for safety reasons. The window was unveiled and dedicated at a ceremony in The Conway Chapel on Saturday 11th November 2006. The Unveiling was carried out by Michael S. Potts D.L, The High Sheriff of Merseyside and the Dedication by Rev. Dallas Ayling, Rector of Birkenhead Priory. The Service was conducted by an old friend of Conway, Rev. Canon Bob Evans RNR. Among the guests were Councilor Peter Johnson and Mrs Mary Johnson, Worshipful Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Wirral, the Rt. Hon. Frank Field M.P., Colin Simpson, Director of Wirral Museums, Julia Carter Preston, (whose father carved the Nelson Figurehead on Conway in 1938), T.V. star Patricia Routledge, Archie Smith 64-66, President of the Conway Club and Mrs Mim Smith, Captain David T Smith OBE RN, Patron of the Conway Club and John P. Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of the Mersey Mission to Seafarers. There were about fifty other Old Conways, friends and supporters and the Chapel was full for the occasion. In his unveiling the High Sheriff praised the skills of David Hillhouse, Artist and Trustee of the Friends of H.M.S. Conway for producing a window which has been much admired by all who have seen it. After the Service a Reception and Lunch was held at The Royal Mersey Yacht Club.
The Friends of HMS Conway has received many valuable gifts and items of Conway memorabilia including the Midshipman's dirk which belonged to Commander Douglas Lane, a teaser (rope for flogging unruly cadets), a sea chest and uniforms worn at the turn of the century as well as those worn when 'Conway' paid off. The Trust has also been given about 130 books all by Conways (largely Masefields ) or about Conway, including many signed first editions. Many of these have been donated to the Meseyside Maritime Museum but there are some duplicates available for sale. Details are in the For Sale section below. Also 2 large models of the Conway in glass display cases have been donated, one of Conway as she was at the time of her loss and a model of HMS Winchester before she became the second Conway. Another recent addition is a full set of duplicate medals as awarded to Lt Cdr. Ian Fraser, VC, DSC*, RD, RNR.
The Chapel has now been almost fully refurbished with new lighting, flooring and the displaying of the Queen's Gold Medal Board. The upper windows have also been restored thanks to a generous donation from the Whatmore Trust.
Many of the items received by the Friends have been mounted in an attractive display case with appropriate descriptions on separate cards to give visitors a better understanding of the items.
The Friends is fortunate that Lt. Col. David Hilton, TD (1956/1958) who is a fine organist has agreed to act as the Chapel organist. David has arranged for the purchase of a new organ for the Chapel to replace the organ from Plas Newydd which was becoming increasingly difficult to repair and maintain. The new organ is a state of the art digital electronic Yamaha AR100. The overall specification is enormous and the instrument will reproduce instrumental sounds (with backing accompaniment if required) which means that a recital outside the confines of liturgical music is now possible. A CD of this fine instrument has been produced to commemorate the dedication and unveiling of the new Bangor Window in the Chapel and the acquisition of the organ. The music is designed to show off the attributes of the instrument and covers orchestral, big band, classical, country and hymn styles, ending with the Conway Song in a military band style. The CD is on sale through the shop. The memorials for the two world wars that originally hung in the Ship and later in the Chapel at Plas Newydd are now mounted behind the altar.
Trevor Conlan's family have kindly agreed to the placing of two additional Memorial Boards on either side of the Conlan window to accommodate plaques in memory of deceased Conways. Those who wish to remember members of their family, or Old Conways who wish in the fullness of time have their own named plaque added to the Memorial Boards can do so.The individual brass plaques will be approximately 3 inches x 1 inch bearing the name and Conway dates of each applicant. We already have many names including Captain Hewitt, Paul Revill, Cyril Abraham and several OC's who are still with us but wish to be included when they cross the Bar. Individual brass plates will be displayed in date order, the cost is £25 and payment should be sent to John Southwood using this form. The Trustees have also have commissioned plaques to honour all those who lost their lives at sea other than in the 2 World Wars. Over 100 names have now been added and research is ongoing to add others. James Paul Moody The Friends of HMS Conway have also funded a memorial to Old Conway, James Paul Moody, 6th Officer of the 'Titanic' who lost his life when the ship foundered. James Moody is known to Conways for the Moody Cup, which was presented to the Ship by his family as a memorial following his death. The Moody Cup was competed for in Sailing and the Cup is still awarded today by the Conway Club Cruising Association for the best log submitted each season. Although Moody came from Scarborough, there was nothing in the town in his memory. The Friends therefore worked with the Scarborough Civic Society and the RNLI to erect a fitting memorial and a plaque was designed by David Hillhouse for the Scarborough Life Boat House on the seafront. The plaque was unveiled on 14th April 2002, 90 years to the day from the loss of the 'Titanic', by Mrs. Mary Conlan,great niece of James Moody who was accompanied by other members of the Moody family. The plaque is represented below.
-JAMES PAUL MOODY 6th Officer - TITANIC Born Scarborough
21st August 1887 SCHOOLSHIP H.M.S CONWAY 1902 - 1903 Gained Master's Certificate April 1911 Posted from Oceanic to Titanic for her maiden voyage This brave 24 year old the Junior Deck officer took up his lifeboat duties after the Ship struck an iceberg on her Northerly Course from Southampton to New York via Cork, clearing lifeboat after lifeboat with seamen knowing there were insufficient lifeboats for all on board. He stayed at his post to the very end going down with the ship doing his duty. The Friends of HMS CONWAY Trust in placing this Memorial plaque in James's town of his birth are dutifully honouring his memory. The inscription on his Mother's tombstone quotes "Greater Love hath no man than that man lay down his life for his friends," James Paul Moody Old Conway, 6th Officer White Star Liner Titanic 15th April 1912 HMS CONWAY
motto "Quit Ye like Men be strong" Over 10,600 cadets trained in HMS Conway from 1859 onwards. After they left our training ship they followed a huge variety of careers and experienced a thousand exploits. They were only too keen to tell other Conways of their adventures. Therefore they wrote back to their ship, and their accounts were published in The Cadet. This unique record provides accounts of interest to all Old Conways and their families, but also offers a fascinating insight for everyone interested in all aspects of life at sea and elsewhere. The Conway Gazette has been researched and edited by David Hillhouse, Trustee of the Friends and designer of the Conway Chapel stained glass windows. He has organised articles in thematic sections and introduced each article. But the 40,000 word document is written largely by the Cadets themselves. With this publication their experiences will live on in the new millennium. "A Conway Gazette" Volume 1 contains articles selected from the first 100 editions dating from 1889 to 1906. Each article in the Conway Gazette is captioned with the exact magazine page from which it is taken. Copies of the Gazette can be obtained from the Friends of HMS Conway ?3 each including package and postage. See Items for sale. If any article or edition is of particular interest, readers can contact the Friends of HMS Conway and receive prints in full, of each page, article or magazine requested. Similarly it is possible to ask for research to be undertaken on specific cadets or subjects. Contact johnsouthwood@btinternet.com for more information. Recent Events 10 November 2007. AGM at the Royal Mersey Yacht Club, Birkenhead at 3.00 p.m. preceded by lunch. 4 March 2007 A service was held in the Chapel to the Lay Up of the colours of the
Royal Naval Association of Birkenhead. The service was be conducted
by Rev. John Williams MBE RNR Hon. Chaplain to H.M.S. Eaglet. On 11 November 2006. The Bangor window was unveiled
and dedicated at a special ceremony in the Chapel
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The Friends relies heavily on subscriptions and donations to continue its valuable work. The minimum annual subscription is £10. Please print this form, complete it and return to the address provided on the form. Alternatively please consider making a one-off donation. All donations and subscriptions qualify for gift aid tax relief. The Friends is now registered with the Inland Revenue as a charity to which individuals may donate their tax refunds starting with the 2003 -2004 tax year. Anyone wishing to donate in this way should inform the Inland Revenue and quote reference number ZAQ10SG. The Friends offer a number of items for sale including videos and books to support its work in the preservation of Conway memorabilia. Details are in the Items For Sale section. Contact Us If anyone is interested to know more about the above events or what we are doing for the Priory please contact. Helen Fletcher Rogers, Hon Secretary, Conway House, Furlong Lane, Totternhoe, Dunstable, Beds. LU6 1QR United Kingdom. Tel/Fax: +44 (0) 1582 472300; e-mail: hfrogers@hotmail.co.uk or John Southwood, 4 Hillside Road, Heswall,Wirral, CH60 0BH, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 (0) 151 342 5978; e-mail: johnsouthwood@btinternet.com. The Friends has recently published Report No 3 with details of its work and activities. Copies may be obtained from the Hon Secretary.
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Page Last Modified (D/M/Y): 2/7/08 | |
Moody plaque
at Scarborough RNLI Boat House