HMS Conway - Click here to return to the menu HMS Conway 1859 - 1974

© Alfie Windsor 1998
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A Proud Tradition Continues...

Australian Maritime College

The Conway Club of Australia awards an annual Conway prize to the student who gains highest marks in Year 4 Ship Operations in the Diploma of Applied Science (Nautical Science) course. The award includes a letter explaining what Conway was. http://www.amc.edu.au/

Barnes Cup

The old inter-watch gig racing cup was loaned to the St Helena Shipping Co (SHSC) in 1991 to be awarded annually to the SHSC cadet who produced the best kept log or project through their training period aboard the RMS St Helena. It was on permanent display in her passenger area and the two cadets' cabins were named Conway and Worcester (see Summer 1991 Newsletter). The cup was lost during a refit circa 2012 and all attempts to locate it since have come to naught. If you have any knowledge of the cup please email us

Battle Of The Atlantic Memorial Service, Liverpool Cathedral
A Conway Ensign hangs behind the High Altar. Many Conways are always represented at this annual commemorative service.

Canadian Coast Guard College

by Laurie Farrington (February 1998)
The connection with the Canadian Navy now continues through a link with the Canadian Coast Guard College. Thanks to the initiative of several people, including an Old Conway, Captain Eric S. Brand who died in Ottawa in 1991 in his 96th year, some Conway medals and trophies were transferred to the Canadian Coast Guard College in Sydney, Nova Scotia, when Conway was finally closed in 1974. He was very keen that it should not be just the Queen's Gold Medal but the Queen's Conway Gold Medal.
Recorded on the Canadian Coast Guard College web site are the following words: "Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, wishing to continue in existence a medal whose awarding is to encourage the acquisition and maintenance of qualities which will make the finest officers, and wishing to maintain a medal which, through the process of selecting its recipient, becomes a medal awarded by the cadets to the one among them who best meets the standards of excellence, has created for the Canadian Coast Guard College in Sydney, N.S., a Queen's CONWAY Medal to be awarded annually to the graduate of the Canadian Coast Guard College who, in the opinion of the staff and Officer Cadets at the Canadian Coast Guard College, best satisfies those conditions contained in Her Majesty's statement:

"Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, wishing to continue in existence a medal whose awarding is to encourage the acquisition and maintenance of qualities which will make the finest officers, and wishing to maintain a medal which, through the process of selecting its recipient, becomes a medal awarded by the cadets to the one among them who best meets the standards of excellence, has created for the Canadian Coast Guard College in Sydney, N.S., a Queen's CONWAY Medal to be awarded annually to the graduate of the Canadian Coast Guard College who, in the opinion of the staff and Officer Cadets at the Canadian Coast Guard College, best satisfies those conditions contained in Her Majesty's statement:

"It is Our wish in the establishment of this prize to encourage the Officer Cadets to acquire and maintain the qualities which will make the finest officers. These consist of cheerful acceptance of direction, self-respect and independence of character, kindness, and protection of the weak, readiness to forgive offence, desire to conciliate the differences of others, and above all, fearless devotion to duty, and unflinching truthfulness."

This worthy and proud Conway tradition now lives on in a Canadian maritime context.

Cape Royds, Antarctica

Named after Vice Admiral Sir C. W. R. Royds (90-92) who was Scott"s First Officer on the RMS Discovery during his first Antarctic Expdition. This is also the location of Shakleton"s hut.
http://igloo.gsfc.nasa.gov/~shuman/CapeRoyds.html

Conway Centre: Cheshire County Council (UK)

Cheshire County Council now own the 'new block' built at Plas Newydd. It is still used by them as a residential centre for pupils from Cheshire and many othe counties. Their web site has photos of the Nelson Centre and dock.
http://www.canolfanconway.u-net.com/

"Signed Up To Another 30 Years                                                                                                                              

Hundreds of thousands of Cheshire schoolchildren will continue to enjoy the future benefits of the arts, environment and outdoor pursuits at the county council managed Conway Centre on Anglesey. Cheshire County Council has just concluded six years of negotiations with the National Trust to secure a 30 year lease on the Centre, believed to be the largest residential service of its type run by a UK local authority. Surrounded by 169 acres of parkland the Conway Centre offers a range of courses and opportunities for junior school pupils and secondary education students. A 50 strong team offers a wide range of courses in the Arts as well as Field Studies and Outdoor and Adventurous Activities. These range from kayaking and sailing, to mountain walking, rope work and gorge walking. They also provide management training courses for adults. Over the last 30 years a half million schoolchildren and young people have benefited from visits to the Centre and the agreement to a new 30 year lease means the valued amenity will continue for the benefit of a similar number of Cheshire youngsters. Facilities at the Centre are to be improved by new building work creating additional bed space and more flexible accommodation arrangements for smaller groups of visitors.

The painting of the Ship still dominates the entrance and along with the plaques and inscriptions serves as an ongoing reminder of the former days.

Conway Chapel

This has been created in Birkenhead Priory http://www.vwlowen.demon.co.uk/wirral/priory.htm an old 12th century building by the River Mersey near where the Conway ships were moored from 1859 to 1941.

HMS Conway - Chapel Window

The window of the Chapel reflects the loss and passing of all Conway Cadets.

The Priory museum is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. OCs can obtain access at other times by contacting John Southwood tel: 0151 342 5978 or jrs@riverdee.freeserve.co.uk, Derek Parfect tel: 0151 653 5665 or Haydn Lockwood tel:0151 625 5727.

Conway Ensign

The Conway Ensign may still be worn but there are strict rules.
- The yacht must be registered in Great Britain either under Part 1 of the Merchant Shipping Act or under the Small Ships Register.
- It must be owned by an ex Conway cadet.
- You must belong to The Conway Club Cruising Association (Annual subscription £5; Joining fee £10).
- You must wear the Conway Ensign and Burgee together.
Full rules and Burgees are available from the Hon. Sec.
Ensigns are available from the Ensign Flag Co. Ltd., Liverpool.

Conway House, Isle of Dogs, London

Many Island streets and buildings are (or were) named after ships, barques or other types of sea-going vessel. As well as Akbar House and Rawalpindi House there is a Conway House on Cahir Street, E14 3RA https://islandhistory.wordpress.com/2017/11/27/ships/
Google maps view

Conway House, Kelly School (not to be confused with the one by Rock Ferry)

The Kelly College at Tavistock, Devon, UK was founded in 1877 by Admiral B M Kelly. Conway House opened in 1977 was funded by the Conway Club as a result of their Centenary Appeal. The Conway Club also has a bursary at the school open to the progeny of OCs. Details can be obtained from the Hon Sec of the Club. There is a small exhibition of Conway memorabilia including a sword, the brass name plate HMS Conway from the starboard gangway and other memorabilia. The house pupils have recently taken to singing the Conway Song (this news has met with mixed views from OCs. The general re-action though seems to be positive - at least the association with the Conway and the words of the song are surviving).

Conway Merchant Navy Trust

The Conway Merchant Navy Trust maintains the same objectives as the Conway and offers full sponsorship to a limited number of young men and women each year who become 'Conway Cadets' to train as Deck or Engineer Officers. The Trust is a registered charity and is run with the co-operation of the Chamber of Shipping of the UK. The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees some of whom are Conways whilst others are drawn from the shipping industry.

The site is well worth a visit: http://www.conwaymntrust.info

Also mentioned here: https://www.chilternmaritime.com/partner/conway-mn-trust/

Conway Plate

Awarded annually by the local Conway Club to the top cricket team of King George V School, Hong Kong.

Conway Bar

Vancouver Maritime Museum has a Conway Bar with a plaque listing all Canadian OCs. A painting of the ship is on permanent exhibition in the museum.

http://www.vmm.bc.ca/

Conway Pub




Click images to enlarge

Close by Manchester Airport is a large housing estate with road names taken from North Wales towns. The local pub is called 'The Conway' and has a sailing ship on it's inn sign so it is named for the ship not the town. This bears no resemblance to the real Conway, there is nothing inside the pub (1997) relating to the ship and the landlord had no idea what 'The Conway' was. However the name perpetuates the ship. Circa 2000 the brewery decided to change the pub's name to the

Conway Reef

In 1838 HMS Conway visited the island of Fiji. Whilst there her crew charted and named the Conway Reef (21 44 S 174 38 E). It is today more often known by it"s Fijian name - Ceva-I-Ra

http://www.425dxn.org/dxcc/dxcc3d2c.html

Conway Trophy

This is a section of Conway"s taffrail, heavily varnished and mounted on four pillars. The base has a silver plaque bearing the Conway crest. It was taken to Canada by Capt HV Todd (17-18) and eventually obtained by D MacKay (15/18) who turned it into the "Conway Trophy" . Presented annually to the Cadets of HMCS Venture, HMC Dockyard, Esquimalt BC. since 1955 to the most proficient Division in Seamanship, Signalling, and Boat Work but more recently with greater emphasis in sports. Some 300 cadets complete every year.

David Austin Memorial Trophy

Capt David John Austin (52-54) died during a cricket match in the Faulkland Islands in 2001. He was manager of the port at Stanley. A cricket match is to held in January of every year in his memory, with the Trophy as the prize.

Fargus Literary Scholarship, University Of Bristol

The city of Bristol founded this scholarship in memory of a famous Bristolian author Frederick John Fargus alias Hugh Conway (Conway 1861-62).

Figurehead

HMS Nelson, Portsmouth
The figurehead is now mounted in the grounds of HMS Nelson. It can be clearly seen from the road. It serves as a reminder to modern day seaman of the Conway.

Goulding Cup

This is now presented annually by the Navy League of Canada Sea Cadets to the Corps demonstrating the highest degree of proficiency in small boat handling during their Spring Regatta. As many as 300 cadets are involved in the competition.

HMS Conway Trust

It also provides support to poor and distressed Conways. Applications are welcomed from the progeny of Conways. Details can be found on the appropriate page of this site.

The following also perpetuate the proud traditions of HMS Conway even though the ship is no longer with us.

Ian Fraser Award

This is awarded (on merit, not annually) by the Conway Club, Vancouver to the Canadian Coast Guard Search & Rescue Unit that performs the most notable rescue with an emphasis on initiative, seamanship and courage.

John Masefield Society

The Masefield Society, The Frith, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 1LW, UK. They hold a Masefield festival in the first week of June in Ledbury, his birth place.

Menai Straits One Design - MSOD - sailing dinghies

Many Conways of Stone Frigate vintage will remember the MSODs, the one-design boats many of us spent endless hours of "fun" in. Albert Gomperts has been investigating and has tracked down the secretary of the MSOD society: Mr Ray Beer, 8 Castle Street, Bangor (phone: 01248 810 094).

Apparently 14 MSODs are still in use. A total of 17 were built and the three remaining ones are in restorable condition, although one sank (weren't they supposed to be unsinkable?) off Caernarfon this year after being holed on a rock. Albert would have liked to get hold of one but you're not allowed to take them out of the area. Anyone with a spare bob or two fancy contributing to their restoration?

National Service For Seafarers, St Paul's Cathedral

OCs are always represented at this annual commemorative service.

Peter Russell Bursary

Awarded by the British Columbia Chamber Of Shipping. P Russell was a Conway Cadet 1939-1941. He joined Canadian Pacific Steamships on leaving Conway and dedicated 50 years service to a wide variety of BC maritime organisations.

Remembrance Sunday

OCs participate in many services and wreath layings, including a Conway wreath at the Conway Chapel, Birkenhead, the Merchant Navy Memorial in Trinity Square and Liverpool Cathederal.

Seven Seas Club
The Conway Club's original London Branch is still going strong although it has shed its links with Conway website here

St Stephen's Church, Bristol

Have a stained glass window commemorating the life of "Hugh Conway" the pen name for Frederick John Fargus (1861-2) a well-known Victorian author.

TS Conway

Liverpool Sea Cadets have a TS Conway corps.

Walbran Valley (and Walbran Creek)

Another area of British Columbia named after this OC. In 2001 the Valley became the subject of much controversy over logging and wilderness management.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/carmanah.htm
http://recallbc.freeyellow.com/forestry.html
 
HMS Conway - Click here to return to the menu Page Last Modified (D/M/Y): 3/4/09 HMS Conway - Click here to return to the menu