When the establishment closed in July 1968 a group of former Mercury
boys decided to
continue the existing ,rather loose, association of Old Boys. The chairman
was former old boy and instructor Eric McGavin, assisted by retired Chief
Officer 'Dick' Fraser.
Unfortunately, within a few years Eric McGavin died and the Association also
faded away. This sorry state
was rectified in 1979 when a group of active old boys and former staff living
in the Portsmouth area
decided to re-form the Association under the Chairmanship of the late Captain
Ronald Webb OBE.
The first annual reunion was held at the Queen's Hotel in Southsea in September
1979 and
an annual get-together has been held ever since. In addition to holding social
events the Association
produces an annual magazine and it looks after the Mercury archives and
memorabilia. In 1985, to mark
the centenary of the founding of Mercury, the Association erected memorials
on the school site and
at Hamble Church and it maintains the World War I and World War II Mercury
War Memorials
in Hamble Churchyard. Membership is also open to families of former Mercury
boys and staff and to
others who have an interest in the Association.active Mercury
Old Boy's Association exists.
For details of membership please contact the Membership Secretary:
Richard Briggs (4920)
20 Beaconsfield Way,
Earley, Reading,
Berkshire, RG6 5UX,
United Kingdom.Telephone: +44 (0)118 9621139
Links
These sites also have information relating to either TS Mercury or HMS Gannet:
The Historic Dockyard, Chatham
Navies in Transition - HMS Gannet, A Notable Little Vessel
Acknowledgements
To my wife, Arbi, who wonders why I hate cleaning
shoes and brasswork so much!
Snowy White for a short history of the TS
Mercury
Various contributors to Mercury Old Boy's
Association magazines that have enabled me to check some
facts
To Kodak for one or two shots of theirs (Ship8 & Ship6) I've
used without permission
To the school photographer who took The Band, Football Team and Ship's
Company photographs