FOR ALL THOSE WITH AN INTEREST IN BRITISH INDIA STEAM NAVIGATION (BI)

Plans are being made to include a celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Uganda's January 1952 launch. As usual the BI flag will fly from the hotel's flagpole and flags or other memorabilia will be welcome to decorate the function room. Those who were at Runnymede in 2008 will remember that Nevasa's bell and a brass plate from her engine room were displayed. In Newcastle it was Sirdhana's bell, brought along by Sandy Bowman, that summoned us to dinner while David Mitchell did the honours at the curry lunch by ringing Rajula's bell. Similar exhibits in Southampton would be splendid, so let Sue Spence know if you have anything you'd like to bring along. There will be the usual notice boards for anyone wishing to post information.

BI ship cavalcade of Southampton with other past and present maritime scenes
From top: Nevasa II Dunera Nevasa III Dilwara Maritime Museum The original 1950, Art Deco Ocean Terminal QEII Cruise Terminal, with Arcadia in background

The organisers have teamed up with Seb Rees (son of John Rees of BI), and his Travel Services agency, who has been negotiating with the hotel, has secured a discount on rooms for BI guests, and will be handling all accommodation arrangements. Bookings should be made on the TS booking form which needs to be printed and returned to TS. Should anyone wish to make their own arrangements there are several hotels nearby.

If you are intending to join the Southampton reunion, please print and complete the BI Reunion Booking Form and return it as soon as possible to Sue Spence with your cheque for £36 per person, which covers deposit and registration fee. Please make cheques payable to “BI Reunion”. The balance will be due at the end of July 2012, for which a reminder with confirmation of arrangements and a guest list will be sent. (The non-refundable registration fee is £6 per person to cover postage, name badges, stationery etc.)

PROGRAMME (May be subject to minor alterations)

Friday October 12

1830 for 1930 Reception followed by Reunion Dinner in the Mayflower Suite. Dress: lounge suit/smart casual. £38 per head

Saturday October 13

1300-1500 A two-hour harbour and river cruise on Blue Funnel’s Ocean Scene. This catamaran is stable in all weathers, has covered upper and lower decks, two large sun decks, bars and is heated throughout. Return coach transport will be provided between the Grand Harbour Hotel to Ocean Village. Approx £10 pp inc transport, based on a minimum 100 bookings.

See below information on ss Shieldhall which guests may like to visit. The vessel is open to visitors most Saturdays.

1800-2100 Film show and buffet in the Bradford, Standish & Winslow Suite. An informal get-together at the hotel for a screening of two films featuring BI ships, one of which is The Great Liners: East of Suez (focuses on British India Steam Navigation. For those who may not have seen it, the use of rare and renovated film gives a fascinating insight into what it was like to sail on ships such as Chantala, Kenya, Malda, Nevasa, Rajula, Uganda, Waroonga and many others. It acknowledges what a special company BI was and how fondly she is remembered by so many people around the world.)
A hot buffet is included and will be served in between screenings. Please note: the maximum number for this event is 90, with seating at cabaret-style round tables. £25 pp inc hot buffet (and room hire).

Sunday October 14

1230 for 1300 Curry Lunch. Buffet Lunch in the Mayflower Suite with a selection of meat, fish and vegetable curries and the usual accompaniments. £20 pp

Hotel accommodation

Rooms are being held at the Grand Harbour Hotel, Southampton SO15 1AG spanning pre and post reunion nights. The organisers, Sue and John Spence, encourage everyone to stay at the hotel as key parts of the weekend are based there, however other hotels are available nearby. Discounted rates have been negotiated with the Grand Harbour: a straight £100 per room per night for bed and full breakfast. Car parking is an additional £5 per day. To take advantage of this rate book with reunion travel agent Travel Services by July 20.

ss Shieldhall
Guests may wish to visit ss Shieldhall (pictured), a heritage ship, included in the British National Historic Fleet and generally recognised to be the largest working steamship of her type in Britain. Built by Lobnitz & Co of Renfrew, she was launched in 1955. In 1976 after 21 years of faithful service on the Clyde operating as a sludge vessel she was purchased in 1977 by Southern Water and operated until 1985 when she was withdrawn from service. Shieldhall returned from Falmouth in May 2011 having spent a week in dry dock for planned survey work and maintenance. Problems identified with corrosion of the hull frames in the engineroom mean that she will not be sailing in 2011. However, she will be ready to resume service in April 2012. Visits to the engineroom and bridge are encouraged. Disabled access: please note steep shore/ship gangway, high sills, and steep companionways on board. A preservation society was formed in 1988 which operates as a charity and all restoration work is carried out by unpaid volunteers. The ship is based at berth 29 off European Way, via Dock Gate 4 and is normally open for visits on a Saturday, as that is one of their main workdays; any other visits by prior arrangement, between 1000 and 1600. Visitors are asked to make donations of at least £2.50. Further information including directions.

Reunion booking form | Accommodation booking form | Review of Newcastle reunion

This will be the twelfth reunion that John and I have organised in the UK and it will also, I'm afraid, be our last.   When a small group of friends from Nevasa got together way back in 1989 and decided to meet up again in 1990, we spread the word among those from BI with whom we had kept in touch, little realising what we'd started.   To our utter surprise, 120 people responded enthusiastically and gathered at the Lyndhurst Park Hotel for a wonderful reunion. Since then we have visited Stratford-on-Avon (1992), Botley (1994), Fareham (1996 & 1998), York (2000), Bristol (2002), Portsmouth (2004), Glasgow (2006), Runnymede (2008) and Newcastle (2010). Numbers increased with each reunion, peaking in 2006 in Glasgow for the 150th BI Anniversary Reunion. While numbers are still healthy, inevitably the passage of time means that they will continue to decline and I feel this is the right time for us to stand down. It's been a great pleasure and a privilege, not to mention hugely enjoyable, to have played a part in keeping the BI flag flying and to have made so many friends within the BI community.   It therefore seems fitting that Southampton, BI's home port, should be our final fling. Unless anyone out there has other ideas! Sue & John Spence Reunion Organisers Tel: 0114 230 4815 bi@johnmspence.plus.com