A letter of condolence from the Association to our Patron on the death of his Father HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was sent from our President and a reply was received by return thanking for our thoughts and kind wishes.
HMS JUPITER REMEMBRANCE DAY 27th February
Just a heads up for this Saturday 27th, the Anniversary of Jupiter F85 striking a mine in the Java Sea in 1942. A number of the crew were killed at that time, only a small number escaped to be picked up by allied ships and submarines, others were lost whilst trying to escape the sinking. Some of the crew reached land and were killed by the Japanese, a number were captured and held as POWs with only a few surviving until the end of the war. The HMS Jupiter Association usually have a few members attending the NMA to lay a wreath in their memory, unfortunately due to the Covid rules we will not be able to do that this year. The NMA have very kindly agreed to lay a wreath on our behalf, a picture will be posted after the event, please take a minute on Saturday at 1100hrs to acknowledge there Service and ultimate sacrifice for their Country. WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
Presidents Christmas Message 2020
Dear Fellow Jupiter’s,
As we come to the end of what has been a momentous year for all the wrong reasons, I just thought it would be good to cast aside Covid worries, pay our respects and farewells to Admiral Geoffrey (and of course send our best wishes to Lady Jane and her family), and remember that all is not locked-down and dark.
The very reason we’re all part of such a vibrant Association is to revel in the comradeship of the Royal Navy, no matter how long we were a part of it, and remember the good times and runs ashore that we all enjoyed – particularly those from JUPITER! I well remember Christmas 1986, when trials delays and the operational programme gave our ship a split BOST either side of the festive season. Even the FOST Staff felt a bit of sympathy (honest!) – but it was incredible how that ship’s company bounced back, largely sober, in the New Year and reached a ‘Good’ outcome three weeks later. The spirit of JUPITER in action!
For me, the end of 2020 must be a bit like that of 1940 – the end of a desperate year and much uncertainty about the future. I wonder how our forebears in F85 were feeling eighty years ago in Guzz, eighteen months into her first commission and after an exciting season in home waters. Little did they know what lay ahead for them, but I suspect they enjoyed their Christmas as much as Jack always has, with a few tots and a large dollop of duff. They were sent back to sea on 28 December!
So, although our reunion had to be cancelled along with so many other social and remembrance events, let’s look to the future as we always have - with good humour, optimism and confidence. If nothing else, most of us are probably in the first few groups to get the vaccine!
May I wish you all a very happy (and merry!) Christmas, and we’ll all look forward to a better New Year.
Very best wishes,
Barry
Commodore Barry Bryant - President acceptance letter.
From Commodore Barry Bryant CVO RN, President of the HMS JUPITER Association
Dear Fellow Members,
It is with considerable humility that I have been asked to step into the late Geoffrey Dalton’s shoes as President of your Association. Most of you will have read the very fulsome obituary of Admiral Dalton in the Telegraph and now on our website, and it is perhaps a measure of the man – very few naval officers warrant that sort of coverage. There is no way that I can ever match his achievements, or indeed the very real respect in which he was held by fellow members, particularly those who actually served with him in JUPITER.
I am both honoured and grateful that your Chairman and Committee have decided to continue with the Presidential office, and I can only pledge to help them in their task of keeping the name of JUPITER alive in the corridors of today’s Navy. As you know, there has already been considerable lobbying for the name to be resurrected for one of the new Type 31 escorts – and would it not be wonderful if she was to be the lead ship, leading to the JUPITER Class? We’ll keep trying!
While the memory of Admiral Geoffrey will long remain with us, it will always remain difficult to keep the Association vibrant despite our own often vivid memories, but I know that I can rely on fellow shipmates to support Ken and his team to do what they can to organise future fellowship and events – despite the present Covid crisis.
It’s perhaps a sad coincidence that The Boss left us almost on the day of our own cancelled reunion in Guzz, but the Navy has always risen above such downsides. We look to the positive, and all will be well. Stay safe and afloat, and I look forward to raising a glass with many of you as soon as it becomes possible.
Yours Aye,
Barry Bryant
