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All Hands 2020-1 (UK Spring) P a g e 2

1 From the Executive Committee
“Never…was so much owed by so many to so few.”

In 1940 Churchill said it about the RAF.

Today we say it about the world’s medical services risking Covid-19 for the rest of us.

A thank you to all medical staff Some way off but it is there.
(By Naia Clarke aged seven years)
1.1 Chairman’s Message – Roger Holt (HoltR64)

Dear Members,
As I sit in front of my key board to write this message to you, there is really only one thing on my mind, and yours
also I imagine, and that it is Coronavirus. It has taken over our lives on a global scale and apart from a few small
island nations, the whole of humanity is seemingly being affected by it. How could such a thing happen in such a
short space of time? The fact is that we have hardly ever experienced anything like it before and so we were
completely unprepared for what happened and even when we could see what was happening to others, we chose
to ignore it until it was too late. Whatever infection data and mortality figures that we might observe today, we
know they will be superseded by other worse figures tomorrow. That is the nature of this beast of a virus and it
will continue until the plateau is reached and the trend lines show us that we can finally relax.
As a general rule, the developed world, where most of us live, is not very good at following Government rules.
May I, on this occasion, urge you to pay special attention to what we are being told about this virus and the clear
guidance concerning social distancing and movement away from our homes and family. Many of us are of an age
where we fall right into the ‘at risk’ category and so we have no choice but to go into lock down mode.
Our alma mater is of course having a very difficult time as all colleges and universities have had to close their on-
site facilities. Where possible, the Officer Cadets currently ashore for one of their academic phases are working
from home or student halls. For many this will be very difficult and it will undoubtedly affect their performance
negatively when they sit their exams. Their lecturers are doing what they can to assist but at the end of the day,
where a professional qualification is concerned, there is a limit to how relaxed examiners can be and one would
certainly not expect the MCA to say that it is all right if you have not quite grasped the importance of a particular
safety feature or practical issue. How could such a student be allowed to proceed to the role of OOW with a severe
gap in his or her knowledge? Clearly it would not be possible. Therefore, let us spare a thought for the Officer
Cadets progressing through their training in the current environment and their lecturers who are doing their best
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to assist them. All academic delivery went on line on 23 March and all exams and MCA orals have been
suspended until further notice.
The way All Hands has been produced was introduced by Chris Clarke over nine years ago so we are taking this
opportunity to review the present process and format including seeking the views of members on content and
presentation. We all owe Chris a huge ‘thank you’ for the time and effort which he has put into making All Hands
such an enjoyable read for so long. Our current Editor, Michael Frost, has asked to step down due to other pressing