| Content Note | Topics covered:
Apologies for absence were reported from Sir Nigel Mobbs and Professor Prance
Welcome to Mr Martin Fitzpatrick, who was representing the Australian High Commissioner at a meeting of the commission for the first time. Welcome to the senior officers from Areas and Agencies
Appointments
Refers to appointment of Mr Grian Campbell-Dykes as Secretariat to replace Mr David Stacey; and Miss Elspeth Kennedy as Secretariat to replace Mr Stephen Bell in September
Honours and Awards
Refers to the appointment of Sir Kenneth Macdonald, representative for the Chairman, as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the Queen's Birthday Honours List; Mr John Jones, Deputy Director of Personnel, appointed to an Officer of the Order of the British Empire; Mr Thomas Smallcomb, Senior Head Gardener in France Area has been awarded the British Empire Medal; Mr Robert Gomme, who until recently had represented the Secretary of State for the Environment at meetings has been appointed a Commander of the Order of the Bath; Mr J D Kalra, Group Supervisor Delhi, has been appointed an Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire
Minutes of the 580th Meeting of the Commission and Matters Arising From The Minutes
Circulation of minutes and updates on Commonwealth-Tunisia War Graves Agreement and Pakistan's membership of the Commission
Air Conditioning – Head Office
Update on three major developments since the December 1989 meeting and discussion around the proposal to install a new air conditioning system at Head Office, Maidenhead. Discussion of impact of possible relocation of staff whilst works were undertaken.
The Rehabilitation of the Runnymede Memorial Grounds
Recent storm damage provided the opportunity to replace the current planting. Discussion about possible tree species to plant instead.
Forecast of Outturn 1989-90
Refers to Mr Kennedy's summary of the accounts for 1989-90
South African Agency: Appointment of Fifth Member
Argument for, and approval of, the appointment of a representative of the Chief of the Military Veterans Administration to the South African Agency.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Superannuation Scheme (1952): Rules- Comound Interest
Refers to a paper proposing change in the method of calculation of compound interest from a fixed rate to a new variable rate. The commission approved this proposal.
Ninth Meeting of the Commonwealth-Belgian Joint Committee May 1990
Discussion on the success of a Field Day on 15 May and a business meeting on 24 May.
The Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper, Belgium
Discussion on the levels of traffic through the memorial. A possible closer of all traffic through the memorial, as proposed by the Ieper authorities. The commission agreed not to oppose this decision.
Commonwealth-Foreign Joint Committees: Appointment of Members
Proposal of an appointment to the Commonwealth-Japanese Joint Committee.
Execution of Documents
Refers to the new system of the execution of documents by permanent staff, with those of high importance being reported to the Commissioners.
Burials and Commemorations
A. Graves not within the Commission's control in the United Kingdom
The Commission approved the classification as 'not within the Commission's control' to the ten mentioned graves in the UK
B. Unmaintainable graves in the United Kingdom and Egypt- alternative commemoration
The Commission approved the alternative commemoration for the mentioned twelve war burials
Naming of a New Rose Variety
Mr Noakes says that Harkness and Co Ltd has offered the opportunity to name a new rose variety. Discussions concerning possible names, with the final decision to be made at a later date.
Tours by Commissioners and Head Office Senior Officials
Refers to the visit to the Royal Naval Cemetery in Bermuda by Mr Johnson, and that he found it to be well maintained. The Chairman had visited the sites in Normandy, which were in excellent order. His visit to Gallipoli for the 75th anniversary of the Dardanelles Campaign was marked with great appreciation by the public. Mr Osborn states that he noted the maintenance standards were high during his visit to the sites in Paris and the Normandy and Brittany regions of France.The same can be said of those sites he visited on his trip to Egypt. During Mr Coombe's visit to Italy, he notes the problems associated with the replacement of the destroyed Cross of Sacrifice. He discusses his recent trip to France to visit the Area workshops. Mr Kennedy refers to his visit to South Africa, noting that his search to recruit a Secretary to the South African Agency has been successful.
Diary
Mr Concannon discusses his participation on behalf of the Commission at the Anzac Day Ceremony. The Secretary added that the President's tour to Tunisia and Sicily has been successful. The Chairman reports that the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade had visited sites in the Ieper Salient, and that the British Home Secretary would also visit the Salient on 30 June.
Any Other Business
The Secretary noted that the Deputy Director of the Commission's Outer Area, Mr John Midgley, would be retiring, to be succeeded by Mr Brian Davidson.
ATTENDEES:
General Sir Robert Ford GCB CBE (Vice-Chairman of the Commission)
His Excellency Mr Rae Killen (Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa)
Air Chief Marshall Sir John Gingell GBE KCB
Captain Sir Miles Wingate KCVO
Major General Desmond Smith CBE DSO CD
The Rt Hon J. D. Concannon
Dame Janet Fookes DBE MP
Sir Derek Day KCMG
Sir Nigel Mobbs DL
Admiral Sir Nicholas Hunt GCB LVO
Mr R. L. L. Facer (Representing the Secretary of State for Defence in the United Kingdom)
Mr M. Fitzpatrick (Representing the Australian High Commissioner)
Mr R. G. S. Johnson (Representing the Secretary of State for the Environment in the United Kingdom)
Brigadier-General C. M. Curleigh (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
Brigadier H. M. Khanna (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Commodore J. G. Leonard RNZN (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
ADVISORS:
Professor Sir Peter Shepheard CBE BArch PPRIBA MRTPI PPILA
SECRETARY:
Mr J. Saynor JP, Director-General
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:
Mr D Kennedy, Assistant Secretary, Deputy Director-General (Administration)
Mr N.B. Osborn OBE FRICS, Assistant Secretary, Deputy Director-General (Operations)
Mr G.C. Reddie, Legal Adviser and Solicitor
Mr T.F. Penfold, Director of Personnel
Mr A. Coombe, Director of Works
Mr D.R. Parker, Director of United Kingdom Area
Mr P.J. Noakes BSc MIHort, Director of Horticulture
Mr R.D. Wilson ACMA, Director of Finance
Mr J.P.D. Gee, Director of Information and Secretariat
Mr H. Westland, Director of France Area
Mr R. J. Dalley, Director of Northern Europe Area
Mr M. S Johnson, Director of Outer Area
Mr D. R. Parker, Director of United Kingdom Area
Mr P.W.Craven, Director of North Africa Area
Lieutenant-Colonel S.M. Newell, Secretary-General, Canadian Agency
Lieutenant-General P.A.G. Reitz, Secretary, South African Agency
Mr G. Campbell-Dykes, Higher Executive Officer (Secretariat)
Mr S.T. Bell, Secretariat
Miss E Kennedy, Secretariat |