Earl of Cork’s Speech: In an Introductory speech, the Commander-in-Chief said they were celebrating the closing ceremony of tenth Navy Week held in Portsmouth. A week ago, at the opening ceremony, he had expressed a hope that record figures might be established. They had failed to do this, but he was pleased to tell them that 190,000 people had passed through the Dockyard during the week, to see the service upon which their fate depended. He thanked the Commodore of the H.N. Barracks (Capt. L. E. Holland, ADC) who was Chairman of the Organizing Committee, the General Secretary (Paymaster Capt. H. Pinsent, RN (ret.), and all officers and ratings who had worked so well during the past week. Hot Weather Blamed: The total number of people patronizing Portsmouth Navy Week was 190,022, a decrease of 16.737 on last year’s record figure of 206,759. For all three ports the grand total was 396,512, compared with 433,239 last year, and the drop in figures can be ascribed to the exceptionally hot weather experienced during the week. Chatham’s total was 100,307 and Plymouth’s 106,184. On Saturday Portsmouth had 15,312 visitors as against 18.961, Chatham had 8,532 and Plymouth 10,324. Responsible Officers: The officers responsible for Portsmouth Navy Week were Pay. Capt. Pinsent (General Secretary) and Mr. M. Blackmore (Assistant General Secretary), of the Permanent Staff; and Commodore Holland (Chairman), Comdr. N. L. Veresmith (Dockyard Organization); Comdr. J. G. Aitchlson, Comdr. W. W. Sitwell and Major H. R. Lambert, R.M. (Area Managers), Pay. Comdr. B. M. Peck (Catering Organization), Pay. Comdr. H. Payne (Cash Accounting Duties), Lieut.-Comdr. S. K. Horn (Souvenir and Programme Organization) Lieut. R. H. Courage (Public Address Equipment) and Chief Inspector G. Clayton (R.M. Police).
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0391 India: Harold Charles Frank Pinsent: 1884 – 1968