RMA CoL Annual Branch Dinner - 6th March 2026

The Royal Marines Association City of London branch gathered on Friday 6 March at the Union Jack Club in Waterloo for the annual Branch Dinner, one of the most anticipated evenings in the branch calendar.

Around 60 members and guests attended, with the room filled with black tie, old friends, and the unmistakable camaraderie that always comes with a Corps gathering. The Union Jack Club proved an excellent host, delivering superb service, excellent food, and a steady supply of wine throughout the evening — setting the conditions for what was, by all accounts, a thoroughly hoofing night.

A Room Full of Corps History

The dining room was dressed with a range of Royal Marines artefacts and memorabilia, generously lent by members of the branch. These pieces sparked conversation throughout the evening and provided powerful reminders of the Corps’ long history and global service.

One particularly striking artefact was a Japanese flag captured at the end of the Second World War in 1945. The flag was taken by the Royal Marines detachment serving aboard the cruiser HMS Nigeria during the final stages of the Pacific War following Japan’s surrender.

It was recovered by the detachment commander, Lieutenant Parker RM, and stands today as a tangible reminder of the Royal Marines detachments who served aboard Royal Navy ships during the war — carrying out duties ranging from ship protection and manning secondary armament to forming landing parties when required.

The flag is currently on long-term loan from the Royal Marines Association Poole Branch, following their departure from RM Poole, and its presence added a poignant historical connection to the evening’s proceedings.

Remembering Absent Friends

As is tradition at Corps gatherings, the evening included the Absent Friends table and reading, always one of the most meaningful moments of the night.

The room fell silent as those who are no longer with us were remembered — a quiet but powerful reminder that the Corps family stretches across generations, and that those who served before us remain very much part of every gathering.

Guest Speaker – Mick Dawson

Members were treated to an outstanding talk from former Royal Marine Commando Mick Dawson, adventurer, ocean rower, and author.

Mick shared stories from a lifetime of extreme expeditions at sea, including his remarkable ocean rowing journeys across both the Atlantic and Pacific. Among his many achievements, Mick skippered the first successful rowing boat to cross the North Pacific Ocean, rowing nearly 7,000 miles from Japan to San Francisco, a voyage that took 189 days and earned a Guinness World Record.

More recently, he completed another historic expedition in 2018, rowing across the Pacific from California to Hawaii with fellow Royal Marine veteran Steve “Sparky” Sparkes, who lost his sight during military service. When the pair landed in Hawaii after 82 days at sea, Sparky became the first blind person ever to row the Pacific Ocean — a powerful example of resilience, teamwork, and the enduring bond between Marines.

Mick’s talk struck a chord with the room, blending humour, honesty, and hard-earned lessons about teamwork, leadership, and perseverance — themes that resonate strongly within the Royal Marines community.

Port Fines – A Job in Itself

No proper branch dinner would be complete without the traditional port fines, and these were expertly overseen by Ian Smith.

By the end of the evening, the scale of the fines suggested that if they had all been converted into port rather than paid, the branch might well have enough to supply the next ten years of branch dinners. Keeping track of the offences alone looked like a full-time job, but it added exactly the right level of humour and mischief to the night.

Supporting the Zeebrugge Pilgrimage

This year’s dinner also supported the branch’s annual pilgrimage to Zeebrugge for Remembrance weekend, where members of the RMA City of London travel to Belgium to commemorate the Zeebrugge Raid alongside Belgian counterparts.

The trip is always a meaningful but costly undertaking, particularly for some of our older members and veterans living on pensions. To help ensure that as many members as possible can continue to take part in this important annual act of remembrance, the branch organised a silent auction and fundraising effort during the evening.

The response from members and supporters was exceptional.

• £3,750 was raised through the auction on the night

• Total donations at nearly £6000

  
  

These funds will directly support Royal Marines Association members and friends travelling to Zeebrugge for Remembrance weekend, ensuring this long-standing tradition and connection with our Belgian hosts continues.

Thanks to Those Who Made It Happen

The success of the evening was the result of a collective effort across the branch.

Thanks go to:

• The Union Jack Club for hosting the evening and delivering excellent food and service

• Members who lent artefacts and memorabilia that helped bring the Corps’ history into the room

• Mick Dawson for a truly engaging and inspiring talk

• Ian Smith for managing the port fines (no small task)

• The branch committee for organising the dinner from start to finish

• And of course all members and guests who attended, making it such a well-supported and memorable evening.

  
  

Events like this remind us that while the Corps has a proud history, it is the continued camaraderie and commitment of its members today that keeps the Royal Marines Association strong.

A superb evening, great company, and a reminder that the Corps family remains alive and well in the City of London.

Tom Frearson

Membership Secretary

RMA CoL

14th March 2026

For upcoming events, including branch meetings on the second Thursday of each month, please check out our events page on our website.