During lockdown ARNO has increased its range of online events to engage much more with its international membership and stay connected. Our series of monthly talks led by high-profile Guest Speakers, launched in July 2020 by First Sea Lord Admiral Tony Radakin, has proved very popular and on 15 April we look forward to welcoming Commander Jonty Powis who is giving a talk on the Belgrano Attack. All talks take place via Zoom with time at the end for questions.

In February we introduced Skills Share sessions on the first Monday of the month. Led by members, these are varied and informal sessions – subjects to date include Beekeeping by Lieutenant Commander Jeremy Quinlan, Weather Watching by Lieutenant Commander Nick Hammond and Stitching for Mariners by Commander John Lane. All are illustrated, interesting and informative.

The next Skills Share is on Monday 3 May at 1100 – a session on Glass Engraving by Lieutenant Commander Chris Cole.

Chris retired from the Royal Navy as a Commander in 2000, after a forty year career.  He took up Glass Engraving under the tutorship of Tracey Sheppherd (Fellow of the Guild of Glass Engravers) in 2005, studying at West Dean College of Fine Arts.  In 2009 he was elected in as a Craftsman of the Guild of Glass Engravers.  He has been commissioned by various organisations, such as the Wilfred Owen Poetry Association (poetry awards for Poet Laureates, Sir Andrew Motion and Dame Carol Ann Duffy, the Welsh National Poet, Gillian Clark and Owen Shears);  The British Sociological Association; Exeter Twinning Committee (presentation pieces for the Mayors and towns of Rennes in Brittany and Terracina, Italy);  The Exeter Flotilla (marking the commission of HMS DEFENDER) as well as for  many individuals worldwide as far afield as the Falkland Island, Brazil, California, Canada and most countries in Europe, covering a myriad of subjects.