The RNPSA

The Royal Naval Patrol Service Association museum and office are open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.30am until 12.30pm. Visits can sometimes be accommodated outside these hours by prior arrangement and depending on the availability of staff.

The Royal Naval Patrol Service Association, Registered Charity no 273148, was founded in 1977 to unite the veterans who served in the Royal Naval Patrol Service 1939-1946 and to assist those of them and their dependents who might be in need. The Association also maintains and preserves a record of the work and experiences of RNPS during World War 2 by means of a Museum which seeks to educate subsequent generations about this aspect of WW2 - Accredited to ISO 9001 standard

Although the Association occupies some of the original buildings of HMS Europa it was not formed until 30 years after the end of WW2. None of the original naval records were still in the pemises when the Association moved in and the only records we have are those donated by veterans and/or family members.

This website aims to make as much of the material held at Lowestoft available as ossible to online visitors. It also acts as a finger post to those researching family history to guide their research in the right direction.

Please follow the links placed in the column at the left to find the information that you might be seeking. If you need further assistance then there are several officers of the Association available to help but please check what is already available online first.

For a map of how to find us if visiting please see the Contact page.

Museum Opening Hours

The Museum is normally open to casual visitors on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9.30am until 12.30pm.

Over the Christmas period the Muesum will close on 11th December and re-open on 8th January.

Newletter 96 - Summer 2024 is the latest newsletter can be found in the section named Association.

General admin - we now have a Paypal account and payments may be sent to us at hq@rnpsa.co.uk. Please make sure that you also email us at the same email address with details of the payment, who you are and what the payment is for. If buying from the Slops list please email us details and wait to receive a request for payment which will include shipping to your country.

Death of Tony Addison - we are sad to report that we have heard that our past Treasurer and one-time trustees Tony Addison has died. His funeral will be private for family only.

Volunteers needed

Under normal circumstances the Museum is open to casual visitors on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9.30am until 12.30pm.

We might be able to open for longer if we had sufficient volunteers to man the museum. As with many other voluntary organisation we are desperately short of helpers.

If you have any sort of interest in the Royal Naval Patrol Service and its connection with Lowestoft and could offer a few hours per week please contact us. We will give you any training necessary and voluntary work at a charity will look good on your CV.

Charlie Harris RIP

The funeral of our Vice-chairman 'Charlie' Harris took place at the Lowestoft parish church of St. Margaret on Friday, 26th July. A moving service was conducted jointly by the Rector of Lowestoft, Revd. Michael Asquith and Superintendent Tim Jenkins, of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen.

The packed church included many RNPS Association members and after introductory prayers the service opened with memories of Charlie by members of his family. After the Navy Hymn, 'Eternal Father', our President, Commander Garry Titmus RN, related his memories of Charlie and read the Pilot's Psalm.

This was followed by further prayers and after a brief address came the hymn 'Abide with Me', followed by a closing prayer and commendation. A private committal took place in Lowestoft Cemetary.

Many joined together to exchange memories of Charlie at the Norman Warrior, one of Charlie's favourite venues. It is understood that many tots were drunk and lamps swung in keeping with the occasion.

Charlie was a stalwart of the Headquarters head office and any new arrival was always greeted with his invitation to have a tea or coffee. The galley has since been renamed 'Charlie's Kitchen' in his honour.

Anno Domini

Sadly the passage of time continues to take its toll on members of the Association who once served in the RN Patrol Service. Surviving relatives might like to help us commemorate the contribution made by those who served by joining the Association in their own right. You would be very welcome.

Museum news

This space is reserved for the Museum Curator who will use this area to publicise help he needs in relation to the Museum, for example with cataloguing museum exhibits, etc.

Website news

We have updated the links from a number of pages of our old site to pages within this site. Where they don't quite match we have linked to the nearest page above so please update your favourite pages or bookmarks.

Minor amendments have been made to the Memorial database records