HMS Ganges Museum

HMS Ganges Museum Independent, Fully Accredited, Volunteer run Museum of former HMS Ganges, Royal Naval Training Establishment, Shotley Gate, IP9 1QJ. Closes 4pm.

Open Easter W/End: Saturday - 25th Oct. Saturdays & Sundays, 11am-3:30pm. Free Entry
Reg Charity No. 1214711 HOURS:
11.00am to 4.00pm, last entries 3.30pm
OPEN:
Saturdays and Sundays from Easter Saturday to the last Sunday in October each year. Please enquire to book visits at other times. Forward Bookings taken for Private Group or Individual Visits, year round, on Wednesday Mornings By Arrangement Only.

25/05/2026

I was recently contacted by a Hugh Steven Patterson who joined Ganges in 1971. If anyone knows him please ask him to contact me.

Ann and John Blake, from Whiteley, Fareham, made a private visit to us this week. Ann had booked for the auspicious occa...
21/05/2026

Ann and John Blake, from Whiteley, Fareham, made a private visit to us this week. Ann had booked for the auspicious occasion of John's 70th Birthday! 🎉🎂🍻🥃 Doesn't look bad for his age does he?

John joined HMS Ganges in 1971 and was a communicator. He tells us his first ship was HMS Reclaim and his last ship HMS Glasgow.

Well done Ann for getting John up to see us. I'm sure he enjoyed his trip down Memory Lane and we hope you enjoyed the trip too.

📌 If you’d like a private visit on a Wednesday ( 11am-1pm year round by appointment two weeks in advance) please do get in touch with our secretary, June at:
https://hmsgangesmuseum.com/contact/
The museum is run wholly by volunteers with no sponsors. We rely totally on donations, memberships, legacies and the occasional grant. Donations are warmly encouraged to help us keep the HMS Ganges memories alive. Thank you. 🫡⚓️

Yesterday we had a visit by 14 members of Rushden & District branch RNA who in their words 'had fantastic day visiting t...
18/05/2026

Yesterday we had a visit by 14 members of Rushden & District branch RNA who in their words 'had fantastic day visiting the HMS Ganges museum'.
It was great to see them and, that they enjoyed the visit.

This week we had a private visit from Jeff and Marlane Connolly over from the Isle of Wight in their camper. Jeff joined...
14/05/2026

This week we had a private visit from Jeff and Marlane Connolly over from the Isle of Wight in their camper.

Jeff joined HMS Ganges as a JMEM2 on 5th December 1975 and was in Class 858 until early Jan/Feb 1976.

Jeff brought a couple of photos in with him. In the class photo you can find Jeff at the end of the middle row on the left. The only person he can remember was the instructor POMEM Stuart Summerville.

If you’d like a private visit on a Wednesday ( 11am-1pm year round by appointment two weeks in advance) please do get in touch with our secretary, June at:
https://hmsgangesmuseum.com/contact/

The museum is run wholly by volunteers with no sponsors. We rely totally on donations, memberships, legacies and the occasional grant. Donations are warmly encouraged to help us keep the HMS Ganges memories alive. Thank you. 🫡⚓️

If you’re visiting HMS Ganges Museum do make time to stop by at Shotley Church and visit the war graves. Currently the c...
07/05/2026

If you’re visiting HMS Ganges Museum do make time to stop by at Shotley Church and visit the war graves.

Currently the church is inaccessible due to repairs needed to make safe the stone arch over the main door however there’s plenty to see outside.

The cemetery contains not only Royal Naval deceased but also Dutch and German personnel. In the churchyard you’ll find a WWI submariners memorial and over the road you’ll find WWII graves with allied and RN personnel including Ganges boys some of whom succumbed to illness whilst in training (mainly TB and Flu).

The more recent graves include Capt. Murray Dunlop CBE RN who was the final commanding officer of HMS Ganges from 1973 to 1976 when he oversaw the camp closure.

Alas John failed to make the grade. His Kit Locker still remains empty. More effort required. He did attempt some excus...
29/04/2026

Alas John failed to make the grade. His Kit Locker still remains empty. More effort required.

He did attempt some excuses...
- The iron’s busted Chief.
- I’m ill, in the sick bay.
- I’m mourning me Granny’s death.
- Run out of Pusser’s Hard.

He was considering going AWOL... but decided to take the cuts like a true Matelot! 🦯😝⚓️

Today we said "Hello" to 29 familiar and some new faces from Bibby's Coach Tours. Colin and John rallied round to welcom...
29/04/2026

Today we said "Hello" to 29 familiar and some new faces from Bibby's Coach Tours. Colin and John rallied round to welcome and guide them.

One dear lady was on her third visit and another gentleman commented he wasn't expecting to be that interested but was pleasantly surprised.

Two ladies, from Barrow in Furness, told us they'd worked in the shipyard there building submarines whilst another lady told us both her Grandfather and father had served at Ganges and she'd spent time in her youth at Shotley.

It's amazing the variety of people you meet at the museum.

We get the loveliest of visitors at the museum. No exception is Murphy visiting today with Lucy. We are open until 4pm t...
26/04/2026

We get the loveliest of visitors at the museum. No exception is Murphy visiting today with Lucy.
We are open until 4pm today with last entry at 3:30pm. Before you leave visit Tina on the desk to get some HMS Ganges gifts.

John Arbon is in-line for 6 of the best if he does not sort his locker out by Wednesday
25/04/2026

John Arbon is in-line for 6 of the best if he does not sort his locker out by Wednesday

Calling All Ganges Boys interested in Attending Our 50th Anniversary of The Closure of HMS Ganges Event on Friday 5th Ju...
25/04/2026

Calling All Ganges Boys interested in Attending Our 50th Anniversary of The Closure of HMS Ganges Event on Friday 5th June 2026 at Shotley, IP9 1QJ.

‼️ ACT NOW ‼️

💢 Book your tickets to this Private Event Here: (One Single or Double Ticket per Order Please)
https://hmsgangesmuseum.sumupstore.com/category/events

or via Here: https://hmsgangesmuseum.com/shop/

💢 Join Our 50th Anniversary Event Group Here:
(Event itinerary in group - answer question to join group)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hmsganges50yearcelebration

Address

Shotley Marina
Ipswich
IP91QJ

Telephone

+447515469420

Website

https://hmsgangesmuseum.com/donate/, https://hmsgangesmuseum.com/directions/, https://hmsg

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