30
NAVY NEWS, MARCH 1992
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DURING a Charity Clay Pigeon Shoot held in aid of the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust at the Manor Sports Clay Pigeon Shoot last year, one of the team sponsors, Electronic Data Systems United Kingdom, discovered that the RNBT was considering whether to adopt computers for use with its grants and administration work. Brian Reynell, Director Office of Government Affairs for Electronic Data Systems, a member of their team that day, was told that the Trust intended to evaluate the use of computers by obtaining equipment at low cost rather than commit the Trust to a ready-made system and thus expend unnecessary funding on such equipment. Some time after the Shoot Brian Reynell contacted the Trust and advised that EDS had a continuous process of renewing their computer equipment and asked whether the RNBT would be interested if EDS had spare superceded equipment. The offer was gratefully accepted by the Trust and EDS presented the RNBT with an IBM PC XT. The equipment, which will be used primarily for word processing, was presented by Brian Reynell of EDS to CPO John Thompson, chairman of the Grants Committee. • CPO John Thompson and Brian Reynell, of EDS, watch Mrs Carolyn Wright, one of the RNBT Grant Office staff, at the computer presented by EDS to the Trust. Picture: LA(Phot) Tony Power
rCharity 'cheque-in'-, Keith'S grant IS I hito tho tornot -hits the target- I key to light work THE residents of Pembroke House have been presented with a king-size cut-out cheque for £400 by the RN and RM Gunnery and Missile Instructors Association who adopted the home as their charity last year. After the presentation, the elderly ex-naval salts thanked the gunners with a conducted tour of their home and a slap-up meal.
DESPITE being disabled since birth Keith Smith (34), son of the late Arthur Smith, a former Leading Torpedoman who served in the Navy from 1942-46, is fiercely independent. Although he cannot speak, use his hands or walk he has full mental faculties but relies heavily on a team of helpers from the local Social Services to assist him with his everyday life. Keith's only means of communication is by the use of a Lightwriter which consists of a
made grants and Annuity payments of
keyboard attached to an electric visual display. Keith is entirely dependent on his wheelchair, Lightwriter and computer to live and his living costs are therefore abnormally high due to his special circumstances. In the past, whenever the
Lightwriter failed Keith was able to get immediate repairs done by the manufacturer but problems with this repair facility meant Keith had no option but to try and buy back a Lightwriter unit. The RNBT heard of Keith's plight and were very pleased to assist with these expenses, awarding him a grant of £500 towards the cost of another unit.
Trust helps with drive and ambition
£1,295,907 during the Financial year 1990/91
Will YOU give
YOUR support? Grants Committee: 311 Twyford Avenue, Portsmouth, Hants PO2 8PE General inquiries: Head Office, High Street, Brompton, Gillingham ME7 5QZ
WHEN former RO1(G) Danny Berts, (24), left the Navy in 1988 he managed to obtain a job with a local firm in Norwich, where he lives with his wife Julie and two children, Tyler and Olivia. Unfortunately he was made redundant in early 1990 but luckily acquired another job as a driver. Danny, being a conscientious and ambitious young man, wanted to improve himself by progressing to HGV driving and although held in high regard by his employers he was, of course, unable to seek HGV employment without first qualifying. After saving up the money for the medical and provisional licence Danny was then unable to meet the cost of the course. However the RNBT was happy to grant £320
for a five-day HGV driving course which he passed with flying colours. Danny was then given an offer of employment but before he could take it up he needed to obtain a Hazardous Goods Qualification which he did not possess. SSAFA Norwich again contacted the RNBT and the grants committee were pleased to assist further with a grant of £153 towards the course fees. Having qualified on both counts Danny obtained employment with Hadley and Ottaway. • Danny Betts, centre, is pictured with (left) Flt.-Lieut. J. McDonnell (retd.), of SSAFA Norwich, and Colin Sayer, Transport Manager of Hadley and Ottaway. Picture: Cameo Photographic Studio, Norwich.
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