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NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 1995
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Many hands make light work MAKING light work of it, HMS Anglesey's "Greenies" give a power boost to Gibraltar Lighthouse during the ship's brief visit to the Rock while she was on fishery protection patrol in the tuna grounds. The shining smiles for PO(PHOT) Fez Parker came from (left to right) LMEM(L) Mark Sanderson, Kenny McLernow and Stefan Noakes.
TAKING an unusual step, the Secretaries for Defence and National Heritage have written to The Times newspaper to correct any misunderstanding that the Royal Naval College, Greenwich will go to private ownership. Following press speculation on the future of the college, Michael Portillo and Virginia Bottom ley stressed in their letter that the buildings would not change from public ownership. "The college is, and will continue to be, held by the Defence Secretary in trust for the Crown for the exclusive benefit of the Greenwich Hospital," they said. "The freehold is not being 'privatised' or sold; nor is the college being offered to the highest bidder."
VCs in line to get big rise in annuity HOLDERS of the Victoria and George Crosses are to have their annuities increased for the first time in 36 years. A rise has been ordered by Prime Minister John Major who during World War II victory commemorations was reported to be shocked by the fact that the payments had stood at £100 a year since 1959. At today's values that would equate with £1,190, although the Cabinet Office cannot as yet eonfirm any particular figure. An inter-departmental committee is reviewing the annuities and it is planned that changes will be made before the end of the year.
Crimean War At present there are 33 living holders of the VC. George Cross holders number 43. The VC, Britain's highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy, was instituted for the Crimean War. At that time holders of the medal - except those of commissioned rank received an annuity of £10, with £5 extra for a Bar. That sum remained the same until 1959 when Prime Minister Harold Macmillan announced a rise to £100 tax free.
Pledge on future of Greenwich buildings
Public access
GAYS: STUDY TEAM TO SAMPLE VIEWS A MINISTRY of Defence assessment team has been formed to test the views of Service personnel on the Armed Forces' policy of excluding homosexuals. A review of policy was urged by Lord Justice Simon Brown who, in a recent High Court case, upheld MOD's current position but said "the tide of history" was against it. Headed by a senior civil servant, the assessment team will be staffed by officers from the Navy, Army and RAF.
Views will be sought from personnel of all ages and across the ranks in all three Services. The armed forces of other NATO nations will be visited to gauge their policies on homosexuality, but it is not planned to take evidence from pressure groups. The assessment is due to be completed in January when a "paper of evidence will be submitted to Ministers. The evidence will be presented to the Defence Select Committee who may, if they wish, hear witnesses. The final decision on whether reforms should go ahead is expected to rest with Parliament during next year's debate on the Armed Forces Bill.
Ministers and Armed Forces chiefs have, however, made it clear that they support the current policy on exclusion and that no decision had been taken to change it. In September the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Jock Slater, publicly declared his opposition to admitting homosexuals, believing that relaxation of the policy would diminish team spirit and undermine trust and confidence in the confined surroundings of a warship. "There is no choice of association in a ship. There is no privacy," he said. "And so I am absolutely certain that it is unacceptable in a ship of the Fleet to have declared homosexuals."
Stepping on the gas for science
The future of the college would be determined after a full evaluation of any expressions of interest - including those from the National Maritime Museum and the University of Greenwich. Within Government, a restructured Defence School of Languages had been suggested as an occupant. Heritage considerations would be taken fully into account, they said. Better public access was a "clear objective", and any occupant would have to take pan in management arrangements for inclusion in a World Heritage Site nomination. The widest possible range of proposals would be considered to secure "an appropriate and sympathetic future use for this magnificent collection of buildings."
Lord Lewin Admiral of the Fleet Lord Lewin of Greenwich has put forward a proposal for the transfer of responsibility for the site from MOD to the National Heritage Department Admiral Lewin said Greenwich Hospital foundation could then be managed by the Trustees of the National Maritime Museum, of which he is chairman. Under the plan, the Painted Hall and Chapel would be opened to the public.
.. . and fun
Low-fuel car back at Sultan THE NAVY'S project to develop a vehicle of world-beating low fuel consumption has returned to HMS Sultan. The tiny, single-seat threewheeler was built at the School of Marine Engineering as the RN entry in an annual competition sponsored by Shell UK aid held at Silverstone race track. Ten years ago the project was taken over by the RN Engineering College at Manadon when the team manager, Lt Cdr Chris Barnes was re-appointed there. With the closure of Manadon the car, whose performance has steadily increased to 2,096 miles per gallon, has returned to its original home 175 miles away (or just two-thirds of a pint of petrol if the vehicle had got there under its own power).
The current version of the car competed at Silverstone last July, coming 16th in a field of 93 entries, and was fourth among British teams taking part. Hopes are high that it will do even better in next year's event.
Even greater fuel-defying feats are expected in the future from the Navy's low mpg car which appeared at Silverstone with Lt Cdr Chris Barnes of RNEC Manadon and (right) Lt Malcolm Parkin of HMS Sultan.
... and Morgans rally to the Flag Accustomed to being in the driving seat, Flag Officer Plymouth, Vice Admiral Sir Roy Newman, tries a 60-year-old, three-wheel Morgan sports car for size. Accompanied by Cdr Maurice Cook, the admiral's chance to get behind the wheel came when more than 30 classic cars were mustered outside Admiralty House for a Morgan Club rally.