NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 1997
17
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Staff at naval base gain NVQs STAFF at Devonport Naval Base have gained National Vocational Qualification certificates in a range of subjects. Part of the Naval Base Commander's NVQ programme, the scheme is managed by the Naval Base Training Organisation and is a mix of in-house assessment with some on-site college assessor support. Among those who received certificates were Robert Hodge, Melvin Wallis, Kevin Thomas, David Ham, Ann Maddern, Andrew Spencer and Jeff Cheetham, who all achieved Level 2 in Wholesaling, Warehousing and Stores. Peter Waterhouse achieved Level 2 in Rigging and Slinging, Ian Kendall gained a Level 3 in Wood Machining, and Tanya Eatwell, Diana Batten, Dawn Simkins, Amanda Leverage, Karen Venn, Karen Colley and Louise Trickey all achieved Level 2 in Administration. Norma Spencer achieved a Level 3 in Administration.
Intercept me and buy one
THE MAN responsible for the Royal Navy's School of Fighter Control has returned to the unit for the first time in 56 years. At the start of World War II, the Fleet's main air defence cover was provided by anti-aircraft guns pilots had to use initiative to seek out the enemy, with no guidance. On occasions this led to fighters being fired at by their own ships, or being in the wrong place when enemy aircraft were detected. Captain Charles Coke, who during the Norway campaign in 1940 was a lieutenant commander in HMS Ark Royal, became convinced that formal training in fighter direction was needed. He persuaded the Admiralty to let him set up an organisation at RN air station Yeovilton, the forerunner of today's RN School of Fighter Control. Among the students who passed through the school in the early days were Sir Michael Hordern
First book at age 84 ALMOST 40 years of expertise in naval weaponry has gone into a book on Priddy's Hard and it represents the 84-yearold author's debut in print. Harry Semark (above), of Southsea, has written The Royal Naval Armament Depots of Priddy's Hard, Elson, Prater and Bedenham 1768-1977 (£20), tracing their growth from powder magazine to major World War II armaments depot. The author served with the Armament Supply Department for 39 years - 14 at Priddy's Hard - but the book took seven years to write and 12 to get published, when Hampshire County Council finally stepped in. The book can be obtained from Mr Peter Russell-Jones, Curator, Priddy's Hard Museum of Naval Ordnance, Elson, Gosport, tel 01705 502490.
and Sir Kenneth Moore. Among the most memorable innovations Captain Coke devised at the school was the use of "ice cream" tricycles to aid instruction in the art of intercept geometry. One tricycle, simulating the hostile aircraft, would be pedalled by a Wren at a fixed speed, determined by a metronome attached to the trike.
Tricycle
Meanwhile a Wren on the "friendly" tricycle would be directed by radio by the student controller, who was aiming to intercept the hostile trike. Capt Coke was guest of honour at the school at Yeovilton, where he hasn't set foot since the original was set up in 1941. He took the opportunity to look around the exhibits at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, including the cockpit of a Swordfish, in which he flew as an observer during the war, and an ice cream trolley.
Navy lifesavers
J Ice creams at six o'clock - Captain Charles Coke with one of the ice cream trolleys commandeered for use at the RN School of Fighter Direction, now preserved at RNAS Yeovilton.
A NAVY met man at NATO's North HQ in Norway has completed a first aid course - along with his family. CPO David Hadland, wife Jayne and daughter Laura took the St John Lifesaver Plus course. Two other naval wives - Vicky Parry and Marina Stafford, whose husbands are radio supervisors also took the course.
100 years with Jane's Fighting Ships It is 100 years since Fred T. Jane sat down to annotate the details of the world's fighting ships
• Pleasure after business - Commodore Chris Stanford, Director of Naval Staff Duties, has returned from "highly-successful" talks with the Indian Navy. He and four other officers from the MOD and Second Sea Lord/ClNCNAVHOME staff spent two days at the Indian Navy HQ in New Delhi, discussing matters such as dockyard privatisation and Warfare Branch development. Once official business was over, the Indian Navy arranged a visit to the Taj Mahal Pictured are (back row, from left) Cdre Ken Day (DNPCP), Lt Cdr Dewan (Indian Navy), Cdr Chris Madden (ON Plans), Capt Chris Peach (DNT) and Lt Cdr Jim Graham (DNSD); (front row, from toft) Indian Army escort, Cdre Chris Stanford and Cdr Ghel (Indian Navy). The talks were at the request of the Indian Navy, following First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jock Slater's visit to India In February, and an Indian delegation will visit the UK In the autumn.
Finest in the fleet?
• Training hard - LS Derek Simpson uses HMS York's gym, watched by LPT Richie Gray.
FLEET Recreation Officer Lt Cdr Tim Kenneally believes the new fitness suite in HMS York is probably the best in the Fleet. The suite, opened by Flag Officer Sea Training, Vice Admiral John Brigstocke in April, boasts an Airstepper, Versaclimber, Powerjog running machine, two Concept II rowing machines, bicycle and Ab Cradle - and 60 per cent of the ship's company are involved in personal fitness training under the watchful eye of LPT Richie Gray. All equipment, apart from the rowing machines, was paid for by grants - including the Sports Lottery - the ship's welfare fund, and a generous donation from ship's sponsor Lady Gosling.
With Jane's Fighting Ships 1997-98 you can see how the world's navies have changed over the last 12 months. ' It enables you to keep abreast of naval developments, and to identify and inspect the specifications of over 8,000 warships, naval auxiliaries and paramilitary vessels, owned and operated by over 150 countries. D Yes! Please send me the Naval and Maritime brochure 'or FREE Name
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