10
NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 1997
Cooking up a challenge
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IF THE chefs were making a meal of Salon Culinaire 1997 they had good reason.
Blood, sweat, and souffle THE ROYAL Marines swept all before them in the field - the field cookery contest, that is. The four-man team from the RM Commando Logistics Unit struck the gold standard in the contest, beating teams from the Army School of Catering (silver), RAF Laarbruch (bronze), CTCRM (merit) and two others. Housed in tents, using trestle tables and trailers, teams were given a list of ingredients from which to produce a four-course meal for ten. Menus were submitted by Sam, and the meal was served by 11.45, with scores given for taste, visual presentation, hygiene and organisation. So what could you expect if you drop in to dinner with the Royals in the field? If the men wielding the wooden spoons are Sgt Jimmy Mann, Sgt Kit Terry, Mne Pincher Martin and Mne Andrew Beu-Chambers, the menu might look something like their winning entry:
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• Fat of the land - (above) WO Geoffrey Revill, HMS Seahawk's team manager, takes a close look at the Culdrose Laurel and Hardy fat sculpture. • Royal Marines get down to work in the Field Cookery competition at HMS Excellent, Whale Island (left).
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To Start: Vegetarian Crepes stuffed with Courgette and Tomato served on Pasta and accompanied by a Rich Tomato Sauce For the Main Course: Garlic-stuffed Pork Loin served with a Potato Cake and Roasted Vegetables and graced with a Cream and Mushroom Sauce And for Dessert: Lemon Souffle presented on an Apple and Sultana Confit and served with a Pancake dressed with a delicate Raspberry Sauce.
Traditional Naval Products for gifts, awards and presentations
Top Quality Ship's Bells Authentic Bosun's Calls Regulation British-made Naval calls expertly engraved with Name. Rank and Number or a message to a girlfriend etc. In presentation box with matching 50" neckchain. historical notes and a guide to piping. Beware non-functional and untuneable imitations. Gold-plated call £27.50 Silver-plated call £24.95 Brass/Copper call £19.95 Nickel-plated call £19.95 Engraving £2.20 per line (up to 18 letters and spaces capitals and numbers count as two). Up to four lines (two each side). We also supply unengraved standard nickel calls at £1.1.50.
This year's event at HMS Nelson saw all three Armed Forces in competition for the first time and when utensils were cast aside after the heat of battle the spoils of victory were shared. Fit Set Marc Cornell (35), from RAF Coltishall, was crowned Armed Forces Chef of the Year, and the HMS Nelson's CH Simon Geldart (23) took the Young Chef title. Completing the major honours, the Army School of Catering took the Armed Forces Culinary Champions team trophy. As usual, the three-day event, which attracted around 300 competitors in 44 classes, featured a wide range of culinary arts. Each day saw a series of live cookery contests, one day for each of the three services, and a range of static displays from the delicious to the unpalatable - into the latter category fell Works in Fat, a chance to create works of beauty from lumps of lard, with the RAF's steeplechasers pipping HMS Seahawk's Laurel and Hardy. Salon Co-ordinator was Lt Cdr Tim Haley, whose retirement from the Navy happened to fall on the last day of the contest. He said the combined competition reduced costs, and also made it easier to select a combined services team for culinary competitions. "There are two sides to this; it has got to be good for morale of the branches, allowing them
to use their training to a very high standard, and at the same time these are skills which they use in their everyday tasks." TV chef Brian Turner, of Ready, Steady, Cook fame, attended the final day of the Salon, which included the Navy's in-house competition - the largest of the three competitions. "The standards here are ever-ascending and the section where each team has to cook and serve a three-course meal with wine and coffee is very impressive," he said. Navy winners (*) and gold awards (+): Table d'Honeur: Graham Jones (Excellent), *Steve Alexander (RM), *LSTD Paul Dacre (Seahawk), "CPOCA Gary Hancock (Edinburgh); RN Junior Chef of the Year and Armed Forces Young Chef of the Year: *+ CH Simon Geldart (Nelson); RN Senior Chef of the Year: *+Mne Mark Bellchambers (RM); Best Senior Entry: RN Team Open Buffet - WO Nick Vadis, WO Graham Wilkinson, CPOCA Al Baker-Green, CPOCA Nick Brown; Senior Celebration Cake Sugar Paste: *Mr Jones, HMS Excellent; Live Junior Pasta (Novice Class): *+CH Smith (Sultan); Senior Celebration Cake Royal Icing: +Cpl Kevin Green (RM); Senior Yeast Work: *LCH Peter Ho (Dryad); Senior Cold Buffet Platter, Meat/Poultry: *+CPOCA Gary Hancock (Edinburgh)- Senior Cold Buffet Platter, Game: +CPOCA Fred Oatway (Warrior). Live Junior Fish: *CH Tony Smith (Sultan). Open Team Buffet: *+RN team: Live Senior Napkin Folding: +Sam Laus (Nelson).
Our ship's bells are manufactured in the finest tradition sand-cast in solid brass and hand-finished to a beautiful sheen. The specification and design is tightly-controlled to meet maritime requirements, the 8" version being DoT approved and certificated for commercial use. 4" Ship's bell £17.95 6" Ship's bell £39.95 8" Ship's bell £97.50 Engraving - eg vessel name, port and construction date, or achievement accolade. 4" bells: £1.20 per letter; 6 & 8" bells £1.65 per letter. Larger bell sizes on request.
Ship's Bell Striking Clocks Schatz are world-renowned for their traditional mechanical clocks, which strike the "Ship's Bells" watch system in the time-honoured way favoured by the Royal Navy. Solid brass case with glass front, 8-day mechanical movement, and twoyear guarantee. Measures 7" diameter, 3]/4" front to back. Schatz Royal Mariner clock £325 Schatz barometer with thermometer (same size as clock) £199
Catalogue of 200 nautical artifacts and accessories also available TO ORDER call 01932 253333 or fax 01932 241679 with your credit/debit card details or post (cheques also welcome) to; TKflCAEwW/* Ferry Point, Ferry Lane, SheppertoneSiJ l\3UttC3ll3. on-Thames, TW17 9LQ, England Postage & handling on all orders (UK mainland, N. Ireland and Scottish Islands) £2.95
YEAR 2000 KIT BRINGS TRAINING SHAKE-UP
ADVANCES in equipment due to enter service from the year 2000 are bringing about "significant" changes in the training and branch structure of the Navy's communications technicians. There is an increasing tactical role for the Communications Technician Branch and greater integration with the warfare command structure. CTs will need to be an effective part of the action information organisation.
Think Chfcksands forCT'stmining
A complete restructuring of training has also resulted from the loss of training facilities at the Communication Technician School at Leydene and the introduction of tri-Service training at the Defence Special Signals School, Chicksands.
Pay warning An important career change was introduced on October 1 when advancement in the branch became aligned with artificer advancement. Sideways entrants are now rated Acting Leading CT on completion of training, and direct entrants are now employed as Operator Mechanics during CT Pt III training. Sub-specialisation as a linguist will take place later. The changes could affect pay for Acting Leading rates who do not achieve all the necessary qualifications for confirmation in the LCT rate within a year of transferring to the branch - and for Scale A Leading rates whose pay rate will reduce to that of ALCT or LCT 12 months after transferring .
'Quicksands, more like it . . . finding your way through all these changes!' All Acting Leading rates and Leading rates who enter the branch must now sign a document confirming that they understand the CT regulations for advancement and promotion. DCI RN 157/97 This regular feature gives general information about new Defence Council Instructions affecting conditions of service. If they apply to you, study the full, original text.
Command Group to meet JF challenge A COMMAND Group has been formed by C-in-C Fleet, Admiral Sir Michael Boyce, composed of senior officers eligible to be Joint Force Commanders. The group comprises Commander UK Task Group (Rear Admiral Ian Forbes) who heads the primary battle staff; Flag Officer Surface Flotilla (Rear Admiral Peter Franklyn), head of the alternate battle staff; and specialist battle staffs headed by Commandant General Royal Marines (Maj Gen David Pennefather) and including Commander 3 Commando Brigade and Commander Amphibious Task Group (the title which replaces Commander Amphibious Warfare from December 1). The Joint Force Commander will be supported by specialist component commanders whose tasks will give expert advice and help in campaign planning as well as controlling and co-ordinating their own forces. The alternate battle group headed by FOSF would provide roulement and battle casualty replacement, and would allow more than one operation to be conducted at the same time. The specialist battle staffs will be available when needed. The one-star battle commanders - the deputies to COMUKTG and FOSF; Commander 3 Cdo Bde, and COMATG - are prospective one-star JFCs and are prime contenders to be component commanders in a two-star led joint operation. Should COMUKTG be called upon to act as a Joint Force Commander, his deputy - currently Commodore Geoffrey Billson will be maritime component commander afloat. DCI RN 121/97