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NAVY NEWS, JANUARY 2003
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Ice ship melts Brazilian hearts ICE patrol ship HMS Endurance was fulfilling two of her main tasks within hours of arriving in a South American port. The Red Plum, named for her bright red hull, had covered 4,000 miles of her annual deployment to the Southern Hemisphere when she arrived for a four-day operational stand-off in Salvador, a former capital of Brazil and a city of 3 million noted for its colour and vibrancy. On the same evening as she arrived, Endurance hosted an official reception for local and national dignitaries, civilian and military - the Royal Navy enjoys close links with many South American navies, including the Brazilians, and such defence diplomacy is seen as a vital role of the Senior Service. Another key task was the distribution of hundreds of toys gathered by a charity 'Task Force Brazil' to orphans at a local home named Irma Dulce. In return, 30 children and helpers visited the ship, where they were given a tour and stayed for lunch - a simple and inexpensive act of kindness which means a great deal to children who have next to nothing. Such community work is an important element in any port visit, and work parties of this nature are invariably oversubscribed when the invitation is put to a ship's company. Endurance, a 6,500-ton icebreaker, is now on the second leg of her long journey south, heading for the Falklands - around 2,500 miles south of Salvador. Here she fulfils another of her tasks, as a visible presence in the region, as well as supporting science and survey work. Up to and around Christmas she is due to be concentrating on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia before she heads even further south towards the Antarctic peninsula. While in the Falklands the ship will undertake a spell of operational sea training, and there will be an intensive two-day exercise entitled Polar Haven. I See also pages 13 and 15
Helping Hands Bedtime stories at HMS Raleigh
to run A team of staff from the Phoenix firefighting school at HMS Excellent, Whale Island, ran the Great South Run on behalf of the charity CLIC (Challenging Childhood Cancer and Leukaemia). The runners raised £1,276 for the charity that helps the families of children living with these difficult conditions. • Cdr Bug Wrightson, PO Bagsy Baker, Nick Nicholson (CLIC), CPO Nick Smith, PO Chris 'Bungy' Williamson, Cdr Nick Hudson and foreground Lee Weeks and PO Jack Russell.
BEDS have proven big-time sources of charity windfalls at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall. The Artificer Apprentices of Fisgard Squadron have collected over £2,500 in a sponsored bed push around the grounds of the establishment. Each of the four divisions pushed the bed for 90 minutes each, covering a distance of more than 24 miles. Even more impressive when you hear the bed had to be carried the last few laps as the wheels had fallen off! This money is going to the squadron's adopted charity, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. The tradition of raising money for the training of a guide dog has been going on for over 40 years at the Cornish training base. WO(MEA) Paul Simpson, Fisgard s Charity Officer, said: "The day was a great success with all involved working extremely
• Lt Katie Nunnen, Flight Observer with 212 Flight 815 Naval Air Squadron on board HMS Endurance, with children at the Irma Picture: LA(phot) p. wareing Dulce orphanage in Salvador
hard. The trainees should be very proud of themselves for raising such a substantial amount for charity." Beds were also essential for the Walker Division at Raleigh's raffle draw. The winner OM Adam Bowes enjoyed the top prize of breakfast in bed, served by his Divisional Officer Lt Simon Paget. Adam also got to lounge about indulging in an extra hour-and-ahalf lie in while the rest of his messmates tidied up around him. Trainee Chef James Rattenbury won the opportunity for his boss PO Richard Duffield to iron and press his white shirts. The raffle raised a total of £412 for the Friends of Laylands' Respite Care Home in Liskeard. The home cares for profoundly disabled children with severe learning difficulties.
Reservist clambers charity peak A RESERVIST from HMS Calliope Sub Lt Allison Moseley has recently returned from Tanzania where she took part in a seven-day trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. She insists that at the summit she took time out from admiring the view to catch up with the latest edition of the Navy News. Allison was sponsored in her adventure and raised £960 for the British Heart Foundation, Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Bubble Appeal.
Great Scots dash for cash FULL pelt round the upper deck of HMS Edinburgh, CPO Steve 'The Running Man' Ripley raced CPO Mike 'The Power' Perfect in a pursuit race to raise £350 for the Erskine Hospital Trust Convalescent Home.
Collingwood race THE 2002 Collingwood race was an opportunity for Cdr Kevin Robertson of the Communications Warfare Training Department to gather in a cash total of £253 for the Shaw Trust organisation in Portsmouth. The Trust provides support to people with mental health problems in the local area. The massed runners of the Maritime Warfare School raised £500 at the 10km race for Multiple Sclerosis charities.
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A raffle at the Plymouth Area and Naval Air Novice boxing championships raised £2,000 for National Children's Homes. Picture: Shaun Barlow
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