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NAVY NEWS.MARCH 2003
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HMS Sultan foundry provides vital decorative fittings for Queen's Golden Jubilee gates
Navy workshop had key role in royal gift
THE ARMED Forces have officially presented their Golden Jubilee gift to the Queen. And the Royal Navy's pivotal role in the construction of the commemorative gates, now in place on the Sandringham estate, was inevitable, as the last operational foundry within the Forces was at HMS Sultan. The ready availability of gunmetal (LG4) and its excellent weather resistance properties made it the ideal material lo use in the decorative castings and the creation of the EIIR cyphers which adorn the gates. The patterns for the tri-Servicc crest and the EIIR ellipse were produced by Ernie Perry at Devonport Naval Base, and all other patterns were procured or produced by staff at Sultan, both Service and civilian. A total of 30 castings were produced, of which 24 were displayed on the completed gates. The foundry was operated by Robbie Roberts, who joined the Navy in 1962 and left the Senior Service in 1997, when he became a Civilian Instructional Officer. He was due to retire a year ago, at the same time as the foundry was due to close, but as the only skilled foundryman left in the Services he agreed to stay on. And the Golden Jubilee gates are his swansong, ensuring the Navy was strongly represented in the project - although Robbie is quick to point out the large and
i MEM Kevin Dewar waits for the royal party at the Golden Jubilee gates at Sandringham diverse team at Sultan which all played their part. All the castings were delivered to Brompton Barracks in Chatham at end of July 2002, where the gates and railings had been built. They were erected at Sandringham in late September, ready for the official presentation. The Queen - on her first official
engagement since surgery on her knee - and the Duke of Edinburgh attended the presentation, walking up to the installation from the nearby public road and meeting key figures in the project, including Roger Roberts, gates project manager at Sultan. Opening the gates for the royal party and the Service Chiefs was
RN Fitness Test reaches over-40s THE Royal Navy Fitness Test (RNFF) will embrace the final group of personnel affected when the 40 to 49 age group is addressed from April 1. The RNFT is an age and gender-fair annual stamina test which has encompassed men and women in a phased age-group introduction, and brought the Navy into line with the Royal Marines, the Army and the RAF. It began with the under-25s in April 1999, reaching the under-4()s in April last year, and the test is framed in such a way that standards are targeted specifically at five-year groupings, and differentiated between males and females. .Although generally designed to promote good health, the test also brings benefits to the Navy in operational terms, including: • Ensuring officers and ratings are able to cope with the physical demands of warfare and general life at sea • It promotes confidence in an individual's own physical condition, and in those of the team around him or her • Physically-fit people are more resistant to injury and extremes of heat, and recover more quickly from injuries and physical stress • Fitness has a beneficial effect on mental alertness, and regular exercise is believed to help dissipate psychological stress. With the under-40s, the test consists of a multi-stage fitness test (MSFT or 'bleep test') or a 2.4km run. Ratings and officers aged 40 and over will undertake the Rockport 1610m (one mile) walk using heart-rate monitoring equipment although active sportsmen and women in this category may opt to take the 2.4km run or MSFT, provided PT staff are satisfied that the candidate is suitable and is taking the MSFT for the right reasons. Personnel aged 50 years and over will not be required to take
the RNFT, but can volunteer to do so, and if they take that option they come under the same rules as the 40-49 age group. Regulations for the RNFT note that over-50s serving at sea "should take the test." For all qualifying age groups, the regulations specify that "it is a duty to undertake the RNFT when due, unless formally exempted. "Disciplinary action may be taken against those who fail to do so, under a charge of 'failure to attend a muster', in accordance with QRRN and BR11. "They will also be automatically required to undertake remedial training." A new DCI on the RNFT (DCI GEN 272/02) states that Commanding Officers are to appoint Fitness Testing Officers (FTOs) to be responsible for the implementation of the test, with consideration being given to the test being an operational matter rather than an offshoot of sport or recreation. In Fleet units it has been recommended that the FIO should be the Executive Warrant Officer, the Coxswain or the Manpower Controller/Squadron regulator as appropriate.
In shore establishments and air stations, that role should fall to the PT and Recreation Officer. Preparation for the tests is partly a Command and partly a personal responsibility; the Command must provide time and opportunity for people to train for and take the test - operations permitting while personnel arc expected to demonstrate the right attitude towards testing, maintaining their fitness and recognising this may require training out of hours. Failure of the test automatically requires the individual to attend remedial training; there is no l i m i t to the number of times an individual can attempt the test. Attendance at remedial training is also considered a duty. Grades of pass arc being introduced to promote achievement and encourage higher levels of fitness. There are also changes to the timing of tests - current requirements based on birthdays are deemed too restrictive, and in future personnel will he required to have passed the test at any time in the year preceding a new annual fitness testing date, based on their annual report date. See next month's Navy News for more details.
TRAFALGAR-class submarine HMS Talent has hosted a visit by the Mayor of Shrewsbury and Atcham. Cllr George Ritchey and his wife Mary called in on Talent while the boat was alongside during a maintenance period in Devonport Naval Base. The submarine has affiliation links to Shrewsbury and Atcham, in Shropshire. The weekend visit to the West Country for former Lt Col Ritchey also gave him the
opportunity to visit 20 Commando Royal Artillery at The Citadel in Plymouth. Cdr Paul Nixon, Commanding Officer of Talent, said: "As we approach a lengthy docking period we felt it important to enhance our strong links with the council and people of Shrewsbury and Atcham." Cllr Ritchey described the visit as "one of the highlights of my time in office", paying tribute to the "high levels of professionalism" he saw.
MEM Kevin Dcwar of Allied Trades at Sultan. The Sultan foundry has now closed, breaking a historical link. More than 250 moulds for ship's crests arc still stored there, and the foundry was used until recently to make breech blocks for competition field guns, as well as parts for Ihe Sultan steam lorry.
• The Queen and Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Michael Boyce at the presentation of the Golden Jubilee gates Pictures: Sgt Brian Gamble
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