I6
NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2009
$3’:
«A FORCE FOR GOOD
Knees near miss for Tim
O Lt Cdr Ian Braileypresents a MASF plaque to Mrs Diane Fludge, Home manager, at the Royal Star & Garter Home in Solihull
Massive support for Solihull home
TEN people from the Maritime Aviation Support Force (MASF) at RNAS Culdrose travelled up to Solihull to visit their affiliated charity, the newly-opened Royal Star 8t Garter Home. Two COS of l\-IASF Lt Cdr Ian Brailey (outgoing) and Lt Cdr Tony Dunn (incoming) led the group to visit their long~
—
established associate. MAST’ trace their links with the Royal Star 8: Garter back to the original Richmond home that opened in 1916. Fundraising for the home is a regular part of the NIASF HQ’s annual events programme, with last year featuring a John O’Groats
Land’s End sponsored run, with patron Simon \lVeston there to greet the weary runners as they crossed the finish line. The Solihull home has recently to
OVER IN America CPO Tim Jones spent months preparing to take on his first marathon only to have a knee injury almost take away his chance to run. Tim (pi}.‘.rlired' bc'1oti.'), a former ship's diver, and his oppo Lt Paul Hursthousc (rig/ii), a former clearance diver who has just completed training as a Senior Upper Yardman \‘s'-"arfare Officer, committed to running the Richmond marathon in the US. Tim said: “Personally it was
were
opened as an addition to the original Richmond Home, and plans are in hand to build a network of new homes in different parts of the country. Find out more online at www.
starandgartenorg.
Seeing pink
DESPITE a FOST grilling before setting out back to the Antarctic, the crew of HMS Endurance determined to celebrate Think Pink day on board the survey ship with a sponsored head shave. As all funds were for Breast Cancer Campaign, it wasn’t just the lads who had their locks shorn particular credit to LOM Sally Green and LS Kerry Collins. All on board dug deep raising over £2,600 for the cancer charity.
NAVYNEWS
ii'i‘%‘Pi§r INDOOR rowing in competition Gosport's Royal Navy Submarine Museum raised £3,000 for Help for Heroes. Fifty people from various medical establishments in mixed teams of ten took up the challenge. which was won by a tri-Service team from Fort Blockhouse Gymnasium. led by PTI Staff Sgt lssy Parfitt and featuring Naval MA Laura Thomosson. I
AN
touch and go for me to run. i\«Iy training was somewhat scuppered in earl_v October. “I was diagnosed with a knee problem and was forced to stop
I AT Bickleigh Barracks, home of 42 Commando RM, Falklands
However the senior rate, who is serving at the Headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, was determined to take on the marathon, and took advantage of excellent treatment from the US Navy's Physical Therapy department at Norfolk Naval Station. The week before the race he
of £3,000 raised by the Lodge towards helping injured Royals on their return to the UK. I THE British Forces Foundation was the winner of the 2008 Charity Times Awards. The BFF arranges morale-boosting visits of big-name entertainers to troops sewing all around the world, including the front lines of Afghanistan and Iraq. The charity manages all this solely through public donations. The award judges said: “They have shown great leadership in presenting effectively to the public the message of being proud of the work of our troops in the face of an unpopular war in Iraq." I A CHARITY auction at Devonport Naval Base raised more
Maj Gen Nick Vaux DSO received a cheque for £1,000
veteran
Lodge 9528, making a grand total
running."
finally managed
to
spend
some
the running machine. “With the physio’s green light, I was good to go. This was my first marathon so I am now able to speak from experience and say that 30 minutes running in four weeks prior to the marathon is definitely not the way to prepare. “Paul was great to run with, he gave me the encouragement I needed when I started to hobtile." The two finished with a time of five hours 1'3 seconds, 50 minutes slower than their original preinjury target. “Paul, I feel, could have gone a lot faster without the ‘limping old chief’ bringing up the rear. “Considering two weeks before I was barely able to jog 200 metres, so I felt my physios had done me time
on
proud.”
Ho\veverTim kept himself running with one focus “I could —
help but think of our seriously injured servicemen and women and what they would give to be
not
26.1 miles unaided. Enough said." The charities that the men chose to support were Help for Heroes, Seafarers UK and the Demelza Chi|dren’s Hospice. Tim admits that his inspiration for running in the lirst place was the story of Mne Mark Ormrod, able
to run
Royal Marine Plymouth
from
which reminded him of his time in
Afghanistan.
“I served in
2007, and sadly
Op Herrick in saw too
many of
boys killed or badly wounded but remain fiercely proud of the
our -—
work
our men
and
women are
doing in that region. “The Royal Navy and Royal Marines
are
playing their part in
spades. “Although I have
never
met
him, Mm: 0rmrod’s bravery and determination are humbling and serve to remind us all of the incredible spirit within the UK
military.
“It is impossible not to have respect for such a fine young serviceman." If you would like to support the runners, you can pledge to
preferred charity through (Seafarers UK) www.justgiving.com/tlmjones33; (Help for Heroes) www.justgiving.com/ timjones32; (Demelza Children's
your
Hospice) www.justgiving.com/
timjones34.
than
£4,000
for
Help
for Heroes.
Prizes for the auction and raffle were donated by local businesses and from further afield, including signed sports memorabilia and an overnight stay at Rick Stein’s restaurant in Padstow. W0 Mac McLaughl-an said: "We were absolutely delighted to raise over £4,300 for this charity, as our initial target was £1,000.
\l(-"e would like
to
thank all the
people who helped and donated prizes to enable us to have an exceptional response and turnout
for the event." I THE staff. Naval and civilian. in Portsmouth enjoyed the benefits of fresh baking at the Macmillan
Cancer Reliers Biggest Coffee
Morning events last year. with Navy Command HQ on Whale Island netting £420.63, and the
Portsmouth Naval Base HQ topping them with £715.79. I MOD communications provider Paradigm have donated £10,815 to Help for Heroes, including money garnered from :1 charity dinner evening and sponsorship of the Rugby Challenge Match in
September.
LAhot Emily Chambers
Cornwall bound Picture:
A RUN and cycle from Plymouth to Falmouth by 20 sailors from frigate HMS Cornwall raised £4,000 for Help for Heroes. The teams of runners and cyclists rattled collecting tins on their 70-mile route through Torpoint, Crafthole, Seaton, Polperro, Pentwyn,
Tregony,Penryn
and Falmouth.
One ofthe event organisers, S."Lt Ellen Shephard, said: “All team members completed their allocated stages with many doing additional stages, surpassing their own expections some even ran over 30 miles a day." “We received positive support from the local community, who cheered us on whilst adding money to our collection tins. Thankfullythe weather was kind to us. even though the terrain and hills of Cornwall —
See theorder form on page 33 Telephone023 9273 4448 Online: www.navynews.co.uk Also featuring in our March Issue
FalklandsToday One of our Editorial Team will be reporting back on the naval involvement in the Falklandstoday
Portsmouth Welcomes Daring ‘
A
.\
-9.—
I FORMER Serviceman Michael Bawtree set up a theatricalshow in Novemberabout the seizure of the Pegasus Bridge in Normandy at the start of D-Day. Money raised from the event went to new charity Project 65. which split among the Royal British Legion. Army Benevolent Fund. RAF Benevolent, BLESMA, St Dunstan's and Help for Heroes. I MEN from the Royal Marines Reserve based at HMS Caledonia, Rob Tansley, Phil Horey and Josh Bakker—Dyos, joined with staff from the Virgin Active healthclub in Edinburgh to complete a sponsored row in aid of Help for Heroes and in honour of the men oftl-5 Commando. Organiser of the event Kay
Burry
said: “As
someone
who is
going through the Royal Navy
A tale of seven Sevems
recruitment process, the work that Help for Heroes does is something that is very close to my heart. I felt it was time that I gave something back to the extraordinary men and women who are currently serving and making huge sacrifices on our behalf.” Pledge your support at www.justglving.com/
from HMS Severn will be climbing on to their bicycles, as ;'\'CI1J:"A\'€’tL'5 went to press, to begin a 300-mile coastal cycling route from Pcnzance to Portsmouth all raising money for the RNLI. The Naval Severn is affiliated with the RNLI and specifically her Severn-class lifeboats. This link means that the cyclists Lt Simon Yates, Lt Roland \‘ii"i|son and S»’Lt Charles Thornton will be paying visits to the six Severn—c|ass boats stationed between Penzance and Portsmouth: Pendeen, Falmouth, Plymouth, Torbay, \V"eymouth and Yarmouth; before meeting their seventh Severn, their own ship, in Portsmouth. CU Lt Cdr Steve l\-‘loorhouse said: “The RNLI is an outstanding charitable organisation that saves hundreds of lives at sea every year. l am extremely proud that Severn is associated with the Institute.”
I THE NPFS Social Work team at HMS Nelson decided to do something a little bit more creative when it came time for their annual team build. The whole group jumped at the chance of a makeover for a local primary school. And so the team headed off to Saxon Shore Primary School in Paulsgrove to bring a fresh look to their Music and Drama Room.
\t'Cl'C not.
“Although the event
extremely challenging, everyone who took part had a great sense of achievement as they completed the event and all had a thoroughlygood time."
THREE
was
men
—
v~
kaybunysponsoredrow.