BRNC boost for Dartmouth
The head of Dartmouth has praised the efforts of local charities as they collected a string of donations. Britannia Royal Naval College’s Cdre Simon Williams made the comments as more than £2,000 was passed to community groups including Dartmouth Sea Cadets. He said: “Everyone connected to BRNC gains a lot from our strong connections with the local community and we are delighted to be able to help with regular donations from our fund-raising activities.” Officer cadets arranged pub quizzes, raffles and an arm wrestling contest to raise the money. A specific evening for the RNLI was organized by Vanguard Division and boosted their funds by £450. Other beneficiaries included Dartmouth Caring, Rowcroft Hospice, Dartmouth’s Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Cats Protection League. The presentation was made in mid-April at the naval college.
Scots sailor in Gobi march A Scots petty officer will walk shoulder to shoulder with football fans across one of the world’s harshest environments for charity. Glasgow Celtic fan PO Tony McCallum will trek 100 miles across the Gobi desert to raise money in memory of two Scottish greats. PO McCallum is part of a group of 18 – six Celtic fans, six Rangers fans and six Motherwell fans – who will raise cash in honour of Jimmy Johnstone and Davie Cooper. Former Celtic player Johnstone died of Motor Neurone Disease and Rangers star Cooper died of a brain haemorrhage in 1995. The group, who are being followed by a BBC crew, will leave for the trek from the Hampden football stadium during Scotland’s international match with the Czech Republic on September 2. The proceeds from their journey will go to Motor Neurone Disease Scotland and the Davie Cooper Centre.
Tyne lands a Lord Mayor
The fishery patrol vessel HMS Tyne took part in an unusual operation off the coast of Wales in aid of charity. Swapping patrol duties for taxi work, the 80-metre River Class vessel delivered a Cardiff council worker to the island of Flat Holm, five miles into the Bristol Channel. John Holloman decided to be ‘shipwrecked’ for four nights on the island to raise money for Latch Welsh Children’s Cancer Charity, the Lord Mayor’s chosen charity. For one night Cllr Keith Hyde even joined John on the island. Lt Cdr Will Peters, commanding officer of HMS Tyne, said: “This was a splendid charity event which I hope will raise a lot of money and we were delighted to be asked to transport the council party out to the island.”
Call to honour mariners
The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society is asking members of the maritime and air/sea rescue community to nominate colleagues for acts of bravery. Celebrity presenter and gardener Alan Titchmarsh is supporting the awards, which mark the 172nd anniversary of the society. An aircrew from RNAS Culdrose won an award at last year’s event for their rescue of four trawlermen off the Isles of Scilly on New Year’s Eve. For more information contact Chief Executive Malcolm Williams on 01243 789329 or general@ shipwreckedmariners.o.rg.uk
Talent atop Kilimanjaro THE TALENT submariners who headed out to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro made it to the summit – but it was described as “an emotional experience.”
CPO Darren Lunn said: “It should have taken five days, but we did it in four. We decided not to do the acclimatisation.” All four submariners – CPO Lunn, PO Paul ‘Scrimmers’ Scrimshaw, ET Adam ‘Willie’ Williams and ET Daniel ‘Whisky’ Walker – did make it to the peak, although one did suffer with a nasty bout of altitude sickness (possibly not surprising for a deep...). He added: “The relief at reaching the summit was the highlight. “It was amazing once we got off the plane in Tanzania. Just to see the mountain itself free-standing was so impressive. “It exceeded all my expectations.” Darren concluded: “I’d recommend it to anyone. Just go for it.” The team have raised over £700 for the RNBT (Royal Naval Benevolent Trust), but if anyone
NAVY NEWS, JUNE 2011
Carl sets a record
THIS year’s London Marathon proved heavy going for Royal Marines Sgt Carl Creasey, but that didn’t prevent him breaking a world record and raising more than £2,500 for the charity Seafarers UK. Carl, carrying a 60lb pack over the 26.2-mile course, completed the marathon in the weight-carrying record time of 4h 50m 56s. “I’ve always taken part in running events, and have never been afraid of enduring challenges,” said Carl. “But the London Marathon was by far my toughest challenge yet.” Director General of Seafarers, Commodore Barry Bryant, described Carl’s feat as amazing. He was there to see it. “We couldn’t be more pleased with this fantastic effort,” he said. Carl said he chose to support the charity as it is offering growing support to RN and RM personnel injured in Afghanistan and paid tribute to his family and friends – especially his mother – who led his fundraising as well as his trainer Ben Law who ran the route with him. You can still support Carl’s record breaking run by visiting www. justgiving.com/carl-creasey.
Medics help horses l Scaling the slopes of Kilimanjaro, CPO Darren Lunn, PO Paul ‘Scrimmers’ Scrimshaw, ET Adam ‘Willie’ Williams, and ET Daniel ‘Whisky’ Walker else wants to pledge their support you can write to CPO Lunn on the boat at: HMS Talent, BFPO 401. Last month the team also took to their boots to tackle the Keswick to Barrow walk, the
Fleet of foot
40-mile sponsored team walk (and from the records Darren finished 25th on the day). And plans are in hand for another mountainous adventure to Mount Elbrus, Europe’s highest mountain, in spring next year.
Sailors, soldiers and airmen mucked in to help out an animal sanctuary for former military horses. More than 30 volunteers from the Defence School of Medical Technical Training spent a day at The Horses Trust sanctuary in Buckinghamshire. They helped with maintenance tasks including painting fences, horse shelters and barns, and landscaping parts of the site. Based at Keogh Barracks in Aldershot, the personnel are training to become medics in the armed forces. Major Ashok Rao, Officer Commanding Phase 2 Training, said: “We have encouraged voluntary work among the trainees as there are several benefits to all parties concerned.”
IN SUPPORT OF The
A team of Fleet Air Arm runners put in a marathon effort for south west charities. Five members of 702 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton ran the Yeovil half marathon and raised £400 for St Margaret’s Hospice. Cdr Peter Hoare, commanding officer of 702 Squadron, said: “It’s great that at the same time as supporting the new half marathon we can support St Margaret’s Hospice with the important work they do.” 702 Squadron is the training squadron for the Westland-manufactured Lynx helicopter. Meanwhile, also in March, 771 Search and Rescue Naval Air Squadron took on the Bath Half Marathon for the RNLI and the Lizard Lifeboat appeal. The squadron’s commanding officer, Lt Cdr Chris Canning, said: “This is another example of a great fundraising idea.”
National lap RBL boost for for troops Dunstaners
Troops recently returned from Afghanistan received a standing ovation from thousands of racegoers at the Grand National. Thirty-eight serving personnel including sailors walked the home straight at Aintree as part of an initiative by the British Forces Foundation. Aintree marketing manager Emma Owen said: “The appearance of Servicemen and women, newly returned from Afghanistan, raised huge cheers from our crowds on Grand National Day as we all showed our support.”
Dorchester do
Tickets are on sale for a black tie celebration of Britain’s armed forces. The British Forces Foundation charity fundraiser will take place at The Dorchester in London on Tuesday, June 28. Ticket prices and information are available by calling the BFF on 01672 564911 or emailing info@ bff.org.uk.
ST DUNSTAN’s, the national charity that supports blind ex-Service people, has received a donation of £2.6 million from the Royal British Legion. The donation, part of the RBL’s commitment to the welfare of the Armed Forces family, will go towards running St Dunstan’s high-dependency unit at its Llandudno Centre in North Wales.
Blue Hurworth Sailors from HMS Hurworth have taken part in a citywide cancer charity day. The Por tsmouth-based minehunter’s crew coaxed personnel and staff at the naval base to dig deep for Blue Day on Friday May 6. Fundraising was carried out to help the Tom Prince Cancer Trust – a charity devoted to raising money in memory of a Portsmouth fan who died on the eve of his 16th birthday.
Neptune Band wow the crowd
Faslane base workers, service personnel and Helensburgh schoolchildren enjoyed a band performance at HM Naval Base Clyde’s new mess. More than £450 was raised during the evening concert by HMS Neptune Volunteer Band, which will be split between Parklands School near Faslane
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and other charities. Band Colour Sergeant Ann Miller said: “The evening was full of musical variation and featured performances by the big band, soloists, a Corps of Drums and a piper.” The event was held in March at the supermess, which was completed last year.
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The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (no. 6047294) and is a registered charity (no.1117794) and Scotland (SC041898) Registered Office: Building 29, HMS EXCELLENT, Whale Island, Portsmouth, PO2 8ER