Issuu

ROYAL MARINES 350

Marines monopoly? You’ll really lovat MR MONOPOLY is something of an iconic figure, with his bushy white moustache, his cane and his green beret.

Drum roll record broken

A ROYAL Marines drummer has smashed the world record for the longest individual drum roll. Sgt Bugler Graham ‘Stevo’ Stephenson broke the previous record of 12 hours and three seconds by drumming out a continuous beat lasting more than 18 hours onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, in the Port of Leith, Scotland. The 40-year-old is now a double record holder as he was also one of the Royal Marines’ Corps of Drums which broke the group drum roll record in May this year. The two bids were made as part of the celebrations of the 350th anniversary of the Royal Marines – established in 1664. Sgt Stephenson said: “My wrists held up okay and a lot of the lads were keeping me awake as the biggest problems were fatigue and the need to rest. But now that it’s over it’s lovely to be the new record holder.” During the drum roll Sgt Stephenson was permitted a five-minute break every hour which was strictly monitored by invigilators who ensured the Guinness World Record rules were not infringed. As a member of the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland, Stevo is used to disciplined training and focus and continued playing well into the record books ensuring that anyone who tries to beat his record has a long way to go. But the attempt has also helped raise money for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund. The Corps of Drums will continue to raise money for the RMCTF until the endof this month through their Justgiving page www.justgiving.com/ RMCOD1664

Life really is a beach

ROYAL Marines from Plymouth helped feed the top lifeguards in the country. Chefs from Plymouthbased 30 Commando provided outdoors catering for hungry lifeguards at Exmouth. The willing chefs volunteered to support Exmouth Beach Rescue Club as it hosted the National Beach Life Guarding Competition (NLC) for the first time. The Navy’s amphibious troops set up a full field galley, similar to that created on operations such as Afghanistan. Breakfast, lunch and evening meals were provided for up to 300 people, including the host rescue club, Surf Life Saving Great Britain and members of the public.

Green beret? Thanks to an enterprising group of Royal Marines the cartoon character that has represented Monopoly since the mid-1930s has donned a green lid in place of his top hat for a hoofing new limited edition of the trading board game to mark the 350th anniversary of the Corps. The driving force behind the scheme, WO2 Mark Stevens RM, said the idea grew out of the fact that Royal Marines around the world have for decades ‘adjusted’ standard Monopoly boards to give them a Royal spin. A conversation in the Sergeants’ Mess at the Commando Training Centre RM at Lympstone in early 2012 resulted in a rough prototype for an official Corps Monopoly game – and sparked a vigorous debate over what should (and should not) feature on the board. Mark rang manufacturers Hasbro, who put him in touch with Winning Moves, designers and manufacturers of bespoke Monopoly boards under licence from Hasbro. The prospect of being the first UK military group to have their own version of the game spurred Mark and his RM team – Corps RSM WO1 (RSM) Ally McGill, WO1 Lee Carr, WO1 Jon McWilliams, WO1 Mac McMaster, WO1 Miles Hall and C/Sgt Dave Lewis – over the various hurdles, and the germ of an idea developed into a workable plan. The production run would be limited to 5,000, it would reflect the whole Corps history, not just the modern era, and when they canvassed opinion through social

l Royal Marines Monopoly to mark the 350th anniversary of the Corps costs £29.95 and is available online at http://royalmarinesshop. com/games-and-toys/ royal-marines-350thanniverary-editionmonopoly.html

media and the Corps’ own magazine, Globe and Laurel, more than 600 people got in touch with suggestions and observations. “The next step was to pull someone into the group who lived and breathed Corps history,” said Mark. “Step forward WO1 Bob Henderson RM, the former First Drill, who looked as if all his Christmasses had come at once!” It was decided that the board would be a chronological yomp through 350 years of Corps history, with the Royal Marines Band Service represented with their own square and playing piece – a side drum. The other pieces are a combat boot, ammo liner, rigid raider,WP helmet and a four-tonne truck. The green beret was discounted as it would not sit level, and a

commando dagger and Sea King were “too flimsy and prone to breaking with the sausage fingers inherent in bootnecks,” said Mark. After a year of seeking funding, getting necessary clearances and attracting pre-sales of a ‘virtual board’ to achieve a minimum guaranteed sales figure, the project was up and running – and now the team are looking forward to the arrival of the first games. “I am chuffed to bits,” said Mark. “It has taken three years, and a lot of hours, but it has been worth it.” More than 3,500 sets have been pre-sold, and the lovat

Up for a challenge

ONCE a Royal Marine, always a Royal Marine… A green beret PTI and recruits help former bootneck Derek ‘Blondie’ Boorn out of the infamous ‘sheep dip’ – one of the many grim obstacles overcome by 2,000 people who rose to Commando Challenge to help charity. They converged on Woodbury Common to tackle part of the gruelling endurance course which Royal Marines recruits going through the nearby Commando Training Centre at Lympstone must get through to become a member of the nation’s elite amphibious infantry. For the past 24 years, the Commando Challenge has sought to give the general public a crack at that course – and raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for good causes. Competitors can choose which

challenge to rise to: a fourkilometre run, ten or 17km for the hardcore. All routes make use of part of the endurance course – a series of tunnels, muddy pits and ponds. The tunnels are manned by volunteers from the RMA, although the ‘sheep dip’ – a short underwater tunnel – is controlled by a Royal Marines Physical

Training Instructor with recruits of 190 Troop to help participants through. Among those running the gauntlet, 76-year-old ‘Blondie’ Boorn from the Royal Marines Association’s Swanage branch, joined by his 55-year-old son Peter (also ex-Royal Marine) and 19-year-old grand-daughter Lauren who wants to join the Royal Navy.

version of the game was officially launched on September 27 in Gibraltar – the Royal Marines’ first and sole representative Battle Honour, as the Corps has been involved in more battles by land and sea around the world than any other branch of the British Armed Forces. It is hoped that all orders will be fulfilled before the Corps 350th birthday on October 28. The boxes will include a tri-fold insert explaining the relevance of the places on the board and a glossary of the bootneck slang on the ‘Orderly Room’ and ‘Spoof’. Profits from the game will go to Royal Marines charities. Once the limited edition has sold out, the team will consider whether there is a market for an ‘ordinary’ Royal Marines version, without the 350th anniversary branding.

Royal backing for sport MORE THAN 100 competitors took part in the second Royal Marines Rehabilitation Triathlon at Commando Training Centre in Lympstone. The event was organised by Physical Training Instructors at CTCRM for serving, injured military personnel and veterans and attended by Prince Harry as some of the competitors took part in the Invictus Games last month. Every Royal Marines unit was represented, with competitors also coming from the Army and Royal Navy. There were also contingents from the United States Marine Corps and the Royal Netherlands Marines Corps. The event was funded and supported by Help for Heroes and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund. The triathlon acknowledged the physical restrictions of each competitor and comprised of an indoor swim at the CTCRM pool, an outdoor cycle around Lympstone and Woodbury Common and an indoor rowing competition. The competition was split into different categories due to the injuries varying all the way up to triple amputee, with adapted equipment used. CTCRM Commandant Dave Kassapian said: “As we celebrate our 350th anniversary as a Corps, there is no better way for the Royal Marines to commemorate all those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, than to have our wounded warriors competing against each other.” Cpl John Richardson of Plymouth-based 42 Cdo rehabilitation troop completed the triathlon despite having severe osteoarthritis in his knee. He said: “This is a great event for all those people like me.”

Thanks a million WITH the North East hosting one of its busiest weekends of the year, the Naval Service was on hand to help with celebrations. This year the one millionth runner crossed the Great North Run finish line in South Shields and to mark the occasion this year’s half marathon was bigger and better than ever with four days of festivities. Using the Royal Naval Reser ves North East headquarters, HMS Calliope, as a backdrop, the Great North Run Million ceremony kicked off with a sound and light spectacular along the banks of the River Tyne where both sailors and Marines took part in the show, which featured local artists including Sting and Mark Knopfler. Royal Marines commandos provided unarmed combat displays, let youngsters try out their kit, and abseiled six storeys down the side of the

Baltic Centre. More than 55,000 runners lined up at the start line ready for the big race with many hoping to be the lucky one millionth finisher. But leading the way were the Royal Marines 1664 Challengers – charged with carrying the Millionth Finisher Flag around the course. It was the RM1664 runners’ job to finish the half marathon in 2 hrs 20 mins, arriving just in time for the millionth finisher – a task they did with military precision before Marine Tom Barker raised the flag at the finish line. He said: “Once we finished the 1664 Challenge we were all going to do the Great North Run to promote the Royal Marines and the fact that this is our 350th birthday. “The run itself was fantastic and the crowd was really supportive.”

Follow the Royal Marines during their anniversary year at www.Royalnavy.mod.uk/RM350 42 : OCTOBER 2014