18 NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2009
● CPO Richard Perfect in
Afghanistan
Deep
perfects
● A selection of the John O’Groats to Land’s End cyclists from ComUKAmphibFor: Capt John Hayward,
Capt Rob Thorpe, Maj Mike Scanlon, Lt Cdr Si Gair, Lt Cdr Dan Thomas, WO1 Steve Collins RN
By sea, by land,
training in
Helmand
IT’S not just Iraq (see left) which
has provided challenge for
by bike in Basra
training programmes, out on the
frontline in Afghanistan CPO
Richard Perfect has been getting
himself ready for this month’s
London Marathon.
The submariner, rather more
Echo’logy
used to being in an under-the-
BASRA is not well known for its cycling paths, so using the expertise of a few cycling ‘gurus’ and
sea environment than in a total
the 12 members of Commander UK Amphibious attractive spinning instructors.”
absence of sea, has always dreamt
Forces have been improvising a bit in the gym. The team have already begun their fundraising
of running the London Marathon
The 12 men, both Navy and Marines, are all in efforts, already £1,600 towards their ultimate goal
and when he found that he had a
training for an End-to-End cycle challenge due to of £30,000.
place was not prepared to let the
SURVEY ship HMS Echo showed off her ecological credentials
take place at the start of June. John added: “The website is www.justgiving.
chance slip away.
when she visited Jakarta in Indonesia.
They will cycle over ten days from John O’Groats com/jogle_by_caf, and we are open to all sorts of
The 37-year-old said: “It was
Thirty members of the ship’s company travelled to the Pondok
to Land’s End, stopping at RN and RM units along offers and ideas in order to boost our totals.”
always my ambition to run the
Pesantren Asshiddiqiyah Islamic College to help students plant
the way, all to raise funds for Help for Heroes. The 12 cyclists are: Col Pete Taylor, John
distance before I hit 40, and so
trees around the school (pictured above).
Capt John Hayward RM said: “Currently every Stainton, Lt Col Sharky Ward, Maj Mike Scanlon,
training in Afghanistan, whatever
Echo’s commanding officer, Cdr Gary Brooks, said: “A mutual
member of the team is stationed in Basra. A total Maj Yorkie Maynard, Maj Chris Hall, Lt Cdr Simon the difficulties, was my only
friendship definitely developed among the children, their teachers
lack of bikes (and hills) has forced us to train using Gair, Lt Cdr Dan Thomas, Capt John Hayward, option.”
and the sailors.
Trixter Spinning Cycles in the gym here, while Capt Rob Thorpe, WO1 Steven Collins. The camp at Lashkar Gah did
“All from HMS Echo experienced the mutual benefit of the Royal
add to the difficulties of training
Navy mixing with the Indonesian community.”
for an endurance event – its
The next day saw the hydrographic and oceanographic survey
perimeter is just under 1km
ship welcome on board a party of pupils and teachers from the
...and by foot
with a surface of loose stone and
school.
gravel.
Ritchie said: “Running round
Kent builds ‘Lynx’
THE amphibious lads are not British spring – “It’s lovely. I can
in circles, on less than even
the only ones who’ve been facing listen to music. Run on my own.
ground, is challenging (not to
a challenge to train in Basra. It’s not dusty. It’s not roasting
mention mind-numbingly boring)
with Demelza House
Lt Claire Poynton found out hot.”
and does play havoc on my
shortly after arriving in Iraq
Claire is running the marathon
ankles. I have had more than a
that her application to run the
– her first full marathon after
few near misses.
MEMBERS of HMS Kent’s gave us the opportunity to show
London marathon this April was
two successful Plymouth half-
“My role here in the Brigade
ship’s company paid a call on their them where all their fundraising
successful.
marathons – in aid of Cancer
headquarters is to assist with
affi liated charity Demelza House, efforts are put to work.”
Six months in Basra with all
Research UK; her father was
the care pathway for all injured
accompanied rather impressively Lt Cdr Peter Pipkin WEO
the limits of the environment and
diagnosed with the disease two
servicement – from those
by two Lynx helicopters from 815 said: “The purpose of the
the weather were not entirely
years ago.
involved in minor accidents to
Naval Air Squadron, courtesy visit was to reaffirm our links
conducive to training, so the
She admits she didn’t entirely
those seriously injured in battle.
of the ship’s Flight Observer Lt with the children’s hospice in
officer rose early to get her miles
expect to get her application
“Having seen the nature and
Henderson. Sittingbourne, Kent, and hand
in before the full heat of the
approved: “It was a bit of a shot
extent of the injuries sustained
Demelza’s director of over a cheque for £2,500 – money
day, and spent long hours on the
in the dark. My mum told me I’ve
fundraising James Hanaway said: raised during our deployment to
treadmill.
got to go for it, when I started
by individuals in this theatre,
“The children were really excited the Far East last year.” She arrived back in the UK
thinking about it, and so I did.”
I decided to join the Help for
to see the Lynx helicopters and a Demelza House is a haven for with just two months of training to
Spare a thought for Claire’s
Heroes Marathon team.”
post-marathon recovery – she
He added: “I fully support
great day was had by all. many families with terminally ill prepare for this month’s marathon,
joins her new ship HMS Roebuck
the work they do in helping
“It was fantastic to welcome the children, creating a real home and is loving every minute of
the day after.
both the individual and families,
crew of HMS Kent to Demelza and from home atmosphere. training in the cold and wet of the
If you would like to sponsor
both through the initial stages
her, she has a webpage at www.
of trauma and in long-term
Heart of Oak
justgiving.com/clairepoynton.
rehabilitative care.
(Oh, and by the way, if the CAF
“I am fully aware of the
guys would like to sponsor her
number and extent of life-
ROYAL NAVY SUBMARINES
on there as she did for them a
changing injuries sustained in
Replica models hand cast in white metal, black washed and polished to give a pewter effect,
help Acorns
long while back, that would be
Helmand, and by running the
good...).
marathon not only can I fulfil a
mounted on a wooden plinth 11” x 2” with polished plaque.
STUDENTS from the Defence
lifetime ambition, but I can also
Picture A CLASS all models £40.00 + £3.00 p&p (UK only)
School of Health Care Studies at
Selly Oak in Birmingham jumped
Sultan
do a small bit to help raise funds
for this worthy cause.”
at the chance to run an activities
And so as the heat rises in
afternoon with a military twist at
the Acorn’s Children’s Hospice. helps KIDS
Helmand, Ritchie Perfect can be
found patiently (and cautiously)
LMA Lizzie Meatyard said: “We
wending his away around the
£40.00
provided an array of uniforms and THE PROCEEDS of last year’s
base’s perimeter as he prepares
+ £3.00 P&P
military kit, kindly donated gifts fundraising efforts on the Keswick
for the somewhat different
UK Only
from local careers offices, and to Barrow 40-mile road race by
environment of the London
nautical word searches and crafts HMS Sultan staff have been
Marathon.
to give an insight into the Forces. presented to charities Naomi
Support his efforts online
“The children and their carers House Children’s Hospice and
at www.justgiving.com/
were delighted to take part in the KIDS – Fareham and Gosport
ritchieperfect.
activities afternoon, leaving with Young Carers. ■ IN THE RATHER less
happy memories and a glimpse of The two teams – the Delayed gruelling conditions of the
the military way of life.” Neutrons and the Fast Neutrons Devonshire countryside,
Students regularly volunteer – netted between them the former Weapon Engineering
Models include A Class, U Class, T Class, P&O Class and Swiftsure Class.
at the Hospice which supports Keswick/Barrow Challenge Cup Artificer Marcus Page is also
children and their families in for the best walking by a team preparing himself for the London
To order your model send your name, address and daytime telephone number,
the West Midlands. They help from outside Cumbria and the W Marathon.
maintain the grounds, and offer RichardsonTrophy for the best The one-time submariner
along with your cheque or credit card details (visa/mastercard) to: services as play workers, and adding team from the MOD and Armed who spent five years in the Royal
Skytrex Ltd, Unit 1 Charnwood Business Park, North Road, Loughborough,
to the experiences, entertainment Forces. Navy before being discharged
and happy memories of children The donations were particularly due to deep vein thrombosis is
Leicestershire LE11 1LE Tel: 01509 213789 with limited lifespans. well received this year as the credit determined to raise £1,400 for
Email: sales@skytrex.com www.skytrex.com
“After the great time we had,” crunch and international financial charity, the Sailors’ Society.
said Lizzie, “we’re planning a problems have created difficulties Find out more and pledge your
PLEASE ALLOW UP TO 28 DAYS FOR DELIVERY
larger event for patients, families particularly for Naomi House support at www.justgiving.com/
and carers in the summer.” Children’s Hospice. marcuspage.
018-019_NN_apr09.indd 1 19/3/09 16:33:38
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58