26 NAVY NEWS, MAY 2009
A narrow
● The massed bands of the Royal Marines perform during the last Beating
Retreat at Horse Guards in 2006 Picture: PO(Phot) Nicola Harper
fi eld of
activities
SHE cannot match HMS
Daring for speed, fi repower or
wizardry.
But the newest addition to
the RN inventory perhaps can
compete with Britain’s super-
destroyer for comfort.
Narrowboat Warneford
VC will run up and down
the Kennet and Avon Canal,
providing a tranquil haven for
Service personnel to escape the
exertions of front-line life.
The boat, built by
ABC Leisure Group, was
commissioned by RNAS
Yeovilton for use not only by
sailors and marines at the
Somerset air base 40 miles
down the road, but by other
Senior Service personnel. It will
also be available for private hire
when not in demand from the
Navy.
The idea is to allow personnel
to unwind with a gentle cruise
after front-line operations –
especially Afghanistan, where
Yeovilton-based helicopters
and their crews are currently
heavily committed – either as a
group or with their families.
Janet Palmer, the wife of
the Yeovilton’s Commanding
Offi cer Cdre Chris Palmer,
performed the launch ceremony
in traditional style (smashing
a bottle of bubbly), before
presenting the narrowboat’s
‘captain’, CPO Steve Tidswell,
with a traditional canal barge
‘Buckby can’ – a colourful
watering can.
“The boat will play a vital role
in rest and relaxation of those
returning from very high tempo
theatres of operation,” said her
Band on the birthday Beat
husband.
“The narrowboat is just
magnifi cent. It will be used
extensively by Naval personnel
THERE is only one place to
for charities including Help for Herroesooeoes, es, , He HeHHe said: “Wee e have exceptional He added: “There will be musicians
as well as being available to musmummusicians, many of whom could play uusicc and buglers who have just returned
naval families.”
see the Massed Bands of
Seafarers UK, and the RNRMC.
thhreeeee in iniin prprproofessional orchestras. But most from operational duty in Afghanistan
The boat takes its name from
the Royal Marines on parade
The parade takes place over three
evenings, on June 9-11, although ugh ghgh peoppepeople listen to music with their eoeo performing in this major ceremonial
the fi rst Victoria Cross winner
this year – in London next anyone passing Horse Guards on n eyeeyes – and that is whery e we add event demonstrating the versatility and
in naval aviation, S/Lt Reginald
month, when they salute their
Sunday June 7 will be able to hear ar r aananother dimension.” fl exibility of the Royal Marines Band
Warneford. The event promises to be Service to not only provide ceremonial
He downed a Zeppelin in
Captain General, the Duke of
the bands rehearsing from about
colourful, with the RNA and excellence, but also operational
June 1915, dropping bombs on
Edinburgh, in their famous
10am.
The programme includes RMA providing standard capability to the Royal Navy.
the leviathan which set it on fi re
Beating Retreat ceremony. most of the old favourites – Sarie bearers, Sea Cadets on parade, “There is nothing like the sight and
and almost killed Warneford
More than 220 musicians from the Marais, Heart of Oak and A Life and 120 volunteer sailors and sound of the Massed Bands of the Royal
himself, throwing his aircraft
Portsmouth, Plymouth, Lympstone on the Ocean Wave – plus a Marines who will be selling Marines marching on to Horse Guards
upside down.
and Scotland bands will be on parade new fanfare for Fly Navy 100 programmes and showing Parade, it still makes the hairs on the
Ten days later, the young
on Horse Guards for the evening celebrations written by former people to their seats. back of your neck stand on end and this
aviator was dead, killed when
ceremonies, which promise a memorable bandmaster Michael McDermott. Lt Col Nick Grace, who will be time I will have the honour of conducting
his aircraft broke up during a
mix of music and spectacle. The last time the Massed Bands directing the musicians, said: “This will the Massed Bands.”
test fl ight.
Beating Retreat has taken place here played together was at the Mountbatten be my fi rst major ceremonial event as Tickets are available from
The narrowboat which
every two or three years for the past Festival of Music in the Albert Hall, in Principal Director of Music Royal Marines Ticketmaster, call 0844 8472504
bears his name can be found
50 years, ever since the Duke became February. and it certainly does not get any better or visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk/
at Staverton Waterside in
Captain General of the Corps. “The Mountbatten Festival shows off than having the privilege of conducting Royal-Marines-Beating-Retreat-2009-
Hilperton, where it will be
The main purpose is to celebrate his their skills in the concert hall, but this the Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s tickets/artist/983800.
looked after by volunteers on
birthday – he will be 88 on the 10th of is more ceremonial,” explained Corps Royal Marines on Horse Guards for the Prices are £12 each or £40 for a family
behalf of HMS Heron’s central
June – but the event also raises money Drum Major WO1 James Whitwham. Duke of Edinburgh.” ticket (two adults and three children).
fund.
Forces friendly footie
Ark’s sexual
healing
IS IT a bird? This resulted in 22 winning children walking on
HMS Ark Royal’s medical
Is it a plane? the pitch holding the hand of a player all dressed
department supported the
No, quite clearly it’s a football mascot carrying up in Argyle colours. One lucky child walked out
National Chlamydia Screening
a bucket. with the referee to take part in the coin toss for the
Programme by becoming the fi rst
And thus began Armed Forces Day at Plymouth start of the match.
RN ship to arrange a screening
Argyle FC’s – a day dedicated to Servicemen and There was a serious side to all this fun,
facility.
women in the South-West. however.
Around one in four members
More than 1,000 Service personnel and families The aim of the day was to celebrate and
of the ship’s company – some 150
sat down to an afternoon’s entertainment at commemorate service personnel and their
sailors – took advantage of the
Home Park as the Championship side entertained dedication to duty and to show the deep-felt
screening and were checked for
Burnley on a fine spring afternoon. support the city of Plymouth feels towards ‘its’
the infection.
They were offered discounted tickets to Servicemen and women and their families.
Chlamydia is the world’s most
watch the clash – but it wasn’t just football ll Rev Alen McCulloch (COMDEVFLOT)
prevalent sexually transmitted
on the menu. prayed for the men and women currently
infection and, despite often
Kicking off a series of youth and family- deployed and their families who support
starting as a symptomless
orientated sporting and entertainment them back home.t
condition, can lead to serious
events was Argyle’s Football in the He then called for a one-minute silence
infection and even infertility.
Community team, the Royal Navy’s to remember all those from the West
The most at-risk age group is
physical training instructors coaching Country who had fallen in service. An
the under 25s – one in ten people
football skills and Plymouth Raiders unscripted poignant moment occurred
is believed to be infected although
coaching basketball skills for 6-16 year with everyone in the stadium standing
often no symptoms are noticed.
olds. and clapping to show their support in a
The infection is simply dealt with
Younger children learned circus skills heart-warming and encouraging way.
by a course of antibiotics.
with their parents and were entertained by When the sides trotted in at half-time with
Ark’s medical department, in
clowns. the score at 1-1, the display team trotted out again
conjunction with the nurse co-
The crowd was treated to the Plymouth Pipe for another demonstration.
ordinator of chlamydia screening
and Drum band who performed rousing tunes Eventually the Royals turned on Pilgrim Pete,
in Portsmouth and the nursing
while marching around the pitch. who – much to the amusement of the crowd – beat
offi cer from HMS Nelson, invited
And then the Royal Marines Commando Display them at their own game and won ‘King of the Mat’,
members of the ship’s company to
Team abseiled off the new Lyndhurst stand with standing on his defeated opponents.
attend a confi dential and painless
‘Pilgrim Pete’, Argyle’s mascot, and the match ball The afternoon raised more than £2,300 – there health screen; a simple urine test
in a bucket. were RN and RM cadets throughout the stadium was all that was required.
After winding up the Burnley fans, Pete fi nally collecting – for Help for Heroes and the Khumbu Sailors who are unfortunate
handed the ball over to outgoing Flag Offi cer Sea Challenge. enough to be infected will be
Training, Rear Admiral Richard Ibbotson, to get The latter good cause will see 87 personnel notifi ed by text message to their
proceedings under way, presenting the match ball from all three Forces who have been injured in mobile phones.
to the ref. the line of duty heading to the Himalayas for a The nurse will also discuss
A poster competition run by Naval Personal climbing/trekking expedition designed to help contact tracing in order to track
Family Services offered the winners the chance to their rehabilitation. other people who may have
be match mascots for the day. Picture: LA(Phot) Abbie Gadd, FRPU West become infected.
026_NN_May.indd 1 21/4/09 13:06:04
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