NAVY NEWS, JUNE 2009 27
in br
news
ief

■ AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL Marathon
specialist Lt Jonathan Knight
is planning a 24-hour ban on
western technology to raise
money for his charity work in
the Eastern Cape.
Jonathan, who is based at
RNAS Culdrose, plans to visit
South Africa during his block
leave this summer to work on
efforts
conservation and rehabilitation
projects to help the local people
and wildlife.
LESS THAN 24 hours after
Among his tasks will be
completing the London mar-
maintaining wells and watering
athon, five energetic runners
holes, monitoring the wildlife
from HMS Gloucester were
in the area, and helping the back on board their ship
cheetah and lion release and preparing for three weeks’
breeding programmes.
hard training – this time of
“It’s vital that we try to
the maritime variety.
improve the facilities, education
The five, AB(WS) Robert
and living conditions for the
Barnes, LS(AWT) Roger
natives in the area as well
Shepherd, LWEA Harry Young,
as trying to restore the once
PO Logs (Pers) ‘Buster’ Brown
plentiful numbers of wild animals
and Lt Dave Berry, aka Chuck,
destroyed by poaching and
competed the 26-mile run in
extensive farming,” he said.
times varying from four hours 11
To fund his trip, Jonathan is
minutes to five hours 27 minutes.
● Event organiser AB Samantha Hackett RNR, who also works for
planning three sponsored fasts,
The team ran in aid of the
Save the Children, in the midst of fundraising with LS Jonathan
an 85-hour silence and a 24-hour
ship’s affiliated charity, the
Davis, the Junior Rates’ Mess President at HMS President
technology ban.
Spring Centre, in Gloucester,
“I’m trying to emulate
which offers day care and help
some of the conditions and
for parents with disabled children.
disadvantages the people and
So far they have raised more than Reservist record
animals in this area endure,”
£3,000 and further donations are
he said.
welcome at www.justgiving.com/
A CHARITY gala at HMS President, the London reserve unit, raised a
If you want to support him, you
davidhberry.
Next Antony plans to join the injuries like these. What I want
record-breaking £7,000 for Save the Children.
can contact him at Jonathan.
Despite the team’s aching legs,
Ark Royal 24 Peaks Challenge to say is that we have a nation
The event was organised and run by the Junior Rates’ Mess and
Knight731@mod.uk.
there was no respite on their return
next month. of soldiers who are willing to
staffed by serving reservists from the ship’s company.
to the ship, which immediately
Marine Ben McBean also ran sacrifice their lives and limbs for
Guests were greeted with a glass of champagne and serenaded by
started her three weeks of Directed
this year’s London Marathon, this country.■ IMOGEN James, the daughter
professional opera singers on the decking overlooking Tower Bridge.
of LET Nick ‘Taff’ James, was
Capability Training.
fulfilling a pledge he made himself “The men and women who
During the buffet that followed, Rod Davis, a member of John
born with optic nerve hypoplasia –
The team presented the cheque
soon realising the extent of the come back with injuries like me
Lennon’s original 1956 Quarrymen, entertained guests with timeless
a condition that causes blindness
during an affiliated visit at the
injuries he suffered in a Taleban deserve help to get their lives
tunes and as the sun set over the Thames, they took their seats in the
and other physical limitations.
end of May, after which HMS
landmine blast. back on track – and that is what
main hall where comedian Steve Furst (best-known for the Orange
Taff and his wife Lauren
Gloucester and her doughty
Despite the loss of his arm and Headley Court does.
adverts) compered the auction.
(surnamed Campbell in her Navy
runners deployed to the South
leg in the explosion just over a year “Troops need to know that if
Lots included a signed Chelsea shirt and other rare and sporting
days) are seeking to raise £30,000
Atlantic for six months of patrol
ago, Ben set himself a demanding something happens they’ll be OK.
memorabilia, which raised £2660 in bids.
to send their daughter to China for
tasking.
training programme, and fought That’s got to be worth a couple
Comedians Shappi Khorsandi and Matt Kershern kept the guests
stem-cell treatment, a pioneering
Also running in the marathon
his way to the end of the marathon of pounds from anyone’s pocket.”
amused for an hour before the evening ended with dancing and drinking.
procedure that is not yet available
was CPO (CIS) Antony Collings,
in six hours 15 minutes. Pledge your support to Ben
All the performers gave their time and talent free of charge.
in the UK.
from HMS Ark Royal, who earned
Ben spoke about his fundraising online at www.justgiving.com/
The money raised brings President’s total to £14,500 over the last two
There are already events taking
his chosen charity, Seafarers
charity before the event, saying: “I benmcbean.
years – thought to be a record for a reserve unit.
place around the country, with
UK, over £270 per hour as he
want to thank Help for Heroes for
involvement by the Naval folk
completed the 26.2 miles run.
all the support they have given me
that Nick has met during his
Antony’s time of three hours
through funding other groups.
career at RNAS Culdrose, HMS
49 minutes (very impressive for a
“I only have one leg and one
Sultan and most recently RNAS
35-year-old, if he doesn’t mind us
arm, but I can run and lead a
Yeovilton with the Commando
saying so) reflected his disciplined
relatively normal life.
Helicopter Force.
year-long training regime.
“Not so long ago I was worried
If you would like to pledge your
He said: “The day itself was
about stopping off some way from
support or fundraise for the family,
brilliant, although the conditions
where I wanted to go in town
please contact Taff on 0776 141
were a little warm for a first
because of the long walk. Now
0053, or visit their website at
attempt. I felt really good until
not only am I running, but I am
www.helpimogensee.org which
mile 24 – after that it really was
running several miles and think
gives details of fundraising
a case of having to dig deep and
nothing of it.
activities already taking place.
crack on, walking was not an
“That has helped me put
option.
everything into perspective and
“It was at that stage that I made
gives me confidence to tackle the ■ THERE’S STILL time to enter
the Chara Challenge, a 30-mile
the most of my jelly beans, water
smaller things in life.”
race across Dartmoor organised
and energy Gels – but not all at
He added: “This could happen
by 3 Commando Brigade to raise
the same time!”
to anyone – it’s not just me with
funds for colleagues injured in
Afghanistan and for dependants
of those who died.
The race, which takes place
on July 16, replicates the final
commando test and will be
conducted by up to 100 four-
man teams, military and civilian,
wearing boots and carrying 32lb
in a daysack.
3 Commando Brigade
returned from Afghanistan in
April after a six-month tour in
which 37 Marines died, 169
were wounded in action, and
379 suffered non-battle-related
injuries.
For further details go to www.
charachallenge.com
■ HMS COLLINGWOOD was
the venue for the fi rst dinner for
AWT (Above Water Tactical)
specialists, past and present.
The guests came together in
the Warrant Officers’ and Senior
Rates’ Mess for their inaugural
do. The dinner also raised more
than £1,100 for Help for Heroes
– partly by means of a raffle and
partly by a few judicious fines
for such misdemeanors as not
observing the dinner protocol, and
even heckling the guest speaker.
■ THE PRINCESS Royal has
agreed to become the first
Patron of The Royal Navy
and Royal Marines Charity,
established to bring a single
focus to naval charity.
in br
news
ief

● Mne Ben McBean ran this year’s London Marathon on his
prosthetic leg in aid of Help for Heroes
026-027_NN_jun09.indd 2 21/5/09 14:44:43
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