4 NAVY NEWS, JUNE 2009
More days
Picture: LA(Phot) Nick Crusham, FRPU West
of Daring
IF WEST Country folk fear
they’re being deprived of seeing
the Navy’s latest warship, fear no
longer.
Already on show – for the first
time – to the Portsmouth public
next month, HMS Daring is the
first warship confirmed for Navy
Days in Devonport this summer.
Also open to the public at the
September 5 and 6 event will
be a Type 23 frigate, a Bay-class
amphibious ship, and Trafalgar-
class submarine among other
attractions.
Unlike the ‘RN Past and
Present’ open weekend in
Pompey on July 18 and 19, Navy
Days is not free.
Details of attractions and ticket
prices are available at www.
royalnavy.mod.uk/navydays or
by calling 08445 787878.
Also in Portsmouth, the ever-
popular Royal Navy Volunteer
Bands festival will be staged in the
Guildhall and Guildhall Square Police seek
on Saturday July 4.
Eight bands from Senior
Service establishments – three help over
from the Portsmouth area alone,
namely Nelson, Sultan and
Collingwood, plus Neptune,
The silent stalker
Kyle’s death
Heron, Seahawk, Devonport and
Northwood – compete for various
DETECTIVES in Portsmouth
trophies both inside and outside A BLAST from the water
away for three months at the end area and helped to prevent pirate While the men have been away, are seeking witnesses to the killing
the landmark building.
jet of the tug Careful
of 2008 in the same arena. attacks,” he explained. “The truly their wives and partners back of a sailor from HMS Liverpool.
The festival begins in the
welcomes home the
And after leave for her crew and amazing thing is that the pirates home have been busy – making ET(ME) Kyle Bartlett (pictured
square at 9.30am with marching
maintenance for the boat, she’s off didn’t even know we were there. use of the boat’s welfare fund. above) died 24 hours after being
displays, before shifting inside
men of HMS Torbay again in July for five months (but “The Submarine Service is
“The social events I organised assaulted at the Walkabout Bar in
the Guildhall in the afternoon as they complete the
we can’t tell you where) before unique – our time away has been
have helped bond families so we all
Guildhall Walk.
where each band will perform a
second of three gruelling
finally relaxing from front-line tough yet rewarding.”
gain from mutual support which is
His CO Cdr Craig Wood said
15-minute programme ahead of a
deployments in 16
operations. He and his 126 shipmates were
needed, especially when we have
the 21-year-old marine engineer’s
prize-giving ceremony.
Although surface ships and welcomed home to Devonport by death had stunned the destroyer’s
Between breaks in proceedings,
months.
little contact with them being
various special forces have bagged 200-plus friends and family.
submerged,” said Laura Roberts,
ship’s company.
the massed pipes and drums of
Deployment two for the much of the publicity – and credit
“This has been a very strong
wife of Torbay’s logistics offi cer Lt
“Kyle was utterly professional,
the RN Pipers Society will be
Trafalgar-class boat took her – for anti-piracy operations off
show of support from our families dedicated to the Service and
performing.
east of Suez for four months,
Mike Roberts.
Somalia, Torbay’s CO Cdr Chris and friends at Devonport. The possessed a traditional sailor’s
The event is free but as space
disrupting pirate activity in the
“The families have said they fi nd
Goodsell said his ship’s company crew deserve it because they sense of humour.
is limited inside the Guildhall,
Indian Ocean. could feel proud of their efforts to
this mutual support comforting
can take enormous professional
It’s the second deployment strangle the brigands.
and valuable. We all get to know
“He was a key member of the
tickets should be obtained from satisfaction from a job well done,”
inside eight months to the Middle “We have done our bit, provided
each other which would not
Marine Engineering Department
Portsmouth Central Library in said Torbay’s CO.
East region – the hunter-killer was support to the surface ships in the
“It’s fantastic to have such a
otherwise happen. I think the men
and very popular member of my
Guildhall Square.
welcome home. We are very proud
also fi nd it reassuring to know this
ship’s company.
“Without doubt he had a very
of going away and doing our job,
is provided to us back home.”
bright future ahead of him in
we had several key successes, but
Thanks to her husband’s
the Service. He will be sorely
nothing beats the recognition of
department, the submariners
missed.”
your loved ones.”
enjoyed 13 curry nights while
WELBECK THE DEFENCE
The incident which led to his
Waiting for Lt Steven Mcallister
away. They also managed to
death occurred late on Tuesday
were his two daughters Lauren
devour 12,780 sausages, 24,500
SIXTH FORM COLLEGE:
May 5.
and Chloe and his wife Lyndsey.
rashers of bacon and just short of
Police at Fratton want to hear
“It’s so good to see my family
1,700 ice creams... not all on the
from anyone who was in the
THE KEY COMPONENT IN YOUR
on the jetty. We had an interesting
same plate. Walkabout Bar between 10pm
and successful deployment. But it
The deeps have also enjoyed and closing time.
ENGINEERING CAREER
will be great to be back in a comfy
improved communication with Witnesses should call 0845
bed at home,” said the offi cer.
loved ones while away with access 0454545 and quote ‘Operation
His wife added: “This is really
to e-mails and free phone calls Wren’.
The first step towards building a good for the children because home (obviously not while several
Two 21-year-old Royal
successful career as a Royal Navy they can see a submarine for the
leagues under the sea...), while
Marines have been charged with
Engineer Officer is studying at Welbeck
fi rst time. They are at an age now several families flew out to Dubai
Kyle’s murder – Ben Scott of
The Defence Sixth Form College.
where they miss daddy a lot and while the boat was taking a short
Revenge Close, Milton, and Mark by
ask where he is.” break from operations.
Clarke, of Finch Road, Southsea. w
■ POLICE in Hertfordshire are he
Every part of Welbeck’s unique
National pleasure
appealing for help in tracing A
programme of personal, physical medals stolen from the home of a fo
and intellectual development is naval veteran’s widow. B
specifically designed to meet the
Thieves broke into the home of
needs of the Royal Navy’s future
Molly Houghton in Chorleywood, fl i
Engineer Officers. WE LAMENT in these pages how often visits by ships so often just miss
near Watford, on Saturday May e
a big sporting event – grands prix, Olympics, cup finals.
16. e
Well, here’s one which didn’t. No here’s one timed med
They took all the medals W
The Royal Navy, more than just a
perfectly to coincide with the world’s greatest horrse
awarded to her late husband, w
job, it’s a life without limits.
race.
P R W Houghton, for his WW2
Taking a break from fishery patrol, HMS Mersey ey
service.
NO TUITION FEES headed to Liverpool to call in on her old friends
Those awards included the
STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES
in her affi liated borough of Sefton – a visit which
DSM for deeds in the run-up to
coincided with Grand National weekend.
the Normandy landings, as well
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY-BASED
The fi rst order of business once safely berthed
as the Atlantic Star (with France
CURRICULUM
was a recce of Aintree racecourse in preparation
and Germany bar), Italy Star,
100% A-LEVEL PASS RATE IN 2008
for the big event.
Defence Medal and 1939-45
Mersey’s First Lieutenant, Lt Adrian Hopwood,
Service Medal.
took several members of the ship’s company to the
Anyone who can help with the
course to discuss the ceremonial requirements and to
recovery of the medals – or any
enjoy a day’s racing on ‘Lady’s Day’.
dealers who are offered the stolen
Quite a number of the ship’s company had never attended a race meet
items – should contact PC Bill
before, let alone the world’s most famous horse race.
Braisher at Hertfordshire Police
“There are patient lulls between races and then a calm patience and
HQ on 01707 354874.
silence as the horses enter the course and start to race, building to frantic
yells of encouragement and woe as the horses make their fi nal approach
to the line,” said Mersey’s navigator Lt Si Preece.
Royal quarters
Among those yells of encouragement came from Mersey’s XO, Lt Cdr
Jason Varty, who picked up a (very successful) tip from one owner. THE Princess Royal opened a
The sailors weren’t here to gamble, of course. They were here to fl y new mess complex for senior
the fl ag for the RN and form a sort of ‘ceremonial guard’ between the rates on Whale Island.
weighing room and the winner’s enclosure for the main event. The £10m complex features
Which sounds quite a nice ‘gig’. Except that come the main race, there 134 en-suite rooms, a reception
was a large crowd pushing and, dare we say, jockeying (Groan – Ed) to area/ballroom, bar, conference
get close to the riders, making it difficult for Mersey’s sailors to keep room, and internet suite.
the route clear. The buildings in the new
After two false starts the National fi nally began; 100-1 outsider Mon facility bear the names of
Mome was the fi rst horse past the post. three NCOs who have left their
Join the Royal Navy He romped home 12 lengths ahead of his nearest rival and was mark on history: Chief Gunner
royalnavy.mod.uk/careers
welcomed back to the winner’s enclosure by the sailors – and quite a Israel Harding and Sgt Norman
few delighted punters. Finch RM, both winners of the
or call 08456 07 55 55
Meanwhile back on the ship... Not all the ship’s company enjoyed the Victoria Cross, and PO Edgar
Aintree experience: some were looking after the ship on her namesake Evans who died during Scott’s
river, showing members of the public around. ill-fated South Pole expedition.
Aside from Joe Public, Sea Cadets, associations and interested Their relatives joined
organisations were treated to more in-depth tours of the River-class Princess Anne at the opening
ship. ceremony.
004_NN_June.indd 1 20/5/09 17:45:57
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