16 NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 2009
Saddlesore but worth it
TWO motorcyclists from HMS Collingwood have and met our better-halves for a bite to eat at
successfully completed the aptly-named Saddlesore Rownhams Services.
1000 with a ride of over 1,000 miles, which took them “Then it was further west to Redruth. It had got
on a circular route from Fareham up to Yorkshire, dark by the time we had returned to Exeter and my
down to Cornwall and back. neck was really starting to ache from the high winds
Dave Gibson of VT Flagship (he was formerly in Cornwall.
in the Navy), and PO Mark Amato RFA, who both “The journey up to Manchester was interrupted
work in the Communications training department of with extra stops over and above our normal fuel stops
the Maritime Warfare School, chose Route C, the due to neck ache and putting on waterproofs.
clockwise route of the British Isles, which starts at “We arrived back at Squires some 1,035 miles and
Squires Café Car Park at South Milford, near Leeds, 22 hours 52 minutes later, having ridden the last 50
and travels via Dover, Southampton, Redruth, Telford miles from our final mandatory stop on the M62
and the M62 before heading back to Squires. with four other riders who were returning from their
Dave takes up the tale: “After setting off on a northern, anti-clockwise jaunt.
Friday, Mark and I met up with three other riders at “We adjourned for some breakfast/lunch/tea/
Sutton Scotney and then another on the M1 passing supper (who knew by this stage?) and a wee bit of
Leicester. shut-eye before the presentations and some hearty
“The six of us arrived safely at Squires a little later back-slapping.”
than anticipated, checked in and pitched our tents. Dave and Mark hope to have raised about £700
From one
Lifting the fleet
“Following some nibbles we had our main brief between them for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy
and after final route planning got our heads down. Appeal.
“We set off on Saturday morning heading south to When asked if he would be doing it again Dave god to
Dover, from there we headed west to Southampton said: “Hmmm, let’s wait and see shall we!”
THE GYM at HMS Collingwood main arena with two teams com-
has been echoing to the groans peting in a three-stage race, the
another
of warfare officers since March, aim being to complete a strong-
when a doughty team came up man course which equalled lifting
with the novel idea of ‘lifting the the equivalent of 200 tonnes.
Fleet.’ Stage one required the teams to
How do you lift the fleet in a flip a mind-boggling 330kg (that’s
Tigers tackle
PICTURED here in his earlier,
and rather splendid, incarnation
is former WO1 Steve ‘Pincher’
Martin, aka King Neptune.
shore-based establishment? (Or at 51 stone) tractor tyre six times
Shipmates from HMS Chatham
sea, come to that.) in one minute. Stage two was
will remember their Executive
The answer is to work out what the weight carry, with every five
the Fleet Flagship, currently an metres travelled with the weights
aircraft carrier, weighs – and then equalling one tonne.
lift her equivalent in weights and The final stage was the car push,
similar heavy objects. in which two cars, each weighing
an elephant
Warrant Officer presiding over
a crossing the bar ceremony in
2006.
The following year Pincher left
the Navy and is now Executive
Armed with this solution, the 1.5 tonnes, were pushed from
Secretary of the Naval Christian
team from the Principal Warfare one end of the parade ground to
Fellowship, which supports serving
Officers’ course 158 each lifted the other.
TIGERS tackling the
personnel and their families in
20,000 tonnes over a three-month At the end of the race, and with
their faith.
elephant run? It sounds
period. fitness levels possibly higher than
Pincher said: “Trying to live by
Starting at the beginning of ever before, it was a comparatively
more like something out of
Christian principles in the harsh
March in the establishment gym, easy lift for the team to raise an
David Attenborough than and often lonely environment of
supported by a civilian gym in inflatable diving boat with Second
Navy News. But all can be
a ship, submarine or front-line
Newcastle, the team had lifted Sea Lord Vice Admiral Sir Alan explained….
operation can be a particular
a total of 19,800 tonnes before Massey and his youngest daughter The Flying Tigers are based in
challenge.
the finale during the Collingwood inside (pictured above), thus com- Culdrose, where a team from 814
“We aim to get alongside
Open Day in June, when the last pleting the event and celebrating Naval Air Squadron swapped their
matelots, marines and RFA
200 tonnes were lifted. raising more than £5,000 for Help stripes and flying suits for running
civilians, helping them to discover
This final event took place in the for Heroes. vests and trainers to represent the
and strengthen their Christian
senior service in the first Elephant
faith.”
Run.
The Naval Christian Fellowship
And the Elephant Run? Well it’s
works with the RN Chaplaincy
a charity run – so called because
and the Chaplaincy Support
it’s in aid of the Not Forgotten
workers (Aggies).
Association...
It organises courses and supplies
This year’s Elephant Run, the
books and magazines to anyone
first in an annual fixture, started
interested in learning more about
from Tower Bridge in London
Christianity, and compiles a
and finished in Warsash near
hospitality list of churches and
Southampton, a total distance of
local people willing to offer ‘up
90 miles, in order to commemorate
homers’ to personnel visiting RN
the 65th anniversary of the D-day
units.
landings.
For more details see the website,
● The Flying Tigers at the start of the Elephant Run
The 814 Flying Tigers team
www.navalcf.org, or ring 023 92
consisted of Lt Dan Waskett (team
Park, before crossing the M25 finish point at the aptly-named 814410.
captain) Lt Mark ‘Les’ Sharples,
and heading through Woking. Elephant Boatyard in Hamble.
S/Lt Richard ‘Holdie’ Knight,
After a night in an Army barracks With the race completed the
Wrens take over museum
POAET John ‘Bitty’ Walsh
in Aldershot, Lt Sharples and PO team was transported by landing
Medics’
and POAEM Chris ‘Jacko’
Walsh ran through Guildford, craft, courtesy of the Royal
Jackson.
where they were cheered by Marines, across the water to a
THE Women’s Royal Naval above by LA Phot Alex Knott)
Equipped with a Cornish supply
veterans and supporters with small memorial service held at
memories
Service Benevolent Trust has stressed the continuing importance
pack of tea and pasties the team
buckets and collection tins, and the D-Day Memorial at Warsash
always held its annual general of the trust, which helps serving
left RNAS Culdrose and made
then through some quiet villages Marina in Southampton.
ROYAL NAVY medical staff who
meeting in London – until and former Wrens is need.
the six-hour journey up to the
in Surrey and Hampshire before This was followed by a prize-
ran the hospital in Camp Bastion
this year, when it decided to She said the trust was receiving
first night’s accommodation at the
spending a night under canvas in giving and barbecue at the RAF
in Afghanistan for six months
ring the changes and hold it in an increasing number of requests
Union Jack Club in Waterloo.
Worthy Down. Yacht Club in Hamble.
presented the forces charities
Portsmouth. for help, most from the UK
After the Chief of the General
With a mere 22 miles to The Flying Tigers gave a strong
BLESMA and St Dunstans with
So for the first time in the trust’s but some from overseas and in Staff, General Sir Richard
complete on Day 3 the team performance, their five-strong
donations of more than £1,200
history, the Wrens assembled at particular from Zimbabwe. Dannatt, addressed all the runners
started confidently and strongly. team running 247 miles, averaging
each when they returned to the
the Royal Naval Museum in the Robert Robson, Chief Executive at the start of the race, the
The actor Robert Hardy was on 49 miles each, and raising more
UK.
Naval Base, to hear their patron, Officer of the Royal Navy and 814 team made their way through
hand to get the final day going than £700 for the Not Forgotten
The Hospital Squadron, made
the Princess Royal, address the Royal Marines Charity, spoke London, running along the
and sent Lt Waskett and S/Lt Association.
up of nurses and medics from
meeting. of the importance of working Embankment, through Parliament
Knight on their way with hopes However, they weren’t able to
various units from Plymouth,
The Princess Royal (pictured together to achieve a single focus. Square and then into Richmond
of running the day’s distance in secure ‘The Elephant Trophy’
Birmingham and Gibraltar, raised
one go. which went to a three-man team
the money by a series of events
It was not to be – S/Lt Knight from the Royal Marines, finishing
including horse-racing and raffles.
ROYAL NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
hit his wall at mile 14, but Lt with an average runner distance
The donations were presented
Waskett carried on, to be joined of 90 miles.
at the Royal Maritime Club
Replica model hand cast in white metal, painted and mounted on a wooden
for the final few miles by Lt To give to the Flying
in Portsmouth in July, at a
Sharples and S/Lt Knight, with Tigers, go to www.justgiving.
celebration attended by about
plinth with brass nameplate and hand made gift box.
the three men arriving carrying the com/814flyingtigers
100 people from the RN Medical
White Ensign across the 22-mile
Service.
Light Fleet Carrier 1944 : HMS Colossus, Glory, Venerable and Vengeance ~ £50.00
Light Fleet Carriers 1952 : HMS Ocean, Theseus, Triumph and Warrior ~ £50.00
HMS Bulwark 1960 ~ £50.00 HMS Albion 1962 ~ £50.00
HMS Victorious Aircraft Carrier 1966 ~ £60.00 : HMS Eagle Aircraft Carrier 1964 ~ £60.00 (Pictured)
A year at Caledonia
HMS Ark Royal Aircraft Carrier 1977 ~ £60.00 : HMS Hermes Aircraft Carrier 1982 ~ £60.00
All models plus post and packing £8.00 (UK Only)
STAFF AT HMS Caledonia, in Rosyth, have seen Meanwhile 70 miles west as the midges fly,in
their hard work for charity come to fruition after a RNAD Coulport, fundraisers Gary Thomson and
year of fund-raising for Help for Heroes. Brian Anderson raised more than £1,200 for the
The driving force behind the efforts was Ministry Children’s Hospice Association Scotland with a
£60.00
of Defence PC Evelyn Hardy, ably assisted by gruelling five-day bicycle tour.
+ £8.00 P&P
Bandsman Paul Donavan of the Royal Marines Band, The pair set off to travel 400 miles around
(UK Only)
and AB ‘Higgy’ Higgins from HMS Caledonia. Scotland, visiting 12 Scottish Premier League football
Evelyn and husband Mick made the initial contact clubs on their way.
with the charity last year and began to sell wristbands, They fundraisers began their journey at Kilmarnock
badges, key-rings and mugs from their stall at the and ended in Inverness, stopping off at St Mirren FC,
Caledonia Fair. Rangers, Celtic, Hamilton, Motherwell, Hibernian,
Following on from this, Higgy sold Help for Hearts, Falkirk, Dundee and Aberdeen.
Heroes wristbands from the Junior Rates’ bar, and At every stop they collected signed shirts and
sent items out to visiting ships, including those footballs which they auctioned for charity.
currently on operations in the Gulf. “The most difficult part was probably cycling up the
The Royal Marines Band Scotland, based at east coast,” commented Gary. “We underestimated
To order your model send your name, address and daytime telephone number,
Caledonia, raised £1,000, with Bandsman Donavan the weather and were cycling into the wind right
along with your cheque or credit card details to:
taking a selection of goods to sell at its various up to Aberdeen. Still, on a brighter note, at least it
Skytrex Ltd, Unit 1 Charnwood Business Park, North Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 1LE performances. didn’t rain!”
Tel: 01509 213789 Fax: 01509 230874
Cdr Peter Adams, CO of HMS Caledonia, said: Gary, who works as a police officer with the MOD’s
“This has been a tremendous effort from all three. Clyde Marine Unit and Brian, who is an MOD
email: sales@skytrex.com www.skytrex.com
The fundraising has been sustained over a lengthy Guard, estimate that they have raised around £1,200
PLEASE ALLOW UP TO 28 DAYS FOR DELIVERY
period and underpinned by their dedication and already but hope to get more through their website:
sincerity.” www.justgiving.com/brianandgarycharitycycle
016-017_NN_aug09 FFG.indd 1 22/7/09 08:45:16
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