NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 2009 37
Vivid still shines at 50
STRONG evening sunshine Somerset, and their daily civilian the unit on duty that evening. In her address, Cdr Hancock
and a bright blue sky were
occupations range from teachers, AB Paul May, a trainee pointed out that 14 sailors
a fitting backdrop to HMS
lawyers, students and nurses to surveyor in the Valuation Office in from Vivid had returned from
Vivid’s big night.
housewives, businessmen and Plymouth, returned from Camp deployment in the past three
The Plymouth RNR unit
travel agents,” said Cdr Hancock. Bastion in April, while Lt Sally months, in Iraq, Afghanistan, or
opened its doors to invited guests
“We are a diverse group but we Armstrong was training to deploy afloat with the Royal Navy or
who joined a 50th anniversary
have a common ethos. as Navy News went to press. RFA; three were still deployed,
celebration which looked forward
“We are all very proud of our As a clerk at the centre of things and two were about to go.
as much as it looked back.
unit and the roles that we are Paul had a good idea of the bigger Guests, including the Lord
Once the VIPs – including Flag
trained to carry out within the picture, and said he really enjoyed
Mayor and Lady Mayoress of
Officer Reserves Rear Admiral
Royal Naval Reserve.” his six months in Afghanistan,
Plymouth, Cllrs Ken and Wendy
Martin Alabaster, Flag Officer
Cdr Hancock thanked her 130 despite a heavy workload.
Foster, toured the unit to see
Sea Training Rear Admiral Chris
or so people for their support “I met some great people – I
the range and depth of training
Snow and Devonport Naval Base
and dedication in serving their have got a lot more friends than
undertaken by reservists.
Commander Cdre Ian Jess – were
country. before I went,” he said.
At one point CPO Daisy
gathered, Vivid’s Commanding She also pointed out the fact that, Lt Armstrong, Vivid’s First
Adams explained security issues
Officer Cdr Angie Hancock where once reservists augmented Lieutenant, mobilised two days
affecting cars, such as the use of
described her unit. or back-filled for regulars, they now after Vivid’s birthday bash, and
fuel contaminants – not just a
“My personnel here at Vivid serve alongside their colleagues – will work as a media operations
nuisance, but possibly deadly if
hail from Devon, Cornwall and as illustrated by two members of officer in Helmand.
the vehicle conks out a mile into a
patrol in hostile territory.
Elsewhere were stances
concentrating on first aid,
sea survival, leadership and
management, self defence and
weapon handling, among others.
This allowed the employers ● AB Paul May wishes Lt Sally Armstrong the best of luck as she
amongst the guests to get a feel prepares to deploy to Afghanistan – Paul returned from his stint in
of the added value of employing Helmand in April Pictures: LA(Phot) Abbie Gadd (FRPU West)
a reservist – the sometimes
intangible skills, mindsets and
ask Admiral Alabaster to present proud of what they deliver.”
qualities which can add a new
an Operational Service Medal to The evening was rounded off
dimension to a civilian job.
AB Martyn Wills, recently returned with Sunset, performed by the
There was also a chance for
from force protection work on Royal Marines Band Plymouth.
the Wessex Reserve Forces’
Operation Telic in the Gulf. Ten of the Commanding
and Cadets’ Association, which
“Enjoy Vivid, enjoy the tour, Officers of Vivid – Cdr Hancock
promotes reserve units, to explain
but most importantly, enjoy my is the 15th – were also able to
how they help link the military to
people,” concluded Cdr Hancock. attend the event, including Capt
their local community.
“I am very proud of what they Ron Sothcott, who headed the
Cdr Hancock’s final task was to
stand for and I am especially unit between 1971 and 1977.
● Rear Admiral Alabaster and Cdr
● (Above) Ten of the 15 Reservist COs of HMS Vivid; from left, Cdr Julia Tindall-Jones (2006-08), Cdr
Hancock enjoy the performance
David Bernard (1995-98), Cdr Pennie Burne (2001-04), Cdr Andy Crawford (2004-06), Cdre Muriel Hocking
of the Royal Marines Band
(1985-88), Capt Ron Sothcott (1971-77), Cdr Nick Bennett (1991-95), Cdr Lesley Smith (1998-2001), Cdr
Barrie Grantham (1977-82) and Cdr Angie Hancock (current CO)
037_NN_aug.indd 1 20/7/09 15:50:35
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