6 NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 2009
(Royal Navy)
blue Wales
THE men of HMS Talent weren’t
G’s Cor values
the only sailors on the River
Severn this past month – so too
were those whose ship bears the
ROCK race? Pah!
The islands are regarded as an important stepping
great river’s name.
The slog to the top of the imposing peak which
stone by traffi ckers, who often transfer their illegal
And then they turned left.
gives Gibraltar its nickname is child’s play compared
shipments on to other boats for onward distribution,
The fi shery protection ship
with the gruelling climb to one of the world’s most
having safely crossed the Atlantic.
broke off from a busy summer of
famous mountains: Corcovado in Rio.
Now a Memorandum of Understanding has
ensuring trawlermen stick to the
But when’s that ever stopped a matelot? Fifteen
been signed by the two countries which means joint
rules to pay a visit to her affi liated
hardly souls from HMS Gloucester decided that
surveillance and patrol operations to combat drug
city of Newport.
pretty much the fi rst thing to do was head off at fi rst
traffi cking can be carried out around the islands.
The Mayor and Mayoress of
light to run the tortuous nine-mile route to the top of
The agreement, said Christopher Trott, Britain’s
Newport – Cllr Glyn and Glenys
the peak which dwarfs the great Brazilian port.
ambassador to Senegal who signed the document on
Jarvis – plus territorials from
The mountain rises to 2,329ft above sea level –
behalf of Whitehall, “sends a strong message to those
104th Regiment Royal Artillery
about 1,000ft higher than the Rock – and is crowned
engaged in these activities: we have both the will and
(Volunteers) joined the River-
by the magnifi cent statue of Christ the Redeemer.
the means to apprehend them.”
class ship for 24 hours at sea to
The runners – ET Timmis, AB Haughney, AB
The understanding allows Cape Verdean Coast
see what Severn can do.
Barnes, LET (ME) Campbell, LS (AWT) Shepard,
Guard and police to sail on RN and RFA vessels
Then CO Lt Cdr Steve LPT Edwards, PO Swaysland, CPO Hunter, CPO
during these patrols – as the latter did during a two-
Moorhouse and his ship’s Parker, CPO Winter, WO2 James, Surg Lt Irvine,
day training exercise and patrol with Gloucester once
company guided the vessel Lt Cdr Ward and the Padre, Rev Mike Wagstaff –
the agreement was signed. ● Pyramid games... The Talent lads practise a traditional Egyptian
through the mouth of the Severn have Corcovado veteran CPO Mullan to ‘thank’ for
The Cape Verdean Coast Guard team disembarked
dance in the shadow of one of the great pyramids at Giza
and up the River Usk into the coming up the challenge (and being a good egg, he
on the island of Sao Vicente. Its main town, Mindelo,
heart of the Welsh city for a four- joined in the race).
is the fi nal resting place for nine British dead from
day visit. First to the top was Surg Lt Irvine (a Team GB
both world wars, men who were honoured by Cdr
Once alongside the ship hosted athlete), closely followed by the destroyer’s clubz,
Lower and a small group of sailors.
a lunch party for local civilian LPT Edwards.
After that sombre wreath-laying ceremony, time to
Of pharaohs
and military dignitaries before Once at the peak, the runners were afforded
lighten the mood and a spot of cricket (in the town’s
the junior rates hosted their own stunning views of Rio (once the haze burned off) –
football stadium).
evening reception. and once back aboard the Type 42, their achievements
And in a summer of mixed performances by
The weather throughout were boosted by the knowledge that they raised more
Britons with bat and ball, here’s one to make you
the visit was glorious and the than £1,500 for Help for Heroes.
proud. The local side were dismissed for 29 all out
and dragons
scorching sun made the annual The great Brazilian party city was the fi rst major
in a Twenty20 match – far short of the Fighting G’s
Newport vs Severn football match port of call south of the Equator for the Portsmouth-
108-4.
WITH the sun on its journey back towards the horizon,
a little painful for many. based warship as she knuckles down to her South
Through the four-hour encounter, the players were
The efforts of an enthusiastic Atlantic deployment.
cheered on by Gloucester’s very own ‘Barmy Army’,
the men of HMS Talent brought their submarine back
(if not highly-skilled) side ensured Before appearing at King Neptune’s court, the led by the very vocal LS(AWW) ‘Stevie’ Claridge.
home to Devonport after six months.
Severn didn’t perform too badly ship’s company took the Fighting G to the Cape On departure from Mindelo, the ship’s company
It was 8pm on one of the fi nest hard – and delivered a very
in losing 5-2. Verde islands – a fairly rare run ashore for the RN. gathered up all their remaining escudos (5,320 to be
days of the year when the hunter- strong operational product. They
That evening saw another And as runs ashore go, this one involved quite a lot precise – or £50 in non-dib dob money) which was
killer arrived home after six thoroughly deserve some time
reception, plus capability of effort on the part of the 250 or so sailors. donated to the Centre for Nutritional Recuperation,
months prowling mainly beneath, off.”
demonstration, aboard attended Eight sailors were dispatched to a local kindergarten an organisation which provides balanced meals and
but sometimes on, the waves of Barely were the bowlines across
by 150 guests, including the ship’s for the offspring of poor single parents which was medical support to more than 80 children from poor
European and Middle Eastern at Devonport than scaffolding was
sponsor Professor Felicity Guild desperately in need of renovation (it was more than families.
waters. erected around the fi n ready for a
and her husband Rear Admiral 15 years since the building was refurbished). And so to the Falklands. The fi rst act by the
The Trafalgar-class boat left the fairly lengthy overhaul.
Nigel Guild. Working fl at out in searing tropical heat, Fighting G upon arrival in Britain’s far-fl ung territory
West Country back in January to And among the fi rst visitors
Severn has been bound with Gloucester’s team fi nished the task of re-painting the was to make a special delivery.
exercise initially in Scotland before to the newly-returned Talent was
Newport since 2002 and was walls and went on to do the doors, windows and roof Yes, we know the Royal Mail can probably do it
heading to the Med. Mr Fowley – not a mister, but a
granted the Freedom of the City as well, and even fi xed the swings in the recreation more quickly, but this delivery was as much about
There she joined the Taurus dog, a very large Leonburger to be
in 2006 – something she exercised area. symbolism as it was about the package itself.
amphibious task group and precise.
at the Lord Mayor’s Parade, And if that wasn’t enough, the ship’s badge can Gloucester left Pompey carrying the name board
continued to accompany the force Mr Fowley is a bit of a superstar
joining locals marching through now be found proudly above the main entrance. of HMS Antrim and some photographs of the old
as it took part in war games in the as the fundraising mascot of
the city’s streets. “Everyone who took part was thoroughly humbled destroyer, badly damaged in the campaign to re-take
Indian Ocean, acting as the Children’s Hospice South West
The fi nal event of a busy few by the sights they saw and I am very proud of the work the islands in 1982. She was struck by an Argentine
target for the surface fl eet,et, – he’– s been at the hub of
days was the embarkation of a that they carried out on behalf of HMS Gloucester,” bomb on the fi rst day of the landings in San Carlos
gathering intelligence and nd efforef ts which have brought
group of youngsters from the said CO Cdr Iain Lower. which mercifully failed to detonate.
working with Royal Marine ne in £60,000 for the charin ity.
Prince’s Trust. “We hope that such assistance to this vulnerable The artefacts had been on display at the Royal
raiding parties. The submariners added
Severn sailed with six young community may stand as one more building block in Naval Museum in Portsmouth as part of its
Talent spent almost another £200 to the
adults from the Trust for 24 hours the strengthening of the UK’s relationship with Cape commemoration of the Senior Service’s role in the
half of her six-month hospice’s coffers, one
of ‘sea experience’; these regular Verde, and our united fi ght against narcotics.” confl ict.
tour of duty east of of numerous good
visits are designed to strengthen And talking of the fi ght against narcotics… The But in the museum of the islands which Antrim
Suez; the lengthy causes benefi ting
links between the Prince’s Trust ship was the setting for the signing of an historic was sent to liberate, there wasn’t a great deal
return passage through from the boat’s 2009
and the RN. agreement between the British and Cape Verdean championing the RN – hence the loan of the items
the famous canal deployment.
“The link between HMS governments in the fi ght against drug runners. from Portsmouth.
permitted 15 deeps to A ‘thousand numbers
Severn and the city of Newport
pay a whistlestop visit to o drad w’ (think mega bingo)
is as strong an affi liation as I have
the land of the pharaohs. raised more than £350 for
known and the annual visit to
They were out ashore at the Hope House for terminally-ill
Newport is always a highlight,”
southern end of Suez… and children in Talent’s affi liated town
said Lt Cdr Moorhouse.
rejoined the boat when it exited of Shrewsbury, and an obligatory
“Every member of my ship’s
the man-made waterway. horse racing evening garnered a
company has been made to feel
So while their shipmates were good £600.
extremely welcome by everyone
standing guard, protecting Talent The fundraising didn’t stop
in Newport and the link between
during her surface transit, the there, however. Twenty deeps
the ship and the city is stronger
Talent tourists were riding camels headed up to Shropshire for the
than ever.’
and touring the great pyramids. annual dragon boat race on the
“The opportunity to
The visit to the latter was, says Severn.
strengthen relationships with
AB(ET) Tom Bennett, “well worth Despite their seafaring prowess,
old acquaintances and make
it. The construction and design are the Talent chaps haven’t fared too
new friends within the local
incredible – testament to just how well in the five years of taking part
community is invaluable and
advanced this ancient civilisation in this traditional race.
something on which we place
must have been.” Thirty-four boats lined up
great importance.”
And the camels? Well riding – and this year the submarin-
them was “a doddle” according to ers showed their mettle, making
■ Meanwhile along the Welsh
coast, Severn’s sister HMS
CPOWEM(R) Baz Underwood. the final, spurred on by manager
Tyne negotiated the tricky entry
“It’s just like riding a horse, except CPO(WS(SSM)) Gary Linden
to Milford Haven dock and
that their breath could stop a and AB(WS(TSM)) Josh Smith
‘parallel parked’ in the only
cavalry charge at 100 paces…” beating the drum to set the pace.
space left in the harbour by the
From Port Said it was on to They didn’t win – they came
trawler fleet for the tenth annual
Crete for an operational stand- fourth (but when we tell you that
Pembrokeshire Fish Festival,
down (ie break). The boat was just four seconds separated the
which coincided with Armed
joined for the passage by former first six past the post, you’ll under-
Forces Day commemorations.
CO Cdre Jon Westbrook; he was stand how close they came). The
Tyne’s presence was aimed at
in charge of Talent in the mid- real winner, of course, was a good
raising public awareness firstly
90s and is now Commodore cause – the Severn Hospice which
of the RN and secondly of its
Devonport Flotilla. cares for people with complex,
fishery protection mission.
And so to Devonport and a progressive illnesses.
And more than 2,000
homecoming with the day on the The deeps made the most of
people (far more than the ship
wane; homecomings are normally, their time in Shrewsbury.
anticipated) should now be better
though not exclusively, around They dropped in on Hope
informed of both after Tyne
10am – Talent arrived back around House to hand over £875 which
opened her gangway.
8pm. will go a little way towards help-
Among those touring the ship
Early or late, the return was no ing the hospice meet its £5m
were Milford Haven Mayor Cllr
less tearful or emotional. “I know annual budget, and then donned
Tony Eden and Welsh Assembly
I’ve spoke to her on the phone No.4s to dig a service trench in
Minister for Rural Affairs Elin
since we’ve been away, but I’m the grounds.
Jones, who were impressed by
man enough to admit that I had a The Talents were hosted by
the attitude and expertise of the
tear in my eye when I fi rst saw my the town’s RNA during the visit,
ship’s company, as well as by
missus again,” said LET(WESM) which coincided with the 121st
the overall work by the Fishery
Dave ‘Wincey’ Willis. West Midlands Show.
Protection Squadron.
Talent’s CO Cdr Simon Asquith The submariners chatted with
Despite the long queues of
was among those shedding a tear locals and met veteran broad-
eager visitors, most of Tyne’s
as he was welcomed home by his caster and environmentalist Prof
sailors got ashore – and found
wife and three children. David Bellamy, while Cdr Asquith
themselves answering questions
“It’s great to see so many took the salute during the march
from locals (and local radio) and
families here,” he added. past of the King’s Troop Royal
posing for photographs.
“My team has worked very Horse Artillery.
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006_NN_August.indd 1 22/7/09 15:46:43
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