14 NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2009
in br
News
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Strike Wing think bike
STAFF from Ride magazine were working in one place meant many
AIR Engineering Technicians
invited to visit the Naval Strike of Cottesmore’s riders have been
from 824 Naval Air Squadron
Wing at RAF Cottesmore, and dusting off their own bikes – or
have been presented with their
they brought a couple of machines thinking of buying their dream
Qualified to Maintain certificates
along for biking aficionados to machine.
or Certificates of Competency by
take a look at. Pictured are Lt Dave Bouyac
the Naval Secretary, Rear Admiral
The latest Harley-Davidson (left), of NSW, who organised
Charles Montgomery.
and V8 Yamaha were parked on the event, and RAF Cottesmore’s
It marked the end of a long
the apron close to another iconic Media and Communications
and arduous training programme
vehicle, the GR9 Harrier painted Officer Sqn Ldr Paula Willmot
ranging from core academic
in the Fly Navy 100 colours. (right), with NSW staff who were
modules to exacting oral boards.
After five years on operations keen to get a closer look at the
Picture: SAC Adam Fletcher (RAF)
All are now looking forward
the stability offered by living and bikes.
to joining their squadrons at the
front line of aircraft maintenance.
A TOP cleric has been reunited ● CPO John Popplewell with
with one of his old Sunday Freda-Brenda
School pupils during a visit to
HMS Raleigh.
The Rt Rev William Hewitt,
Back with the Mob
Bangers
Moderator of the General
Assembly of the Church of
Scotland, was touring the LAST month we featured a
prove a
Cornish training establishment
thespian who had joined the
when he caught up with trainee
Royal Navy.
Warfare Specialist Fiona
This time round it’s a sailor smash
McCormick, seven weeks into
who became a thespian.
her nine-week basic training.
Shaun Williamson trained
It was the first time Fiona (35),
A SENIOR rating is in the
with the Navy in 1984 but left a
from East Lothian, had seen
running for a national prize for
year later to pursue a career in
the Rt Rev Hewitt in around 20
his bangers.
entertainment.
years, though he is in regular
Three years ago CPOMEA
And the move paid off as Shaun
contact with her parents.
John Popplewell started keeping
became a major character on BBC a few young pigs for the freezer,
soap EastEnders and later played a using land which was lying idle.
TWO civilian members of HMS
long-suffering version of himself Now the submariner, who works
Gannet’s team have been rewarded
in Extras. at HMS Drake, has more on his
for their outstanding contribution
But his latest brushes with plate than he bargained for.
to the search and rescue station.
the Mob came as he toured the When family and friends tasted
Gannet’s Commanding Officer
country playing Norman Stanley the meat of his Gloucestershire
Lt Cdr Bryan Nicholas presented
Fletcher in the stage show Porridge Old Spot pigs, they declared it the
awards to senior supervisor
– the role created by Ronnie best they had eaten.
survival equipment technician
Barker in the legendary TV sitcom So John and his family started
engineer Reinhardt van Greunen,
of the same name. breeding the porkers, allowing
of VT.
Shaun’s trip down military them to roam free on two acres
Reinhardt is in charge of
memory lane started with a visit and providing five-star porcine
overseeing the maintenance and
to HMS Raleigh, where he did his accommodation.
repair of all the unit’s survival
basic training 25 years ago. Happy pigs meant a popular
equipment.
Porridge was being staged at the range of joints, chops, bacon, ham
There was also a special
Theatre Royal in Plymouth, and and sausages, sold under the name
presentation to the Rev David
he was invited to watch Drake 014 Popplewell’s Pedigree Pigs.
Ness, who has been the unit’s
Entry’s passing out parade. As a result of positive comments
● Norman Stanley Fletcher – aka Shaun Williamson – is apprehended by RPO Nina Slocumbe and LReg
chaplain since 1981 and was
A month later and the show
Lindsay Oliver (right) on board HMS Liverpool Picture: LA(Phot) Keith Morgan
at a tasting during the Best of
described by Lt Cdr Nicholas as
pitched up at the King’s Theatre in Bodmin Moor meeting, the deep’s
“a key member of the Gannet
Southsea, and Shaun was invited as the destroyer’s RPO Nina Shaun said: “I had a great time brought those all back. butcher, Trevor Coles of Altarnun,
family”.
to Portsmouth Naval Base. Slocumbe and LReg Lindsay with the Navy. “I saw a passing out parade was asked to produce strings of
Within moments of arriving on Oliver moved in on the old lag. “I have some fantastic memories, recently and it made me sausages for the South West heat
MEMBERS of the Worshipful
board HMS Liverpool the actor Evading the clutches of the and being in Portsmouth today quite misty-eyed – it was very of the British Pig Association
Company of Shipwrights were
had felt the full force of the law Senior Service for a second time, and seeing everything here has nostalgic.” (BPA)’s competition in Truro.
welcomed on board HMS Ark
The result – Reserve Champion
Royal to present sailors with
efficiency and effectiveness Nelson welcomed on Victory
Award snapped up
Breakfast Sausage – put the
Popplewells into the BPA grand
prizes.
A RN reservist from Tynemouth
final at the new Agrilive Smithfield
The company is one of the
OCTOBER 21 was a day of double has received a medal which marks
event being staged at Stoneleigh
oldest livery companies, with
celebration for LMEA Steven Nelson of his role in protecting RFA ships in
Park in Warwickshire this month,
more than 800 years of history,
HMS Ark Royal. the Gulf off Iraq last year.
with the Popplewell bangers
and it has close ties with the
Not only was it the anniversary of AB Lee Fawkes, a freelance
being judged by Anthony Worral
aircraft carrier.
his namesake’s victory at the Battle of photographer in civilian life,
Thompson, among others.
The winners of the CO’s
Trafalgar, but more importantly (for him) received his Operational Service
John joined the Navy at HMS
Special Commendations were
he was awarded his first good conduct Medal from the Commander
Ganges as a 15-year-old in 1972
CPO Clemson, LA Hughes, PO
badge on Nelson’s flagship. Maritime Reserves, Cdre Chris
and plans to leave next November,
Kursner, PO Payne, Logs (Pers)
LMEA Nelson joined Ark Royal in Steel.
aged 54, after 38 years’ service.
Prophet and LS Towers, all of
September having successfully completed
whom set an example to others
his professional engineering training at
during the recent Contractor’s
HMS Sultan, and is currently working
Support Period.
in the diesel section of the Marine
Four of the prizewinners were
Engineering Department.
singled out for an additional
Presenting LMEA Nelson with his
special prize of a laptop
badge was Ark’s second-in-command,
computer, donated by the
Cdr Rob Bellfield, who said Steven had
Company.
“quickly become a well-liked reliable
The winners of the Shipwright’s
member of the marine engineering team
Special Prize were WO2 Crozier,
working long hours with little assistance,
CPO Sams, PO Clayton and Lt
recently volunteering himself to assist
● LMEA Steven Nelson receives his good conduct badge from
Cdr Phil Rogers. Cdr Rob Bellfi eld, watched by his line manager PO Tim Covell
with changing one of the ship’s engines.”
ROYAL NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
Catterick
Replica model hand cast in white metal, painted and mounted on a wooden
plinth with brass nameplate and hand made gift box.
medal hunt
AN Army NCO whose troop
Light Fleet Carrier 1944 : HMS Colossus, Glory, Venerable and Vengeance ~ £50.00
found a World War 1 RN medal
Light Fleet Carriers 1952 : HMS Ocean, Theseus, Triumph and Warrior ~ £50.00
are hoping to reunite it with its
● Lt Vikki Horne reads a pirate story to a group of children at Torpoint
HMS Bulwark 1960 ~ £50.00 HMS Albion 1962 ~ £50.00
owner’s family.
Nursery and Infant School Picture: Dave Sherfield
HMS Victorious Aircraft Carrier 1966 ~ £60.00 : HMS Eagle Aircraft Carrier 1964 ~ £60.00 (Pictured) WO1 Lee Grunshaw’s REME
HMS Ark Royal Aircraft Carrier 1977 ~ £60.00 : HMS Hermes Aircraft Carrier 1982 ~ £60.00 troop was tidying up as they
All models plus post and packing £8.00 (UK Only) moved into Megiddo Lines at
Time for school
Catterick Garrison early this year
when they found the medal with
TRAINEE RN officers have made to feel very welcome by
swapped their classroom at HMS everyone at the school, especially
£60.00 the following inscription: K. 39925
J. Fleetwood. STO. 1 RN.
Raleigh for lessons at Torpoint the children, who seemed to have
+ £8.00 P&P
Nursery and Infant School.
Medals records do not go that
a great time and made us all
(UK Only) The group of ten trainee laugh.”
far back, and other approaches
Logistics Officers spent time The visit came in the final week
to archives did not come up with
with the Year 2 pupils, hearing of the students’ eight-month Initial
any clues.
about their latest projects, which Logistics Officer course, carried
So Lee is now asking Navy
included finding out about pirates out at the Defence Maritime
News readers if they can shed any
and following the progress of a Logistics School (DMLS).
light on the mystery – who was the
clipper boat on a round-the-world By tradition each class organises
recipient, and why did it end up at
trip. a charity fund-raising event in
Catterick?
The officers also read stories to their final week of training, but
Lee said: “I will retain this
the children and were given a VIP this group decided to donate their
To order your model send your name, address and daytime telephone number, medal for as long as it takes as I
tour of the school’s wooden ship, time.
along with your cheque or credit card details to: feel it is the right thing to do.”
HMS Lowen, designed and built Lt Vikki Horne said: “Visiting
Skytrex Ltd, Unit 1 Charnwood Business Park, North Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 1LE
If anyone has any suggestions,
by the children in the grounds of the school was very rewarding.
please write to WO1 (SSM) L
Tel: 01509 213789 Fax: 01509 230874
the school. “It was more nerve-racking
Grunshaw, Troop WO1, RLC Two officers, Lts Steven Charles reading stories to the children than
email: sales@skytrex.com www.skytrex.com Stores Troop, 1 CS Bn REME,
and Neil Howe, were even made giving some of the presentations
PLEASE ALLOW UP TO 28 DAYS FOR DELIVERY
Megiddo Lines, Catterick to walk the plank. we had to give on course, but it
Garrison, DL9 3QG. Lt Des Linhan said: “We were was also a lot more fun.”
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