NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2010


31


Montrose trio take prizes


EVERY year the Defence Maritime Logistics School (DMLS) at HMS Raleigh holds an awards ceremony to celebrate the achievements of its 400 students. This year three winners were unable to attend as they were all serving at sea – in the same ship. And as they were at sea for


Families Day, the Commanding Officer of HMS Montrose, Cdr Jonathan Lett, felt it was the ideal occasion to present their prizes. The three were: Log (Pers) Amy Croston, who


won the Anthony Cavanagh memorial Trophy for the student who contributed most towards teamwork,


morale during Phase 2 Personnel Administration training for 2009; Log (CS) Debbie Cole, who was


Naval ethos and


awarded the Worshipful Company of Cooks Catering Student of the Year for achieving the best overall performance during Phase 2 Catering Services (Preparation) training;


won the McJimpsey Trophy for the student delivering the best overall performance in Phase 2 Catering Services (Delivery) training. Cdr Lett said: “When I asked DMLS whether or not it would be possible for me to present the prizes at


back immediately that it was entirely appropriate that I should present the prizes to Montrose’s three stars in the presence of their families, and it was my pleasure to do so during our Families Day.” See next month’s Navy News for a full list of winners


 Riders’ tribute


THOUSANDS of bikers joined the third annual Ride to the Wall, a pilgrimage to the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire. The


from across Europe, is the only remembrance event allowing bikers to show their support for the Forces, and also raises money for the Arboretum.


event, attracting riders sea the answer came Log (CS) Holly Davis, who


Blades roll out red carpet for veterans


TWO Falklands veterans who survived the


sinking of HMS


Sheffield were treated to a five- star day at Bramall Lane when they went to see Sheffield United take on Portsmouth in the Championship. Sheffield-born Andy Stephenson, who now lives in Helensburgh, and Pompey fan Chris Evans were in the Steel City to lay a wreath at the cathedral in memory of the 20 shipmates who died when the destroyer was struck by an Argentine Exocet missile on May 4 1982. The pair were already guests of the Blades when a chance meeting in the Copthorne Hotel adjoining the stadium at Bramall Lane the night before the match changed their plans. Andy, who served with the


Royal Navy until 2007, said: “We originally had two tickets and a tour of the ground sorted out. “But on the Friday night in the hotel bar we ended up talking to Mike Farnan, group executive director of Sheffield United. “Before we knew it Mike decided we should get the red- carpet


treatment, with tickets in the directors’


four box,


four boardroom passes and a champagne reception.” And while the wives of the men looked on, Andy and Chris were introduced to the crowd and enjoyed a noisy reception. Andy said: “When we walked onto the pitch at half-time the clapping and cheering was quite overwhelming, and it made us realise how much our military service is valued. “While we lost many friends


on that fateful day, the welcome we got showed that the ship and its company will always be remembered and never forgotten.”


● Andy Stephenson (left) and Chris Evans (right) with Sheffi eld United chairman Kevin McCabe at Bramall Lane


years, was not too disheartened by seeing the Blues lose, despite putting on a strong showing. He said: “I have travelled to many grounds,


Chris, a Pompey fan for 48


the Championship and the Premiership to watch my club, and without doubt no club has come anywhere near matching the organisation and hospitality shown by Sheffield United FC.


both in


it was a pleasure to honour us and the least he could do. “To be honest, we would have just been happy with the tour and the two tickets in the stand, but to have the day out we did and people coming up to us shaking our hands, there really are not enough superlatives to put their way.” Mr Farnan said: “We were delighted to support Andy, Chris


Back at Raleigh


A ROYAL Navy officer has taken charge of his first class of recruits at HMS Raleigh, 22 years after he embarked on his own basic training. Lt Tom Rooney joined up as an


● One of the Portsmouth AFCO personnel takes fl ight on the high ropes course at Collingwood Careers team goes on lines


Planned and organised by NA(SE) Tina Baines, the team – consisting of an officer, senior rates and civilian staff – took on the Crow’s Nest, Gladiator Challenge and the Leap of Death while the weather varied from sunshine to howling wind and rain.


MEMBERS of the Portsmouth Armed Forces careers Office left their desks behind to tackle a team-building afternoon at HMS Collingwood in Fareham.


base’s high ropes course, requiring a steady nerve, agility, a head for heights and a complete trust in the equipment, their instructors and each other. NA Baines said: “The whole afternoon was brilliant – there are little bits that I keep recalling that make me chuckle. “I can honestly


people...” say I work with some funny Those three features are part of the training A RESERVIST who is due to retire this


month finally managed to meet up with his sailor son during his last exercise. CPO Martin Hickson joined the RN


Reserves in 1979, and has enjoyed the subsequent 31 years (with the full backing of his wife Denise, Martin adds). His final training stint was Exercise Helios Encounter in Cyprus earlier this year – a force protection and acclimatisation course for reservists about to be mobilised – when he was


● ET(ME)1 Nathan Hickson with his father, CPO Martin Hickson RNR, on board HMS Chatham in Limassol


Artificer Apprentice in September 1988 and set out on his career at Raleigh, where he has now taken up an appointment as a divisional training officer. Lt Rooney said: “To come back to HMS Raleigh and have the chance to shape and train the sailors of the future 22 years after I started out on my career is a real privilege and a nice work of fate. “In addition to the excellent training package prepared for them, I am determined that the recruits under my charge will benefit from my experience,


order to be best prepared for their demanding but enjoyable lives in the Royal Navy.” Lt Rooney


both Gulf Wars, commendation


part in the salvage of a merchant vessel in distress.


Encounter with the sun


given the role of instructor and coxswain. “Just prior to the exercise my son Nathan, who joined the RN in 2005, announced that he was in the advance leave party, returning from anti-piracy duties off the Horn of Africa, and his ship HMS Chatham would be visiting Cyprus at the time I was on Exercise Helios,” said Martin, of HMS Sherwood. “I’d often thought how good it would be to meet up with my son whilst on exercise somewhere, so whilst on duty I was thrilled to visit his ship alongside in Limassol and spend a couple of hours with him on board, which made my swan-song exercise all the more memorable.”


saw service in 1991 for


winning a his


in in


● The Bulwark families – from left, Rebecca East and her father Colin East, Charlotte Oaks and husband Alex, Steph Gaffney and brother Scott


Warfare is the family business


MEMBERS of three families are helping run the warfare department on a Royal Navy assault ship.


Bulwark moved her ship’s company on board after a major refit, the warfare department could boast a father and daughter, husband and wife, and brother and sister. PO(Sea) Colin East, the Chief


Bosun’s Mate, has been joined on board by his daughter AB Rebecca East. AB Alex Oaks


for Colin, while Alex’s wife AB Charlotte Oaks works out of HMS


also works As the Plymouth-based HMS


Ocean’s shore-based seamanship office as a mum-to-be during the ship’s refit period. In the ship’s main communication office AB Stephanie Gaffney was joined last year by her elder brother AB Scott Gaffney. CPO(AWW) ‘Swampy’ Marsh


said: “It can all get very confusing and we have had to think of unique ways to reach them by the ship’s main broadcast system or referring to them individually, so that the right person turns up for the right course or meetings and at the right part of the ship.


“Chairman Kevin McCabe said


and their wives. “It was only appropriate they became the club’s guests of honour. “Andy, Chris and their families will be welcomed back to the ground whenever they are in the area.


“Andy and Chris are now very much considered to be part of the Blades family – HMS Sheffield meant a lot to this club.”


Dartmouth memories on camera


THE top man at Dartmouth has been presented with a DVD which featured his division under training more than three decades ago. Cdre Jake Moores,


the


Commodore of BRNC, was given the DVD copy of film which was shot at Dartmouth in 1976, when he was a cadet under training. The film had been tracked


down by Britannia Association Council member Stephen Daltrey, who was a training contemporary of the Commodore’s in Blake Division.


“I remembered the film being


made,” said Stephen, “and indeed can be glimpsed on camera at one point.


“The crew were there as some of the first female officers were going through training at BRNC at that time and there was a lot of media interest.” Both men were amazed at


how young everybody looked – including the staff. Footage includes a look at rounds being carried out along with training for Talbot Division, the WRNS officer division. BRNC archivist Dr Jane Harrold


said: “It is always fascinating to look back at film footage and this recent addition to the archives is very welcome.”


Minister visits


FOREIGN Office minister Jeremy Browne made a fact-finding visit to Norton Manor Camp in Somerset to meet members of 40 Commando RM who keep the base running while combat troops are deployed. Mr Browne, the Lib Dem MP Deane,


for Taunton also met


members of Termoli Troop, the rehabilitation facility staffed by officers, senior NCOs, remedial instructors, physiotherapists and doctors, trained in the ‘recovery pathway’ which


helps Royal


Marines who have been injured both in and out of the line of duty.


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