NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2010


17


Calling Wrens in need


THE year 2010 has marked the 90th anniversary of the Association of Wrens, and two of the UK’s leading maritime charities,


Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society and the WRNS Benevolent Trust have teamed up to highlight the help available to former Wrens, who are believed to number 60,000 or so. Cdr Rosie Wilson, Chairman of the trust,


wonderful support network for former Wrens in the UK. “We deal with around 450 individuals a year, but we believe there are many more we have not been in contact with who also need the support of charities.” The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society provides nursing care and accommodation to elderly, sick, or disabled seafarers, their widowers or widows, and other dependants. Four retired Wrens currently


● L/Cpl Ram Patten and the Royal Marine March for Honour team arrive at Yeovil, escorted by RN and RM Cadets, on their route to Wootton Bassett


To remember and to honour


PictureL: LA(Phot) Gary Weatherston


WITH his daughter Melanie clinging on to him, Royal Marine commando L/Cpl Ram Patten set off down Plymouth Hoe as the high- profile March for Honour got


under way. His four-year-old daughter


was again by his side at Wootton Bassett, the significant staging- post of the demanding national trek. Together, at the opening of the


Royal British Legion Wootton Bassett Field of Remembrance, they planted a cross in memory of all those who have served for this country.


The culmination of the Royal


Marine’s epic efforts to bring all the Services and the nation together at this time of commemoration was the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance. L/Cpl Patten and his fellow marchers from across the Services carried the Book of Remembrance into the Royal Albert Hall, in the presence of the Queen and Prime Minister David Cameron. The March for Honour called together all the Armed Forces from separate starting points around the UK. The Royal Marine team set off from Plymouth, arriving by rapid- roping from a Sea King helicopter on to the Hoe. The Naval team left Portsmouth to a flypast from a Royal Navy Historic Flight Swordfish and a gun-salute from a field gun. The Army team began their route-march from Cardiff’s imposing castle, and the RAF headed south, beginning their voyage from the war memorial at Stamford, near RAF Wittering. Each man – and one woman on the Navy team – carried 40lb packs, clad in identical dark shirts and military trousers, their belts and cap badges alone marking the separate Services. Members of the Royal British Legion Riders Branch accompanied the teams of walkers along the route. The March for Honour was


born of the determination of L/Cpl Patten, who struggled with post traumatic stress disorder after a tour of duty in Afghanistan with the Corps. L/Cpl Patten, who serves at the HQ of 3 Commando Brigade in Stonehouse, Plymouth, resolved “to give back to the entire UK community for the support for the Armed Forces”. He determined to honour


live at Weston Acres, its estate in Surrey. For more information on the accommodation and services offered by the Royal Seafarers Society,


www.royalalfredseafarers.co.uk/


Sharing a joke


A NEW jokebook, called The Laughing Soldier: The British Armed Forces Jokebook was launched at the


end of November, created by Project 65 – The Veterans Charity. Royal Marine Mark Ormrod and comedian Al Murray wrote the forewords for the book, which features jokes and message from politicians, comedians and the British public.


The book (ISBN 978-1-61200- 038-1) will cost £6.99, and profits will go to the veterans charity.


Charity eats


RED Lion Foods have launched a range of foods available in supermarkets, and will donate all their post-tax profi ts to Armed Forces charities. The organisation hopes to raise £30 million per year to fund support and rehabilitation work for the military.


Co-operative and Tesco. Morrisons, the Commando spirit drops in


TOURISTS visiting the Tower of London were treated to an impressive display of commando skills as a team of bootnecks fast-roped from a helicopter onto the tower, before abseiling down to kick off the RM Charitable Trust Fund campaign (pictured above). The start was signalled by a Royal Marines Band, followed by a


Among the supermarkets stocking their goods, such as rice, bread, ham, tea bags and strawberry jam, are: Sainsburys, Waitrose,


Kind Raleigh


HMS RALEIGH’S Warrant Officer and Senior Rates Mess raised £650


for the Starlight


Children’s Charity and £650 for the RNRMC and the Royal Navy Benevolent Trust at a charity night organised by the Mess Social Secretary PO Gary Aiken and Mess Chef Marie Little.


● L/Cpl Ram Patten sets off on the March for Honour from Plymouth Hoe holding his daugher Melanie


the Royal British Legion for the enduring help and service it has offered the Armed Forces for many years, and to show respect for those who have fallen in conflict across the generations. The teams set off separately to meet at Wootton Bassett, the small market town has become synonymous with the conflict in Afghanistan – its inhabitants pay


their respects when fallen


Servicemen pass through on their way from nearby RAF Lyneham. At Wootton Bassett,


Prince


Harry presented the team with the Book of Remembrance, listing the names of all military personnel killed in action since World War 2. The final part of the March for Honour brought the teams together into one unit who, shrugging aside any weariness of the distance they had already travelled, trekked to central London from Wiltshire for the final remembrance events. On the


steps of the Royal


Albert Hall, the 20 members were applauded for their speed march across the nation; a continuation


of the public support that had buoyed them all throughout the demanding miles. Last words to the man himself who made this happen, L/Cpl Patten: “Thank you all for your support. “It’s been an incredible journey for us all – keep supporting our Armed Forces.”


The March for Honour has already raised over half a million pounds, but the teams are keen to swell that impressive total yet more. If you would like to show visit www.


your support,


marchforhonour.com/donate or text March to 70222 to donate £3.


■ The Royal Marine team were: L/Cpl Ram Patten, Matt Bennett (veteran RM), Sgt Kev Rose, Capt Ralph Cottrell, L/Cpl Sean Power RMR. The Royal Navy team were: CPOPT Jan Matthews, POPT Jason ‘Taff’ Gadd, POPT Suzie Parker, POPT Kev Green, LPT Leon Taylor.


briefing from Major General Buster Howes, Commandant General. Serving and former Royals watched the impressive rope and abseil


display, joined by former Marine and TV presenter Monty Halls and representatives from Hasler Company, the unit which manages the recovery of wounded and injured Marines.


Dawdler do MWS march


THE Devonport Dawdlers, a team of MOD staff and friends from Devonport naval base, have raised nearly £5,000 in events throughout the year, including a 24-hour Cancer Relay for Life event in Plymouth.


PHASE 2 trainees and Physical Training staff from HMS Collingwood raised £725 for the Royal British Legion with a march around the establishment with a field gun, accompanied by the CO, Cdre Tim Lowe.


The campaign aims to raise £6 million by the 350th anniversary of the corps in 2014.


visit http:// Alfred said: “There is a the


Bear touches down


FLYING bear Amy experienced her fi rst landing on to the deck of HMS Ark Royal, courtesy of a Sea King of 845 Naval Air Squadron. Amy Bear (pictured above) is one of several toy bears which are used by charity Aviation without Borders to raise funds for its work. Amy Bear the Third, to give her full name, has a pilot’s logbook and will be put up for auction when she has enough flying hours. 845’s Lt David Tindall said:


“It was great fun having Amy as part of the crew, we really enjoyed showing her the traditional junglie role of operating from seaborne helicopter platforms.


“She definitely seemed to enjoy the experience, as did we, especially because we could support such a worthwhile charity.” The


providing humanitarian assistance through aviation services. Find out more at: http://www. aviationwithoutborders.org/


charity is dedicated to


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