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NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2011
COMMANDING the Royal Navy’s largest warship off the Libyan coast still hasn’t prevented Capt Andrew Betton of Holy Trinity Church, Wonston, from being sworn in as churchwarden.
Still in the front line, 33 years on
HE saw action in the Falklands, and nearly 30 years later Tim Trevarthen (above) is still taking his place in the front line. WO1 Tim is the Military
Support and Stabilisation team operator Regimental Sergeant Major in Helmand – an extremely varied tour for the veteran. Within weeks of his deployment
he was putting his medical training into practice as he tended a gunshot wound. Tim is responsible for a small
elite team attached to J Coy 42 Cdo RM in Nad-e Ali north, identifying development projects and working with the local community to make them happen and improve both amenities and prosperity, whether finding locations for water pumps or looking to erect bridges. Tim, who has clocked up 33
years in the Navy, joined up at 16 and served in HMS Coventry in the Falklands Conflict. He has since served multiple
tours in Iraq before moving on to Afghanistan.
Increased protection
WOMEN from across the establishments in the Portsmouth area gathered at HMS Sultan for a ‘female protection session’. The session aimed to pass on
basic techniques – throws and countering attacks – that can be used to protect an individual and take the initiative away from an attacker. The instructor for the sessions
was Dennis Ward, a self-protection and martial arts instructor at the Gosport training establishment and at nearby HMS Collingwood, who brought a highly-experienced (and brave) team with him to be blocked and thrown (see above). It is hoped more such sessions
can be arranged, not only giving women useful skills but also the confidence to use them.
Sworn in at sea With Capt Betton unable to
attend any of Archdeacon Michael Harley’s visitations to be sworn in alongside fellow churchwardens from around the Winchester Deanery in the usual way, ship’s padre the Revd Bernard Clarke was given special permission to
carry out the duty on board HMS Ocean instead. The Ven Michael Harley said:
“As commanding officer of an amphibious warfare helicopter carrier with 800 crew serving in support of a United Nations mandate, it was clear that Andrew was unable to fulfil the necessary legalities of the swearing-in ceremony. “So we thought we should
find a way to make it happen and with some work behind the scenes, we were able to secure the necessary agreements and legal requirements under ‘exceptional circumstances’. “The Bishop of Basingstoke,
Capt Andrew Betton
the Rt Revd Peter Hancock, asked the ship’s chaplain to enact the admission and on the ship’s quarterdeck Andrew pledged to continue his ten years’ service as churchwarden during Sunday worship. “Here is a wonderful example
of the Church being able to adapt – even when it involves a Royal Navy ship on active service on the high seas.” HMS Ocean left Plymouth at
the end of April as part of the NATO-led operation in support of the United Nations Security Council resolutions to protect Libyan civilians during the unrest in their country. Capt Betton said: “Like any
other serving member of the Forces home is never far from my mind and it was wonderful that I was able to be legally admitted into office as a churchwarden even whilst at sea.” “Wonston is a small rural parish,
where the church is central to village life, and it has been a great privilege to serve as churchwarden over the past ten years, offering an excellent balance to my duties at sea. “I am very fortunate to have
the support of a strong parochial church council who ensure that everything runs smoothly during my frequent absences, whilst I attempt to keep up with the administration at sea.”
International slant at BRNC
THE Quarterdeck area of Britannia Royal Naval College was decorated with flags of the 22 nations represented by the international student cadre at the Dartmouth establishment. The students manned stands
displaying information about their countries and cultures, answering questions about anything and everything, from local cuisine to
Clyde camps
BETWEEN 60 and 70 children per week attended summer camps at Clyde Naval Base. Over three weeks, participants
in the King’s Camp could try up to 25 sports, and take part in various theme days (the beach, Disney, inside-out being examples), while parents could join in on Fridays. Sponsorship by companies and
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From left, Mne Will Richardson RM, Pte Eleanor Richardson (Int Corps), LS Lorraine Richardson RNR and Mr (formerly Sgt) John Richardson (RAF)
Family’s full house
THE Richardsons are probably as close to the total military family as you will get. Not only have the four of them clocked up almost
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50 years of service to Queen and country, but they each represent a different Service or fighting arm. Mum Lorraine is a Leading Seaman with 14 years
behind her in the RNR, first as a communicator then as a War (Sea) Res FPT – Force Protection Team. She has just returned home from nine months mobilisation with the regulars in the Gulf as part of P Squadron Fleet Protection Group RM (FPGRM) She also spent nine years as an RAF regular. Moving swiftly on...
ago after 26 years, first as an air radar technician (a pinkie, like his wife) then as an airborne technician on the AWACs. Their son Will passed out from Lympstone in
July and is now with the Fire Support Group 40 Commando Royal Marines – and is currently training for his third Ironman triathlon this month. Completing the set, and also with a green beret (but
not the same as her brother’s green lid) is daughter Eleanor, who passed out from the Army Training Centre in Pirbright and will shortly start linguistic training as a private in the Intelligence Corps.
Husband John retired from the RAF ten years
charities meant children of base staff enjoyed the facilities for just £60 per week.
the insignia on their uniforms. “During their time here at
BRNC international cadets can lose something of their individual identities as they are absorbed into the Royal Navy training regime,” said Les Sheppard of VT Flagship, the International Students Welfare Officer. “International Day gave them
all the chance to show BRNC exactly who they are and where they come from.” Countries from Estonia to
Tonga, the Bahamas to Kenya and Malta to Ghana were represented, as were most Middle East states. “It was really good to be able to
show and talk to people we have worked alongside and been trained by, about our own countries,” said Officer Cadet Nahian Milky of the Bangladesh Navy. BRNC First Lieutenant Lt
Cdr Andy Harris said the day was all about understanding and respecting other people’s beliefs and ways of life.
Admiral is VIP guest
FIRST Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope was Guest of Honour at HMS Collingwood’s Ceremonial Divisions. In addition to inspecting the
Guard of Honour, escorted by Cdre Tim Lowe, the Commodore of the training establishment, Admiral Stanhope presented a number of awards and medals, including: British Aerospace Prize (Lt Cdr John Cromie); Armourers and Braziers’ Prize (LET(WE) Grant Testi-Fraser); Admiral Rutherford Memorial Trophy (POET(WE) McCartney); Communications Rating Herbert Lott Award (LS(CIS)Mahmud; LSGC Medal (C/Sgt Long); Collingwood Officers Association Sword Citation (Lt Cdr Dusty Miller).
Serious gamer wins accolade
human factors specialist, has led the development of simulation and serious games systems to train individuals in extreme situations. These include SubSafe,
THE man behind a submarine safety training tool and a bomb- disposal training simulator has been awarded the MOD Chief Scientific Adviser’s Commendation. Prof Bob Stone, an ergonomics/
an interactive 3D tool used by submariners to familiarise themselves with controls, equipment and emergency procedures – the system is of such quality it was used in the legal proceedings to demonstrate the events on board HMS Tireless in 2007 when an oxygen generation device exploded. Bob’s team also designed an
Afghan village scenario to support the pre-deployment training of troops.
MI Flight lauded
THE Navy’s most senior aviator, Deputy CINCFleet Vice Admiral George Zambellas, visited 815 Naval Air Squadron at Yeovilton to present a prize to MI Flight. The trophy, commissioned in
memory of the four members of HMS Portland Flight who died in a helicopter crash in 2004, goes to the flight which has contributed most to the ethos, reputation and standing of the Lynx Helicopter Force and 815 NAS. MI or Maritime Interdiction
Flight is part of the maritime counter terrorism operation. Vice Admiral Zambellas also presented Lt Adam Prevett with his Aviation Foundation Degree in Military Aviation Studies, and an Aircrew Certificate of Competence to Lt Sam Haynes.
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