40 NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2009
Cocktail
Cupid seals engagement at 2,000ft
party is
WHEN the Lynx of 815 Naval then turned his mind to the to bellow the question in Stacey’s
Air Squadron took off from a location, and after some thought ear – she would be wearing ear
success
Lancashire field during a Sea he contacted Lt (SCC) Tony plugs, in any case – so he had
Cadet training course there was Smith RNR, the organiser of prepared a set of flip cards.
an extra passenger on board – the Adventure/Military Training As the Lynx flew over the Fylde
Cupid. Course based at Inskip. peninsula out came the cards – and
THE MAYOR and Mayoress of
The Roman god of love was the Lt Smith was delighted at to cheers from the crew and other
Bath were among the guests at the
inspiration behind an operation the prospect of the course’s first passengers on board the red-and-
City of Bath unit’s first annual
which saw two Stroud unit staff marriage proposal, so the request grey Lynx, ‘borrowed’ from HMS
cocktail party.
get engaged at 2,000ft. was sent on to 815 NAS – and Endurance for training, Stacey’s
More than 40 cadets, parents,
Sgt (SCC) Mark Cann, Operation Cupid was born. answer was yes (see picture left).
staff and associates attended the
Commander of the Marine Cadet Having kept quiet for a month, Lt Smith said it was clearly “an
party, with the Commanding
detachment, decided in June to Mark climbed into the Lynx with engagement made in heaven.”
Officer of HMS Flying Fox, Cdr
make the leap and ask CPO (SCC) Stacey early in the course. CPO Daniel is an instructor
● NA Emily Wood
Steven Webber RNR, being guest
Stacey Daniel to marry him. Mark had already considered the with the Stroud unit.
of honour.
Having chosen a ring, he engine noise – he didn’t feel it right marina A course not to miss – pp42-3
Good food, cocktails – both
alcoholic and alcohol-free – and
Induction
wonderful weather contributed
to a successful evening, capped
with a traditional Evening Colours
evening
ceremony.
“I have to admit that this was
the first time in my 20-year career
Gas-pipe boom will
in the Navy and the Naval Reserve
works
that I have been inside a Sea
Cadet unit,” said Cdr Webber.
“Now, after seeing the effort and
wonders
dedication put in by the cadets
and staff, if my child ever asked
EMILY Wood went along to a Sea
to join the Sea Cadets I would
Cadet induction evening just over
support her wholeheartedly.”
a year ago – and was so taken by
S/Lt (SCC) Ian Woodward
help clear slipway
what she saw that she is now a
RNR, the CO of the City of
member of the Senior Service.
Bath unit, said: “We couldn’t have
Last August Emily was
asked for a better day.
A BOOM involving a gas pipe
persuaded to attend the induction
“The weather was brilliant and
is not normally regarded as
evening by her father Christopher
it was a real honour to welcome being particularly welcome,
and 12-year-old brother Thomas.
so many friends and associates of but on Tyneside a cadet unit
“Before then I had no interest
the unit.
is delighted with the results of
in anything military, but I liked
“The cadets made a great
their gas-pipe boom. what I saw during the induction
impression on those present with
The waterside slipway around and it ended up that Thomas
their immaculate appearance,
the Gateshead unit slipway joined the Sea Cadets and my
discipline and warm hospitality.”
on – appropriately enough – father and I became instructors,”
Capital, capital
Pipewellgate is now a good deal said Emily.
cleaner and safer after engineers “Within two weeks I thoroughly
from two gas companies built a got into it and loved being in the
THE Mayor of Southwark, Cllr
floating boom made from yellow Naval environment.
Jeffrey Hook, hosted a reception
gas pipes. “The natural progression was
on board HMS Belfast to mark
The mission, by engineers from for me to join the Royal Navy, and
Armed Forces Day.
Northern Gas Networks and I made the decision to apply just
The mayor, a former Sea Cadet,
United Utilities, followed a recent before Christmas.”
presented lapel badges to several
clear-up under the Clean Tyne Emily was diagnosed with
veterans, including 83-year-old Prof
project, as reported in our January dyslexia at the City College in
Raymond Jackson, an artificer in
edition. Plymouth, but with support she
HMS Cumberland in the 1940s.
The unit slipway was cleared, successfully completed a BTEC
The Lord Lieutenant of Greater
but within days floating rubbish national diploma in sport.
London’s Sea Cadet for 2009,
had clogged the site again, making In recognition of the help she
POC George Whitfield of the
it unsafe for cadets at TS Flamingo received, Emily invited Anne-
Southwark unit, represented the
to use it. Louise Allen, the college’s dyslexia
cadet forces at the event.
The engineers planned and co-ordinator, to attend her passing-
built the boom, which acts as out parade at HMS Raleigh.
Quick return
a gate and floats on the tide, Emily was also full of praise for
preventing large debris entering Raleigh’s own specific learning
A GROUP from Pangbourne
the area while allowing easy access difficulties tutors, who helped
College CCF visited HMS
for cadets in their boats. Emily conquer Irlen Syndrome,
Collingwood to learn more about
Richard Dawson, Network
● From left: Richard Dawson of United Utilities, which looks after all the gas mains in the North East on
a perceptual problem affecting
the Navy.
Officer for United Utilities, was
behalf of Northern Gas Networks, Gateshead unit CO CPO (SCC) Lesley Somerville and Stuart Norman
the way the brain processes
The visitors were told about the
delighted to help with the project.
of Gateshead Council at the TS Flamingo slipway on the Tyne at Pipewellgate. The new boom is fl oating
visual information which can be
roles of the modern RN, including
“The work that the Sea Cadets
on the Tyne behind them
controlled through the use of
the protection of sea lanes around
do with young people is very
support we have received from Council, co-ordinator for the Clearwater, can collect it from coloured filters.
the world, counter-narcotics work
important,” he said, adding that the
United Utilities. Clean Tyne Project, said the boom the river. Emily is now training to qualify
and humanitarian missions.
project had been a good training
“Keeping the slipway clear is would also help with rubbish “Clearwater picks up tonnes as a Naval Airman specialising in
Cadets from Pangbourne last
and team-building exercise.
important for the safety of our collection. of rubbish from the river and its survival equipment.
visited Collingwood in May this
The CO of TS Flamingo, CPO
cadets and also for when we are “This boom will help keep banks every week, helping to make And she hopes that after two or
year, and were keen to make a
(SCC) Lesley Somerville, said:
handling our boats.” debris off the riverbank so that the Tyne one of the cleanest rivers three years as a Naval rating she
rapid return.
“We are very grateful for the
Stuart Norman of Gateshead our debris collection vessel, the in the UK.” can transfer to become an officer.
Sea King spreads Fly Navy 100 message
A ROYAL Navy Sea King helicopter dropped
in at a thriving Dorset school to help spread
the message of the Fly Navy 100 initiative.
The Mk 7 Airborne Surveillance and Area
Control (ASAC) aircraft, from 849 Naval
Air Squadron based at RNAS Culdrose in
Cornwall, welcomed around 150 students
from Gillingham School to take a closer
look.
Some 20 or so of them were cadets, and six
were Sixth Form students who are seriously
considering a career in the military.
The visit was organised by Lt Cdr Martin
Flanagan RNR (Air Branch), a maths teacher
● HUYTON with Roby unit celebrated a hat-trick of trebles – or a
at the comprehensive school, which has just
treble of hat-tricks – at the North West Area regatta. For the third year
received its third ‘outstanding’ assessment in
running three Huyton pulling teams got through to the national fi nals
a row from Ofsted.
at the Excel Centre in London, being staged as Navy News went to
press. The three successful teams were the junior girls, junior boys
and open girls. POC Reid also blew away the competition to win
● Gillingham School students take a close
look at a Sea King from 849 NAS
through in the kayak event
New commanders – and new Captain
CAPT Jonathan Fry has announced the rank to responsibility. exclude the possibility of the creation the International Security Assistance
introduction of the rank of commander “It will enable a cadre of senior of a lieutenant colonel (RMR) in Force in Kabul, Afghanistan.
(RNR) into the Corps. officers to interact more easily with their future. Capt Windsor said: “I am absolutely
The move, from August 1, followed counterparts in the Combined Cadet According to Capt Fry, the new delighted to be taking over as Captain
the introduction of the rank of warrant Force and other cadet forces, and it will commander rank is a major step for of the Sea Cadets.
officer in 2008 – until now the provide a pinnacle rank to which adult the Corps that will bestow considerable “I cannot wait to get into the job
highest rank achievable was lieutenant volunteer officers may aspire.” honour upon those promoted to it. and to meet as many of the team across
commander. Initially, the new rank will apply to He expects those who carry the the country as possible during my first
Capt Fry, the outgoing Captain of the eight specific and selective posts. rank to do so with pride and to act as weeks in post.
Sea Cadets, said: “This will provide a Whilst none of the new appointments national ambassadors for the Corps. “The appointment is considered to
modern, more balanced rank structure are Marine Cadet Officers, Capt Fry Capt Fry has now returned to the be a very important appointment by the
for the most senior individuals of the has stated that there is absolutely no MOD and is replaced by Capt Mark Royal Navy and it is my great privilege
● Farewell: Capt
Corps and one which more closely bar on such an officer being appointed Windsor, who has just completed a tour to be joining such a professional and ● Welcome: Capt Mark
Jonathan Fry
mirrors the Royal Navy and matches to any of these posts, and he did not of duty as chief public affairs officer for well-respected organisation.” Windsor
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