18 NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2007
Last Castle
comes to call
ALTHOUGH in her final
few months on station in
the Falkland Islands, HMS
Dumbarton Castle and her
company have been working
hard to make a difference in
people’s lives.
A toy penguin from her usual
Falklands patrol ground is now
the beloved possession of one girl
from the Providencia School in
Montevideo, Uruguay.
The ship headed over to the
South American country in July
for a defence diplomacy visit, and
the sailors took the opportunity to
visit the school for the day.
It is a Catholic after-school day
centre used by children of under-
privileged families – a place to
take part in sports, study on com-
Building
● Sailors from HMS Collingwood shift an old HIVE Wendy House to
the Anchor Pre-school
puters and continue learning.
The sailors from the patrol ship
bridges on Collingwood goes
picked up cans and brushes to
paint the centre’s outside wall and
railings, then donned gloves for
Dartmoor
high and low
a spot of gardening – before the
children arrived and the inevitable
ROYAL Marines from 42 Com-
football kick-around began.
mando have built a bridge in Dart- UP in the mountainous heights of appalling weather conditions.
Although is was, in fact, the
moor after a call for help from the Snowdonia two teams of willing The Collingwood teams hope
South American mid-winter the
National Park Authority. sailors from HMS Collingwood to garner more than £1,500 in
Brits enjoyed the balmy warmth
The park rangers called on the tackled the MS Challenge, an an- sponsorship.
of an English summer’s day (well,
muscle power of the Marines to nual event where the teams carry a Meanwhile back in the local
they’d have needed their welling-
dig foundation holes in a remote wheelchair-bound volunteer over area, sailors from the training base
ton boots if it was this summer...
part of the Bovey valley – due to its a tough 10km course. paid a visit to Anchor Pre-school
– Ed).
isolation and the historic nature of Unlikely as it may sound volun- to drop off a Wendy House that
Football, handball and basket-
the site machinery cannot be used teers for the event are not in short had been donated to the school.
ball led to much hilarity, which
in this labour of construction. supply as it gives the person with The Wendy House was origi-
was only triumphed when bags of
sweets, crisps and toys were hand- ● LS Stuart ‘Buster’ Brown of HMS Dumbarton Castle with
The Marines also had to lift MS (multiple sclerosis) the chance nally from the HIVE, but when
ed out by the visiting sailors. children from Providencia School in Montevideo, Uruguay
and shift the stones and concrete to take part in an activity beyond the HIVE moved to HMS Sultan
needed to build the bridge along their normal capacity and to enjoy Wendy was left behind.
LS Stuart ‘Buster’ Brown said: the Army and Air Force who were have experienced ‘spinning’ before
the 1,000m bridleway to the site. the scenery along the way. Although not presently looking
“Our visit has put a smile on the all raising money for Combat and to have taken part in this
Capt Tom Noble RM said: One team completed the run her best, Wendy is looking forward
faces of these children. Stress, this year’s Mount Pleasant event it is absolutely a tremendous
“The Royal Marines, and espe- in just two hours 20 minutes, to a makeover and fresh start at
“It means a lot to us too, visit- charity – and the recent benefici- effort by the team.”
cially 42 Commando who are tackling harsh terrain and heav- the pre-school where she will be
ing a school like this and for us a ary of a dinner at Windsor Castle Overall they raised £535 for the
based at Bickleigh Barracks on ing their human cargo over bogs, restored to her former glory – in
job that takes a few hours might held by the Prince of Wales. Forces’ charity.
the edge of Dartmoor, have a long forests and rivers through truly navy blue.
take them a few weeks.” Five of the six ‘spinners’ were This is the final month for the
established link with Okehampton
Ten sailors from the last of the new to the challenge, and they ‘Last Castle’ on patrol around the
Battle Camp for use of the train-
Navy’s castle ships also paid a call were a bit surprised at how quickly Falklands.
● One of the teams from HMS Collingwood fi nishes the fi nal hurdle
ing areas, and they have always
of the MS Challenge in Snowdonia
on the British hospital to replen- the time went by. At the end of this month she
been extremely accommodating.
ish the blood supplies, following LLogs(CS) ‘Elle’ Robertson starts the long journey home to
“This bridge-building task is an
the visit of a fellow sailor from said: “An enjoyable day to my sur- the UK and new ship HMS Clyde
opportunity for us to give some-
another ship to the intensive care prise, a good team effort and I’m takes over as Falklands guardship.
thing back to the Dartmoor train-
unit earlier this year. pleased to have taken part.” Dumbarton Castle is expect-
ing area.”
Once back in their home- AB(MW) ‘Millie’ Milton was ed home in late November, with
patch of the Falklands, six sailors also surprised to admit that it was a decommissioning parade on
Red and blue
from Dumbarton Castle climbed “a fantastic experience”. November 30. The event is open
aboard spinning exercise cycles The ‘old hand’ of the group was to all former members of the
A COLLECTION at Twickenham
to take part in a six-hour spin- S/Lt Craig Guest, who last year ship’s company.
railway station after the Army vs
ning marathon at Mount Pleasant rode from John O’Groats to Lands For more information contact
Navy rugby match netted a char-
Complex. End with BRNC. PO(C) McAuley by e-mail at
ity haul of £1,372 for the British
The matelots joined teams from He said: “For the guys not to
274-pocomms@a.dii.mod.uk.
International Sailors Society and
the Army Benevolent Fund.
Organiser Pamela Jones said:
“We stood with our red and blue
buckets, that at the end of the day
took some strain to carry – it is a
lot of money in small change, so
were were grateful for the lighter
notes that were included.”
VANGUARD CLASS
TRIDENT MISSILE SUBMARINE
1992 - 2007
£35.00
+ £3.00 p&p
UK Only
● From left to right are PO(MA) Walsh, Colonel Eric Van Camp (USMC), PO Drew, Sgt Major Courtney
Kyle Curtis (USMC) and PO George Picture: LA(Phot) Darby Allen
Bemused Marines left beaming
TWO-HUNDRED members of the US Marine enough to be a jockey turned out to be a bit of a
Corps had an unusual introduction to life on board struggle.”
a Naval ship during a horse-racing night on carrier All the money raised from the betting tote, the hot
HMS Illustrious. dog and ice slush stands and the collection came to
To order your model send your name, address and daytime telephone number, The event, organised by 6 Hotel, 6 Papa and 7 $1,000 (£500) which the three messes donated to
along with your cheque or credit card details to:
Romeo POs messes, took place in the hangar. USMC charities.
Skytrex Ltd, Unit 1 Charnwood Business Park, North Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 1LE
“After a few looks of confusion, particularly These were the Wounded Warrior charity which
because the comperes were Elvis Presley and Captain assists wounded marines, and the Marine Corps
Tel: 01509 213789 Fax: 01509 230874 Jack Sparrow, the US Marine Corps (USMC) got Scholarship Fund which provides scholarships to
email:
sales@skytrex.com www.skytrex.com
fully involved and enjoyed the event,” said the car- family members of marines.
rier’s Lt Cdr Toby Evison. ■ For the US perspective on the evening’s enter-
PLEASE ALLOW UP TO 28 DAYS FOR DELIVERY
He added: “However finding a marine small tainment, see pages 16-17.
0018-019_NN_sept07.indd 118-019_NN_sept07.indd 1 220/8/07 15:21:580/8/07 15:21:58
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