NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2007 19
in brief
news
Birdman
■ RALEIGH’S PO Michael
Hopwood pulled on his running
shoes to say thank you to the
hospice that had supported his
mother.
Michael, an instructor at the
Defence Maritime Logistics
tickles the
School at the Cornish training
establishment, pulled in
the support of three of his
comrades – CPO Tony Rennie
RFA, PO Claire Richardson and
PO Peter Brown, to run the
Plymouth half-marathon.
He said: “The Prince of Wales
toes of fear
Hospice was fantastic in caring
for my mother Margaret, who NAVAL fliers have taken to
died of cancer last year.
the skies over Bognor once
“Raising the money was my
more – albeit briefly.
way of thanking the staff for
The annual Birdman of Bognor
the support they gave, and to
brought forward a naval team from
help them to continue providing
the Fleet Information Operations
care to others in similar
Centre at RAF Digby.
● Rosie and her runners on the steps at St Paul’s Cathdral in
circumstances.”
Although the commanding
London Picture: PO(Phot) Flo Foord
The hospice in Pontefract
officer of the Lincolnshire RAF
provides palliative care to some
base laid down a challenge for
200 people on the ward each
contenders from all the three serv-
year, with nearly 1,500 visits to
ices based there, it seems that only
the day hospice.
Faster than a
the Naval men were brave (mad)
enough to relish the challenge of
■ TRAINEE Merlin aircrew from
jumping into the English seas in
RNAS Culdrose headed out to
September.
the Isles of Scilly to spruce up a
Inspired by WO1 Dougie
speeding horse
wildlife reserve for the Cornish
Holmes, a veteran of last year’s
Wildlife Trust.
SCU Leydene team, the Navy built ROSIE’S Runners from RNAS Military Academy Sandhurst,
The Trust asked the volunteers
their own triplane, named Biggles Culdrose sped the route from and jumped on the bus while
from the Merlin 1/07 Ab-Initio
flies undone – flown by Dougie Cornwall to London in 36 Staff Sgt ‘Dinger’ Bell was run-
course to carry out two tasks:
himself as Biggles and CPOWEA hours – one hour faster than Lt ning his leg of the route.
clearing an overgrown path and
Andy Tyreman as Snoopy (for rea- Lapenotiere and his 19 horses “The whole team did really
weeding boardwalk decking.
sons which are unexplained). pilots and how best to use the laughed heartedly as to encourage that delivered the news of vic- well and we hope to raise a
After a day’s hard physical
The team of twelve headed weather conditions. the adventurous aces. tory at Trafalgar. lot of money for the Children’s
graft, the fliers from Culdrose
down south to the Sussex coast- “There it was decided to carry “Dougie and Andy faced howl- The ten Naval runners ran Ward at Treliske.”
had time for an interview on the
line, and prepared themselves for on discussions further into the ing gusts with pure grit and deter- around-the-clock for 283 miles, “They all did really well,” said
local radio station, explaining
the weekend’s exertions. night so as to properly prepare for mination, and with one final word raising money for the children’s Rosie. “But I am not letting them
what they were up to and why.
Team member CPOCT Gaz any eventuality,” added Gaz. to his co-pilot (“jump”), our brave ward at Treliske Hospital where rest just yet, I am now taking
The Naval team also found
Dewick said: “A great vantage “Sunday would prove to all that boys jumped to the heavens and Rosie Howis is receiving chem- them on a sight-seeing tour of
time to compete in a tough
point was quickly surveyed – out- not only are we mighty on the gained a massive 3.3m with just otherapy treatment for a rare London to celebrate.”
football match against a local
side a pub. Without delay we waves but in the air too. over a second in flight.” form of bone cancer. The Culdrose runners trav-
team which played out to a 2-2
watched in awe as the take-offs “A hearty breakfast was in order Gaz concluded: “The truly Organiser CPO Matt Weetch elled at an average speed of
draw, before collapsing into their
and very quick landings com- before heading over to the pier remarkable feat won the pair said: “We finished the run in 7.39 miles per hour, beating Lt
accommodation at the local Army
menced. and to pinch the bottom of terror the rightly-deserved Birdman of record time. With our average Lapenotiere’s horses’ average
Cadet Unit.
“Biggles flies undone was to take and tickle the toes of fear. Bognor T-shirt and place on the speed faster than the origi- of 7.18 miles per hour.
part in the Leonardo da Vinci “Thousands lined the beach podium of joint second position nal, Rosie’s Runners beat Lt The runners set off from
■ WHILE away in the South
class, and the pressure started to with mouths wide open to see – or joint last, depending on how Lapenotiere by both time and Penzance on a Monday after-
Atlantic and touring Britain, the
show its ugly head as we still had team Navy battle against mon- you look at it...” distance. We have no major noon and ran ‘around-the-clock’
petty offi cers’ mess in HMS
another 24 hours before it was strous winds, up the pier ramp To date the team have raised over injuries, just a few aching limbs to arrive at Admiralty House in
Edinburgh put their energies
our flight.” and to the point of no return (see £770 for LIVES – Lincolnshire and nothing that a hot bath will the early hours of Wednesday
into raising money for their
The team spent the night before picture above). Integrated Volunteer Emergency not cure. morning.
charity, the newborn baby
their big flight in a council of war “Conditions were knocking Service. If you would like to show “We were delighted that Pledge your support to CPO
unit at St Mary’s Hospital in
with other Birdman teams, dis- the morale of our courageous your support for these intrepid fli- Rosie was able to come and Weetch on 01326 552815 or
Portsmouth.
cussing tactics with experienced pilots, though the rest of the team ers, telepone 01526 327005. see us running past the Royal cuscpo@culdrose.mod.uk.
Penguin-racing, quiz nights
and mess functions all pulled
together to make £5,293 for the
Portsmouth unit.
■ CYCLISTS from HMS
Lancaster pedalled 301 miles for
Cancer Care, a respite-day centre
THE ROYAL ALFRED
in their affi liated city.
SEAFARERS’ SOCIETY
Their route took them from
the frigate’s home of Portsmouth
to their namesake city, and on
Providing quality long term edge of Banstead. Donations Head Office, Weston Acres,
arrival they presented Cancer
nursing care for Seafarers and their and legacies are vital to us and Woodmansterne Lane, Banstead,
Care with £1,500.
dependants. The nation owes a help ensure that our residents
Surrey SM7 3HA.
The ship has now taken on
great deal to its seafarers and our continue to receive the best
a new charity in the Lancaster home provides them with a safe possible care.
Tel: 01737 353763
area, A Breath for Life, which
haven in old age and adversity.
treats children using a hyperbaric
For further information about the
Fax: 01737 362678
treatment unit. Find out more at
www.abreathforlife.org
We offer modern en suite rooms services we provide, or for advice
.
www.royalalfredseafarers.com
and sheltered flats set in 14 acres on tax efficient giving, please
of lovely Surrey countryside on the contact: The Chief Executive, Reg Charity No 209776 Est 1865
■ THE new Kanga-Rhu
Preschool in Rhu, which will
extend its support to families in
the local area as well as Service
families, was opened by HMS
Neptune’s Capt David Dickens.
He said: “This is a super
● 13m RSJs are winched in to Dartmoor by Sea King helicopters
facility which has made a real
from the Commando Helicopter Force
difference. There is now much
more room for fun and games,
which I’m sure families will be Call in the
queuing up for.”
■ THE Royal British Legion
in Wincanton have boosted
heavy-weights
the morale of people out on
operations with the Commando
LIFTING and shifting to impossible locations are what the helicopters
Helicopter Force by making sure
of the Commando Helicopter Force in Yeovilton do best.
that there is plenty of nutty to go
And when the call came from the Dartmoor National Trust to help
around.
with a ‘little’ bridge-building task in the midst of the moors, it was the
When during a recent visit to
Sea Kings of 845 and 846 that came to the rescue.
Yeovilton they heard from the
42 Commando had already been to the remote site at Lustleigh, near
CHF how hot it was in Iraq
Bovey Tracey, to work on the foundations for the ageing bridge, but time
and Afghanistan and that there
came for something even bigger and stronger than Royal Marines.
was nothing better than having
Enter the mighty King.
a packet of sweets at hand, the
Under the control of the experts of the CHF Mobile Air Operations
members of the RBL bought in
Team (MAOT), and working with the RAF Joint Air Delivery and Test
a supply to see the CHF team
Evaluation Unit, the Sea Kings lifted 38 tons of sand, cement, stone and
through the Christmas period.
stores on to the site – which was basically a 20m square winch-hole in
All three of the CHF front-line
the midst of dense wooded countryside.
squadrons – 845, 846 and 847
And on the last day, four 13m-long RSJs (reinforced steel joists) into
NAS – are currently deployed to
place for the bridge-builders.
Iraq or Afghanistan.
Sgt Marty Adams RM, leader of the MAOT, said: “This was an
extremely demanding task for both the aircrew of the aircraft and the
teams on the ground.
“Whilst CHF MAOT are trained to carry out such work, this
in brief
news particular spot was especially difficult.
“It was tremendously gratifying for the whole team to see the finished
product.”
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