NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2008 33
in brief
news
■ THE STRONG arms of the
Royal Marines came into action
Naval wife
when quadriplegic sailor Hilary
Lister asked about her chances
of abseiling.
The RM Commando Display
Team were carrying out several
90ft abseils each day at the
Earls Court Boat Show, and
the world-record holder asked
if she had any chance of signs up for
abseiling.
Never ones to refuse a
challenge, the Marines set out
to make it happen.
Sgt Christopher ‘Taff’ Hunter
set up the rigging at the front of
the Earls Court building, while
Cpl Karl Gilson bore Hilary
strapped to his frame.
Naval life
Taff said: “We were just
chatting to other exhibitors and
AFTER 14 years signed up
talking about what we were
doing at the show when Hilary
as a Naval wife, mum Sally
said that she would love to do
Stinchcombe has signed
something like that.
for the Naval service as a
“It wasn’t particularly difficult
member of the Royal Fleet
to organise and we were just Auxiliary.
glad that we could help her Sally has just completed a
achieve something that she 13-week stewards’ course at
wanted to do. the Defence Maritime Logistics
“She is a fantastic person,
School at HMS Raleigh and is
and it was a pleasure to help
now deployed on Fleet support
out.”
tanker RFA Orangeleaf.
Hilary, who is only able to
Sally’s husband Paul is a chief
move her head, first achieved
petty officer serving at Raleigh’s
a world record in August 2005
Recruit School where he helps
when she sailed solo across
● Cpl Kev Rose, Page 3 Girl Danni and Capt Sean Lerwill
turn civvies into sailors.
the English Channel with a
Picture: LA(Phot) Andy Hibberd
Sally said: “My children left
specially-adapted boat using
home last year, so I decided I
‘sip and puff’ equipment.
would like a career of my own.
“The RFA offers excellent
Glamour
■ FOR the third time in
opportunities to all ages and I
succession, the holder of a chief
petty officer post in the Maritime
would like to see more of the
● CPO Paul Stinchcombe RN and wife Sally, a newly-qualifi ed
Data Centre in Gibraltar has won
world.
steward in the RFA Picture: Dave Sherfield
one of the scarce promotions to
“The last 13 weeks have been
the rank of warrant officer.
fantastic. I now feel really well “My husband has been “This is a big step for anybody
CPO David ‘Lennie’ Faircliff
prepared and ready to join my hugely supportive and due to his and she has done well in her
puss with
is one of only two promotions in
first ship.” experience with the RN trainees training.
2007 in the Under Water branch,
She added: “The course is very he has been able to offer good “Hopefully she is going to enjoy
but Gibraltar must be a good
thorough and has provided me with advice on many occasions.” her time and travel the world,
place for promotions – his two
a vast amount of underpinning Husband Paul said: “I’m very just as I have done in the Royal
predecessors received the same
knowledge. proud of Sally. Navy.”
Booties
accolade.
The unit’s commanding officer
THE ROYAL Marines’ assault assault course showing true
Lt Cdr Nick Chapman said:
course at CTCRM Lympstone Commando spirit to beat Tom
“By the time a chief petty officer
proved surprisingly popular this Newton-Dunn.
is selected for this demanding
winter, although it may have just “We hope that Danni’s visit
appointment, he is already an
been the participant that caught helped to boost the morale of
experienced specialist at the top the eye...
all Royal Marines serving
of his branch. The Sun’s Page 3 Girl and
operationally.”
“The three CPOs who have official Royal Marines pin-up
worked with me at the Maritime Danni donned boots and fatigues
Data Centre have all been high- to tackle the infamous obstacle
quality individuals and this has course in the slightly-less infamous
Divers
been recognised in the fact that Devon rain.
all three have been selected for For some reason, Danni’s
warrant officer.” blonde determination on the
drum up
Lennie will be found, wearing course seems to have eclipsed that
his new rank slides, in the Fleet of her rival, Tom Newton-Dunn,
centre at Northwood. The Sun’s defence correspondent.
business
Physical Training Instructors
DIVERS from the Defence
■ Trainee sailor AB Lisa Capt Sean Lerwill RM and Cpl
Crittenden was awarded a prize Kev Rose kept a close eye on
Diving School on Horsea Island
at her old school’s annual prize-
their charges, making sure that all
travelled to the Dive Show 2007 in
giving ceremony for her hard
obstacles were tackled correctly.
Birmingham to lead a recruitment
work to join the Navy.
At the last of the 12 obstacles
drive for clearance divers.
Lisa, now at HMS Raleigh,
the pair were neck and neck, but
The team offered expert advice
picked up the award for the
Danni was the eventual winner
on all things Naval and gave
best vocational student and
while Tom sank to his knees in
demonstrations of the Service
the Roborough award for
shame...
equipment.
endeavour from John Kitto
Danni said: “It’s only when you
So far 34 people from the
Community College.
try something like this that you
day have signed up for a career
At John Kitto, Lisa studied
understand how tough these guys
interview, and the divers hope
for a BTEC First Diploma in
really are.”
to welcome some of them down
Public Services. She said: “At
WO Dave Fradley RM said:
to Portsmouth on a Pre-Diving
the beginning of the course I
“Danni battled over the infamous Acquaintance visit.
was very unfit and over-weight.
“I’ve wanted to join the Navy
since I was 13 years old, and I
was determined to achieve my
ambition.
“I lost five stone in 12
● Anchor the Bear, Capt Bob Tarrant and Surg Lt Cdr Matthew Turner with children from Manor Field
months, by taking lots of
Infant School and (right) Mne Nicky Macfarlane abseils
exercise and eating the right
with Anchor from the bridge roof
Pictures: LA(Phot) Kelly Whybrow
stuff.”
■ THE TRIBULATIONS of life
A bear on a
inside the Navy have led former
LPT Steven Harris to set up
in business outside as a way of
making things smoother. mission
Steven, who served in frigates
Richmond, Grafton and Iron
BEFORE heading off on her long journey south, iceship
Duke, and his wife Tracy have
HMS Endurance sent her smallest crew member to say
created My Virtual Concierge,
goodbye to his old friends.
offering deployed personnel in
Anchor the teddy-bear arrived at Manor Field Infants
the Portsmouth area a one-stop
school in Basingstoke with the ship’s commanding
shop to make their lives easier.
officer Capt Bob Tarrant on one of the Red Plum’s two
They offer to solve the
Lynx helicopters.
problems back home for the
Anchor, clad in flying overalls and helmet, was wel-
people away, whether deliveries,
comed by 160 children at the school, who said their
tradesmen or other necessities.
goodbyes to their small bear mascot who will not return
Find out more on www.
to British shores until 2009.
myvirtualconcierge.co.uk or call
Anchor is the longest-serving sailor on board
07799 651653.
Endurance and has been to more far-flung areas of the
world than many of his shipmates.
Anchor and his friends on board the iceship keep
in brief
news regular contact with the children at the school and
elsewhere through the ship’s educational website www.
visitandlearn.co.uk.
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