18 NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2008
Craig saves
Dibdobs
and
lives in Ghana
shrapnel
LEFT-OVER currency and
nowhere to spend it led a sailor
from Devonport ship HMS
A NURSING officer from
Northumberland to raise money
Derriford Hospital in
for charity, Barnardo’s.
Plymouth led a team out to
LET Herewood Crane
started the collection of coins
West Africa to set up a life-
from the many ports the
saving medical centre.
warship visited during her
Lt Craig Brown, an operating
four-month deployment in the
theatre specialist at the military
Mediterranean.
hospital unit and specialist adviser
Once he’d organised collecting
to the RN, led a team that headed
tins and placed encouraging
out to Sekondi and Takoradi in
posters around the ship,
Ghana.
Herewood set about pestering the
This is the fifth time that
ship’s company to give him all
the Royal Navy and QARNNS
their foreign change.
(Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval
He said: “I decided to make
Nursing Service) have headed out
this collection because I know
to the African nation to offer their
charities collect foreign coins and
services in reducing the death toll
with 160 people in the ship there
of serious untreated hernias.
were bound to be a lot of coins
Once in country, Craig was in
left over from our port visits.
charge of a hernia clinic operating
“Choosing Barnardo’s as the
theatre – each five-day visit period
charity to receive the collection
draws an average of 140 cases for
wasn’t easy as a lot of charities
treatment at the Hernia Treatment
deserve the same but I hope these
Centre in Takoradi.
coins make a real difference to
Craig said: “We are educating
the children.”
the Ghanaians in hernia surgery
The collection of £91 was ● A Girl Guide learns about radio at the RN Amateur Radio Society
in HMS Collingwood
and they are learning our skills
presented to Sue Ferris, a
and operating theatre procedures.
representative for Barnardo’s
A Guide to
“This is an important process
during the ship’s recent
because whereas 100 per cent of
maintenance period in
hernias diagnosed will be treated Devonport.
by operation in the UK, only less
the airwaves
than 14 per cent will be treated by
routine operation in Africa – and
of those that are not treated there
...and a
is a high mortality rate.
‘THINKING day on the air’ drew The Senior Rates mess at
“The Operation Hernia team
Girl Guides and Brownies to HMS Collingwood have also been mak-
working with the Ghanaian mission to
Collingwood to meet with the ra- ing an effort to make life easier for
doctors and nurses are seeking to
dio experts of the RN Amateur local children.
reduce this mortality rate in this ● Lt Craig Brown, an operating theatre specialist at Derriford
Radio Society, whose headquar- The mess donated £1,000 to
region dramatically.” Hospital in Plymouth
Picture: LA(Phot) Ray Jones Africa
ters is appropriately enough in the the Heathfield School in Fareham,
Operation Hernia is a charity
Maritime Warfare School. which helps children with moder-
headed by Professor Andrew take for granted in the UK.” handling techniques, and basic
THIS fallow period in the ship’s
The girls made use of the radio ate learning disabilities.
Kingsnorth, a colleague of Craig’s The Operation Hernia life support to reduce preventable
sea-going life also offered the
equipment to make contact with PO Simon ‘Nobby’ Hall visited
at Derriford Hospital. foundation has built up strong deaths.
chance for seven sailors from
other Guides and Brownies across the school during an assembly to
Craig added: “It is a very links with the western region of Craig is particularly keen to hear HMS Northumberland’s
the UK, and learn about mapping make the donation, which will go
humbling experience seeing what the African country. from ships that may be visiting the company to head out to Richard’s
contacts and the use of the pho- towards a cycle track.
the Ghanaians have to tolerate; Achievements of the mission area to find ways to strengthen the Bay in South Africa to work on
netic alphabet.
they have so little resources and are include educating the local health links between the Royal Navy and a children’s orphanage as Navy
■ And apologies to the
Morse code was taught in an Collingwood sailors of the System
so poorly equipped and funded. care professionals to reduce the the Ghanaian clinic. News went to press.
unusual way as the girls spelt out Engineering Management course
“The team makes big differences spread of HIV and hepatitis, Find out more on the official The aim of the one-week
their names on biscuits using icing who last month were assigned, in
by performing procedures, whilst supplying equipment to the website www.operationhernia. mission is to improve the
paste and sweets. error, to HMS Sultan.
teaching the local nurses, that we clinics, teaching patient-lifting and org.uk. orphanage by refurbishing the
kitchens, building a playground
Partners in Clyde make
A record racket
and laying paths to keep the
children from walking on mud in
winter.
the long run south
Members of the team also
gave practical lessons, ranging
TWO records have been bro-
from health and hygiene issues to
CREW and personnel connected to patrol ship HMS Clyde have packed
ken on the squash court at HMS
interactive dramas.
their running shoes in preparation for the gruelling Stanley Marathon
Excellent, earning a place in the
record books for two members of
Fundraising went well
across the unforgiving Falkland Islands terrain, where steep gradients,
the Military Police Guard Service.
with friends, family and the
high winds and the strange South-Atlantic climate of four seasons in one
Pte Darrel Gilmore and L/Cpl
ship’s company all giving very
day make other marathons seem ordinary.
Glen Dickson laboured long and
generously to raise £5,000 to
The ship’s marine engineer officer Lt Cdr Paul Williams and gun-
nery officer Lt Andy Scorer are joined by VT Naval Support’s George hard under the watchful eye of
buy the materials needed for the
Jamieson, the senior systems manager on the ship, and Paul Blankley, MAA Gavin Moulds (pictured
projects.
who is based at Abbey Wood, to form the team ‘Partners in Clyde’. right) and two witnesses to achieve
Project organiser Lt Cdr Stuart
Their efforts will go to garner money for charity Seeing is Believing, a record-breaking squash stint of
Somerville said: “Having returned
which aims to restore the sight of people around the world through 25 hours, 26 minutes.
from a civilian-run mission last
cataract operations, the training of eye doctors, and the building of Darrel said: “Once we got to
year I realised what a fantastic
vision centres. 24 hours we knew we had secured
undertaking this would be for the
a place in the Guinness Book
team in HMS Northumberland.
of Records for the longest ever
“The week is going to test
squash game, but we were told
our resilience, teamwork and
about the Racket Sports Record,
organisation skills to the limit and
so we continued on for another
in return I hope the experience is
hour and 26 minutes in order to
positive and life-changing for the
break another world record.” team, the children, and the staff
Fundraising from the squasha- at the orphanage.”
thon will got to support the Follow their efforts online at
National Society for the Prevention www.southafricaprojectmar08.
of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). blogspot.com
Some va va voom on va va Victory
Registered Charity No. 1075015
PATRON: HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
ALTHOUGH not the most mobile of Her Majesty’s ships, Victory’s
crew are a little different – a team from the Flagship are determined
The RN & RM Childrens is a National Charity
to scale the mighty peaks of the four countries of Great Britain and
based in Portsmouth. We care for children
Ireland in less than 48 hours.
The Va Va Victory team (pictured left) raised an impressive £31,500
of men and women who have served or are
last year, winning the trophy for the highest sum collected, and no
doubt are determined to do even better this year. (Pledge your sup-
serving in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.
port online at www.justgiving.com/victory4peaks)
Although they might have some rivals; in amongst the 60 other
Originally set up as an orphanage, Monique Bateman
teams competing to conquer the peaks of Ben Nevis, Helvellyn,
we now assist children with a wide or Laurene Smith Snowdon and Carantouhill are The Flyers, captained by former
range of needs and at times of
RN & RM Children’s Fund
Royal Marine Terry Hislop, now a military consultant to the United
Arab Emirates.
family crisis.
311 Twyford Avenue
All money raised will go to Wooden Spoon, the rugby charity
Portsmouth that is celebrating its silver jubilee in 2008 with fundraising events
Applications can be made at any
PO2 8RN
planned throughout the year.The charity is committed to helping
time. Those seeking assistance
mentally, physically and socially disadvantaged children.
Telephone: 023 9263 9534
Wooden Spoon are appealing for people to take part in this year’s
can contact the office direct for an Fax: 023 9267 7574
events. If a brisk walk doesn’t suit you, then perhaps the traditional
application form:- Email: rnchildren@btconnect.com
John O’Groats to Lands End cycle ride might appeal...
Find out more on www.spoonchallenges.com or 01889 582889.
0018_NN_apr08.indd 118_NN_apr08.indd 1 119/3/08 08:58:089/3/08 08:58:08
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