NAVY NEWS, MAY 2008 27
First for
Commando
March
THIS year’s annual Commando
March in the Scottish Highlands
drew a team of four St
Dunstaners to compete for the
fi rst time.
The four ex-Servicemen,
all blind or seriously visually
impaired, were fomer Royal
Marine Peter Lindsay, Gunner
Colin Williamson, Sniper Craig
Lundberg, and Sapper Peter
Walker, all assisted by another
former green beret Stan Bowers.
Craig was helped along the
seven-mile path by Cadet Cpl
● HMS Ark Royal’s crew dress up for the Sport Relief mile Picture: LA(Phot) Gregg Macready McCarthy from Stokesley
Detachment ACF running
alongside him as guide.
The nautical mile
Craig said: “The course
really tested my stamina, and
I’m delighted with the time we
achieved.”
At the awards ceremony after
THE Sport Relief mile had
the march, the St Dunstaners
Naval folk across the globe
were presented with a replica of
the Commando Memorial statue
pulling on their running
and given a standing ovation in
shoes to tackle a one-mile
recognition of their exceptional
run to raise money for the performance.
charity. To find out more about
On board the Navy’s flagship St Dunstans, visit www.
HMS Ark Royal, 220 members st-dunstans.org.uk or
of the ship’s company – includ- call 01993 770 605.
ing the commanding officer Capt
Mike Mansergh – ran four laps
of the ship’s flightdeck in a mid- Education
Atlantic run.
Not everyone took the event
entirely seriously, with an impres-
in Naval
● Centre-stage at Crufts, POPT Lisa Farthing and Tali in the main
arena sive array of fancy-dress on display
and several people enjoying the
Best of breed
benefits of a run from a wheel-
racenights
chair or stretcher, however the OFFICERS on the Initial
carrier’s runners raised over £440 Command and Staff Course
IN just over one year, dogs Nowzad just seemed completely mad.
for their efforts. (Maritime) at Shrivenham
and Tali have gone from being “Only 12 months ago the dogs
CPOPT Mark Harrold said: made sure that they introduced
mongrels of the Afghan desert to were living out under the stars and
“An event like this is an excellent their colleagues to a fi ne Naval
become stars of the world’s pre- fending for themselves and now
way to get people out and exercis- tradition - horseracing night.
mier dog show as fi nalists for the they were having a weekend in
ing, whilst having fun at the same Lt Chris Wood said: “Horses
Friends for Life award. the Hilton Hotel and stood in the
time.” such as Pongo’s Pony and RAF
C/Sgt ‘Penny’ Farthing and his main arena at one of the largest
All three services took part Justice jostled at the starting line
wife POPT Lisa set up charity dog shows in the world.”
in a run at Brunssum in the to negotiate tricky waterfeatures
Nowzad Dogs after rescuing the The charity is funding a welfare
Netherlands at the NATO Joint and jumps in their desperation to
dogs from their previous life. programme for rescued animals
Force Command HQ. Despite a be first past the post.
Lisa said: “Being stood in the in Afghanistan – support them
cold damp day, spirits remained “Racegoers from the other
main arena at Crufts, live on TV, online: www.nowzaddogs.co.uk.
high with several participants in Services weren’t quite sure what
fancy dress and military firefight- to make of this tradition RN
Dancing the night
ers running in their breathing spectacle – but they soon relaxed
apparatus. and had a flutter.”
The event raised more than He added: “The thunder of
£400 for Sport Relief. flying hooves and cheers of the
away at Culdrose
Over in HMS Collingwood, crowd were heard throughout
LPTs Shaun ‘Mac’ McDonald the Joint Services Command and
and Peter Sapey were helping Staff College.”
the 1st Stubbington Beavers and Lt Col Neil Bennett RM,
EIGHT couples from RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall strapped on their
Scouts warm up for their one director of the Royal Naval
dancing shoes for the air base’s own version of BBC’s Strictly Come
mile run. Division, said: “The evening was
Dancing.
“I knew the Beavers could do it, a great opportunity for officers
The officers took on the senior rates in a contest of cha-cha-cha,
and when they all crossed the fin- on the course to relax a little
jive and waltz to the tunes of the Culdrose Military Band.
ishing line, I was so proud of all of and raise some money for a very
Bandmaster Dave Prentice, who organised the event, said: “I like
them,” said Beaver Scout Leader worthwhile cause.”
to keep the Culdrose Volunteer band busy, so I decided to organise
Lt Darren ‘Toad’ Gosling.
● Lt Damian Stafford-Shaw fi nished his mile last at HMS Sultan – but
The officers’ efforts netted
a dancing competition.
The Nimrod crews of RAF
was the only participant to complete the course on a space-hopper
£350 for the RNLI.
“The band love playing Big Band music, and have really risen to
Kinloss spread their mile-running
the challenge of learning so many new songs.
madness overseas too, with per-
“I was quite worried that I would not get any volunteers to dance
sonnel out in the Gulf organising
though. But I didn’t need to pressgang anyone – before I knew it we
runs of one, three and six miles
had eight couples ready to learn how to dance.”
– won 2–1 by the Royal Navy
The fundraising evening raised £1,163 to support the Precious
participants.
Lives Appeal in aid of Children’s Hospice South West.
Finally in HMS Sultan the
mile-runners let rip with their
fertile imaginations, displaying an
impressive array of sporting attire
to demonstrate that Naval fitness
and a good sense of humour are
alive and well.
Lt Cdr Richard Hanslip said:
“Fitness, fun and charity are all
part of a sailor’s make-up – and
who would want to change that?”
Cheers to
the lottery
THE RN and RM Sports Lottery
is keeping up the fl uid levels of
Naval trainees at HMS Raleigh.
The lottery has supplied water
bottles for the recruits to use
during their initial training, and
● Trainee submarines from HMS Raleigh are helped by students
Gortex sports jackets to keep the
from Torpoint Community College Picture: Dave Sherfield
instructors warm and dry.
● The emergency services and armed forces joined together to raise money for injured military
Divisional training officer Picture: Jim Gallagher
Deep digging
personnel at Selly Oak Hospital
Lt Wayne Ffoulkes said: “It is
important that the recruits remain
hydrated throughout the demand-
Forces excel at pulling
ing initial training course and we
TEN trainee submariners from before laying out separate allot- are very grateful to the RN and SAILORS, marines, soldiers and airmen joined were joined by Royal Navy and Royal Marine
HMS Raleigh headed over to Tor- ment plots for the students to RM Sports Lottery for the sup- forces with the West Midlands Police and other Reservists based at HMS Forward in Birmingham
point Community College to carry use. port they are providing.” emergency services to haul a passenger jet by and student nurses from the Defence School
out a garden makeover. The scheme is part of the wider The Sports Lottery invests hand at Birmingham airport. All their efforts were of Healthcare at Birmingham University for the
Over three weeks the submarin- Gardens for Life project, a com- £1.8million each year into activi- to raise money for the care of injured military per- weighty pull of the FlyBe jet plane. A somewhat
ers, led by LWEA Daniel Fox, munity based project with links to ties for ships, units, establishments sonnel at Selly Oak Hospital. lighter burden then took over for a 14-mile stretch-
levelled and prepared the ground schools in India and Sri Lanka. and sports associations. Members of the military care team at Selly Oak er carry from the airport on to the hospital.
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