NAVY NEWS, MAY 2007 21
CHF CPO
leans
on NHS
AS AN aircraft engineer, CPO
Tony Palmer of the Commando
Helicopter Force at RNAS
Yeovilton may not seem a
natural candidate to speak at
a NHS conference...
But the senior rate addressed
an audience of NHS managers,
doctors and nurses on how
‘leaning’ has improved the work
● A Lynx helicopter of 847 NAS operating in Al Amarah in Iraq
of CHF squadrons and their
supporting units.
The invite to London followed
on from Tony’s work with
the Royal Bolton Hospital in
Top honour for
Lancashire.
He had worked with the
hospital’s administrative
offices, pathology unit, and
US 847 pilot
the operating theatre, where
● Falklands veterans and current sailors join with the Prime Minister Tony Blair on the fl ight deck of HMS
he looked at the process for
Liverpool
Picture: LA(Phot) J J Massey AN AMERICAN exchange pilot the action on the ground.
preparing patients for surgery.
with 847 NAS, the Lynx squad- Large crowds gathered around
His application of ‘lean’
principles increased the
number of operations that
could be performed within the
tight operating times in the Past, present
ron of the Commando Helicopter the site which the fundamentalists
Force, has been decorated with used for cover to launch repeated
the Distinguished Flying Cross by attacks against the British sol-
the Queen for bravery in Iraq. diers.
Believed to be the first American To break up the throng around
theatre.
to receive the British DFC since the British forces Maj Chesarek
It was his success in
World War 2, Major Will Chesarek flew his Lynx helicopter at low
Lancashire that led to the
invitation to London.
Tony said: “While I was
nervous at speaking to such a
distinguished audience, it was
and PM
of the US Marine Corps spent two level over the crowds, drawing to
months in Iraq as 847’s Weapons himself and his crew heavy gun
and Tactics Instructor. fire and a grenade attack.
In June 2006 Maj Chesarek was The dense crowds prevented
extremely satisfying to share
the Lynx Aircraft Commander fly- the use of the Lynx’ own machine
the successes of the ‘lean’
TWENTY-FIVE years to the
was serving in HMS Active in Yeoman to Rear Admiral ‘Sandy’
ing in support of an operation in gun due to the risk of civilian cas-
process. day after the Argentines
1982 as an Able Seaman (Sonar). Woodward himself.
Al Amarah. ualties or a friendly-fire situation.
“People are usually sceptical
For the Scots Guardsmen
During an attack on the ground, The US marine had to bring
invaded the Falkland Islands,
His ship earned the nickname
about ‘leaning’ as they see it as
– Lesley Harkness, Paul
a Warrior armoured vehicle ran the Lynx in to land next to the
veterans of the conflict were
‘Cat of Nine Lives’ during her
a job-cutting exercise – which
McLaughlan, Ian Kaye, Mark
into difficulties in the city. The scene when one of the ground
it isn’t.
welcomed on board destroy-
time in the Falklands, suffer-
ing numerous close calls against McKay, John McClaren and Tom
troops tried to recover the vehicle troops was shot in the mouth
“Since the lecture in London
er HMS Liverpool at Rosyth
enemy missiles and aircraft. McClure – the interior of HMS
against an enemy onslaught from and needed immediate evacuation
I’ve been invited to speak at
Royal Dockyard to meet the
Another old hand of the con- Liverpool probably held more
insurgents with small-arms fire after a critical injury, displaying
a number of events in the UK
Prime Minister Tony Blair. flict was Liverpool’s CPO(AWT)
mystery, particularly for those
and rocket-propelled grenades. incredible bravery and saving the
and Germany, which is very
The nine men, all Scots Guard Martin Oates, who as an AB
who had made the long journey to
Throughout the night, Maj soldier’s life.
flattering.
or Royal Navy, were taken around served in HMS Diomede, arriving
the South Atlantic on the QE2.
Chesarek and his crew Lt David Maj Chesarek’s actions saved
“However the CHF the Type 42 destroyer which spent in theatre on the day that HMS
The ops room of HMS
Williams and L/Cpl Max Carter lives and prevented the degen-
is extremely busy with part of last year on deployment to Glamorgan was hit by an Exocet.
Liverpool, which has changed sig-
flew in direct support of the eration of an already hostile
squadrons in Iraq and ongoing the South Atlantic – but for two of Bill Gauson, now a retired
nificantly during the destroyer’s
British forces caught up in situation.
preparations for deploying to the veterans this was something of officer on the staff of the Naval
lifetime, played host to a simulated
Afghanistan – so unfortunately a busman’s holiday... Regional office at Rosyth, served in
air defence exercise, showing off
I may well have to turn them The executive officer in HMS Antrim, Glamorgan and Hermes
the tactics and technology devel-
Separating? Specialist Armed
down.” Liverpool, Lt Cdr Nigel Smith, as Staff Chief Communications
oped since the Falklands war.
Commanding Officer Cdr
Forces pension advice...
Henry Duffy said: “We are proud
to recognise and host those who
If you are considering a separation or divorce
served in the Falklands conflict, call our Family Helpline for more details of our
while demonstrating the features
Free Consultation which can be by phone or
that make HMS Liverpool one of
the most capable warships in the
in person. We also have a dedicated Armed
world.”
Forces area on our website with
HMS Liverpool has just com-
comprehensive information on a whole range
pleted a £7.135 million upkeep
period in the Scottish dockyard,
of family matters, including pension advice.
including modifications to her
We can help you through - call Freephone:
4.5in gun, and an upgraded satel-
lite and communications fit.
0800 827168
www.coffinmew.co.uk
Offices in Fareham, North Harbour Portsmouth, Southampton and Gosport
Regulated by the Law Society.
NEED initial FREE
LEGAL ADVICE?
Then contact:
● Youngsters from Cornwall get to grips with life on the water at HMS Raleigh Picture: Dave Sherfield
Rebels with a cause
A Nationwide network of highly experienced Independent Solicitors
● Thomas Kirkup and Hannah
Who advise and represent Service Personnel, Reservists, the
IN YEARS gone by youngsters who stepped out of activities on the base. Davis
line were given a chance to redeem themselves by By the end of those four weeks, just four of
Civil Service and their Families
serving their country. the teenagers had dropped out. And those still in When Hannah
In the 21st Century HMS Raleigh is seeing wheth- impressed parents and instructors.
Contact:
er a sample of naval life will help teenage tearaways “They were fitter, they were disciplined, most
get back on path. had cut down on their smoking – we were really
met Raleigh
The Torpoint establishment was picked by Cornish impressed. Four of the kids even wanted to join the
0845 601 1260
WHEN Hannah Davis went to
education chiefs to spearhead a 20-week course for RN,” said Martin. “Parents were asking: is that the HMS Raleigh for his passing-out
15 and 16-year-olds to pick up skills and help them same person?” parade, all she expected to see was
or
towards a career. As for the teenagers, a month at Raleigh opened her boyfriend Thomas Kirkup in
Four weeks were spent at Raleigh, where instruc- some of their eyes. “The course has made me think Naval uniform for the fi rst time.
www.forceslaw.com
tors sent the 20 youngsters around the assault course, I’ve got to get on with my life instead of mucking It came as a total surprise when
into the damage repair tank (or DRIU), got them around all the time,” said 15-year-old Caitlin Coad Thomas dropped to one knee and
for a Local Lawyer who
marching around the base, got them out on the water from St Austell. proposed... and she was delighted
in RIBs, and put them in the classroom briefly (which In recent years, Raleigh has branched out from to accept.
SPEAKS YOUR LANGUAGE
they didn’t like much). ‘simply’ training RN personnel to using its facilities Thomas said: “I was more nerv-
It’s fair to say hopes were not high as the young- for training foreign military personnel, police forces, ous about asking her than being
COURTS MARTIAL • DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES • EMPLOYMENT
sters came through the gates. Cornwall County hosting team building exercises and conferences. on parade.”
and REINSTATEMENT of RESERVE FORCES PERSONNEL • SERVICE
Council education chiefs expected just two teenagers “It’s great that we brought money into Raleigh With his initial weeks of train-
INVESTIGATIONS • CRIME • HOUSE or BUSINESS PURCHASE
to stay the distance for 20 weeks. through this course, but I think equally important ing complete, Thomas is moving
or SALE including LSAP’s • DIVORCE CHILDREN PENSIONS and
“On the first day there was some long hair, hands was the fact that it was really rewarding for us at the into a career as an Engineering
TERMINAL GRANTS • ACCIDENTS and COMPENSATION • ARMED
were firmly in the pockets, every other word was end of the day,” said Martin Biddlecombe, regional Technician, specialising in
unprintable, and all of them smoked,” said Raleigh’s business development manager for Flagship, which mechanical engineering in sub-
FORCES COMPENSATION SCHEME PREVIEW • WILLS or
Martin Le Page who organised the four weeks of runs training at Raleigh with the RN. marines.
DEATH of a RELATIVE
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