NAVY NEWS,AUGUST 2008 19
Rain
didn’t stop
play at
Caledonia
THE HMS Caledonia Fair,
stalwart against the inclement
weather, raised an impressive
£10,000 for children’s charities
when over 3,000 people braved
the elements to enjoy the day out
in Rosyth.
Lady Elgin, Caledonia’s
ship’s sponsor, opened the fair
and introduced this year’s good
causes – CHAS, Sick Children’s
Hospital Edinburgh and the Sea
Cadet Corps.
Caledonia’s Commanding
Officer, Cdr Peter Adams,
said: “This was a fair that had
something for everyone, but
unfortunately that also included
the famous Scottish weather.
“However despite the rain
● The Va Va Victory team, winners once more of the top fundraising title in the Four Peaks Challenge
having a knock-on effect on
the amount of people who
came along, I was thrilled with
the money that we raised and
impressed with the amount
of effort that the stallholders,
participants and the Caledonia
Victorious
Fair organisers put into the
event.”
He particularly highlighted
the efforts of Lt Richie Metcalfe,
CPO Bernie Gainford, MAA
Dave Saunders, LS Tug Wilson
and WO Ian Sutcliffe.
He added: “The Sea Cadets
once more
● PO Daz Craig, Lt Cdr Martin Lanni and Lt James Bullock
were also amongst the highlights
of the day and really brightened
IT MAY come as no suprise Organiser Katharine Brindley no exception with a great show of
up the parade ground as they
to those who know their
said: “We were delighted to camaraderie between teams and
marched around with pride and
enthusiasm.”
track record, but Royal
welcome back familiar faces, but with the marshals.”
were particularly pleased that so This year’s event has raised
From cab
The 2010 event is already
Naval Team Va Va Victory
being planned, with the usual
once again won top honours
many new teams had heard about almost half a million pounds for
the Challenge and signed up to disabled and disadvantaged young
eclectic mix of music, model
in this year’s Wooden Spoon
take part. people and their families.
ships, dancers, fieldgun and Four Peaks Challenge.
“The atmosphere is always Find out more about
fairgrounds. The team of four from HMS
amazing and despite the rainy, future challenges at www.
Although organisers hope to Victory – John Scivier, Robert
windy conditions, this year was spoonchallenges.com
add a few more Naval touches Brown, John Webb and Dean to car
to the next event with ships and Farrell – were one of 60 teams
aircraft. to take on the race to scale Ben
THREE members of the UK’s decided to make this as difficult as
Although there is one attendee Nevis, Helvellyn, Snowdon and
busiest search and rescue unit are possible for ourselves, so the drive
they hope will not return. Cdr Carantouhill in less than 48
climbing out of their cabs and into will be completed non-stop in a
Adams added: “Next time though hours.
their cars to raise money for two target time of six days.”
we’ll be sure to try to book the While the team posted a highly
children’s hospitals. The trio have already secured
good weather. Watch this space.” respectable time of 13 hours,
Lt Cdr Martin Lanni, Lt James sponsorship from Terberg,
37 minutes and 23 seconds of
Bullock and PO Daz Craig from Goodrich and Spirit Aerosystems
Bring out
climbing, their prize recognises
HMS Gannet will be driving but are looking to swell their cof-
their attainment of top score in
10,000km across Europe from fers with support via their website
fundraising – netting a remarkable
Glasgow to St Petersburg. www.justgiving.com/gannet
your dits
£33,333.33.
Their aim is to raise £100,000 Lt Bullock admitted: “Various
This is the second year that the
for the Royal Hospital for people have sounded a note of
Naval team have won the Funds
Sick Children in Yorkhill and caution about our £100,000 tar-
NOW it’s well known that there’s
Trophy, and were delighted to
the Number 1 Hospital in St get – they seem to think we will
a wealth of funny stories out there
have exceeded the £31,500 they
Petersburg. never do it.
netted last year.
about life in the Senior Service.
“Being part of a search and “We know it’s steep, but we
Lt Cdr Scivier said: “The
And now there’s a plan to turn
rescue team requires dedicaiton can’t think of better causes to ben-
Wooden Spoons Four Peaks
them into charity cash.
and dogged determination to try efit from such a sum of money and
Challenge is a really special event
Two books have already been
to keep on achieving the best out- we just hope that people will get
because it attracts people of all come,” explained Lt Cdr Lanni. behind us to make it happen.
produced in the ‘Thick’ series,
ages and abilities.” “We routinely fly in extreme “We’re doing our bit, now we
about life in the Army and life in
But it wasn’t just the squad conditions and frequently peo- just need everyone to dig deep and
the Police Force.
from Victory who came out tops IT’S not just the four peaks which have been tempting Naval folk, a ple’s health and even lives are at do theirs.
The author, John Patterson, is
again. team of Naval officers and civilians from Abbey Wood pulled on their stake – they are depending on us “When you’re thinking about
now hoping to pull together more
The Flyers – combining former walking boots to take part in the Tenovus Three Peaks Challenge. to make the right decisions and to sick kids and trying to make their
books including one on life in the
RN, RM and RAF servicemen – With a tight time schedule of just 24 hours, Snowdon, Scafell Pike keep trying, no matter how hard lives more bearable, surely failure
Royal Navy and Royal Marines.
defended their title too, securing and Ben Nevis were dismissed in 21 hours 13 minutes – which splits the odds. isn’t really an option. I guess we’ll
The books sell for £8.99 each,
once more the Challenge Bowl into 9 hours 42 minutes of climbing and the rest driving between the “Bearing all this in mind, we need to see what happens.”
£3 of which goes straight to Help
after pulling the stops out to nations’ peaks.
for Heroes, the national charity
achieve a total time of 8 hours, 4 This timing did mean that the ascent of their final peak, Ben Nevis,
helping wounded Servicemen and
minutes and 12 seconds. began at 2am, but despite weary legs and lack of sleep, the walkers
women.
Former Marine Terry Hislop made it.
If you can help, please send
said: “We keep in shape, Lt Mark Jones said: “The weather on Ben Nevis was awful – wet,
your stories to ian@patsyandian. and although we have now very cold and windy. But our spirits were lifted knowing that we
co.uk, or by post to: 3 Pool left the Services, we are committed were successful in our challenge.” (See picture above.)
Road, Hadnall, Shrewsbury, to carrying on the Forces’ The walkers have raised almost £3,000 for Tenovus, a charity that
SY4 4BG tradition of helping others while looks to limit the damage of cancer through research, education
Or visit the website at www. rising to a demanding physical and patient care.
forcesgonemad.co.uk challenge.”
Find out more at www.tenovus.com
Seeing red
Registered Charity No. 1075015
PATRON: HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
The RN & RM Childrens is a National Charity
ALTHOUGH these pages are somewhat devoted to the white and
blue ensigns of the RN and RFA, let us not forget the Red Ensign
based in Portsmouth. We care for children
of the merchant fleet.
of men and women who have served or are
The Sailors’ Society, the charity that supports all seafarers, is
running a campaign to ask people to write messages of remem-
serving in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.
brance for flags that will be placed at Trinity Gardens (last year’s
event is pictured right).
Originally set up as an orphanage, Monique Bateman
Last year’s successful campaign bore messages from Naval
we now assist children with a wide or Laurene Smith
veterans, such as: “To all merchant seaman on North Atlantic
convoys in World War 2. Whilst you chugged along at 9 knots, so
range of needs and at times of
RN & RM Children’s Fund
vulnerable, we, on destroyers, raced around at 20 knots doing our
family crisis.
311 Twyford Avenue
best to protect you.
Portsmouth
“With grateful thanks for your bravery.”
If you would like to send a message of support for any seafarer,
Applications can be made at any
PO2 8RN
whether still serving or from the past, contact the Sailors’ Society time. Those seeking assistance
Telephone: 023 9263 9534
for a Red Ensign Flag Pack on 023 8051 5950 or redensignflags@
Sailors-society.org.
can contact the office direct for an Fax: 023 9267 7574
application form:- Email: rnchildren@btconnect.com
0018-019_NN_aug08.indd 218-019_NN_aug08.indd 2 111/7/08 16:01:591/7/08 16:01:59
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