Manchester & Salford Universities Royal Naval Unit M&S URNU

Issue 4 Alumni & Affiliates Newsletter

Message from the Boss Issue 4

In addition to Easter and Sum- biking and rock climbing. December 2012 mer deployments as well as Interaction with affiliates has the usual plethora of training as ever been at the forefront, weekends, the ship has sup- through the Annual Reception ported charity events, BRNC and Trafalgar Night and I am cadet training and Naval Re- proud to announce that we gional events. The ship’s com- now have our own affiliated

pany were deployed at short livery company, the Worshipful HMS BITER notice to Gibraltar in support of Company of Tallow Chandlers. BFPO 229 the Royal Navy Gibraltar As we look forward into the M&S URNU Squadron during an interna- New Year we are faced with a University Barracks tional fishing dispute, highlight- number of new challenges; the Boundary Lane MANCHESTER ing their operational capabili- re-engine of HMS BITER, a M15 6DH ties. European Summer Deployment Success in this year’s inter- and a major role in the biggest T: 0161 237 3308 URNU sports weekend belies naval event of the year, the [email protected] the units true sporting poten- 70th anniversary of the Battle tial. The three unit sports of the Atlantic, in our homeport teams are currently extremely of Liverpool. As we now draw to the end of a active and the unit has active 2013 promises to be an excep- busy year, I can reflect on the RN squad members in fencing tional year for the ship and the successes and achievements of and judo. unit and I look forward to in- the unit and the ship over the Adventure training actively has volving you all in future glories last 12 months. increased with many of the and successes. The ship’s programme has, as students enjoying the delights always, been extremely intense. of Bavarian Surprise, mountain

Annual Alumni Ball Inside this issue: Poppy Appeal Launch 2 It is with pleasure that we can Remembrance Sunday 2 announce the date for next years Parade annual Alumni Ball. It is to be Summer Deployment 2 held on Saturday 4th May. De- Recruitment 3 tails of the venue etc are to fol- NRP Sagres—Portugese 3 low in the new year. In the mean- Navy time, pencil the date in your di- CCF Camp 4 ary. Everyone is of course wel- NEW Dartmouth 4 come. Beach Party 4 Bavarian Surprise 5

Trafalgar Night 6 Farewell to Calum 6 Other News 6

Page 2 Issue 4

Poppy Appeal Launch 2012 “This years poppy Manchester and Salford URNU a variety of locations around appeal was our are involved, every year, in Manchester, filling twenty most successful to fundraising for the Royal British collecting tins and selling date with over 20 Legion. This year the Appeal for thousands of poppies. Stu- collection tins be- ing filled” Manchester itself was dents also delivered poppies launched from the University and tins to both the Univer- Barracks, covered by press sity of Manchester and Man- from newspapers and televi- chester Metropolitan Univer- sion. M&S UOTC and UAS were sity, for their own appeals. present alongside M&S URNU Special thanks go out to Sen- and this commenced a very ior Midshipman Guy Row- successful period of fundrais- lands for his exemplary effort ing. Many members of our unit, and everyone else who Mid Bradley Woliter and Mid over the course of two weeks, helped out on this successful Michael Fox selling poppies on volunteered to collect money at venture. behalf of the Royal British Legion. Remembrance Sunday Parade Following on from the efforts of the Officer Cadets in the poppy appeal, the next step was to parade for the Service of Remembrance at Whitworth Hall, University of Manchester in a unique expres- sion of homage devoted to the remembrance of those who have given their lives in war. The me- morial itself is split into two plaques, with a total of 1,668 names inscribed. A brief march away from the University Barracks, we had a short sermon, before our two minutes silence and the lay- ing of the wreaths at the base of the memorial. Summer Deployment - An account from O/C Charidza “It never ceases to We hastily boarded HMS ferried from port to port, each that you absolutely detest to do amaze me how BITER, eager and full of en- of us had a role in the passage in your own home become bear- some people have ergy and anticipation for the planning, navigation and helm- able and I dare say exciting at stomachs of steel journey ahead of us. We were ing of the ship. times, even cleaning the heads and remain totally greeted by Biter’s crew and a The whole deployment went by does not phase you in the slight- unaffected by the few unfamiliar URNU stu- in a blur, many friendships est and slaving away in the gal- rocking motion of dents that had joined us from were made, loads of secrets ley seems so rewarding when the ship, whilst Bristol, Oxford and Cam- you know you are providing others, myself in- bridge. There was just nourishment for sixteen raven- cluded, are ren- enough time for us to stow ous mouths after a long and dered useless by away all our bits’n’bobs hard day’s work. even the slightest before we had to come We got off the ship to be sway and have a together for our first leav- greeted by the second group of tendency of de- ing harbour brief, slip the students; they all looked full of pleting the ships lock towards our first desti- life and eager to go on their stock of NATO nation, and embark on our deployment, much like we travel sickness journey that would chal- were at the start of our deploy- bags”. lenge each one of us in ment. However, we left the O/C Mable one way or another. ship absolutely knackered by Charidza We visited some really amaz- were told, numerous skills were the change in routine and keen ing and some not so amazing learnt, and soon it was time for to make our long car journey places whilst on deployment us to say goodbye to HMS Biter back to Manchester. including Milford Haven, and her crew and completed Yet again HMS Biter, her Ships Padstow, Guernsey and Aber- skippers rounds ready to hand- Company and Captain, Lt Cdr ystwyth. What made the de- over the ship to the second Gardner had managed to turn a ployment more pleasurable group of students. It is thor- bunch of ‘lazy’ students into half is that we were not travelling oughly amazing how whilst on decent human beings for nearly as passenger and just being ship, those dreaded chores a fortnight. Issue 4 Page 3

Recruitment 2012/2013 Recruitment commenced on O’Connor’s flying suit to at- fort). Different students came the 17th September 2012 tract the ladies and festival- up with various catchphrases- with all members of the unit most of which can’t be re- deployed throughout Man- peated here- in order to entice chester and Salford in order the new students into listening to tell as many students as to our enthusiastic dits and we could about the exciting luring them back to the RN opportunities the URNU has presentation van to sign them to offer. Different tactics up for the beer and pizza eve- were trialled, including the ning. Recruitment was highly innovative use of the official successful, and we’ve had a RN recruitment van (a very fantastically busy few weeks welcome shelter when Man- so far in which the new re- chester weather once again cruits have done exceptionally prevailed), Mid Coomer and style wristbands which can well. M&S URNU will continue O/C Dan ‘Catweazle’ Cun- only be removed with scis- to thrive, thanks to the very ningham modelling S/Lt sors (just a bit too much ef- strong team of new recruits. NRP Sagres - Portugese Navy

The N.R.P Sagres is a tall ford URNU was luckily enough fittings. While at sea cadets ship owned and used by the to be selected to represent were given a rota of duties. to train the Royal Navy. On the trip This consisted of four hours out cadets at their naval acad- she visited ports on the island of every twelve on watch. This emy. of Madeira, Spain and numer- could involve navigating, time In 2010 it spent 12 months ous ports in . at the helm or assisting the on a round the world trip to There were eighteen foreign Officer of the Watch. While mark its 50 years Clare was on board, of being in the NRP Sagres was Portuguese Navy. entering in one Since this voyage stage of the 2012 the academy has race. This spent one month kicked off on the a year inviting 19th of July in Lis- foreign cadets to bon. As one of the experience life flagships of the na- on a traditional val fleet the Sagres tall ship. lead out the other With cadets from tall ships in a pa- a variety of coun- rade along the estu- tries including ary during the day. USA, UK and , as cadets in total onboard; each After taking part in the race the well as second year stu- of which was assigned a Por- Sagres spent four days in dents from the Portuguese tuguese “shadow” cadet who Cadiz, keeping the ship open to visitors, before leaving for naval academy, the ship was responsible for liaising Porto. On route to Porto a cere- made a one month round with the Portuguese officers mony was conducted as they trip visiting different coun- on their behalf. Responsibili- were passing the most westerly tries in Western Europe. On ties mainly included rope tip of Europe. After spending this year’s journey Clare work, however, other duties four days in Porto the ship re- Cornes a 2nd year mechani- during the day included clean- turned to where all the cadets returned to the naval cal engineering student ing the deck and polishing academy after a successful from Manchester and Sal- numerous amounts of brass trip. Page 4 Issue 4 Combined Cadet Force Summer Camp 2012

“The Summer Over the summer a group of to take part in all the activi- others from URNUs across Camp was a great URNU Midshipmen, including ties on offer. Throughout the the country. opportunity to put four from Manchester and week, divisions took part in a The Summer Camp was a leadership skills Salford URNU, travelled down trek, dinghy sailing, kayak- great opportunity to put lead- into practice” to HMS Excellent, Portsmouth, ing, power boating to the Isle ership skills into practice. Mid Adam Coomer to assist with the running of of Wight, and visiting the There were times where the the annual Combined Cadet Portsmouth Historic Dock- URNU students had to think Force Summer Camp. yard. on their feet, and one eve- The Midshipmen took up vari- When not on duty, the Mid- ning organised a last minute ous roles such as Assistant shipmen were able to make presentation and discussion Divisional Officers, and activity the most of the Wardroom about the Royal Navy, with a instructors. Being responsible for some downtime. The view to careers for the inter- for a division of 20 CCF ca- week enabled the students ested cadets. dets, the students were able to meet and form links with

New Entry BRNC Dartmouth Weekend 2012

“We had lots of After a crazy coach drive down One of the activities that was to well as rope work and other ironing to do; par- to Dartmouth, The new M&S be most challenging was mili- essential seamanship skills. In ticularly because URNU First Years finally ar- tary Drill. This was conducted the evening they were able to we had inspection rived at Britannia socialize with the college at 0630 both Sat- Royal Naval College students and were even urday and Sunday for their weekend introduced to some of morning. So we taster of Royal Naval their mess games, a vital didn’t really get College life. Unfortu- part of any wardroom. much sleep over nately, the driver de- When the students were- the weekend!” cided to take a scenic n’t in the mess or doing O/C Lara Harvey route there, got lost an activity, they were ei- and as a result all the ther marching from place students missed din- to place (a new rule in ner and ended up Dartmouth is that you trekking into town to must march everywhere) find a place that or ironing. would accept a hun- Other than the early gry bunch of rather tired look- on the main parade ground of starts, the 1st years had a suc- ing cadets. the college where it was soon cessful trip to BRNC Dart- Throughout the weekend there apparent that some people had mouth, they were given a valu- were lots of activities organ- two left feet! The new entry also able insight into naval life and ised which all endeavoured to spent an afternoon on the river shown some of the things Offi- mix the students from the vari- where they were taught the ba- cer Cadets practiced on a daily ous units present together. sics of driving a small ship as basis.

Beach Party In order to welcome new students to the unit in con- junction with the induction weekend a beach party themed social was held. This was organised by the mess committee and featured: themed cocktails, a limbo competition and an inflatable. The event was a resounding success and raised over £1000 for the mess fund. The committee aims to add subsequent similar events to the units social calendar to which all are welcome.

Coxswain, Tony Antrobus and Deputy Senior Midshipman Anna Holland enjoying the beach themed social Issue 4 Page 5

Bavarian Surprise

Saturday August the 25th saw ised, therefore a couple of short cut, down what looked to “Bavarian Surprise 20 Officer Cadets and Midship- hours hiking up a mountain to be like a ski slope, on damp is one of the best man Manchester and Salford arrive at the start of the kletter- grass! Everyone looked at each AT opportunities URNU deploy to the naval out- steig had to initially be under- other as if this was a joke. It open to URNU stu- door centre Germany in wasn’t, so one by one, dents and offers us the Bavarian Alps for a we set off. Foxy (Mid the chance to try week’s adventurous Michael Fox) was the different activities training, consisting of first culprit, slamming that we would not mountain biking, klet- into Mid Josh Brown, ordinarily try” tersteiging, rock climb- he was catapulted off Mid Mark Hanson ing, kayaking and white his bike ad then slid a water rafting! good distance down After an eventful jour- the slope with the aid ney half way across of freshly laid cow fae- Europe by coach, M&S ces as lubricant. URNU arrived at Haus The final day at NOCG Schwaben, located in saw all participants go Bad Hindelang near white water rafting, a Sonthofen they were 14km trip downstream joined by Wales URNU of a fairly fast flowing and RN FOST staff. river, with 4 rafts all in After routine adminis- close proximity. trative duties, all atten- The trip began fairly dants where split into easy, with basic tech- groups, with a few keen niques and safety is- members joining the Su- AT Sec Surg S/Lt Josh Brown and Mid sues being covered, be- perhero Group, wanting a Mark Hanson Mountain Biking in Bavaria fore hitting the rapids and real challenge. gaining some air! Day one consisted of kayaking, taken first. With this complete, During quiet periods on the a pleasant morning on a small harness, helmet and ropes all river, rafts where collided, peo- calm lake followed by an after- set to go, the Klet began! Unsur- ple thrown and dragged out of noon kayaking down a river in prisingly, the URNU students their raft, and people ac- which was to be more challeng- progressed at good speed, leav- costed, resulting in there never ing. Basic skills where taught ing the regulars behind. being a dull moment on the on the lake, as well as capsize The fourth drills, in which where all com- day was bined within numerous games. possibly one These skills proved very useful of the warm- in the afternoon whilst on the est, and the river, especially for some like superhero the Units Coxswain CPO Antro- group em- bus, who permanently seemed barked on a to be out of his kayak and in high risk the river. mountain Rock Climbing saw the groups bike ride. move to nearby Austria, where This how- a day was spent on a couple of ever turned sport rock climbing walls, with into a hike climbing, belaying, spotting and and slide, lead climbing being under- with the taken. Here one group was majority of joined by part of a British Army the ride proving too steep to river. Unit, who was out at their re- cycle so the mountain bikes Finally, on Saturday the 1st spective AT centre and by where carried the majority of September, the 13 hour coach chance had already set up at the 4 hours up the mountain! ride to Calais and then the 6 our climbing spot. The returning down the moun- hour move back to Manches- Arriving at the chosen location tain proved to be just as unap- ter remained, in which saw the to undertake a klettersteig the petising, with gates and fences majority of people catch up on following day, the minibus having to be overcome every some well earned sleep, after parked up close to a ski lift, in few moments. Therefore, the a very challenging and reward- which unfortunately wasn’t util- instructor decided to take a ing week for all. Page 6 Issue 4

Other News Trafalgar Night

• It is our pleasure to welcome This years Trafalgar Night dinner was held here onboard as our newest Training in University Barracks on Thursday 25th Octo- Officer, Mr Jamie Booth. Having ber. We were fortunate enough to be able to served with the Royal Navy for 8 host Commodore Jake Moores, Deputy Rear years, Jamie is now a full time Admiral Submarines as our guest of honour. student studying Politics at Man- Wonder why Boss asked him!!Commodore chester Metropolitan University. Moores had the joy of sampling food prepared by award winning naval chefs before regaling us with his take on Trafalgar Night.

• Congratulation to Mid Tom Bell- Mid Woliter and Mid Cunningham enjoying Williamson who commenced his the Trafalgar Night experience military training at BRNC in No- vember.

• Sadly we had to say farewell to Farewell to Calum our beloved Navs Yeo, Paddy S/Lt Calum O’Connor is a trainee pilot with the Fleet Air Arm. However, for the past 2 Paxton. However it is our pleas- years on and off, he has been on hold over with M&S URNU. In that time Calum has ure to welcome his replacement, made a huge im- pression on AB Adam ‘Watty’ Watt. staff and stu- dents alike. There wasn’t much Calum

couldn’t turn his hand too, be it helping out on- board HMS BITER on training weekends, taking lectures on drill night, participating in URNU sports events or organising big events such as URNU recruitment or organising dual training exer- cises with the Fleet Air Arm and BITER. Calum will be greatly missed by each and every one of use here at the URNU and we wish him the very best of luck in the future . Keep in touch Cal. Get Involved

Lt Cdr Louis Gardner RN Since the formation of M&S URNU, approximately 500 students have passed through its Commanding Officer doors. If you have any phots that you would like to share with your fellow alumni, please [email protected] email them to us at [email protected] and we will publish them in the next edition of the Alumni Newsletter. Thanks. HMS BITER BFPO 229 M&S URNU Contact Us University Barracks Boundary Lane We are looking for M&S copies of this newsletter or Please get in touch! MANCHESTER URNU Alumni to get in write an article, please get M15 6DH touch and tell us what you in touch. are up to. T: 0161 237 3308 We would love to hear any E: [email protected] If you would like to find of your dits from your time

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