Annual Review 2015
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www.rfca-ne.org.uk We’re on Twitter – @NERFCA … and Facebook – @North-of-England-RFCA North East RCE FO S & E C V A VolunteerD R Annual Review E E S T E The Reserve Forces and Cadets Association S R A S D S N (RFCA) for the North of England O LEG VI VIC PF A C L IA G 2015 T N IO E N O F FO H R T H E N O RT Deeply happy Equipment grant plunges Make-over Cadets into diving / 38 for Navy training centre / 6 Saluting North East hospitals / 24 Stone for a hero / 9 News from Cadet Our region units / 30 and who we are / 39 2 North East Volunteer Inside this edition 5 10 12 16 20 27 33 Reserve Units ...............4-21 Employers ................ 22-29 Cadets ....................... 30-40 Cover picture: Cadets from Walker Technology College on the way to becoming qualified ocean divers, thanks to an equipment grant from the RFCA. 3 North of England RFCA Welcome elcome to this year’s edition of the North East Volunteer, our annual review of events W across the region and, as usual, it has been a busy twelve months for the Association as well as for our Reserves and Cadets. The structure of Reserves in our area continues to adjust under Future Reserves 2020 (FR20) with the planned relocation of some of our units and the consequent changes to the estate laydown. Recruiting for all Services is steadily improving. As the £2.8M Project Tyneside at HMS CALLIOPE nears completion it is already having a significant and positive impact on the Gateshead Quayside area. The Project will provide welcome modern training facilities for Royal Naval and Royal Marines Reserves as well as the several other occupants of the site. Engagement with employers of Reservists and with the wider community is an essential part of restructuring the Reserves and we are fortunate to have so many of our local employers on side, as evidenced by the Silver Awards Presentations held at Beamish Hall Hotel in November (pp 28-29). Our sincere congratulations go to those who received Silver Awards under the Government’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). Very well done, and thank you all for your commitment and support. It has also just been announced that Gateshead Council has been awarded a Gold Award under the ERS, one of only 16 nationwide to be given this year. The Gold presentations will be made in the New Year at a ceremony to be held in London. Our warmest congratulations go to Gateshead Council on their 24 achievement; thank you for your commitment and support to the Armed Forces, Cadets and Veterans and their families in the Region. Once again, both Reserves and Cadets held successful annual camps. This year Sea Cadets and Air Cadets were invited to attend Durham ACF camp, and Contents Air Cadets attended Northumbria ACF’s camp. These tri-Service camps have been a resounding success, with more cadets than ever attending. We look forward to repeating this success next year. I very much hope you enjoy reading the magazine and would like to thank all those who have contributed. May I end by wishing everyone a very Happy 38 Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Col Jonny Hackett Chief Executive Contact us For more information and details of Reserve and Cadet units, please visit www.rfca-ne.org.uk Follow us on Twitter @nerfca and Facebook @North-of-England-RFCA North of England RFCA, 53 Old Elvet, Durham, DH1 3JJ Tel: 0191 383 6256 Email: [email protected] 4 North East Volunteer A President on a mission “It’s been a year of learning for me” – that’s the verdict of Mrs Sue Snowdon on her first year as NE RFCA President. She is also Her Majesty’s Lord- Lieutenant of County Durham, and is finding both roles rewarding. Sue says: “ It’s been a real challenge to understand the range of activities the Reservists • the Lord Lieutenant’s people’s lives. They are all heroes and Cadets take part in. Dinner in Hartlepool, when and for many young people they “Having a background in 60 Sea Cadets formed a are true role models. education, it has been a particular Guard of Honour for her “More than anything I want to privilege in 2015 to work with guests; encourage our young people young people and to see them • visiting Barnard Castle to challenge themselves and grow and flourish.” School and meeting young see what they are capable of, to Highlights of Sue’s year have people who have joined reach their full potential. Many been: the Combined Cadet Force Cadets I meet are amazed at the • accompanying HRH the unit based at the school; opportunities they have to build Duke of Kent on a visit to • A flight with a tutor of confidence, and interpersonal successful companies in the Northumbrian Universities skills, which I am confident will be area which have Reservists Air Squadron. of enormous value in their future working for them; lives. • visiting Warcop Camp Sue is on a personal mission In 2016 Sue intends to carry and seeing around 480 to visit every single Cadet on working hard with Reservists young people tackling unit in the County and is very and Cadets to overcome the rock climbing, canoeing impressed with both the energy challenges they are currently and other outdoor pursuits; and achievements of the young facing. She concludes: “If I can making friends along the people and the unyielding make a difference in some small way; dedication of their instructors. way I will be very happy, and • opening the new, first-class She adds: “I would like to pay if I can encourage even a few cadet facility in Consett, tribute to all of the volunteers, young people to achieve their full which houses both Army who put in hundreds of hours just potential then it will be time well and Air Cadets; to make a difference to our young spent.” New Vice President for NE RFCA In February, Mrs Susan a number Within the voluntary sector Winfield was appointed as of national she holds a number of the new Lord-Lieutenant for positions. She positions in charities including Tyne and Wear in sucession ended her main Age UK Sunderland, Fine Cell to Sir Nigel Sherlock. career in the Work, which trains prisoners As part of her Lord- Probation Service in needlework, and The Lieutenant duties she also as Deputy Chief Probation Derwent Initiative, working became a Vice President of the Officer Northumbria and to improve public protection. RFCA. more recently she was Chair She is also a trustee director of Susan, who has lived and of Sunderland Teaching the Community Foundation worked in Tyne and Wear Primary Care Trust and High for Tyne and Wear and all her life, has also held Sheriff of Tyne and Wear. Northumberland. 5 North of England RFCA x 100km march through Flanders A team of North East Naval the Royal Navy during wreath Yvonne Golightly, from HMS Reservists completed a laying ceremonies at the CALLIOPE, said: “This was my 100km march in three days Menin Gate and Belgian War first overseas trip and it was a during a trip to Belgium. Memorial, as well as the nearby fantastic opportunity.” Exercise FLANDERS involved German War Cemetery at The team was also raising the team travelling to Ypres Langemark. money for the Royal Navy and where they also represented New Royal Navy recruit Royal Marines charities. Cool Arctic exercise Reservists To test their survival skills in HAIRSPRING, a Regular cold move and survive in extreme extreme winter conditions, weather warfare course. winter conditions, as well as Royal Marines Reservists The Exercise, held 150km introducing them to updated, from the North East travelled north of the Arctic Circle, modern equipment, including a to Norway for Exercise tested their abilities to fight, new ski system. 6 North East Volunteer HMS CALLIOPE Continued service recognition Former Leading Radar Operator John Munro was presented with the Arctic Star and former Lieutenant Arthur Laws was presented with the Ushakov Medal. The presentation took place during HMS CALLIOPE’s annual Christmas Carol Service, held in the unit’s spectacular location on Gateshead’s riverfront. The medals were presented by the Commanding Officer of HMS CALLIOPE, Commander Ian White. Since the presentation, John Munro has sadly passed away, but he remains an inspiration to the Reservists of HMS CALLIOPE and was a fine example of the best qualities of the Senior Service. Above: From left, AB Paul Coles, AB Glen Sweeney and AB Daniel Stalker having just passed out of their initial naval training course Maintaining fitness levels Recognising that the building works would seriously impact on the ability to deliver training, Elle Forrest and her team of endurance training leaders successfully ran a number Chief Petty Officer David of outdoors training sessions in the McConnell (Initial Naval public area, conveniently located Training Instructor) shares next to HMS CALLIOPE. a word with Lead Radar Elle said: “I know how much Operator John Munro after staying fit means to us as he received his medal from members of the Navy, so I wanted the Unit CO, Cdr Ian White to continue to deliver valuable training.” 7 North of England RFCA HMS CALLIOPE Training continues… Training has continued was always going to be during the works, challenging. I am impressed maintaining standards with the way our Reservists and delivering recruits to continued to attend drill complete their next phase of nights in spite of the training at HMS RALEIGH.