BC525212.01.D11 Shoreside Issue 5.Indd
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The Offi cial Magazine of TEAM PORTSMOUTH Issue 5 Spring 2012 The Incredible Journey QEC block leaves Portsmouth FULL STORY PAGE 28 Behind the Simulator is Lusty Back on Scenes at the Simply Exercise After Museum Breathtaking Hull Repairs FULL STORY PAGE 32 FULL STORY PAGE 34 FULL STORY PAGE 26 HERITAGE // FLEET SNAPSHOT // JACK SNACKS // SUPPORTING THE FLEET Welcome Introductions and Welcome welcome History in the making at PNB ANOTHER bumper edition of Shoreside reflecting how much is going onat the base and how diverse it all is. It is worth pausing to reflect on what the base was doing 30 years ago: getting the Task Force ready to sail to the Falklands. It was the base, its workers and their attitude that enabled a Task Force to be assembled and prepped for war within five days. Teamwork, commitment and ‘getting things done’ were key as they are today for all that we do – whether emergency or routine. We make more history once again with the blocks for HMS Queen Full Page advertising Elizabeth leaving the base for assembly in Scotland and their return in a few years’ time as part of a whole ship. This is a tremendous achievement for the shipbuilding teams and we should salute their role in this historic project. The arrival of the aircraft carriers into Portsmouth will be iconic for the base, the city and the Royal Navy. We should be proud to be part of it. Naval Base Commander Portsmouth Commodore Tony Radakin, RN ......... ......... 2 Shoreside Shoreside 3 Contents Credits Spring 2012 Contributors / Magazine Shoreside is published quarterly and is a WITH so much going on at Portsmouth Naval Base, this collaborative publication produced by the edition has been a real joy to pull together. member organisations of TEAM PORTSMOUTH. Everything from the blocks for the QEC Carrier Queen Elizabeth The printing cost of this magazine is generated leaving Portsmouth, to the commissioning of HMS Dragon, the through advertising visit of Michael Portillo as part of the filming for his BBC2 Great Railway Journeys series and HMS Dauntless deploying for the 3 Welcome and Intro first time has happened in recent weeks and more. Welcome to this edition of Shoreside In this spring edition we’ve also got a report of the visit by Bernard contents from new Naval Base Commander Gray, Chief Defence Materiel (CDM) including his endorsement for Commodore Tony Radakin the base and its future role as home base for the carriers and we speak to Rachel Dunn about her life as the UK’s only female Rachel is first female Admiralty pilot Admiralty pilot. As the only female admiralty pilot in 6 Look Ahead Check out forthcoming events in Finally, the award for Shoreside’s cutest contributor has to be the UK, Rachel Dunn, is completely 9 and around Portsmouth Naval Base Bono, the sniffer dog who is helping to keep the base a safe unphased by the demands of her job. place to live and work. One thing’s for sure – there’s no such thing as FULL STORY PAGE 9 8 HMS Dragon Commissioned a slow news day at Portsmouth Naval Base. The fourth of the Royal Navy’s new powerful Type 45 destroyers has been formally commissioned into the fleet 10 Base Review Look back at what’s been going on at Editor Portsmouth Naval Base in the past few months Kate Thompson [email protected] 1/2 Page 12 Falklands 30 Lusty Back on Exercise A weekend of commemoration After Hull Repairs at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard As soon as word came 26 through about the damage 20 CDM Bernard Gray visits PNB advertising to HMS Illustrious following a Chief of Defence Material Bernard Gray addresses Kate Thompson collision with a tug in Norway, an audience at Portsmouth Naval Base Editor a crack team of experts back in Portsmouth Naval Base were Photos/Images busy making preparations. 22 Fleet Snapshot Find out the latest about the Portsmouth Flotilla Julian Hickman www.1blueharbour.com RN Fleet Photographic Unit (P) FULL STORY PAGE 26 The News, Portsmouth 24 Victory Latest www.defenceimages.mod.uk See the latest update on HMS Victory Steve Wallace, Claire Williamson and Paul Hockaday 25 HMS Dauntless Update Design & Advertising The Incredible Journey - A six-month routine deployment to the South Lance Publishing Ltd QEC block leaves Portsmouth Atlantic, relieving HMS Montrose. 1st Floor, Tailby House, Bath Rd, Kettering, 28 On April 29 when the first QEC NN16 8NL Tel: 01536 512624 block moved onto a barge in Sales: Christina Mclean 26 HMS Illustrious Hull Repair www.lancepublishing.co.uk preparation for its journey to The hull of the helicopter carrier was punctured Printed by Lance Print Ltd Scotland, it was the culmination in two places above the waterline On the Cover Shoreside is published quarterly. of a year and a half of planning. Next copy deadline is June 29 2012. 28 QEC block leaves Portsmouth All contributions and correspondence should FULL STORY PAGE 28 be sent - preferably by email - to: QEC block moves onto a barge in preparation [email protected] for its journey to Scotland On the Cover The Editor, Shoreside Magazine, Room 222, Naval Base HQ, Victory Building, HM Naval 30 Bono Keeping Base Safe Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3LS Sniffer dog Bono always finds what he’s looking for All contributions are included at the Simulator is Simply Breathtaking On the Cover Editor’s discretion. 32 Mary Rose Museum View all back issues of Shoreside at: It will be several years before Behind the scenes at the Mary Rose Museum the towering edifice of the QEC 34 www.teamportsmouth.com/publications carrier can be seen entering Front cover image – QEC carrier blocks Portsmouth Naval Base but in the 34 CONSORT Bridge Simulator on the move from Portsmouth. Image courtesy of The News, Portsmouth. meantime experts have been able Simulation of QEC carrier entering Portsmouth On the Cover to create the moment thanks to BC525212.01.d11 the CONSORT bridge simulator at 36 Me & My Job HMS Collingwood. Meet Captain Andy Glennie and Carol Evans Shoreside Magazine is published quarterly and is a collaborative publication produced by TEAM PORTSMOUTH. FULL STORY PAGE 34 ......... ......... 4 Shoreside Shoreside 5 Look Ahead THE FIRST SEA LORD’S ANNUAL LECTURE ON NAVAL HISTORY AND STRATEGY Historic Dockyard / 13 June / 5.30pm SIR Julian Corbett and his critical role in creating the strategic template for a maritime state will be the subject of this lecture by Professor Andrew Lambert of King’s College, London. Renowned historian, Andrew Lambert, examines the impact of Sir Julian Corbett, advisor to Admiral Fisher and author of ‘Naval Operations’ the official history of naval operations in the First World War. FREE event. Booking essential. Please contact 02392 727577 or email [email protected] VICTORIOUS VINTAGE Portsmouth Historic Dockyard / Sat 2- Sun 3 June / 10am-10pm VICTORIOUS Vintage, a new again for this brand new event – ` Live bands on the main event celebrating the Diamond Victorious Vintage at Portsmouth stage in Victory Arena Full Page advertising Jubilee will take place over Historic Dockyard. ` A secondary stage with the weekend of June 2 and Entry onto the Portsmouth acoustic acts throughout 3 - a collaboration between Historic Dockyard site will be the day NAVAL TEA CLUB Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, free from 10am-10pm (standard Victory Learning Centre / Love Southsea, The Boutique On both evenings there will be a ticketing to attractions Tuesdays from 12 June / Market and Little Johnny Russells. main headline act – names TBC will still apply). but already including Dodgy, The 2pm-4pm After a successful collaboration During this time the public Lightning Seeds, The Bog Rolling with Portsmouth Historic will have access to: Stones, The Silver Beatles and Dockyard for the hugely popular Mark Morris from the Bluetones, Victorian Festival of Christmas, ` An array of vintage stalls plus other well-known bands from Louise Whitmore owner of Love throughout the Historic the region. Southsea and Abigail Pallant- Dockyard Photo courtesy of Hamilton Sidaway owner of The Boutique ` Colourful characters from Studios. Market are joining forces once different eras THE LESSONS OF LLOYD GEORGE - LORD HATTERSLEY Royal Marines Museum /Thursday 28 June / 7.30pm A new social event for seniors at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. You can chat and reminisce over ROY Hattersley, who has just a nice cuppa with a different published a biography of David theme, artefacts and Lloyd George, speculates on archives each time. what other Prime Ministers can learn from the record of the No knowledge of naval history father of the welfare state and is needed, just curiosity, leader of the first Conservative- and a willingness to meet Liberal Coalition – including Jim others and take part in lively Callaghan (in whose cabinet Roy conversation. All sessions are Hattersley served), a Portsmouth free and take place from 2-4pm man whose centenary in the Victory Learning Centre. is celebrated this year. FREE event but booking £10 (conc £8 U18 £1) needed. Please contact 02392 727584 or email Tickets available online - [email protected] www.portsmouth for further information. festivities.co.uk ......... ......... 6 Shoreside Shoreside 7 Focus SUPPORTING THE PORTSMOUTH FLEET // HMS DRAGON Focus LATEST NEWS Rachel has spent her whole career at sea. She started work as a trainee pilot in April 2010 and sat and passed her final examination last April. She started in 1984 with Shell Tankers Rachel is first female and became a 2nd mate in 1987. She gained her Masters (unlimited) ticket in 1993 and then joined Wightlink ferries in Portsmouth. She was the first female officer employed by Admiralty pilot Wightlink and rose to the position of Master in 1996 and remained as Master until leaving, after 16 years service, to become an As the only female admiralty pilot in the UK, Admiralty Pilot.