Summer 2014 LONDON BRIDGE The Journal of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Greater London IN THIS ISSUE: DRUMHEAD SERVICE COMMEMORATIVERECEPTION AND MEDAL PRESENTATIONS • Solemn Drumhead Service at Royal Hospital ChelseaFollowing the Drumhead Service and the presentation of ‘Stepping Forward’, there was a reception in the grounds of the Royal Hospital during which 10 medals were presented by The Earl of Wessex (Royal Honorary Colonel BOOKLET INSIDEof The London Regiment), Prince Michael of Kent (Commodore-in-Chief of the combined Maritime Reserves and Royal Honorary Colonel of the Honourable Artillery Company) and Princess Alexandra (Royal Honorary Colonel • Armed Forces Day celebrations of the Royal Yeomanry). • Civilian Skills Training with the Army Reserve A DAY TO REMEMBER The Solemn Drumhead Service of Remembrance for those who Volunteered to Serve • in the First World War Reserves support flood relief efforts Royal Hospital Chelsea Saturday 28 June 2014 • Success on the slopes – Winter Exercises round-up Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Greater London www.glrfca.org CONTENTS VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Colonel Hugh Purcell Chief Executive 2 View from the Bridge A month in the life of your RFCA – June 2014 Defence Relationship Management GL RFCA continues to meet the needs of the three Services, which in June, not only threw up the usual 3 Under the Spotlight: Nick Summers challenges but some new ones too! Editing of ‘Stepping Forward’ and planning for Armed Forces Week, HMS PRESIDENT refurbishment which culminated in the Drumhead Service at the Royal Hospital Chelsea (see commemorative booklet), filled every spare moment. This was interspersed by several youth events, which included YOU, Youth United 4 SaBRE News and the CVQO Duke of Westminster Awards. The latter, at the House of Lords, featured Cadet Sergeant NHS Professionals Thanked Major Rebecca Varney from Staines who won the Regional Ambassador award (see Cadet London Bridge). for Support Big Breakfast for Chamber Key events we were intimately involved in included: of Commerce • 9th – The Armed Forces Community Covenant (AFCC) Regional Grant Panel, which met to review bids 5 New Employer Recognition received to the AFCC Grant Scheme Scheme launched • 10th – Royal Gun Salutes at Hyde Park and the Tower of London involving the hosting of faith leaders Islington Reservists Royal and employers Gun Salute • 11th – Launch of WW1: A Soldier’s Tale with Wandsworth Council and DNA in Battersea (featured on British Chambers of Commerce ITN London News) – see page 11 Conference • 11th – Reception for Reservists at the Mansion House 6 Warship Tours for civilian employers • 11th/12th – Employers hosted at Beating Retreat on Horse Guards Parade Business Boot Camp • 17th – First scoping meeting with The Prince’s Trust to enable the delivery of Army supported programmes 7 Skills Training with the Army • 24th – Armed Forces Day flag raising events at City Hall and the Guildhall Reserve • 24th – Lord Mayor’s Defence and Security Lecture in the Mansion House, given by the Home Secretary 8 600 Squadron reign at Altcar The Kemp Dirk Trophy • 25th – Uniform to Work Day Art in Action • 28th – A solemn Drumhead Service of Remembrance for those who volunteered to serve in the First World War with a linked YOU event at Burton Court. The Presentation of ‘Stepping Forward’ 9 HAC at the Six Nations to HM The Queen followed by a Medal Presentations by Honorary Royal Colonels to Reservists. First fully-integrated Reserve Unit HAC Open Day success As you can see, we remain busy actively engaging various communities, striving to promote and serve the Armed Forces, specifically the Reserves and Cadets in all that we do. 10 Exercise Bovianic Depths Changes to Reservist Mobilisation Looking forward, progress is being made across the estate with regards to accessing funding to meet today’s needs and developing Statements of Need to meet the requirements of the 2020 Basing Plan. 11 Bringing WW1 to Life An ongoing review of the RFCAs will look at how we evolve to deliver the Volunteer Estate in more of a 12 Armed Forces Day ‘Next Generation Estate Contract’ environment as we await the advent of the Defence Infrastructure 14 RN/US NAVY Exchange Organisation’s commercial partner. Outstanding Service Award HMS WILDFIRE Fire and Rescue Training NEW DEFENCE RELATIONSHIP 15 RMR Deliver the Boat Race Trophy The new Defence Relationship Management (DRM) organisation is now established RMR Live Open Day at the Council of RFCAs and will achieve full operating capability by April 2015. 16 Operation Pitchpole flood relief This new interface between business and Defence is currently working with 14 Training with The Rifles large national employers across the whole range of Defence personnel needs. 17 Success on the Slopes – Winter As well as Reservists, the DRM will talk to employers about the needs of Service Expeditions Leavers; Wounded, Injured and Sick personnel; employment for military spouses 18 Mascots and Matches for and support for Cadet Force Adult Volunteers. Boxing Club Exercise Caribbean Wings Mark Richards, the Regional SaBRE Campaign Director for London, left us in June to take up a new LONDONS prepare for Pairing position as Senior Account Manager within DRM. He has responsibility for a number of large employers including BAE Systems, Royal Mail, Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury’s. We wish Mark RLC Reservists Skill at Arms 19 all the best in his new role and look forward to continuing to work closely with him. 151 Regt Return from Afghanistan The SaBRE campaign will continue to provide advice and support to employers of Reservists on a Army Reservists transform 20 regional basis and we are re-organising our structure to meet the regional delivery requirements as public space well as recruiting for a new Employer Relations Manager for London. Watch this space! Traditional Recruiting in the City Climbing Peru’s highest mountain We always welcome feedback about London Bridge and Cadet London Bridge, so if you have any comments or suggestions please contact us. Equally if you would like to submit an article for forthcoming issues of Front Cover: Field Marshal Sir John Chapple presents HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh either newsletter please email it to: [email protected] or call 020 7384 4667 for more information. with a copy of ‘Stepping Forward’, a tribute to the Volunteer Military Reservists of Greater London, at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on 28 June 2014. The best article in either publication will receive £100. The star article for this issue can be found on p10. 2 LONDON BRIDGE SUMMER 2014 UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT In a new feature, each month we will profile a member of GL RFCA staff. Who better to start with than Nick Summers, one of our longest serving member of staff? Nick Summers BSc FRICS FBEng, Director of Estates and Commercial Lettings, has been with GL RFCA almost 30 years. An architect before he re-trained as a chartered surveyor, Nick joined in 1986 as Sector Surveyor for West London. His role involves ‘a bit of everything’. “I have 11 staff and we are involved in all areas of the Association. There is no point in the Reserves or Cadets trying to recruit or retain members if their buildings are not fit for purpose. Over the years the organisation has changed significantly; 30 REFURBISHED HMS PRESIDENT years ago emphasis on and funding for compliance was minimal. Where appropriate, we have now downsized, UNVEILED BY THE DUKE OF YORK rationalised and modernised the portfolio. The main emphasis now is on a safe and compliant estate. I have His Royal Highness The Duke of York was at the heart also become more focused on the Cadet side of life.” of HMS PRESIDENT’s re-dedication ceremony in April. “My role is broad so it is difficult to identify one specific As part of the Government’s policy to grow and sustain the thing when answering what I enjoy most. I currently enjoy country’s reserve forces, the RNR unit, home to more than 230 the challenge of seeking out funding. I have discovered it reservists, has recently benefitted from a major refurbishment. is quite an art to find out which department has money The work will bolster efforts to attract the highest calibre of which we can access. The satisfaction being that when you recruits who will ultimately serve alongside their regular do, coupled with the lettings income my team generates, counterparts in the Royal Navy. we are able to create a building that a Reservist or Cadet can be proud to say they train there. The highlights of my At the ceremony, HMS PRESIDENT received the great honour of career have been the major projects I have undertaken, being awarded a unit commendation in recognition of the ship’s including building and refurbishing Reserve and Cadet company’s support to the Royal Navy over the last three years and centres that create a better training experience for those its overall hard work and commitment. This rare commendation who use the spaces.” was awarded by Rear Admiral Chris Hockley, Flag Officer Reserves and Regional Forces. New buildings Nick has been involved in or overseen include Finsbury Barracks (HAC), Army Reserve Centres in Other significant highlights of the evening included a Royal Marines Sutton, (151 Regiment RLC); Southall, (151 Regiment band beating retreat, a Royal Naval Reserve guard of honour RLC); Uxbridge (71 Signal Regiment) and Cornwell VC inspected by HRH The Duke of York and the formal lowering of Cadet Centre in East Ham – the first tri-service Cadet the white ensign during the ceremonial sunset. Centre in the country! “I get a buzz when I look at the big projects that I’ve managed, I see myself as a bit of a property doctor or pathologist!” Nick lives in Wimbledon with his wife and has a 27 year old daughter and 25 year old son.