Edition 39
Today, we share with you some exciting Royal news, there’s a special drum roll, and our own teams and fantastic fundraisers have been out and about in action ‘per mare, per terram’!
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Royal acclaim for Mountbatten Festival of Music
The presence of His Majesty King Charles in his first public appearance as Captain General Royal Marines proved a moving and surprise bonus to those attending Friday evening’s spectacular performance by the world-renowned Massed Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines at the 51st Mountbatten Festival of Music.
It was the first of three sell-out concerts held this past weekend at London’s Royal Albert Hall to raise funds for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charities, the final amount of which will be announced shortly. Huge thanks go to all members of the fabulous ‘bucket-band brigade’ of merry RMA volunteers who generously gave up their time to man the doors and give so much valued support at all three performances (Saturday’s team pictured bottom right).
With over 100 musicians on stage, including the world-famous Royal Marines Corps of Drums (joined also by drummers from the Netherlands Marine Corps), audiences gave standing ovations to many of the outstanding performances that took them on an exhilarating rollercoaster ride through the world of music. Included alongside the usual military favourites, was a ‘Tribute to Hollywood’ by re-formed swing band The Oceanaires; ‘The Forgotten War’ – a powerful composition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement being signed, and an exceptionally stirring and tear-jerking appearance by singers from the inspirational Music Man project.
Those not able to be there will not have missed out as another of The Massed Bands of HM Royal Marines’ spectacular shows is being taken on a UK tour for the first time in September. Tickets are on sale now on the below link.
A special drum roll
Lord Jeffrey Archer (pictured above right with Dame Mary Archer) has been hugely successful in achieving the very best bids possible for the exceptional lots up for grabs at RMA – The Royal Marines Charity’s annual Guildhall Dinner Auction.
As a mark of thanks from the Commandant General Royal Marines and RMA – The Royal Marines Charity for his assistance in raising over £1M for conducting the live auctions at no less than five Guildhall dinners, our Chief Executive, Jonathan Ball, presented Lord Archer with a tenor drum provided by the Principal Director of Music by way of appreciation.
Breaking down the barriers
Director of Health & Wellbeing, Danny Egan, was honoured to be given the opportunity to address a webinar run by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (AFCFT) showcasing their ‘One is Too Many’ programme with a presentation on ‘Breaking down Barriers’.
The Trust awarded £2.1M under its One is Too Many programme to projects providing specialist and coordinated services that reduce suicide risk in veterans, of which RMA – The Royal Marines Charity was one.
Drawing on our ‘Lifting the Lid’ mental health awareness programme, Danny explained the role it has played towards improving communication and understanding the barriers in seeking help. He focused on the targeted communications created to promote help-seeking behaviour which uses language that Royal Marines understand.
“We wanted to better understand why Royal Marines might bottle up their emotions, and importantly, we wanted to change the perceived belief that it was weak to ask for help,” he said.
The webinar was part of a series highlighting various AFCFT-funded initiatives and their impact on the Armed Forces community.
Nick Holloway and Simon Giles of our Scotland Team attended the HMS MONTROSE reception at Montrose for a poignant gathering to recognise the last visit there before being decommissioned in April after 30 years’ service.
HMS MONTROSE is a Type 23 Frigate and has been permanently deployed in the Middle East on Operation KIPION, conducting maritime security operations and exercises alongside international coalition partners throughout the KIPION Joint Operating Area.
She has often featured in the news and was a thorn in the side to drug runners in the Middle East. While operating under the international Combined Task Force 150, her team of personnel, including Royal Marines Commandos, prevented nearly £47m illegal narcotics reaching the streets in 2022 alone.
Nick (right) and Simon are pictured above with CSgt Jamie Tomlinson and Commander Claire Thompson, Captain of HMS MONTROSE.
Hot wheels
CSgt Matt Dellar has already started fundraising for his ambitious Coast 2 Cliffs Challenge in June and, last week, took to the saddle for a static bike ride during Families’ Day outside the Gordon Messenger Centre (Lympstone). He raised almost £400 which, when added to other donations he’s received to date, has already exceeded his initial target.
Matt is based at RMB Chivenor in Barnstaple, Devon and, along with two friends, will be riding for real in the summer from Sennen near Land’s End in Cornwall to Dover Castle in Kent, with plans to ride over 100 miles each day for four consecutive days. He says: “We want to raise a few quid for the Charity while doing it and to keep the focus strong and steady….so that the misery of hours in the saddle is worth it!” We are so grateful for such fabulous support.
Photos courtesy of Absolute Choice Photography
Derek is a 60-year-old Royal Marines veteran who left the service in the 70’s having served in the Corps for six years. He suffered ill-health for many years after leaving that resulted in him having his lower leg amputated during 2021. The accommodation he was living in was unfit for purpose – and it was totally unsafe for him to continue living in.
He had nowhere else to go and was in desperate need, with no one to turn to for assistance.
Read his story below and how RMA – The Royal Marines Charity was able to step in and make a difference.
Epic challenge was ‘snow’ joke
Huge congratulations to Steven Sanderson and Nick Constable, two wonderful supporters of our Charity, who have successfully completed the epic 2023 Telemark Challenge. They were part of an international ski team which, over 200 miles from Norway to the Swedish border, retraced the Real Heroes of Telemark epic – and gruelling – World War Two escape route.
February 28th 2023 marked the 80th anniversary of the Norwegian Special Operations Executive (SOE) members who travelled on skis across the Hardangervidda to successfully sabotage attack the heavy water production at the Vemont factory, Rjukan Norway during the Nazi’s occupation in 1943. This prevented the Germans’ attempt to create an atomic bomb.
Both Steven and Nick were fundraising for a number of charities, including our own, and between them raised almost £4,000 – a truly awesome achievement all round.