Edition 66
As a valued supporter, we are pleased to bring you up-to-speed with a weekly round-up of activities from RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and the wider Corps Family.
This week, it’s ‘Mission Critical’ with news of our exciting new fundraising campaign; there’s a visit to Downing Street; we welcome a brand new Charity Ambassador and bring you all the thrills of Corps Family Weekend – and there’s lots, lots more that we hope you enjoy reading!
Thank you as always for your continued support.
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Today, we are excited to be launching ‘Mission Critical’, a campaign that invites all our supporters to be part of something momentous and join us on our mission to raise £1.5M between now and 21st December 2023!
Your contribution, whether large or small, can make a profound difference. Here’s how you can take part:
1️⃣ As part of Mission Critical, over the next three months we will be launching a series of exciting virtual fundraising challenges that you can get involved in, the first of which will go live tomorrow – so do keep an eye on our social media pages, or simply wait to watch this space next week!
2️⃣Donate: Give generously to help us reach our £1.5M target. Every pound counts and brings us one step closer to our goal.
3️⃣ Fundraise: Rally your friends, family, and colleagues to join this mission. Organise events, challenges or online fundraisers to spread the word.
4️⃣ Set Your Own Challenge: What will your challenge be? Whether it’s a marathon, a bake-off, a mountain climb or a creative endeavour, set your own challenge and use it to raise funds for our mission.
5️⃣ Share: Spread the word on social media, at work, and in your community. Encourage others to join this vital cause.
Ben goes to Number 10

Our Chief Executive, Ben Curry (pictured left), was honoured to be invited to the Local Veterans Champions Reception at 10 Downing Street last week, hosted by Minister of State for Veterans’ Affairs, the Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP (middle) and at which Ben also met Simon Jupp, local MP for East Devon (right), the constituency into which Commando Training Centre Royal Marines at Lympstone falls.
In addressing those attending the reception, the Minister said: “I see how lives are transformed by ordinary people doing extraordinary things to support our veterans across the country every day. Their selflessness and hard work is something we can all be proud of and pay tribute to. Local organisations and charities are a lifeline for veterans and their families, and the individuals that run them are the embodiment of duty in our communities.”
“It was fantastic to hear such encouraging words from the Minister,” said Ben, “especially with regards to the government’s support for the veteran community which the Charity endorses wholeheartedly. Although I am relatively new into post, I’ve quickly come to appreciate the great work that is being done for veterans across the board from grassroots right up to the highest levels of government.”
Mr Jupp, said: “The charity continues to do amazing work and, along with this government’s steadfast commitment to veteran welfare, will continue to change lives for the better.”
The MP has previously praised the Charity’s work at a local as well as national level when he highlighted RMA – The Royal Marines Charity’s contribution to supporting Devon veterans with Andrew Murrison MP, the Minister for Defence People, Veterans & Service People, in the House of Commons during Defence Questions in June.
Introducing our new Charity Ambassador

We are delighted that the eminent expedition leader, travel writer, broadcaster and speaker, Monty Halls, has agreed to become one of our Charity Ambassadors.
“I’m genuinely honoured to be asked to be an Ambassador for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity,” said Monty. “I’ve seen first-hand its positive impact, not only as a focal point for Corps veterans but also in working with serving Royal Marines and indeed the wider Corps Family. I thoroughly look forward to getting stuck in, and helping promote an organisation that has very much become part of the fabric of the Royal Marines.”
Monty’s multi-faceted career has been very much shaped by his experiences having served in the Royal Marines for ten years between 1988 and 1999.
He is best known for his three popular BBC series of ‘Great Escapes’; as well as series such ‘Great Barrier Reef’, and ‘The Fisherman’s Apprentice’. He also re-traced the steps of escaping PoW’s in WW2 for “Freedom Trails” on Channel 4.
In the two years prior to the COVID lockdown in 2020, Monty created and completed The Royal Marines Iron Challenge in his native Devon, raising £50,000 for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.
He joins the prominent ranks of the Charity’s existing Ambassadors – Lee Spencer BEM, Jon White, Joe and Amy Winch, and actor Henry Cavill.
Back with a bang!

The Royal Marines Family was out in force at the weekend with more than 3,000 people flocking to the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone for the first Corps Family Weekend since 2019.
Nowhere is the strength and unity of the RM Corps family more apparent. The much-awaited annual event was definitely back with a bang after such a long break, having been twice cancelled because of the Covid pandemic and then sadly again last year following the death of her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
The many hundreds of children attending were just some of the 2,000+ in the South West that this summer have benefitted from a generous £15k donation to RMA – The Royal Marines Charity from the Advanta Foundation (top lef) to fund three Unit Families’ Days, that also included those in Chivenor and Plymouth.
The weekend ended with all the pomp, ceremony and emotion of the Corps Family Day Parade and Service, attended also by General Gwyn Jenkins, CB OBE DC, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Commandant General Royal Marines and President of RMA – The Royal Marines Charity, and his family (pictured bottom right).
In commenting on the success of Corps Family Weekend, our Chief Executive, Ben Curry, said: “We sincerely thank everyone involved in making it such a fantastic event, and especially to Advanta for their generous support for all three Unit Families’ Days this year.
It was particularly special to see everyone back having such a great time. It was wonderful to see so many of the Corps Family travelling all the way to Lympstone from near and far, from all parts of all four countries of the Union, to again enjoy and share remembrances in one others’ company.
We are the Marines’ combined charity and Association and so the weekend was also a perfect time for us to personally thank all those who so generously give of their time throughout the year to support us in so many ways.”
Joining forces

RMA – The Royal Marines Charity Head of Employment and Education, Zoe Darnbough (pictured left), enjoyed meeting up with Lee Johnston, Families Programme Employment Lead at the Forces Employment Charity, and colleague Amy Reynolds (right) during Corps Family Weekend.
“It was good to hear the team had an all-round fun, good day with lots of people interested in all that their charity does,” said Zoe. “They really appreciated the opportunity to personally engage with so many of the Royal Marines and the families attending who were keen to learn about the support available to them through the various Forces Employment programmes. They do a lot of terrific work and we greatly look forward to expanding our collaborative working relationship.
I was also really touched to get some really lovely feedback from the partner of a Royal Marine I met about the support she had received from our own Families’ Programme. It was gratifying to hear firsthand how much the support we had given had meant and just how it had helped shape her career path.”
Partnership personified

We are indebted to members of the magnificent West Country 100 Club for organising a hugely successful trek to the High Tatras in Poland for serving and retired Royal Marines undergoing rehabilitation from Hasler NSRC and the Royal Marines Association, under the guidance of expedition leader, Dr Stephen Manning – and also for raising a whopping £4,000!
The trip was to give those who are recovering from either physical or mental injuries, to decompress through the physical activity, and the mental interaction with others – and to learn a bit more about RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and meet firsthand some of its dedicated supporters.
Paul Denning OBE, West Country 100 Director said: “All benefitted hugely from the yomping and the interaction between supporter and beneficiary. This was all made possible by generous sponsorship from Airbus Helicopters which paid for the RM places, and from Total Tee and Hays Travel.”
The West Country 100 is a group of Southwest-based businessmen and individuals, committed to supporting wounded, injured and sick Royal Marines (and their families) in times of need, through the auspices of RMA-The Royal Marines Charity.
Once a Marine….

Belated thanks to former Royal Marines Gary Moore (inset right) and Graeme Stephenson (main pic in blue) who both said they ‘had a great day out’ and between them raised almost £1,800 for the Charity having completed the Great North Run a couple of weeks ago.
But that wasn’t all – Gary was thrilled meet up and share dits with an ex-colleague who was also running: while Graeme also ‘bumped into this crew from my old unit 45 Commando who had speed-marched the route in step wearing full combat gear, green beret and boots, carrying 15kg – no sweat! Well done lads – and thanks for posing for the photo!’
Enormous thanks to both.
Lone JOGLE runner almost done!

Crossing the Severn Bridge on Monday night meant that RAC patrol Lee Wingate from Portsmouth has finally hit the South West, marking the final leg of his quest to become the first person to run unsupported from John O’Groats to Land’s End (JOGLE).
As of today, Lee only has about 150 miles left to go of the 860 or so he will have covered when he soon finishes the gruelling three-week challenge in aid of RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and in memory of his grandfather, who was a Royal Marines Commando.
He reports that, physically and mentally, he is ‘in a fantastic place’. but is missing his family back home; he is battling ankle pain and is into his second pair of trainers.
The past 20 days have not been easy. Taking little time out for sleep, Lee has battled unseasonal heat in Scotland, having to top up his water supply from local rivers more often than originally planned; navigated overgrown pavements that caused Frankie (a home-made pram-like vehicle laden with all his supplies) to topple over and crack the pulling harness; police have stopped him to check he was not running away with a baby; and he’s now having to ration the remains of his food supplies to finish the arduous journey, unable to stop anywhere for more as, to get the world record, he must remain totally self-sufficient throughout.
What brilliant grit and determination – we are so looking forward to celebrating Lee’s fantastic achievement with you next week!
Band Tour receives rave reviews

Bringing joy, fun and magical moments … this is just some of the incredible feedback received following the first two concerts of the fabulous Massed Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines’ inaugural Band Tour. Their performances in Nottingham and Manchester last weekend received rave review and standing ovations.
Our Fundraising team went along to support the wonderful teams of local volunteers who gave their time to help out at the concerts, reporting one audience member saying it had been the best concert they had ever been to at the Manchester venue – and they were regulars!
The Band Tour is In aid of Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charities and the remaining concerts in Leicester, Liverpool and Gateshead are almost all close to being sold-out! A few limited last-minute seats may still be for sale here.
This is the first time that regional audiences will have had the opportunity to enjoy this musical spectacular on the scale only ever before seen at the Massed Bands’ annual sold-out performances at the Mountbatten Festival of Music in London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Photos ©️ Crown Copyright ©️