Editon 75
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, there is lots of exciting news that’s Poles apart from anything we’ve shared with you in the past; you can get fit for Christmas with Royal Marine PTIs; we’ve made room for some special supporters – and one beneficiary found there was light at the end of a long tunnel.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Get fit for Christmas!
We invite you to join us for our pre-Christmas PTI 28-Day Fitness Challenge between 30th November and 30th December, led by serving Royal Marine Commando Physical Training Instructors, Corporals Ben Clough and Eddie Hillier.
This challenge is suitable for all levels of fitness with beginner, intermediate and advanced options, so.it will not only help increase fitness levels for those new to exercise, but also enable more experienced exercisers to build on current fitness levels.
A small fee will give access to the closed Facebook group and the full series of videos.
The monies raised from this challenge will be added to our Mission Critical Campaign where we are striving to raise £1.5-million by the end of the year.
Naming ceremony
Our Chief Executive, Ben Curry, had the privilege to welcome Tony Mitchell, The Master of The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers and his Consort, Wendy to RMA – The Royal Marines Charity’s new HQ at The CHAMP Building, Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), to officially open a special meeting room named in the Company’s honour.
The Plaisterers’ Room will primarily be used as a quiet space for visitors using the services of our Health & Wellbeing team.
Ben said: “It was wonderful to have the Master, his Consort and the Plaisterers’ Clerk, Col Garth Manger visit the new CHAMP building. The connection between the Plaisterers and the Royal Marines stretches back to 1982 and we are delighted to be able to recognise that relationship and support by naming one of our consultation rooms, the Plaisterers’ Room.”
The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers is based in the City of London and has, over many years, continued to generously support the Charity including that given towards the nearby Gordon Messenger Family Centre.
Main photo: Tony Mitchell, The Master of The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers with his Consort, Wendy cutting the ribbon Top right: CE Ben Curry (left) and Director of Health & Wellbeing Danny Egan chatting to Tony and Wendy Bottom right: RMA – The Royal Marines Charity staff at opening ceremony
To the bottom of the Earth
“And we are off……thank you everybody next update will be from the ice on our journey.”
Former Royal Marines Alan Chambers (pictured bottom right) and Dave Thomas (left) have teamed up again for another incredible adventure. Mission Spiritus Antarctica is a 1,150km (715-miles) sled-haul to the Geographic South Pole, and the above message received from Alan confirms they have already ski-ed off into the icy wilderness.
The awesome lads landed on Union Glacier earlier this week, before flying on to Hercules Inlet – their ski start point on the edge of the land mass at the south-western corner of the Ronne Ice Shelf.
Their aim is to be standing at the South Pole no later than the 14th January 2024, after 50 + days’ hauling all their supplies with them: and at 68 years-old (plus a few weeks!), Dave also plans to be the oldest person to trek unsupported to the South Pole, breaking the existing record set in 2004 by a 63-year-old.
Mission Spiritus Antarctica is a multi-purpose ski/trek polar expedition involving global collaboration with eminent scientific and educational establishments around the world:
On their way to the South Pole, they will be conducting experiments into the spread of nano plastics into the world’s cleanest environment, and a human health study to further understanding of temporal and human performance on the ice….. and, of course, we’re absolutely delighted they are also raising funds for and awareness of RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.
Commando Connect
The issue of addressing isolation and loneliness is never far from our minds and our Commando Connect sessions countrywide for serving and former Royal Marines are a great opportunity for networking, or just meeting up with some old mates.
Last week’s Commando Connect in the Sergeants Mess at 45 Cdo Condor in Scotland was organised by RMA – The Royal Marines Charity’s Transition Support Officer, Paul Barrett (pictured far left). With several other charities attending, the current Commanding Officer gave a brief on current situation and deployments within the unit: and much to his delight, Royal Marine veteran Rabb McGhee was presented with a new green beret from RSM Mick Cowe MC RM (inset right), and a signed framed print of The Commando Monument and Commando Dagger.
Photos by Wallace Ferrier
Alan was tied up in knots and disheartened, reeling under the weight of interminable bureaucracy. For many years, he had been unsuccessfully trying to challenge his minimal pension payout following medical discharge due to the hearing loss suffered as a result of his seven years’ service in the Royal Marines.
His payout had been just a few thousand pounds, and he felt entitled to additional compensation – but was getting nowhere. Multiple agencies are involved in making such a claim and between them all, was just going around in never-ending circles.
Exasperated with no seeming end in sight, he finally turned to RMA – The Royal Marines Charity’s War Pensions & AFCS (Armed Forces Compensation Scheme) team to ask if there was any support they might give. Could they help him unravel it all?
Front row seats!
Sincerest thanks to the Cadets and staff of Reddam House Berkshire’s Combined Cadet Force (above left) who raised almost £1,500 from their Remembrance Charity Event that is to be shared between RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and the Royal British Legion.
In 24 hours, six teams rowed the same distance as the famous Cockleshell Heroes did during their daring World War II raid, OP Frankton.
Grateful thanks, too, to Selina Sapsford and the wonderful team at Watermeadow Residential Care Home in Topsham (just down the road from our offices at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTC)) for the £165 collected for our Charity during their recent fundraising event.
Supported along the way, amongst others, by some of the Exeter Chiefs rugby players, resident family members, staff and even one of their 91-year- old residents, they ‘took to the water’ in a 100-mile row around the south west coast using a static rowing machine generously loaned to them from CTC.
Great work from both these amazing teams!
Shopping Corner
No matter what their age, everyone loves a teddy bear! These three loveable characters sold like hot cakes at last Year’s Mountbatten Festival of Music and during the recent RM Massed Band Tour, so this is a chance to get ahead of the game and make someone feel extra special!
Available exclusively from the Royal Marines Shop that is wholly owned by RMA – The Royal Marines Charity, all profits come back to the Charity to help support the Corps Family.
Selling fast!
Tickets are, as always, also selling fast for next year’s Mountbatten Festival of Music. The spectacular show, featuring The Massed Bands of HM Royal Marines will return to the Royal Albert Hall for three performances – an evening concert on Friday 8th March; and a matinee and evening show on Saturday 9th March 2024.
So don’t delay! These concerts display the outstanding versatility of some of the world’s finest military musicians, featuring a wide range of musical styles including music from the big screen and superb solo items, as well as the traditional marches and overtures that never fail to thrill the audiences.
Proceeds go to Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charities and the Young Lives vs Cancer Charity.
Exercise Freezing Winds
The Royal Navy reports that Royal Marines have arrived in the Baltic Sea to play a pivotal role in amphibious operations as Finland leads its first major military exercise as a NATO member.
The commandos are about to carry out waterborne operations with specialist troops from the Uusimaa Brigade and US Marine Corps along Finland’s jagged and complex coastline.
Specialists from across the UK Commando Force have been deployed and will be taken ashore by 4 Assault Squadron, who are expert landing craft pilots – used to navigating difficult waterways to get commandos inland to hit an adversary where they least expect.
Among the teams to be landed ashore are 148 Battery of 29 Commando Royal Artillery, who are responsible for calling in naval gunfire from nearby warships and air strikes in their specialist role but are also experts in covert patrols behind enemy lines, concealment, encrypted communications and battle damage assessment.
Photo: Royal Navy MoD