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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 year’s Royal Marines’ 360th Birthday theme is reflected in much of the news we share this week; we honour and pay tribute to valued supporters and fundraisers; and it’s ‘last chance saloon’ for those looking to book one of the few remaining sought-after tickets for this year’s MFM!
Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Valued partners
Head of Employment and Education, Zoe Darnbrough (pictured middle) made a special presentation on behalf of RMA – The Royal Marines Charity to the Bootnecks in2 Business team during its first event of 2024 that was hosted by DWF Law LLP at The Fenchurch Building (Sky Garden) in London.
In this, the year in which the Royal Marines celebrate their 360th anniversary, a commemorative dagger was presented in thanks and recognition of the passion, support and unwavering commitment provided to the Charity by Bi2B.
In also thanking DWF Partner and Global Head of Real Estate, Toby Askin, for the company’s hosting of the session, Zoe explained how the Bootnecks in2 Business network had become an integral part of the transition support offered by the Charity’s Employment and Education team.
Bi2B aims to ensure that every former Royal Marines Commando, irrespective of rank or specialisation, has the opportunity to leverage the Royal Marines’ network through introductions made via former RM businessmen.
Mission accomplished!
As you know, we have been closely following their progress since they left the UK at the beginning of November 2023, and so we were absolutely thrilled to hear last Friday (19th January 2024) that Mission Spiritus Antarctica‘s indomitable Alan Chambers MBE (pictured left) and Dave Thomas (right) had safely reached the geographic South Pole, exhausted but elated, having been on the polar ice for 59 days battling some of the most extreme conditions on earth.
With a combined age of a just under century and a quarter, on arrival at the Pole, the two former Royal Marines celebrated Dave’s new world record. At the age of 68 years and one month, he became the oldest person to ski to the South Pole, beating the previous record by an impressive four years!
It was an especially poignant moment for Alan, too, as it marked the end of his 30 years in the polar environment. A member of the prestigious New York Explorers Club, he has over this time travelled the entirety of Greenland from Canada to the North Pole 16 times; to the South Pole three times, and has helped to raise £15-million for charity. During this expedition alone, the duo has to date raised over £10,500 (inc Gift Aid) for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity. If you would like to give their fundraising a final boost, you can still donate here.
Their magnificent achievement marks an auspicious fundraising start to the 360th Birthday year of the Royal Marines. Utterly awesome and massive thanks. We are so very grateful to them for having chosen to raise much-needed funds for our Charity as part of this critical scientific expedition of such import to the future of our environment.
The pair were publicly congratulated by the captain and crew on board their flight back to Heathrow yesterday (Tuesday 23rd January) where they were welcomed by former Bootnecks, including members of the RMA City of London Branch.
Fundraising Hero
Well-deserved congratulations to the awesome Cpl Ben Clough RM who was surprised and thrilled in equal measure to receive the Bear Grylls Unsung Hero Award for his charity endeavours from Bear, who is an Honorary Colonel Royal Marines.
Of special mention, Ben – a super-fit Royal Marines Physical Training Instructor at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Devon – last summer ran 482 miles from Scotland to Wales in nine consecutive days – and along the way also climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), raising over £13,000 for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and MIND.
All in the family
Having completed his first 10K run last year, fabulous fundraiser Matt Welch has this past weekend successfully run the Brass Monkey Half Marathon near York, raising just under £450 (including Gift Aid) for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.
He says: “I’m delighted to share I completed my first half marathon! Despite some heavy headwinds on the way out (providing a nice tailwind on the second half of the course), it was a lovely clear day and made for an enjoyable event.
Several members of my family, including my late Grandad Syd Aitkins (inset), are proud Royal Marines veterans and I am beyond proud to again do my bit to support a charity that does so much for them and other veterans, serving personnel and their families.
RMA is our family charity and I’m already looking ahead to my next challenge / fundraiser. I’ve definitely now got the running bug … so I could be tempted to run a marathon next…”
Fantastic achievement – and enormous thanks. Matt’s JustGiving page is here.
2023 – another year at the sharp end
Royal Navy news reports that Royal Marines spent 2023 deployed across the globe at the tip of the spear of UK defence – epitomised by notable operational successes during the evacuation of Sudan and in counter-narcotics.
“In a world already overshadowed by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, we have seen instability in Sudan, the Middle East and ongoing security concerns across the maritime environment,” Commandant General Royal Marines General Gwyn Jenkins said in his end of year message to the Corps.
“Throughout all of this, Royal Marines have been front and centre, responding to these crises, delivering under the most extreme circumstances and demonstrating the highest standards of excellence.”
Photo: Royal Navy MoD
Don’t miss out!
Such has been the demand for tickets, that those hoping to book a seat at the 52nd Mountbatten Festival of Music’s Saturday matinee at the Royal Albert Hall are out of luck – however there are still limited seats available for the two evening performances on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th March 2024.
The Massed Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines always deliver spectacular concerts – and this year, audiences are in for an extra special, once-in-a-lifetime treat amidst the usual colourful pomp and pageantry.
Heavy metal musician and global drumming icon, of Iron Maiden fame, Nicko McBrain, will take to the stage and join the many talented musicians drawn from the five Royal Marines Bands, alongside the world-famous buglers and Corps of Drums.
Concerts are in aid of Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charities and the Young Lives v Cancer Charity. The last few tickets are available from the Royal Albert Hall website via the link below.
Shopping Corner
This stylishly exclusive ‘must-have’ Ropelet wristband in Corps colours features etching on the stainless steel click-lock clasp. Available in a variety of sizes, each comes in an attractive presentation gift tin.
A great selection of other quality products is 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.