On Saturday 4^th February a team from RNAS Culdrose held a fundraising day for The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity in Truro.  They had planned to “cycle”146 miles the equivalent distance between Culdrose and Derriford and back but actually managed to cover 180 miles.  The team also sold RNRMC goodies and held a bucket collection.  They raised a fantastic £935.60 which was a great achievement  considering the cold wet temperature!  A big thank you to all who took part and donated.  Special thanks to our “charity champion” POACMN Richie Harker who co-ordinated the event.

 

Royal Navy Marine Engineer, David “Yorkie” Stout, leaves the navy after almost 30 years service on February 24^th 2012.  Once he has handed his warrant card in at HMS Neptune, north of Glasgow, he is going to walk home.  Fair enough you might think; if he’s had a wee dram on his last day then leaving the car at home might be sensible.  However, Yorkie lives in Queensbury in West Yorkshire….250 miles away!

 

This is going to be a real challenge as Yorkie, (47)  is, by his own admission, is “Stout by name and stout by nature”, and is not used to long distance walking.  He has been in training for the walk which he will tackle over two weeks.

 

Yorkie has chosen the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity to receive his sponsorship and he will be joined by others who will walk shorter distances for an array of charities.  The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity is a national charity which provides a better quality of life for serving and former naval service personnel. 

 

Hilary Jukes, Fundraising Co-ordinator for The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity said, “We are delighted that Yorkie has chosen to help the charity. Although he is leaving the Royal Navy, the charity will be there to help him in future (whenever he needs us) and  his support will enable us to continue to support the whole naval family whether serving, injured or veterans, as well as supporting the families of the Royal Marines who are killed in action.  For more information on the work of the charity please visit our website www.rnrmc.org.uk.”

 

Yorkie said after a training walk this morning,  “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Royal Navy and feel the charity walk is a novel and different way of leaving the service, and making that transition into civvy  street.”  Yorkie won’t be idle for long as he is setting up a business as a caravan engineer.   To sponsor Yorkie please visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/YorkieStout.  You can follow his progress on his  blog at http://yorkiestout.blogspot.com.  If you are interested in joining Yorkie and his friends on part of the walk please contact him via www.westyorkshirecaravanservicing.co.uk.

A children's story written by a serving submariner has been used to raise money for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC).

 

Lieutenant Commander (Lt Cdr) Harry Nottley, who is currently serving at the Royal Navy Submarine School at HMS Raleigh, penned the story of 'Sammy the Submarine' back in 1996, as a way of explaining his job to his young children.  With the Submarine School looking for ideas to raise money for the RNRMC, Lt Cdr Nottley was persuaded to get his story out of the loft for it to be printed and sold.  The proceeds from the book added £450 to the charity pot.

 

The 44-year-old, from Plymstock said:  "I was delighted at how quickly we sold the initial print run of 100 books and encouraged by the positive comments being made.  With the second run of books also selling well, I quickly became aware that not all the books were being purchased for young children and that a significant amount were being bought by adults with a Service interest.  Both my sons, Jack and Owen, have always liked the story and art work.  Now that they are well into their teens I am pleased that, along with raising money for this worthwhile cause, there is the chance that it may be enjoyed by other children giving them a very basic introduction to the Submarine Service."   

 

All together the Royal Navy Submarine School presented a cheque for £1,514 to the RNRMC.  As well as the book, the money was raised through the sale of 'Sammy the Submarine' mugs, submarine memorabilia, such as polo shirts, coasters and wine, and coffee mornings within the school.  Warrant Officer 1 Geoff Hurst was the co-ordinator of the charity efforts.

 

Receiving the cheque on behalf of the RNRMC, Cdre Chris Steel, retired, South West Ambassador for the charity, said:  "The donation from the Submarine School represents considerable effort over the last 18 months, when taken alongside everyone's busy working life.  It is typical of the excellent efforts to raise money for such a good cause."