In the press
Pupils raise £5,500 for forces charities
SCHOOL children in Crownhill went the extra mile quite literally – raising an incredible £5,500 for charity.
Last year more than 1,000 children and teachers from Widey Court Primary School – together with parents and supporters – marched five times around their school playing field.
The challenge to the school had been set by members of the Devonport Field Gun Crew as part of its 'March-a-Mile' event.
The event saw countless generous donations. All funds raised will now go the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and Help for Heroes.
Fred Pearce, March-a-Mile co-ordinator, described the amount raised as being "staggering".
The school believed the estimated figure was going to be around the £1,000 mark.
He said the idea for the event originally came from a conversation with Mark Ormrod, an injured former Royal Marine.
The conversation took place prior to Mark's march across America.
He said to Fred: "If I could only walk a mile a day I will be happy".
Royal Marines band signs album deal with major record company
ROYAL Marines musicians in Portsmouth have signed an album deal with a major record label.
The Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth has recorded 17 rousing military songs for a charity album which will be released next month.
Summon The Heroes is being put out by Decca Records – famous as the home of artists such as Tom Jones, Katherine Jenkins, Billie Holliday, and John Coltrane.
It is due for release on November 14 and Lieutenant Colonel Nick Grace, principal director of music in the Royal Marines, hopes his tuneful troops can be top of the album charts by Christmas.
He said: ‘We are very excited about it. It’s the first one we’ve done with Decca and the first record we’ve released on a major label for many years.
‘It’s going to be in all main shops and supermarkets and online so hopefully we can get big sales.’
The band recorded the album at the BBC’s Maida Vale studios in London and will officially sign the contract with Decca aboard HMS Victory in Portsmouth on Trafalgar Day – October 21.
After the record giants take their slice of the deal, profits made by the band will be donated to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
Decca approached the band earlier this year offering a deal.
Lt Col Grace said: ‘It was a bit out of the blue. They wanted to know whether we would do an album with them and we thought it’s an opportunity not to be missed.
‘It’s a great way of getting a good profile for the band and for the Royal Marines and Royal Navy as well.’
Royal Marines bands can often be seen performing on public navy days and ceremonial occasions when warships leave or return from deployments.
Musicians based at HMS Nelson in Portsmouth spent two weeks recording songs at Maida Vale over the summer, rubbing shoulders with pop stars who were there performing live for radio shows.
‘I didn’t know who they were. I’m too old,’ admitted cornet player and violinist Colour Sergeant Steve Bacon, 46.
‘It was great fun. I’ve done quite a few albums with the band before but to be honest this one seems to be the biggest one yet.
‘It will be interesting to see what comes of it. Hopefully it will be quite a success.’
Summon The Heroes features the title track, a rendition of Rod Stewart’s Sailing, a new arrangement of Ashokan Farewell, Hands Across the Sea, and other naval classics.
English tenor Alfie Boe appears on Over the Hills and British artist Mary-Jess, who hit headlines when she won the Chinese version of the X Factor, sings on There You’ll Be.
Medically discharged marine prepares for Rome Marathon
AN injured marine has set himself a tough challenge to help his wounded colleagues.
Karl Page, aged 21, is pushing himself for the 2012 Rome Marathon in aid of The Royal Navy and Royal Marines charity, which supports sailors, marines and their families.
Karl was about to go to Afghanistan but was medically discharged in April after being injured during training.
Karl, now a personal trainer at Fitness First in Runcorn, said: “I pulled my groin away from my hip.
“I wasn’t allowed to run or do any impact exercise for seven months. I get lower neck pain with my injury.
“I’m only now starting to run again.”
To prepare for Italy, Karl, is competing in the English Half Marathon in Warrington on Sunday, September 18, with fellow personal trainer, Caroline Johnson, aged 38, from Warrington.
Karl, from Sutton Manor, added: “I wanted to help this charity because they gave me a resetttlement.
“They help sailors and marines who have lost limbs or are critically injured.
“One of my friends has just been critically injured in Afghanistan and is in hospital.
“Anything I can do to help raise funds will be a bonus.”
Karl and Caroline will be pounding the streets of the Eternal City in March.
Their 26.2 mile route will take them past famous landmarks, including the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and St Peter’s Basilica.
To sponsor him, call 07714 232915 or e-mail karlpage21@hotmail.com
Football match in memory of Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux
The crews of two Cumbrian-built nuclear submarines will line up for a football match in memory of a colleague.
Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux, 36, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, was shot on board HMS Astute when it was docked in Southampton in April.
Crew members from HMS Astute will play members of the submarine, Ambush.
The match will take place at Barrow AFC's Holker Street ground after the club donated the use of its facilities.
Lieutenant Commander Richard Brooking, weapons engineering officer from Ambush, said: "We thought it would be a good way to get the two crews together and obviously mark an occasion of a fallen colleague.
"We don't get a chance to see each other as programmes don't allow the boats to meet up that often. But when we do there is a bit of friendly rivalry."
There will be collections for the Royal Navy and Royal Marine Charity at the game.
Lt Cdr Brooking added "The chance to play at the Bluebirds' ground, I think is an honour for both teams and something they will be proud of for many years."
Able Seaman Ryan Samuel Donovan, 22, of Dartford, Kent, is charged with murder and three counts of attempted murder. He is next due before Winchester Crown Court on 19 September.
Charity cyclists beat the 'block'
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A group of cyclists has completed a 500 mile charity challenge to beat a section of an aircraft carrier to its destination.
The 76 riders undertook the Beat the Block challenge to mark the transportation of an 8,000-tonne hull section of the Royal Navy's latest aircraft carrier from Govan to Rosyth.
They have raised more than £15,000 for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity through their efforts.
The group set off on Tuesday as the mid-section of hull, known as Lower Block 3 began a 600-mile journey around the north coast of Scotland from BAE Systems shipyard on the Clyde to the Babcock yard on the Forth, where the carrier will be pieced together.
The cyclists tracked its route on land, making overnight stops at Fort William, Elgin, Peterhead and St Andrews.
They arrived at Rosyth at around 12.30pm on Saturday, a few hours ahead of the block.
Cyclist Ian Hepburn, of Babcock Rosyth, said: "We received tremendous support throughout what seemed like the Goliath challenge of racing Lower Block 3 around the north of Scotland.
"We were spurred on to beat the block by the encouragement of many people and the donations that we received along the way. We are all delighted to have been able to support The Royal Navy and Royal Marines charity in this manner."
David McGinley, Babcock Business Development Director, said: "The enormous task of moving Lower Block 3 from Govan to Rosyth has been matched today by the energy and enthusiasm shown by all of the cyclists completing their journey at Rosyth's No 1 dock.
"The Aircraft Carrier Alliance places a huge importance on teamwork and many of the cyclists on this journey will now work side by side to continue the next phase of one of the UK's most important engineering projects here at Rosyth."
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