News from the Royal Navy – HMS Collingwood

Local Children come together to help HMS Collingwood Remember

It’s true to say that 2020 has thrown up end, they produced some beautiful and moving some challenges, not least in the way artwork on the theme of Remembrance and important events are commemorated but delivered it to the Chaplaincy at HMS HMS Collingwood recently received some Collingwood which works closely with Alex. unexpected help. The staff there passed the artwork to the Armistice Day is an important occasion for Corporate Comms Team based in Atlantic the training base near Fareham and is usually Building who combined the children’s excellent commemorated with a service to which all staff, artwork with archive photos to create a moving military and civilian are invited. display illustrating the theme of “We Will However, due to COVID-19 and government Remember Them”. restrictions, this year’s service will be a much Alex explained “The Naval Chaplaincy team pared-down version. Luckily, local children have and Aggies work together to support stepped in to ensure everyone working at the serving personnel and their families Base have a focus to remember the Fallen. especially in such challenging times and Alex Watts is a Families Pastoral Worker for are always available to offer help. I would Aggies, a charity that supports sailors, marines just like to say thank you to the families who and their families and, in her role, Alex would used half term to create something so normally go out into the naval community to special.” work in small groups of families of serving personnel. This has also had to be curtailed in Photo (Right) courtesy of Kelly Eaton. recent times due to COVID but the children she The children’s artwork takes pride of place in would normally visit were determined that this the HMS Collingwood display. contact would be maintained virtually. To this Photo (Below) courtesy Royal Navy

Royal Navy

Grandfather inspires HMS Collingwood Sailor to help appeal Cryptographic Technician Rhys Edkins, aged 20 from Newtown in Powys, has helped HMS Collingwood launch its Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal 2020.

Due to the challenges of COVID-19, this year’s Appeal will be very different from previous years but Rhys was keen to inspire people across the establishment to wear their poppies with pride and remember those in whose footsteps he and his colleagues are following. One of Rhys’ inspirations is his grandfather, Robert Hemming, who served in the Royal Air Force during World War 2 and who passed away in 2014. Robert was an Aircraft Engineer who helped design and build the swinging gun turret on the Avro Lancaster Bomber, giving this iconic heavy bomber impressive defence capabilities. Originally planning to join the RAF, Rhys was tempted by the prospect of worldwide travel and instead opted for the Royal Navy, where a love of languages led him into military Cryptology, a vital intelligence-gathering role onboard ship. As the only member of his year at Oswestry School to join the Royal Navy, Rhys has already proved himself aboard HMS Lancaster but is today, even though I didn’t follow him into also hoping to take his skills shore-based, the RAF! The Poppy Appeal is important perhaps in the United States, in the future. across all the Forces because it’s vital to Remembering his grandfather as he launched remember those who sacrificed their lives so this year’s Poppy Appeal, Rhys said, “I think we can live our lives today. I’m really

he would have been so proud to see me happy and proud to be involved.”

Photographs courtesy of Keith Woodland, Crown Copyright. Photograph 1: Photo of Robert Hemming, Rhys’ grandfather, who was in the RAF taken during World War 2. Photograph 2: CT Rhys Edkins reflects on his grandfather’s service during the launch of the Poppy Appeal.

Royal Navy

HMS Collingwood Veteran and his team pushed to the limit for charity

There was exhaustion and elation in equal measures as HMS Collingwood’s Environment and Energy Manager, Mark “Cozy” Powell completed a gruelling cycle challenge recently.

Cozy and three friends Keith Clark, Steve Vaughan and Spencer Drain decided to cycle the 180 miles from the Bullring in Birmingham to Havant Ex-Serviceman’s Club, near Portsmouth to raise money to help Macmillan Cancer Support nurses, despite none of them having attempted such a challenge before. The team had practised for the event by building up their daily number of miles but repeating this for four consecutive days proved extremely challenging for the entire team, with every day seeing them pushed closer to their absolute limit. Despite the physical challenges, the men were cheered and inspired not only by the scenery, history and nature around them but also by the kindness and generosity of strangers they met along the route. Despite repeated punctures and an accident on day three, the team pushed on and on the final day they received a much-needed boost when they crested a hill to see a steam train from the Mid-Hants Railway framed by the beautiful Meon Valley countryside. This sight lifted their spirits enough to take them over the finishing line where they were met by their friends, relatives and supporters. Speaking after finishing Cozy said, “The ride

was extremely challenging especially for Spencer, who despite suffering from a brain tumour was able to ride the entire leg unaided from Basingstoke to Portsmouth which is an amazing achievement by anyone’s standards. None of us are as young as we once were and it took us over a week to regain from the tiredness, but I can tell you we feel very proud of our once in a lifetime achievement. What we suffered is a small price to pay to support the excellent work these dedicated nurses do every single day and every penny raised will go directly to make their lives just a little easier.”

The team had originally planned to raise £2000 but soon smashed their target, raising over £3700. Their Justgiving page is still live and to

donate to this very worthy cause, please visit https://bit.ly/32mHuJE

Photographs courtesy of Mark “Cozy” Powell Photograph 1: Keith and Spencer take inspiration from the sights of the beautiful Meon Valley. Photograph 2: The veterans paid their respects along the route. Photograph 3: The full team with the support vehicle crew, Brandon, Cozy, Steve, Spencer, Keith and Ellie, showing their pride in their achievement as a crowd of onlookers supported their arrival from a distance.

Royal Navy

HMS Collingwood Celebrates 80 years of training

A special ceremony has just taken place at HMS Collingwood to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its commissioning.

It is fair to say that the largest naval training establishment has not managed to celebrate this achievement in the way it had planned, and a variety of commemorative events had to be changed or cancelled due to COVID-19. One such event was a 'wholeship' birthday party with a ceremonial birthday cake cutting which was planned for May ahead of the very popular Open Day and Field Gun Competition. That said, considering all PHE and Government advice and observing social distancing measures, an event was able to take place today. The event saw Rear Admiral Phil Hally, Director People & Training, and 17-year-old Engineering Technician Brendan Overal, the youngest sailor, cut the cake in the presence of Captain Catherine Jordan, Commanding Officer of the establishment. The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, Collingwood were also present and played ‘Happy Birthday’ throughout. On completion the Band marched around the establishment to allow all personnel the opportunity to enjoy their music and feel part of this special event. They also used this opportunity to launch a

competition to all RM Bands, the challenge being to create a commemorative march for this 80th anniversary. With the ceremonial cake cutting complete, the cake was taken away, cut into small pieces and distributed to all personnel across the site, marking this special occasion. A selection of cupcakes was also available. Trainees first entered HMS Collingwood’s gates on 10th January 1940 after Britain recognised the importance of training sailors for front line service during World War 2. From the original wooden huts built on marshland, HMS Collingwood has since grown into the modern training establishment it is today. Captain Catherine Jordan said of the event, “I

am delighted that we have been able to hold this special ‘Birthday’ celebration today, marking an historic event in the establishment’s history while we work to modernise training further and put Collingwood and the Maritime Warfare School on a sustainable footing for another 80 years to continue to deliver first class sailors to front line operations. To be able to share this across the whole workforce with this amazing cake made by Collingwood’s own chefs Ryan Hopper of ESS and Navy Chef Matthew Montgomery, and with the support of the very professional RM Band is a very special moment in this commemorative year.”

Photographs courtesy of Keith Woodland, Crown Copyright. Photograph 1: The cake. Photographs 2: Rear Admiral Hally and ET Overal cutting the cake. Photograph 3. The RM Band marching around the establishment. Photograph 4: Rear Admiral Hally taking the salute.