Old Meets New at MoD Lyneham

Scribe: Major (Retired) Geordie Wright-Rivers

Earlier this month the Corps HQ hosted a small delegation of our ex-REME Chelsea Pensioners from the Royal Hospital Chelsea. The aim of the day was to introduce our inPensioners to some of the Army’s current fighting equipment and new technology and to familiarise them with some of the trade training facilities at the Corps’ new home in MoD Lyneham.

The visitors were greeted at Corps Headquarters with the time-honoured NAAFI break, taking in a bacon roll and a group photograph with staff from the Headquarters prior to embarking upon a packed tour of barracks. The route took in visits and briefs to the Recovery Training area, Vehicle and Weapons Hangars, Aircraft Wing before finishing at the Metalsmiths and Armourers’ Shop. En-route they met many inquisitive young trainees covering all trade groups including soldiers from other nations receiving maintainer instruction on various platforms.

A light lunch in the Sgts’ Mess preceded a visit to the Roger Jones MBE Vehicle Hangar to view the historic vehicle fleet before the team left, tired and content, for the trip home to Chelsea.

The Black Arts! HM’s Tree from RAF Lyneham Visit, 1973

Chelsea Skill-at-Arms Team

MAN Vehicle Trainer Old meets new

Ex-REME Chelsea Pensioners and Corps HQ Staff

Recovery Mechanic Memorial Wall Top Gun 3