Edition 16
This week, our update includes lots of uplifting news about a new membership community, Mountbatten Festival of Music, how to get a limited edition RM Commando 80 coin, life in the fast lane – and our monthly ‘Get the Gen in 10’ feature.
Thank you for your continued support.
To subscribe to receive our weekly round-up to your inbox, please click here
Charity unveils unified community
RMA – The Royal Marines Charity has taken the lead and launched a tri-service single cap badge Membership Associations Community. At the inaugural conference in London, 13 single cap badge membership associations met with the united aim to help one other become more effective in serving, and stronger in representing, their respective communities.
Those attending represented a total of 175,000-plus members who – together with dependents – comprise a community of over half a million people.
Preparing to take London by storm
The Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines are set to thrill audiences and again take London’s Royal Albert Hall by storm at the 51st Mountbatten Festival of Music on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th March, 2023, with two evening performances and a Saturday matinee, raising funds for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charities.
The 90-minute programmes, accompanied by spectacular visual effects, are guaranteed to take festival-goers on an exhilarating rollercoaster ride through the world of music from rousing military marches, classical overtures, jazz, stage and film numbers (plus a few surprise rock vocals for extra measure!) to spine-tingling bugle solos from members of the Fanfare Team, and displays of precision from the Corps of Drums’ stick drills.
Tickets sell like hot cakes so don’t delay…get yours today (they’ll make a great Christmas present!) Click here for tickets
RM Commando 80 kicks off
Day 1 Marathon 1: RM Commando 80 launched this week with a team from 29 Cdo heading off from Land’s End for the first of 25 marathons to be completed before the end of October.
This year is the 80th anniversary of Royal Marines taking the Commando role and to mark this major milestone, Commando and Reserve units across the UK will, over the next two months, take part in a series of follow-on ‘relay’ marathons, the last finishing at the Spean Bridge Memorial Parade at the end of October.
RMR Merseyside took over from 29 Cdo and was the next team off the blocks. We especially salute WO2 Anthony Newson and LCpl Luke Grainger, the two incredible main core runners who are joining each unit marathon.
Our hard-working Fundraising team is supporting all involved to help realise the £220k target – with the fundraising pot already sitting at over £93,500! This is awesome.
RM Commando 80 Challenge is for everyone and, as part of the Corps Family, you, too, can take part in this historic challenge by doing your own creative ’80-themed’ challenge – you can sign up on the button below.
Every single person who raises at least £25 for the Corps Family will receive a sought-after limited-edition Royal Marines Commando 80 coin.
Huge thanks to our sponsors Patron Capital and Prime Health, with support from Forces Mutual.
Also going the extra mile
8 lads: 2.1 mile swim: 112mile cycle and 26.2miles run in 17hr 26mins….
Our enormous thanks go also to the amazing Iron Regain team who last week successfully completed an epic Iron distance triathlon in their own RM Commando 80 challenge. Outstanding effort lads! Hoofing!
To check out their fundraising page and support their fantastic effort, please visit – justgiving.com/fundraising/Sam-P-80
Get the Gen in 10
Caroline has been working with the Charity for 7½ years.
1. In less than 20 words, describe what your job entails: Responsible for charity-wide communications, along with fundraising income derived from the community, individual and regular giving.
2. Success means….. being satisfied that I have done my best.
3. Best advice received? Remember to breathe.
4. First paying job? Chambermaid.
5. Craziest thing you’ve ever done? Jumped off a pier dressed as a pig.
6. What would people be most surprised to know about you? I was nearly a professional ballerina.
7. Best ever film or book? Too hard. I’ll have to go with Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
8. Favourite music? You can’t beat a bit of Barry Manilow.
9. Who would be your favourite dance partner? Fred Astaire.
10. Hobbies? Gardening, DIY, Maine Coon cats and red wine.
Health & Wellbeing Support in August
During August, our Health & Wellbeing team distributed 64 grants totalling over £60,000 to 50 Veterans and 10 Serving RM beneficiaries which included support towards funeral costs, hospital travel, moving costs, white goods, essential food and groceries and mental health therapy; and to four organisations with which the Charity works in providing various forms of therapy support.
In the year to date, this represents a 38% increase in the number of grants awarded over the same period in 2021.
Everyone for cricket
The Membership team had the pleasure of being invited to the grounds of Windsor Castle to support both the serving Corps cricket team and the RMA Cricket Branch play the Royal Household in the 100 ball format.
Two great games in amazing surroundings were well supported by truly lovely people who were very generous to the Charity over the course of the day. The serving lads had a bad day at the office and the older and bolder cohort were narrowly beaten.
We are very hopeful that this will become a firm favourite annual fixture and would like to extend our thanks for the invite and the opportunity to support such a great day.
Life in the fast lane – on land...
Laurie Hawkshaw and Jim Morris from our team were privileged to be guests of Mission Motor Sports Goodwood Event last Friday, together with eight RM Veterans who enjoyed the day making special memories and experiencing thrilling highspeed car rides.
84-year-old Roy Warnes (wearing green) says: ’It was an incredible experience for me at my age to be driven by expert drivers around the race track at speeds of over 150 mph in a range of cars such as the Audi R8 V1012019 0-60mph under 3sec – breath-taking: Aston Martin V12 205 mph, wonderful; 700hp Maclaren 765LT 225mph, a James Bond moment – and the latest Tesla Model S 180 mph, no gears, 0 to 125mph in 3.2sec – amazing ride.
Thank you – friendships enrich your life. I look forward to the next event.’
Mission Motorsport aids in the recovery and rehabilitation of those affected by military operations by providing opportunities through motorsport and the auto industry.
(Laurie and Jim pictured above with the event’s CEO and Founder, James Cameron)
…and in the ‘air’!
It was a busy few days, too, for our Fundraising team, supporting at the Bournemouth Air Show. ‘Four days of amazing feats of skill and a lovely crowd enjoying the sun. The team was very well received and looked after well within the Military Village. A great way to raise awareness and promote the work of our Charity in a beautiful setting.’