YEOVILTON LIFE: Return to Base team is nearing home

THE fundraising members of the 815 Naval Air Squadron from RNAS Yeovilton will be “returning to base” tomorrow (Friday, March 27, 2015) following a fun-filled and challenging trip across the country.

Lieutenant Danielle Welch, Petty Officer Stuart McAllister, Leading Aircraft Engineering Technician Billy Evans and Aircraft Engineering Technician Kelly Turner set off on Monday (March 23, 2015) in a Lynx Mk8 helicopter without any money to an undisclosed location.

From then they have had to use their initiative and resourcefulness to return to Yeovilton by tomorrow lunchtime.

PHOTO - TOP: At the National Railway Museum in York are, from left, LAET Billy Evans, AET Kelly Turner and PO Stuart McAllister.

PHOTO - RIGHT: LAET Billy Evans selling doughnuts at the ICAP building in London.

They have been looking to raise money for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity by sponsorship for completing “challenges” set by members of the public or Service colleagues and through support given via the RNRMC “Virgin Giving” webpage or text Navy to 70500 to give £5.

The team was initially flown in a Lynx helicopter to the top of the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and given a series of challenges.

One of them was reaching the National Railway Museum at York as the first call on their journey back to base in Somerset. To achieve this, the sailors managed to get on board a Virgin Trains East Coast service to York.  The team was given a huge boost thanks to Virgin Trains East Coast, who stepped in to help after hearing about the challenge and that the sailors wanted to visit Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral train at the National Railway Museum in York.

They offered to take the sailors by train in return for getting them to complete a number of tasks such as helping to load passengers’ luggage and catering supplies on-board.

It was then agreed that two Royal Navy Lynx helicopters on a training flight would escort the train on the last 15 minutes of its journey into York.

When looking for overnight accommodation the team were contacted by the landlady of a local Inn, the Gillygate in York, where the sailors were kindly offered safe accommodation for the evening.

After an early start on Tuesday (March 24, 2015), the team made their way to London, where they were given more challenges.

PHOTO - RIGHT: The Return to Base team sing for their supper at the Grange St Paul's Hotel in London.

In the evening, the team were challenged by staff in the Grange St Paul’s Hotel to ‘sing for their supper’.  In exchange for a bite to eat, the four sailors were asked to provide entertainment for the restaurant’s customers.  The four team members sang ‘Hearts of Oak’ to diners in a restaurant, who generously contributed to the Charity, if only to make the tam stop singing.

Early yesterday (Wednesday, March 25, 2015) morning, the team headed into the centre of London in an attempt to raise more contributions for the Charity.

When passing Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London, the team popped in and met the Lord Mayor himself who was interested to learn about the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity and their work. 

The team has been continuing their efforts to complete the challenge on their passage back to RNAS Yeovilton.

PHOTO - ABOVE: The first stop for the Return to Base team.

PHOTO - ABOVE: LAET Billy Evans serving refreshments on the train.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Helicopter escort for their train.

PHOTO - ABOVE: The Return to Base team at RNAS Yeovilton on Monday (March 23, 2015) with Lieutenant Danielle Welch (second right), Petty Officer Stuart McAllister (far left), Leading Aircraft Engineering Technician Billy Evans (far right) and Aircraft Engineering Technician Kelly Turner (second left).

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