Northwood - HMS Wildfire

HMS Wildfire is set within the UK’s operational Defence Headquarters at Northwood which is home to a various organisations, including Commander in Chief Fleet. With no salt water any closer than 50 miles away, this may seem an unlikely setting for an outpost of the Royal Naval Reserve. However, for over 50 years, Reservists from Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire have been flying the White Ensign in the landlocked area of Northwood.

	Postal Address:	HMS Wildfire, Building 99b, Northwood Headquarters, Sandy Lane, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 3HP
	Telephone:	01923 957770
	Location:	Located in Northwood Headquarters. Close to the London Underground and other rail systems, it is also served by several junctions of the M25 motorway. See Map
	Email:	HMS Wildfire
	Training Evening:	Wednesday 1930-2130
	Click here for future Royal Naval Reserves events.

COMMANDING OFFICER

Ant Chapman

RANK:
Commander

JOINED:
RNR 1991

SPECIALISATION:
Reservist

PREVIOUS UNITS:
HMS President

Military experience

Ant joined the RNR in 1991 as an officer candidate at HMS President, passing his Admiralty Interview Board on completion of new entry training.

He joined the Mine Warfare Specialisation where he was attached to HMS Quorn and HMS Bridport. After gaining a watchkeeping certificate, he undertook Officer of the Watch duties on deployments in the Mediterranean, Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

On promotion to Lieutenant Commander in 2003, Ant transferred to Media Operations and has been involved in exercises in the UK and abroad, as well as working as a media adviser at Flag Officer Sea Training.

In 2010, he was mobilised for Operation Telic but was stood down after completing pre-deployment training.

He has spent the last 2 years working outside his branch at Ministry of Defence, being involved with the Strategic Review of the Reserve Forces and the RNR Honorary Officers.

As well as his Media Operations role, his interests within the RNR include leadership and Adventurous Training, having run the Crowborough leadership challenge for a number of years.

Married to Katharine with 2 young children, Emma and Harry, Ant enjoys sailing and adventure racing, having completed the Marathon des Sables and the Panama Canal Ocean to Ocean canoe race in recent years.

Born in St Albans, he now lives in Welwyn Garden City where he runs a construction company with his brother.

Commander Chapman took Command of HMS Wildfire on the 18th November 2009.

UNIT DIARY

Surface Fleet

Northwood - HMS Wildfire

Wildfire Grand National04/04/12

HMS Wildfire held its very own Grand National themed race night on 4 April 2012, to raise money for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and to welcome new joiners to the Initial Naval Training class starting after Easter.

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Orienteering Challenge31/03/12

On 31 March the Ship’s Company from HMS Wildfire in Northwood got to grips with maps and compasses to navigate around a challenging orienteering course in Langley Park, Buckinghamshire. They had to think on their feet, planning the most effective route to visit all the checkpoints in the fastest time possible.

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Burns' Night Dinner 28/01/12

HMS Wildfire held its annual Burns' Night dinner on Saturday 28 January, to celebrate the life and work of bard Robert Burns. It was a traditional affair with cock-a-leekie soup, haggis, neeps and tatties, all washed down with whisky.

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Royal Navy Ski & Snowboard Championships20/01/12

A team of arctic warriors from Northwood's Royal Naval Reserve unit HMS Wildfire returned victorious from the Royal Navy’s 2012 Ski and Snowboard Championships.

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HMS Wildfire It's a Knockout07/12/11

Royal Naval Reservists from HMS Wildfire combined physical training with Christmas celebrations at their annual 'It's a Knockout' competition on 7 December. They competed in teams across a series of Pantomime character-themed stances including a penalty shoot out wearing giant Mother Goose feet and a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs style obstacle course on their knees. A good time was had by all!

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HMS Wildfire Freshers' Evening30/11/11

On 30 November, 15 new joiners to HMS Wildfire in Northwood attended a Freshers' Evening event. The group, who will formally join the New Entry class and commence their training in the Royal Naval Reserve on 4 January, were able to meet fellow classmates, serving Reservists and the Training team as well as learn more about the range of opportunities available to them in the RNR.

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Endurance Training Leader Course25/11/11

Reservists from HMS Wildfire in Northwood and HMS Sherwood in Nottingham were amongst a group of sailors qualifying as Endurance Training Leaders at HMS Temeraire in Portsmouth in November. The week long course qualified the group to assist with physical training in their units by running circuit classes or taking fellow members of their Ships' Companies on squad runs to ensure they are fit to fight.

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Remembrance Sunday Parade13/11/11

On 13 November, 25 members of the Ship’s Company from HMS Wildfire in Northwood marched through the town centre in St Albans as part of the Remembrance Sunday service.

They assembled at the War Memorial at 1100 to lay a poppy wreath and observe the two minute silence.

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Commodore Recognises contribution of Wildfire Reservists02/11/11

Commodore Maritime Reserves, Commodore John Keegan, paid a visit to HMS Wildfire in Northwood in early November to meet members of the Ship’s company

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Great South Run30/10/11

A team of athletic Royal Naval Reservists from HMS Wildfire in Northwood, Middlesex successfully completed the Great South Run in Portsmouth on Sunday 30 October.

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LATEST NEWS

Wildfire Events

30 May

HMS Wildfire Recruiting Evening

HMS Wildfire, Building 99b, Northwood Headquarters, Sandy Lane, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 3HP 30 May 2012

More Details View All Events

ABOUT THE UNIT

KEY STATISTICS

Reservists: 80at Wildfire

Number of Officers: 25

Mobilisation: 30%over the last 12 months

TAKE A LOOK

PHOTO GALLERY

- Wildfire Grand National
- WILDFIRE GRAND NATIONAL
- RNR Lieutenant Mark Bannister
- RNR Lieutenant Mark Bannister
- Orienteering
- HMS Wildfire Visits HMS Liverpool
- Chief Petty Officer 'Bomber' Mills in a tribute to Robert Burns
- Lt Tracy MacSephney, Lt Cdr Simon Goodes & Lt Cdr Stephanie Shinner
- Chief Petty Officer 'Bomber' Mills in a tribute to Robert Burns
- ENDURANCE TRAINING LEADER COURSE
- Reservists from HMS WILDFIRE on parade
- HMS WILDFIRE CHRISTMAS SOCIAL
- IT'S A KNOCKOUT
- petty Officer Tony metelko
  
  Commodore Maritime Reserves, Commodore John Keegan, presents Petty Officer Tony Metelko with the second clasp to his Volunteer Reserve Service Medal
- Lieutenant Mark Versallion
  
  Commodore Maritime Reserves, Commodore John Keegan, presents Lieutenant Mark Versallion with his Volunteer Reserve Service Medal
- Lt Cdr Stephanie Shinner
  
  Commodore Maritime Reserves, Commodore John Keegan, presents Lieutenant Commander Stephanie Shinner with her Volunteer Reserve Service Medal
- Lt Cdr Simon Cook
  
  Commodore Maritime Reserves, Commodore John Keegan, presents Lieutenant Commander Simon Cook with the clasp to his Volunteer Reserve Service Medal
- Leading Seaman Sue Bell
  
  Commodore Maritime Reserves, Commodore John Keegan, presents Leading Seaman Sue Bell with the clasp to her Volunteer Reserve Service Medal
- Petty Officer Lorette Staff
  
  Commodore Maritime Reserves, Commodore John Keegan, presents Petty Officer Lorette Staff with the clasp to her Volunteer Reserve Service Medal
- CDR CHAPMAN AWARDS CPO CRIMMINS A WILDFIRE CREST ON HIS RETIREMENT AFTER 30 YEARS SERVICE IN THE RNR.
- A team of athletic Royal Naval Reservists from HMS Wildfire, in Northwood, take part in the Great South Run.
- HMS WILDFIRE OFFICER TRAINING
- HMS WILDFIRE NEW ENTRY CLASS
- HMS WILDFIRE NEW ENTRY CLASS
- HMS WILDFIRE DISASTER RELIEF WORK
- AB Charlotte 'Buffy' Furness-Smith, Force Protection
- HMS Wildfire's Senior Rates Hoist The Ensign To Mark The Opening Of The New Unit At Northwood Headquarters
- HMS Wildfire Ship's Company With Cincfleet Adm Sir Trevor Soar
- HMS Wildfire Senior Rates With Cincfleet Adm Sir Trevor Soar
- HMS Wildfire Officers With Cincfleet Adm Sir Trevor Soar
- HMS Wildfire Junior Rates
- HMS Wildfire Guard Of Honour With Guard Officer SLt Edward Dunn
- HMS Wildfire And HM Royal Marines Band Portsmouth Formed Up On The Parade Ground At Northwood Headquarters
- HMS Wildfire And HM Royal Marines Band Portsmouth Formed Up On The Parade Ground At Northwood Headquarters
- Guard Officer SLt Edward Dunn And HMS Wildfire's Guard Of Honour
- CPO Ian Bartram, Lt Cdr Stephanie Shinner, PO Lorette Staff And Lt Cdr Simon Goodes - Wildfire's Original Four
- Commanding Officer Cdr Ant Chapman Leads HMS Wildfire Into Northwood Headquarters
- Cincfleet Unveiling The Plaque To Commemorate The Opening Of Building 99b At Northwood Headquarters, The New Home Of Hms Wildfire
- Cincfleet Takes The Salute From SLt Edward Dunn And The HMS Wildfire Guard Of Honour
- Cincfleet Inspecting HMS Wildfire's Senior Rates
- Cincfleet Inspects HMS Wildfire's Officers
- Cincfleet Inspects HMS Wildfire Guard Of Honour
- Cincfleet Inspects HMS Wildfire's Guard Of Honour
- Cincfleet Inspecting HMS Wildfire's Senior Rates
- Cincfleet Inspecting HMS Wildfire's Officers
- Cincfleet Inspecting HMS Wildfire's New Entries
- Cincfleet Awarding Lt Cdr Simon Goodes With The Commanding Officer's Prize 2011
- Wildfire's Officer Cadet David Blagden By The Remnants Of The Wall That Encircled Warsaw's Jewish Ghetto
- Wildfire's Lt Simeon Low Tends To The Wounds Of An Injured Nato Comrade
- Wildfire's Lt Simeon Low Presents On Leadership Theory To Fellow Nato Reserve Officers
- Wildfire's Lt Simeon Low Participanting In The Nato Field First Aid Competition
- Wildfire New Entries Win At Crowborough Challenge
- Wildfire New Entries Win At Crowborough Challenge
- Commander-in-Chief Fleet Admiral Sir Trevor Soar awards HMS Wildfire’s Able Seaman Shane Andrews the Best New Entry 2011 prize
- 20110614_Reservists Pass Admiral's Inpection_4
- 20110614_Reservists Pass Admiral's Inpection_3
- 20110614_Reservists Pass Admiral's Inpection_2
- 20110614_Reservists Pass Admiral's Inpection_1
- RN Ski and Snowboard championships
- Great South Run
- Recruiting evenings
- Officer Training

UNITS IN TIME

Northwood - HMS Wildfire HISTORY

TRACK THE HISTORY OF SHIPS NAMED Northwood - HMS Wildfire

NATO Eastern Atlantic Command

The RNR has had a presence at Northwood since May 1957 when it was established to support the growing NATO Eastern Atlantic Command.
The First Headquarters Unit

Commissioned in 1959 as HMS Northwood, this unit was the first Headquarters Unit in the RNR.
Current Location

In 1988, the Unit moved from its old Nissen huts at Northwood Headquarters to Brackenhill House, an Edwardian mansion outside the main gate.
Renamed

In 2000, it was renamed HMS Wildfire.
Welcome Home

In May 2011, as part of the redevelopment of the Northwood site, HMS Wildfire moved back into a refurbished building within the HQ. On 11 June 2011, HMS Wildfire was formally welcomed into Northwood HQ by Admiral Sir Trevor Soar KCB OBE.

1957
1959
1988
2000
2011

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Royal Naval Reserve Officer

If you are selected for officer training, you will receive initial training at Britannia Royal Naval College followed by specialist professional training for your Branch.

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Royal Naval Reserve

There are specific Nationality and Qualification requirements for certain Branches - these should be discussed with the local careers office. Roles-in-RNR

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Royal Naval Reserve Medical Branch

Opportunities exist for Registered Medical Practitioners (Doctors & Nurses) and those pending attainment of medical qualifications or Registration.

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Northwood - HMS Wildfire