Rear Admiral Richard Stokes, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Support) was the Guest of Honour recently at a special reception held to formally open the refurbished Warrant Officers’ and Senior Rates’ Mess (WOSRM) at HMS Sultan.
Members of the WOSRM joined with generous refurbishment partners from The Nuffield Trust, the Armed Forces Covenant Fund, Rebalancing Lives fund and The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity who were given a government donation in 2015 from LIBOR fines to help make the project a reality.
HMS Sultan’s Warrant Officers’ and Senior Rates’ Mess provides a hub for social activities for around 400 service personnel from across the Armed Forces. As well as providing somewhere on site where the personnel can bring their families, the Mess is also used to support the Establishment’s Blind Veterans UK’s Summer Camp and a community Christmas Dinner for retired people from Gosport and the surrounding area.
As well as a general refresh, the project has seen the bar facilities updated with a new dance floor, stage and sliding doors, the extension of the snug bar, new study areas and updates to toilet facilities. In addition, personnel can also enjoy improved games and TV Lounges and the Mess now even has its own cinema.
Base Warrant Officer, Warrant Officer 1 Jason ‘Mo’ Morris said: “This refurbishment has allowed us to drag the Mess from the 1990s into the modern day. We’ve now provided more facilities during the day time for the classes including revision areas and the bar has also been upgraded.”
“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The classes are using it more during the day time and attendance at Mess events is also on the up.”
“Now that it is a nice place to be, people don’t want to sit in their cabins so much but actually come out to the Mess, which has got to be a positive. It’s also a much more pleasant environment to bring families in to during the weekend.”
Regarding the project at HMS Sultan, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity’s Chief Executive Officer Robert Robson said: “Our aim with this project, alongside our partners, was to produce a modern ‘home from home’ that members of the mess can enjoy.
"We wanted to place real emphasis on the unsung heroes and the families. Working with others we have delivered a great result and one I know that is having a really positive impact.
The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity exists to value and support our sailors, marines and their families, this project exemplifies these values.”
