The Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP, Minister for Defence Veterans and People, recently visited Royal Marines Base (RMB) Chivenor as part of his tour of South Western England’s Naval Establishments.
The visit was designed to inform the Minister of the capabilities of the Unit’s housed at RMB Chivenor, the infrastructural assets of the Garrison, and allowed him to open the new Commando Logistics Regiment (CLR) Royal Marines Junior NCOs club, the ‘Hoof Inn’, which had recently been refurbished with grants from the RNRMC.
Moving to the birds-eye view location of the Air Traffic Control Tower, leftover from the previous ownership of the RAF, Commanding Officer of CLR RM, Lieutenant Colonel Dave Nicholson RM, provided a comprehensive brief on the infrastructure of the Garrison and the wide-ranging capabilities of CLR.
The location was perfect to show examples of the training areas and real estate required for a logistic unit that provides perpetual sustainment, equipment support and medical support to 3 Commando Brigade.
Following this, Lieutenant Colonel Ian Lamont RE, Commanding Officer of 24 Commando Royal Engineers, briefed the Minister on the role of the Commando Sappers and the way they utilise the real estate.
As part of the Minister’s remit also includes the mental health and wellbeing of service personnel, Captain Mo Morris RM got his five minutes in the spotlight to introduce Project REGAIN, the mental health initiative that is gaining traction in the RM and is now looking at being introduced into the wider Armed Forces.
Following the briefs, the Minister moved to the newly refurbished Hoof Inn, the CLR JNCOs club, to officially open the venue. The project, spearheaded by Colour Sergeant Russ Walters RM, Base Sqn Sergeant Major, was made possible by the generous funding of the Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity, to whom the users are incredibly grateful.
With briefings received and buildings officially opened, the Minister departed to Plymouth, to chat all things Navy and enjoy the delights of the dockyard.
