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Fleet Air Arm ‘family’ rallies to help former engineer Jon struck down by debilitating illness
23 April 2025
The Fleet Air Arm community at Yeovilton have rallied round to help one of their own, struck down with Motor Neurone Disease.
Jon Over left the Service two years ago after a 23-year career, most of it at the Somerset air station, largely concentrated in 815 and 825 Naval Air Squadrons maintaining first Lynx and later Wildcat helicopters.
He enjoyed a couple of brushes with royalty: he was part of the ship’s flight supporting the Lynx on HMS Iron Duke when the future Prince of Wales was embarked back in 2008; and he dined Her Majesty the Queen aboard HMS Victory as part of Trafalgar 200 celebrations in 2005.
Before leaving the RN as a chief petty officer, he was a staunch fundraiser and mainstay of many Fleet Air Arm/Navy sporting teams: rugby, tennis, cricket, golf and athletics.
“Jon’s someone who has always been willing to give back to the community,” said his friend and fellow 815 NAS senior rating Chief Petty Officer Dan ‘Whisky’ Walker.
He is a truly selfless person who has done so much for so many people – kind, caring, and full of compassion, a true friend to us all, always there in your hour of need, going above and beyond for anyone
When he learned of Jon’s diagnosis with MND – a debilitating disease as nerves stop sending ‘instructions’ to muscles, increasingly limiting movement and key bodily functions – Dan was determined to be there for his friend in his hour of need, setting a £20k goal to help Jon and his family.
So far – without any madcap challenges or sporting events, purely love, support and generosity for Jon, his wife Marie and the couple’s two daughters – the Fleet Air Arm community has raised more than three quarters of Dan’s total.
Dan says the initial figure – which will mostly help Jon with wheelchair provision – is just the beginning as the Overs will need more help to cope with the burdens and challenges of adapting to Jon’s condition, but he’d also like to pay for holidays/experience days as a family to leave all with lasting memories.
He is planning to run the Brighton Marathon next year, Jon’s nephew is scaling peaks in the Lake District, a former rugby player intends to swim the Channel and the RN Golf Society is planning a day on the fairways dedicated to helping Jon.
You can support the fundraising effort at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/daniel-walker-hemmingfield