The important role of Royal Navy reservists was highlighted at a special event hosted by HMS Calliope in Gateshead.
Employers and community stakeholders were shown how the Royal Navy relies on the skills of the region’s reservists to protect our national interests and to provide front line support in operational theatres around the globe.
HMS Calliope’s Commanding Officer, Commander Ian White outlined plans to transform the appearance of their existing building with a new façade and additional space to house the Royal Marines Reserve. The work will take almost a year to complete and is due to begin soon. He also outlined the increasingly important role for his team in the armed forces and national security, as set out in the government’s Future Reserves 2020 policy, which requires the UK’s reserve forces to double in size by 2020.
One Tyneside business that actively supports the work of HMS Calliope and her crew is Gateshead engineering firm Clarke Chapman. MD Stephen Plant explained that the firm has a long history of interaction with the Royal Navy and Ministry of Defence.
“Although at present we don’t have any reservists working as part of our team, we are practically neighbours of HMS Calliope and we value the long term relationship we have with them. We’ve been manufacturing equipment for the Royal Navy for decades and take a keen interest in the work done by our local reservists here in the North East. We would encourage other businesses to do the same as the benefits are tangible.”
A reservist who attended the event with his manager was AB1 David Tarren from Sherburn, Durham. By day David works as a social worker in Middlesbrough and in his spare time he has taken part in major exercises and managed logistics operations and casualty evacuations. His manager Emma Wright explained why she supported David’s nautical involvement.
“In our working role we rely on team work and supporting others. David has the necessarily skills to do this and his RNR training really shines through. We would encourage other businesses to do the same as the benefits are tangible.”
Staff Officer for Employee Support, Commander Ed McNaught also encouraged other businesses to support their employees who were interested in a reservist role.
“Employers of reservists can reap many benefits from the high standard of training and skills obtained from the Royal Navy. Reservists will gain new skills and experiences that help them develop strengths such as leadership and teamwork, all of which are transferable into their day jobs.”
There has been a Royal Naval Reserve presence on Tyneside since 1905, when Tyne Division of the RNVR was formed. For its first training ship, the Division chose the famous HMS Calliope, veteran of the Samoa Hurricane, which was berthed at Elswick in Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1951, the original HMS Calliope was replaced by HMS Falmouth, which was, renamed Calliope. This new ship kept the same moorings at Elswick. The unit moved ashore in 1968 to its current location, retaining the name HMS Calliope.
Anyone wanting to know more about the RNR and HMS Calliope can look at the website http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Maritime-Reserves/Royal-Naval-Reserves/RNR-Units/Tyneside-HMS-Calliope