RMC Annual Review 2020-21 digital (1) - Flipbook - Page 65
Never above you, never below you, always by your side
Connecting with the serving Corps
Launching the
RMA Pilot Gig Club
The idea of a gig club within
the RMA was first raised
in February 2019. A plastic
gig, ‘Trafalgar,’ and two
sets of oars were leant to
the newly established club
by RM Tamar, and safe
storage was allocated by
Stonehouse Barracks.
The club began to grow and establish
itself amongst the community. They
were invited to take part in the
interservice regatta at 47 Commando,
which gave them a clear indication
of the standard of the competition.
The Club had entered a few regattas
and had become more confident,
up against well-established
clubs they knew they still had
work to do, but their enthusiasm
and growth was undeniable.
In February 2020, the RMA Pilot Gig
Club became a specialist branch of
the RMA. The newly formed branch
had found a traditional wooden plot
gig for sale called the ‘Merthen.’
To purchase the pilot gig, the
Branch needed to fundraise
and find investment to cover
the £15,000 price tag.
The Branch secured corporate
sponsorship from Andrew Skipsey
of Giganet; they went on to receive
substantial donations from Mark
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Connecting with
the serving Corps
Bresnahan of Marine Fire Safety, RMA
Plymouth Branch and they secured
a grant from Magic Little Grant.
Recruits are now briefed in week three
of training by the Membership Team,
where they all join the Association
and sign up to the Service Days Pay
Giving Scheme if they wish. This is
where the serving Corps pay a days
pay to the Charity that is spread
over 12 equal monthly instalments.
It is there to help improve and
enhance the lives of serving Royal
Marines and is known as the “moral
component of fighting power”.
The Branch was working hard to
fundraise, but when the country ended
up in a national lockdown it made
traditional avenues of fundraising
impossible. They adapted and moved
online, hosting a virtual bingo evening
and utilised online marketplaces to
try to reach their £15,000 goal.
In August, the Branch gained its first
Ambassador, Lee Spencer BEM The
Rowing Marine. When lockdown lifted
the Branch returned to rowing and
were able to increase their fundraising
activities. Their JustGiving page had
reached over £6,500, but they were
still some way off their target.
In recognition of the stellar fundrasing
effort, community ethos, and
determination to establish a grassroots Branch — the RMA Pilot Gig Club
were awarded a grant from RMA – The
Royal Marines Charity to enable them
to realise their aspirations of owning
a traditional wooden pilot gig.
The purchase of the ‘Merthen’
would allow the RMA Pilot Gig
Club to join the Cornish Pilot Gig
Association and further establish
the RMA. The ‘Merthen’ was renamed the ‘Cockleshell.’
The Club relocated to the Mount
Batten Water sports Centre,
Plymstock in time for the arrival of
‘Cockleshell.’ It was a momentous
occasion attended by Phil Gilby
MBE on behalf of RMA – The Royal
Marines Charity, and Mick Shannon
on behalf of RMA Plymouth Branch.
The exposure to the
serving Corps is the
best it’s ever been.
This journey now starts with an RMA
– The Royal Marines Charity joining
letter being sent to all potential
Royal Marines as part of their joining
instructions which they are requested
to pass on to their next of kin. We
also have a place on the recruiting
website so potential recruits and their
families can fully understand what
the Association and Charity delivers.
The popular new Branch has had lots
of applicants, and word is spreading
throughout the rowing community.
Every leadership course that now
takes place at CTC receives an
RMA – The Royal Marines Charity
Brief, which ranges from the Marine
Leadership Course, to the WO1/
RSM’s Course to the Officers Course.
This allows us to brief and update
the serving Corps at regular intervals
to keep them current with what the
Association and Charity is delivering
and how they can support it.
The Corps will
now move through
their serving and
civilian life fully
understanding
the ‘through
life support’
we deliver.
This exposure began in September
2020 and up to March 2021 we
have briefed 1006 members of
the Corps at CTCRM alone. This
does not include briefs that have
been delivered to Units.
On Saturday 17th April, the Club were
invited by Mick Shannon and RMA
Plymouth to take part in a memorial
service to honour HRH Prince Philip
The Duke of Edinburgh. The invite
was accepted, and Cockleshell was
anchored on Plymouth Sound, South
of the Royal Marines Memorial.
Celebrating the 75th Year of the RMA
www.rma-trmc.org
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