Page 3 - LBV 2024

CO’s Foreword
I have the privilege this year to be able to personally look back over a fantastic 12 months, running an organisation
that is going from strength to strength.
I must first thank the permanent and Reserve staff who make everything happen and without whom we wouldn’t be able to offer such great opportunities to the OCdts. A particular thank you to Major Mark Bevin who will retire in April next year after over 36 years of service, 12 of which have been with CUOTC – he has left his mark on countless OCdts leaving a lasting impression.
It is with great sadness that I must inform you that we lost one of our UEA Officer Cadets in a tragic accident while he was at the University gym in UEA. OCdt Mohammed Farraj was a second year medical student, he was a dedicated and popular OCdt with a dry sense of humour and a steely determination to push himself. He will be sorely missed
by the whole Unit. The LBV journal once again has been a great way of capturing the breadth of activities available within the Unit from climbing Mt Kenya with
the Irish Guards to sailing the Atlantic and exercising with both 254 Medical Regiment and 3 Royal Anglian. We
have had OCdts stalking in Scotland,
on hockey tour with the Regular Army, dinning with the Queens Dragoon Guards plus much much more. It’s been a busy and action packed year. The LBV London Drinks were hosted at Yeomanry House the home of London UOTC. It was a great event, well attended and brought back memories of OTC days as guests entered the drill hall to see London UOTC OCdts charging about doing PT. We will look to use the venue again in the future as it provides great flexibility and value for money. Based on some kind
offers of support, we have been able to use the LBV network for existing OCdts where we have seen an opportunity
for them to speak to some in their field about the next steps in their potential future careers. I would love to do more of this, helping to give the OCdts an initial network to start their careers. I need your help for this as I can only point them in your direction if I know who you are and what you do, so please do reach out to me or one of the team and lets us know what you do and that you would be interested in supporting.
I am delighted to report that we have been able to rebuild our relationship with UEA which had atrophied over the last few years. The University is keen
to take a more proactive approach to civilian engagement including Defence and the UOTC. As part of that we are now supporting them in their efforts to sign the Armed Forces Covenant. This is great for our ability to support the welfare of the OCdts and enhance our communication with University. Funding
remains a challenge with budgets ever decreasing and the OCdts having to contribute more to make those activities outside of the core syllabus happen. Along with RMAS we are investigating if it is possible to give us the charitable status to make any gift tax efficient,
but I would also encourage those that wish to contribute more to the Unit to enable us to continue to deliver for the current generation of OCdts to do so either directly or by increasing your annual Direct Debit. Your support will be massively appreciated, see details below.
I look forwards to seeing as many
of you as possible at the LBV dinner
in Sewlyn College, it promises to be a fantastic evening with a speech from Maj Gen (Rtd) Bill Robbins and a musical display from the Waterloo Band of the Rifles – one not to miss.
Swift and Bold
Matt
Lt Col M Helsby Commanding Officer
THE LIGHT BLUE VOLUNTEER 3