Page 38 - MERCIAN Eagle 2018

Unit Welfare Team – WO2 Macpherson
As with the rest of the Battalion, the Welfare Team have had a very busy year.
The team continues to support all members of the Battalion with any welfare issues, including housing advice, assisting with personnel sick at home, dealing
with outside agencies and signposting to available support.
Along with the regular Easter, Halloween and Christmas parties, there have been trips to Paultons Park and Legoland, Summer BBQs and busy coffee mornings. A highlight being Beeches Big Jump tandem parachute event raising over £3,000 for ABF. It has been great to see a lot more families using the Beeches Cafe and popping in to say hello while they’re here.
This year has seen a complete change
to the team, with Capt Wyeth leaving to be replaced by WO2 Macpherson. Sgt Barrett, LCpl Nash and Pte Shaw also joined the team this year and Beth retired at Christmas and we wish her well with her future endeavours.
Welfare Team Halloween Party / Bulford / Oct 18
WO2 Macperson & Sgt Barrett dressed up for Halloween / Bulford / Oct 18
UWO:
Welfare SNCO: Welfare NCO: Driver:
Welfare Clerk:
WO2 Macpherson Sgt Barrett
LCp Nash
Pte Shaw
Beth Steele
36
AT – Mountaineering – Capt Elliot
Is there any more noble pursuit for infanteers than to attempt to prove themselves able to conquer the majestic peaks of Britain’s great mountains? Pitting just your strength, map reading skills and sense of adventure against one of nature’s greatest challenges. Throughout 2018, members of 1 MERCIAN have continued
to prove that they are up to this challenge. June saw a number of expeditions scaling mountains all over the British Isles. Lt Johl led the Signals Pl up some of Wales’ peaks whilst Capt Elliott took 5 members of Recce Pl and headed to Scotland to scale the UK’s highest mountain.
Recce Pl based themselves out of the MOD mountaineering lodge in
selection was required. The second highlight was climbing to the top of
Ben Nevis at a height of 1,345m, although this was a far less technical climb than Binnein Mor as it
has a very clearly defined path that is travelled by 100s of tourists every
Kinlochleven near
the Glencoe valley
for a week’s summer
mountaineering.
During the week there
were two highlights
(three if you include
watching England
win their first ever
penalty shootout in
a World Cup). One was scaling Binnein Mor at a height of 1,130m. This was a very difficult climb which gave all members of the team a great sense of achievement as they had to navigate their way up a very steep mountain with no obvious paths
on it, which meant that very careful route
This was a very difficult climb which gave all members of the team a great sense of achievement...
day, knowing that they sat and had their lunch on top of the UK’s highest peak gave every member of the team a great sense of satisfaction.
At the end of a good week of hiking the team celebrated with a barbecue on the banks on Loch Leven.
(L-R) LCpl McCann, LCpl Gilliver, LCpl Grice, Cpl Podmore, Pte Williams Members of Recce Pl enjoying their lunch sat on / Members of Recce Pl half way up Ben Nevis / Scotland / Jun 18 the top of Ben Nevis / Scotland / Jun 18
THE MERCIAN EAGLE