Page 109 - QDG Volume 9 No. 5

1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 107
Defence Digital – a Defence Digital bore
The past 18 months in Defence Digi-
tal’s Tactical Systems team have been
nothing short of fascinating. Tasked with
delivering tactical communications to the
British Army, the challenges of Project
MORPHEUS and Evolve to Open (EvO)
are well known to many [Ed: no they’re
not!]. Navigating these complexities has
been an eye-opening introduction to the
‘Capability & Acquisition’ career stream.
Based at MOD Abbey Wood, with
outstations in South Wales, Corsham,
and Blandford, the 400-strong team is
predominantly composed of contractors
and civil servants, with military personnel
making up just 7% of the workforce.
Adjusting to this dynamic takes time, but
the deep expertise these civil servants
bring is invaluable—some have been
developing tactical communications
since the early days of Clansman!
Sometimes viewed as a back-office
function within the MOD, delivering new
equipment to the Field Army is critical to
maintaining and enhancing operational
capability. The process can be slow and
bureaucratic, but the dedication of civil
servants and industry experts ensures
soldiers have reliable and secure means
to communicate vital intelligence back to
decision-makers.
Riding the Severn Bore
An added perk of being in Bristol is access
to the River Severn and its famous tidal
bore. First surfed by Colonel ‘Mad Jack’
Churchill in 1955, the bore is a bucket-list
challenge for many cold-water surfers,
offering the chance to ride continuously
for many kilometres. However, it’s not
for the faint-hearted—strong currents,
underwater hazards, and a surging wave
make it a highly dangerous undertaking.
Keen for the challenge, I recruited Maj
Jack Pullinger, a characteristically sporty
Light Dragoon. With the blessing of two
very understanding 1*s, we set out on
a chilly March morning to surf the first
5-star bore in two years. After scouting
access and exit points the week prior,
we launched from Epney—conveniently
home to a well-placed pub where we
could wait for the wave. With updates
coming in from friends further down-
river, anticipation built among the 20 or
section of the wave. We rode for nearly
a kilometre before it dissipated as the
river widened. Ecstatic, we scrambled up
the muddy bank and rejoined our fellow
surfers for a well-earned celebratory pint.
Now initiated into the Bore Riders Club,
we have plans to tackle a few 4-star
waves before moving on to our next
postings.
RM
Ross McKellar – and the brains of the operation
so surfers gathered. Then, we heard it—a
distant rumble that grew into a roaring
crescendo as the bore surged around the
bend.
Larger than expected, it spanned the
entire width of the river, a rare sight.
Timing was everything—miss the wave,
and you’d be left in the churning white-
water behind it. Paddling hard, Jack
and I popped up early, claiming a clean
This is what we do… THE
MERCIAN
EAGLE
Ian Simpson is one of Scotland’s
greatest ever motorcycle racers.
A five-time British champion and triple Isle of Man TT winner, he
was the last man to win the British Superbike and Supersport 600
championships in the same year.
‘Simmo’ was also a double Scottish champion, a triple International Classic Grand
Prix champion, a European Classic Endurance champion and winner of five
North West 200 races and two Ulster Grands Prix.
He raced against Carl Fogarty, Joey Dunlop, Steve Hislop, Niall Mackenzie, Jim Moodie
and many other all-time greats, in an era when riders still liked to have fun and
regularly found themselves in trouble. He also lost a lot of friends along the way.
‘Forever Playboy’ takes readers behind the scenes of a racer’s life and reveals it’s not all
glamour and glory. Simmo’s brutally honest account of what it takes to be a champion
in one of the world’s most dangerous sports is as hilarious as it is sad, but it’s
never anything other than fascinating.
So, snap your visors down for a thrill ride like no other, as ‘Forever Playboy’ provides
an all-access pass into the adrenalin-soaked world of Superbike racing.
the autobiography
of ian simpson
CADET
REVIEW
SPRING 2024
The Magazine for Cadets in
Yorkshire and the Humber
and who we are…
37 First Sea Lord’s Cadet
ian simpson with stuart barker
playboy
35
WATER FUN
FOR ALL
The Journal of The Mercian Regiment 2023 – No.16
noun
a man who spends most
of his time doing things
that give him pleasure
ian simpson
with stuart barker
RFCA
For Yorkshire and the Humber
Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
Long Service
recognised 12
Mercian Eagle Year of 2023 COVER.indd 1 Mercian Eagle Year of 2023 COVER.indd 1 Forever Playboy COVER.indd 1 Forever Playboy COVER.indd 1 28/06/2024 12:39 28/06/2024 12:39
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