Page 8 - The Sandbag Times Issue No:53

THE VETERANS’ MAGAZINE

SBT NEWS March Edition info@sandbagtimes.com

Tributes paid to Royal Navy Leading Hand who died at HMS Drake

Story: Plymouth Herald Photo: Royal Navy
Block at HMS Drake reports. words, whether in
on January 6. The HMS Cornwall in the
inquest heard how his At his funeral at St Persian Gulf or on
wife had become Nicholas' Church a operations with HMS
concerned after not eulogy was read out, Portland in the North
hearing from him and touching on his life in Atlantic or standing
alerted a friend who the Royal Navy and guard at the main gate
went in search of the the thoughts of his in Plymouth.
44-year-old. friends and
colleagues. "He was a fine sailor
Sadly, he was found in and ‘Gunner’. More
the en-suite shower "He was a straight- than that he was a fine
room of his forward, hard-working man. A man who put
n inquest has accommodation at accommodation. His ‘matelot’, calm under others first; a man who
been opened HMS Drake last month. death was not being pressure and ever wanted to better
Aand adjourned treated as suspicious ready to step-up and himself; a man who
into the unexpected Simon Jeffers, of by police and inquiries take charge of his loved his family deeply
death of a Royal Navy Hillcrest Close, are ongoing to fellow sailors. Many a and wanted to make
Leading Hand who Plymouth died in his determine the cause, young Able Seaman them proud."
died at his room at the Cornwall pending toxicology benefited from his wise Read more here...

RAF reveals when Tornado farewell flypast will take place Royal Navy Appoints New
Story: Staffordshire Live Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto Senior Officers
Story: Forces.net
he RAF has revealed It was previously revealed The RAF said each of the
further details on that one of the locations points on the Tornado's number of Nicholas Hine is to
Twhen fans of the the jet would be visiting on final farewell journey had new senior be promoted to
iconic Tornado warplane its final flypast, between some sort of special signifi- Aofficials have Vice Admiral and
can see it on its farewell Tuesday, February 19 and cance to the life of the war- been appointed by Second Sea Lord,
flypast, taking place to Thursday, February 21, plane. the Royal Navy. while Vice Admiral
mark its retirement after 40 would be the National Ben Key is set to
years of service. Memorial Arboretum In a Facebook post, a The Navy has con- become Chief of
spokesperson for RAF firmed that Vice Joint Operations.
Marham said: "After careful Admiral Tony
consideration of a number Radakin will Vice Admiral Key
of factors, the flypast route become the First will become only
has been set to incorpo- Sea Lord, the most the third sailor to
rate as many locations in senior naval posi- hold the post of
the UK as possible that tion. Chief of Joint
have had a link to the Operations at
Tornado GR Force over the He will take over Northwood head-
years. later this year when quarters when
current First Sea takes over next
To read more and to find Lord Admiral Philip month.
out where you can see the Jones retires.
final Tornado flypasts click Read more on this
on this link. Rear Admiral story here...

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