Starting at 0730 Alan and long time friend Phil Pyle, a builder from Ottery St Mary, Devon (part of the Baton Support Team) went down to Plympton, Devon with materials to build a much needed Patio Pergola, soon to have a roof on the next visit.

A long day for the pair but so worthwhile! our sincere thanks to Phil and his donation of time and experience for such a great cause…..

In October 2012 Alan met Jo Jenkins, Area co-ordinator at Jack & Jills pre school in Plympton and Sarah Hendry who runs the school, Alan was given an introduction to the school for 2 – 8 years old and what it provides, the school is Tri Service and also takes civilian children. J&J’s needed a covering for part of the preschool patio area so that the children have somewhere to play under shelter in not such good weather, as this is the only safe bit of flat area on the forces estate!

The title ‘Pre School’ suggests what you might expect, but the extra support given to the families, especially mothers, is very much more as the very nature of service life adds more pressure on a family’s day to day routine. Military wives have a role that is not always understood, marrying a serviceman is a little like marrying into the Royal Family, until you are in that position you cannot be expected to fully understand the implications.

Trying to hold the family together while a partner is away on active service can be very tough, theres the upkeep and maintenance of the home, car and admin that is always present, but also a military wife is school teacher, nurse, confident whilst thinking of her partners safety and knowing that he might return a different person to when he left.

The pressure can be great, we don’t all handle things the same, all of us are unique souls that need to be understood as such, unfortunately our social system doesn’t have time to treat people independently and that is where Jo, Sarah and many people doing the same job play an unpaid vital role in recognising stressful situations and helping to diffuse them before they become a deep seated problem.

To see more photos from the day’s work please visit our album here.

Day Aggregates held their annual Golf Day May 16th and we are delighted to say that this year one of the two charities to be recipients of any money raised will be The Baton.

We really appreciate this gesture from Day Aggregates needless to say the funds will be used to very good purpose, if you are nearby and want to see one of the Batons there will be one on show for the day.

To find out more about Sutton Green Golf Club please visit their website.

OPERATION AUGUSTA!……..And no, it’s not a trip across “the pond” to play golf!

Augusta was the name of the Roman legion stationed in Exeter and this project see’s three walkers carrying the Baton tackling The Fosse Way, the Roman road between Lincoln and Exeter, a total of 215 miles hoping to raise some much-needed funds for their chosen charities.

The team of three will be Steve and Matt who both serve with the Devon & Cornwall Police and Barry who manages a care home for young people in Plymouth. The team’s chosen charities are…

Steve – The Anthony Nolan Trust

Barry – Exmouth Hospiscare

Matt – BLESMA, something close to his heart as he served for 10 years in the Royal Artillery.

To sponsor this fantastic effort please visit the team’s site here.

For more information about the event please look at the website.

From Left to Right the Team are: Barry, Matt and Steve, seen here collecting the Baton.

#1 Baton returns from active duty with its Log Book evoking many powerful thoughts….

On reading some of the Log Book entries I couldn’t avoid thinking about what those entries mean and just how many lives will be changed forever, plans, …hopes and dreams never to be realised as once imagined – as so often the last paragraph of the Baton’s message sums it up for me…Alan

“To the men and women of our armed forces… be assured of our pride, respect and thanks, for your professionalism, humanity and dedication to the task. Even though you may be serving in the furthest corners of the globe you will always be in our thoughts and prayers… out of sight will never be out of mind”

Master Aircrew Andy Whelan returned #1 Baton to Alan Tuesday 14th from its tour of duty during the months of December 2012 to March 2013…. #1 Baton deployed with B Flight, 27 Squadron, Royal Air Force as part of The Joint Aviation Group (JAG) based at Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Andy Whelan’s earlier report…

Over that short time it would fly on more than 47 casualty extraction missions most of which would be under fire. The casualties would vary from young British troops to Afghan Security Forces to local children caught up in the war. Although 47 missions were flown many more casualties than that number were flown to the medical facilities at Bastion as in one example eight casualties were moved at once.

As B Flight packed to go back to the UK it was time for #1 Baton to get some time on the ground with the Mobile Air Operations Team (MAOT) a group of RAF and Commando MAOT who are responsible for the Helicopter Landing Sites (HLS) in the Patrol Bases (PB). Experiencing the day to day life of the young men and women in the PB such as foot patrols, vehicle patrols (fine if you are 12 inches long a little emotional when you’re 6 feet tall). Over the time with the MAOT #1 Baton visited 8 PB and the Baton message was passed to all with leaflets left for all to ponder the charities message.

As April came into view #1 was off flying again with both the Merlins of 28 Sqn RAF and the Apaches of the AAC. A busy time of daily tasking with the Merlin guys and Deliberate Ops with the Apaches.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped during the deployment of #1Baton to Helmand but especially B Flt 27 Sqn for there help and courage during their deployment…..Andy Whelan

Alastair Adams from Ottery St Mary Devon, is joining the 1st Wellington Scout Group for the 2013 Ten Tors, he took charge of the Baton from Alan in front of Honiton’s War Memorial today ready for the famous challenge on Dartmoor this weekend.

We wish Alastair and all the young people taking part the very best of luck and a safe expedition. 

After last year’s successful and significant first Baton Dinner the tradition will continue as an annual occasion.

It will be held Saturday August 3rd in the Sergeants Mess, RM Stonehouse, Plymouth where the hospitality is legendary.

The first Baton Dinner was extremely special for many reasons, the performance given by the Plymouth Military Wives Choir was emotional and outstanding, we hope to have similar entertainment this year – more to come on that subject.

If you are interested in joining many others of the Baton Family then please contact us through the web site address.. info@thebaton.co.uk or through our Facebook page, whichever way you choose we would be delighted to hear from you and to share your company.”

Wearing Baton Rugby shirts and cooking a full roast dinner as they go, Mark Hickman and his crew of six (including daughters Anna and Sarah) will be sailing his boat “Sirius” around the 50 nautical mile course around the Isle of Wight with 16,000 other sailors Saturday 1st June. This is the 82nd year that the race has been held and attracts up to 2,000 boats of all kinds and classes.

Mark and his crew will be carrying a Baton and the Baton flag that the Shackleton Epic team carried on their historic and record breaking reenactment of that famous escape from certain death, part of which was sailing 800 miles across the Southern Ocean in a 22’ Lifeboat.

Coincidence!

By coincidence Baton Trustee Seb Coulthard, who was part of the incredible Shackleton Epic team, will also be taking part in a 27 foot original Admiralty whaler owned and maintained by volunteers at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard (Boathouse No.4), the same site where the Epic’s plucky lifeboat “Alexandra Shackleton” underwent final preparations before being shipped out to Antarctica.

Seb said…. “Paul Swain from Dean & Reddyhoff Marina will be sailing with me, Dean is the first skipper of the Alexandra Shackleton, we’ll have a good a crack at the race but, if the weather proves to be against us, the skipper will not risk damaging this beautiful historic boat.

Wishing both crews the very best of luck and a fabulous day!

On the 19th April Alan, his wife and Baton Trustee Pauline were invited to attend Sea & Royal Marines Cadets Parade at 40 Commando, Norton Manor Camp.

The young cadets are a credit to themselves, the service they represent and their very proud families who also attended. The Inspecting Officer was Commander C Smith RN and Deputy Area Officer: South West Sea Cadets.

On speaking with Commander Smith after the parade about cadet matters and the Baton, Alan was very interested to learn that each individual cadet unit is a charity having to raise its own funds with little assistance from the MoD and so would encourage anyone in helping to support their local units, the benefits are there to see, young people striving to improve themselves gaining self discipline, pride and all that comes from working as a team.

The Baton has a very good relationship with various cadet units across the services, some have travelled all the way to the NMA Lichfield to give a Guard of Honour” to the Baton Team as they run in each year.

The officers and helpers who put so much time and effort into the forces cadet structures should be congratulated, supported and encouraged to keep going, the evidence of their devotion is there for all to see.

On the 24th April as part of our commitment to education, Baton Trustees Barry Gray and Seb Coulthard gave a presentation on the Shackleton Epic to the Taunton Sea & Royal Marines Cadets.

Barry, a WO2 Royal Marine Mountain Leader (seen kneeling at the front of photo) and PO Seb Coulthard RN Right front of photo, also talked about the Baton, one of which was lashed to the mast of the tiny lifeboat carrying the record breaking team that so many of us followed, more about the Epic can be seen here.

The Baton has a very good relationship with various cadet units across the services, some have travelled all the way to the NMA Lichfield to give a Guard of Honour” to the Baton Team as they run in each year.

The Baton completes the Honiton Running Club’s ‘Honiton Hippo’ multi terrain run today.

Former Royal Marine John Allen is seen with Alan being handed the Baton to carry around the tough run, John and Alan are both members of the Royal Marine’s Association Exeter.

Alan is (as many know) proud President of the Honiton Running Club and was on club duty marshalling and taking photos.

John put in an excellent time of 1:13:41 on a testing 8 mile course that is certainly challenging, but great fun, crossing the River Otter twice, with Baton firmly held in the teeth, as well as negotiating the Land Rover Experience course tracks and water obstacles.

Hoofing effort John!!

Alan