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HMS Collingwood field gunners support local infant school
11 October 2017
HMS Collingwood Field Gun Crew supported the children of Crofton Hammond Infant School and helped them to celebrate Red White and Blue Day 2017.
Amongst other activities from the RAF and Army, the children took part in being part of a ‘Field Gun Crew’ and pulling a Field Gun limber around the playground as well as learning a short history of the Annual Field Gun Competition.
The school has approximately 180 pupils of which almost a third have links to military families.
The day culminated in a Parade around the school grounds led by HMS Collingwood Field Gun Officer Lieutenant John Davies Royal Navy and a traditional ‘Drummer’.
With such large numbers of children from service families we believe it's really important that as a community we recognise the role that the services play.
The march was extremely well attended by teachers and parents of both the Infant and Junior Schools and marked the end of a successful Red, White & Blue Day that raised money for the 3 Armed Forces charities. RNRMC, ABF The Soldier’s Charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Headteacher Mrs Jacky Halton said "We are so grateful to all of the members of the different services who came and supported our celebration of Red, White and Blue day.
“With such large numbers of children from service families we believe it's really important that as a community we recognise the role that the services play.
“By giving the children first hand experiences, such as pulling a real field gun, or trying on naval diving gear, we are showing them the exciting opportunities there are in the services and also helping them to understand the jobs that their parents do."
John said “It’s a huge privilege to be part of Red, White and Blue Day this year.
“As the Field Gun Officer for HMS Collingwood, today has been a fantastic opportunity to use the equipment and Crew to reinforce our close ties with the school and local community.
“To see the excitement on the faces of the children as they dragged the Field Gun around the playground was a real pleasure to watch. I’ve already identified some future crew members!”