Festival’s not all about air, you sea (From Bournemouth Echo)

Festival’s not all about air, you sea

3:00pm Wednesday 30th June 2010 in

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WHEN the hundreds of thousands of visitors descend on Bournemouth for this year’s Air Festival, chances are they will be too busy having fun to appreciate what goes on behind the scenes.

But they will be in the presence of the biggest Royal Navy contingent at any event in the UK this year.

As well as having the RFA Larg’s Bay moored off the seafront, there will be plenty going on ashore.

Commander Tom Herman, deputy naval regional commander for Wales and the West of England, said: “We see it as an opportunity to allow the people who own the Royal Navy to find out more about what it does.

“In years gone by – and to a lesser degree today – we ran Navy days, but we can’t move the dockyard ports where they take place.

“We’ve found moving the events to places where people are allows us to show the Navy off and they can meet the servicemen and women and find out why we need the Navy.

“Very few people know anything about maritime trade and maritime security and what the Navy does.

“We get a double hit out of this, because while people are finding out about us we’re also training.”

This year around 100 Royal Marine Reservists will be training during the festival on helicopters and boats, with support from around 40 members of the Royal Naval Reserve.

Cmdr Herman added: “It’s excellent training because we have lots of assets in a busy and interesting environment.”

The Navy’s theme this year will be youth and 2010 marks 150 years since the cadet movement began.

To celebrate the occasion, youngsters will get a starring role in this year’s event, which runs from August 19 to 22.

Cmdr Herman said the amphibious assault on the beach by the commando display team will be “much bigger than last year” as a school party of cadets from Bournemouth schools is “rescued” from a terrorist attack.

Other naval attractions this year include information trailers, stalls, bands and the chance to visit mine-hunting vessel HMS Bangor.

Cmdr Herman said Navy personnel – mostly different this year to last – were in for a surprise.

“A lot of them have not got a clue about the fun and the atmosphere.

“The word has got out, it’s a great event with a party atmosphere and it’s unique,” he added.