In 2010 Dream-A-Way was honoured and delighted to be chosen by HMS Defender as one of the ship’s charities. Members of Dream-A-Way were invited to attend the Affiliation day of HMS Defender and to meet the Captain, Commander Philip Nash, and the ships company. Jeff Merrett MBE, Gill Freeman, Tina Kingdom and Bob Beer travelled to Portsmouth on a sunny August day in 2012 and were made very welcome by the ship’s company. We were given a tour of the fantastic ship and her facilities and treated to a meal with some of the ships company.
HMS DEFENDER
HMS DEFENDER
HMS Defender is the 5th of the Royal Navy’s six state-of-the-art type 45 Destroyers and was launched in 2009 and commissioned in 2013 when Dream-A-Way was again invited to the ceremony.
We are delighted that the ships company of HMS Defender have chosen to support us and they have been helping by raising money, attending some of our events and offering money can’t buy auction lots for our annual charity Balls.
For more information about HMS Defender and see their latest newsletter then please click here
Timeline of HMS Defender Involvement with Dream-A-Way
2/6/14 HMS Defender leaves Portsmouth for her first 6 month deployment
15/3/14 Freedom Of The City parade by HMS Defender through Exeter City Centre and reception at the Guildhall. Mike, Julia attended
Here is a report of that day from Julia Hall
2/3/14 Dream-A-Way Visit to HMS Defender alongside at Plymouth Devonport. Lez, Devon, Martin, Ruth, Tim and Julia attend
Here is a report from One of our Trustees Tim
21/3/13 Commissioning of HMS Defender at Portsmouth Jeff, Bob, Gill, Tina attended
3/9/12 Dream-A-Way appoint Petty Officer Simon Williams as a Vice President following discussions with Captain Phil Nash
9/8/12 Affiliates Day alongside at Portsmouth Jeff, Bob, Gill, Tina attended
23/6/12 Ship’s Company attend the Dream-A-Way Roaring Twenties Ball at Sandy Park
1/2/12 Further Exeter Launch of our affiliation with a function at the Guildhall hosted by Exeter City Council (Jeff, Gill attended)
25/6/11 Dream-A-Way “Launch” their affiliation to HMS Defender with our Luxury Cruise Ball at Sandy Park …many of the officers and ship’s company attended
10/9/10 Dream-A-Way launch their affiliation to HMS Defender with a launch lunch at the Exeter Golf and Country Club. Attended By Dep Lord LT , SNO + Darren Minty; Lord Mayor and Dream-A-Way Vice Presidents, trustees and comittee
15/7/10 Initial meeting with Lt. Darren Minty at the Isca Centre with Jeff and Gill and Cllr John Winterbottom (now a Dream-A-Way Vice President, was Lord Mayor) Told that we had been chosen as the charity affiliated to HMS Defender
FUNDRAISING EVENTS
2/6/14 Ship’s deployment raffle … to be undertaken on board Ship throughout the ship’s deployment
26/11/13 Ship’s Company take part in the Three Peak’s Challenge and raise £2,471.08 for Dream-A-Way
16 to 23/6/12 Glasgow to Exeter Team Cycle ride ending in Princesshay Square as part of the 2012 Armed Forces Day (also the day of our Dream-A-Way Roaring Twenties Ball)
20/3/11 Darren Minty and wife run in the Reading Half Marathon and raise £435 for Dream-A-Way
