The Submarine Family were delighted to support HMS Vanguard on their States Side deployment.

Being deployed away fromyour family can be hard enough, but over the festive period can be even more challenging.

The Submarine Family were only too happy to provide funding towards the Xmas day dinner.

The following email was sent from WO1ET Neil Aitken, HMS Vanguard ships company

“

On behalf of the Ship’s Company of HMS Vanguard, I’d like to thank you very much for the funds provided to enable us to hold a Christmas Day event. 

It’s certainly unusual to have a V Class platform alongside on a foreign deployment over the Christmas period, so this was new territory for most of us. It was also many of our junior personnel’s first time away from their loved ones during the holidays.  We opted to have a Christmas Day BBQ in Cocoa Beach and there was a fantastic turnout, including partners and children who flew out to join us. A fantastic day was had by all, and even the heavy rain didn’t deter folk. Once again, this type of gathering is only possible with the support we have had from yourselves, and we felt your presence on the day.

We would also like to thank you for the Christmas day gift bags which were well received by our special people back home who so kindly wait for us to return. I’m sure the serving or ex serving folk around your organisation can relate, but these amazing gifts never used to be considered, or it relied on the good will of one or two individuals. Your hard work and selfless commitment to the cause has a real impact on our submariners and their families and you truly do provide a much needed  morale boost.

From the crew of HMS Vanguard, we thank you for your service and are extremely grateful for your supportua