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00:00This is a production of the U.S. Department of Education.
00:30The
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00:56Alright guys, we're ready, 2k!
01:26Very smooth so far, we're currently on time, getting bums in seats, everyone's enjoying
01:35the cakes, donations are coming through, music's playing, great weather for it, so it's been
01:40a good atmosphere so far.
01:41I was going to say, doing this in 25 degree weather is a bit nicer than doing it in the
01:45rain.
01:46Yeah, it's ideal, it's ideal for it.
01:48So what made you decide to set all this up?
01:51Yeah, so Victory Squadron is heavily involved in the Dunkirk, they do something called Little
01:57Ships, so the idea of the rowing event is to recreate the journey, what the brave soldiers
02:03and sailors took.
02:04So the total distance was 266km, so the idea of today's event was to row 266km.
02:11We broke this up by asking for 133 willing volunteers to row 2km each.
02:18The first row started at 8 o'clock and the last row should be about 10 to 4, if we're
02:23all on time.
02:24So the idea is just to support the RNA.
02:27We've worked with the RNA on numerous occasions, Victory Squadron host.
02:32Evening events such as quizzes, just to help the trainees get out of their block, improve
02:37their social skills before they go on board.
02:40So it's just another opportunity to support the RNA.
02:43I was going to say, how much support has the charity given you guys and what do you think
02:47of the fantastic work they do?
02:49Very good for serving personnel but also people that have also retired.
02:53They're just always there for support.
02:55We have a very good relationship with them.
02:57We talked to them about the idea and now we're on board from day one.
03:01Provide banners, brought in cakes, card machines, just little things like that, they're all over.
03:07And I assume given the circumstances behind the event, you weren't short of volunteers
03:12to do it?
03:13No, not at all.
03:14So I plan, my future plan is to go with PTI.
03:17So my boss at the minute, Lieutenant Derbyshire, used to be a warrant PTI.
03:21So he said this would be a good opportunity to get some face time and what the job will
03:25entail if I am successful on my PT course.
03:29And obviously with this, you've got the links with VE Day, the 80th anniversary coming up
03:34and also the Battle of Dunkirk as well.
03:36Do you think those things, is that some of the reason why some of the guys over there
03:41and yourself have decided to serve to follow in the footsteps of those who served before you?
03:44Yeah, definitely.
03:45That is a big moment in history.
03:48Wherever you go is brought up.
03:50Yeah, they're the reason we're here today.
03:54Yeah, so anything we can do to give back and educate anyone around the block what happened
03:59on that memorable day.
04:02And also with the 80th anniversary coming up, there's going to be lots of events commemorating
04:06their service.
04:07What do you think of City of Portsmouth and other cities across the UK coming together
04:11to remember how they served?
04:13Yeah, it's very important.
04:14I'm originally from Plymouth, so it's very big.
04:18Yeah.
04:19And finally, how do you think the guys will do with the endurance bit of the road?
04:24Do you think they'll be all prepared to set up?
04:25So we've started off really strong.
04:27We've had some really good times.
04:29The idea is two stones, one bird here.
04:34So there's a fleet event called Road to Sewers.
04:38So we're going to add up our 81 fastest times and we're going to try and enter that competition.
04:42to see how we compete against our fleet.
04:45Do you think they'll be able to hit all their times?
04:48Yeah, I believe so.
04:49Yeah, it should be all right.
05:12After doing more, go ahead and go ahead and say,
05:13homepage group of the audience.
05:14Thank you, everybody.
05:16While they don't give up on camera,iren the Foldquiera, it should be sitting on
05:1710th percent.
05:18There's looking at mascara for managing craft.
05:19And after dealing with the
05:30operations, they start moving all the day andaciones.
05:32Everybody Once didela, people were part of river,
05:34these say celebrate, they Why are you so low?
05:36They're in a lot of.
05:37They started moving on camera,
05:37and they were not every day as well.
06:09There you go, there you go.
06:39How did you manage it?
06:54Surprisingly better than I thought actually.
06:56So I did it in 8.57 so I was quite pleased with that because I didn't think I was going
07:01to get past the 10 minute mark to be honest so yeah I'm quite happy, quite proud of myself
07:06on that one.
07:07Is it very much an endurance test given the weather?
07:11Funny enough it wasn't the heat that was getting me, it was more the endurance just to keep
07:15going.
07:16I wasn't expecting 2k to feel so long, it felt longer than that.
07:21Do you think it helped to have all the guys around you?
07:23Oh definitely yeah, I think the atmosphere is really really electrifying here at the moment
07:27you know, so much positive energy around so yeah and all the support and everyone cheering
07:31you on and people coming over to sort of give you tips and check on you and yeah it's been
07:37really good atmosphere.
07:38That's definitely kept me going.
07:39And why do you think yourself and all the other guys have signed up to it?
07:42It's because it's for charity, it's fizz and let's be honest so many people in the military
07:48love a bit of fizz but also I think it's just taking part and having a good time, raising
07:53money and just getting out there and bonding with people and just enjoying a bit of fun in
07:59the sun I guess.
08:00Do you think those positive causes, do you think that definitely helps morale around
08:04the naval base?
08:05Absolutely yeah, things like this definitely help yeah, you know especially when we're
08:09so stuck in a routine doing near enough sort of the same things all the time, obviously
08:15with discipline and stuff like that so this is a little bit of a chance to let your hair
08:20down, a bit of fun.
08:21Not just with the ABs but with all the ranks, there's lots of officers and senior ranks here
08:26as well.
08:27Again all of them, everyone just having a good time with everyone, you know just chatting
08:29and having a laugh.
08:30And finally obviously all the guys, all the collective kilometres, it's the same length
08:35as the previous soldiers who sailed to the Battle of Dunkirk, do you think the actions of
08:41those who came before you, is that why yourself and so many other people decided to serve in
08:44the Royal Navy?
08:45Yeah I mean they had it much harder than what we've got and yeah their endurance and their
08:51bravery and all the stories that surround every single one of them is inspiring and that's
08:58certainly inspired me to join up and I know that's inspired a lot of people here to join
09:04up as well and take part.
09:15One, two, three, four, four, five, six.
09:29Can we live?
09:30We don't know if you're thousand either.
09:33Andy.
09:34I'm not the same one now.
09:36We've been working on this for a good few weeks now to get this into place across the
09:54base.
09:55So fantastic support from HMS Connorwood, particularly led by the Victory Squadron.
09:59It started at 8 o'clock this morning, so there was a good batch of people there ready to
10:04do those things.
10:05There were a couple of lads that I've just seen there that rode over their metres because
10:09they just forgot what the time was and things like that.
10:12And then for me, I'm going to do my bit, it would probably take me about an hour to get
10:16that task done as well.
10:17I was going to say, how do you think your session will go when you get line up through?
10:21I think I'm the only person that's going to have a lifesaver and a defib in the same place
10:25and an hour to do it, whereas everybody else is doing it at 8 to 10 minutes.
10:29And finally, does it mean a lot to you that all these guys are coming together to raise
10:33money for the cause of the Royal Navy Association?
10:35Absolutely.
10:36So the give back from HMS Victory Squadron has been phenomenal.
10:42So it's the younger sailors, as we said, going to interact and help raise money for the older
10:47sailors or the naval family.
10:49So it's vital that we can keep that link together.
10:51How do you think it went?
10:52Was it a tough one, this weather?
10:53To be fair, it's other than I thought it would be.
10:55I've got about halfway started guessing out a bit, but that's it.
10:58Do you think the rest of the guys in the crowd pushed you on to complete it properly?
11:01Definitely.
11:02They're smashing it, to be fair.
11:03You've got all different shapes and sizes of people doing it.
11:06All going well, to be fair.
11:07Do you think they'll all be able to hit their targets and times and stuff?
11:10Because there's obviously over a hundred people all set up.
11:12They'll all smash it.
11:13It's all right.
11:14When you're in the sun, everyone's egging you on.
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