The event began with an address from Major General Duncan G Forbes, the Royal Navy’s Director of Strategy and Policy, and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff. He gave a shout out to his old captain and mentor Brigadier Jock Fraser, who retires this summer, before fittingly highlighting his lecture’s theme of legacy.
The Major General discussed the broad strategic context of the Navy’s current work, while promising to use the occasion to tell stories, kindle relationships and rest.
He then proceeded to look forward, highlighting the importance of young service people and the confidence he has in them, but acknowledging that old systems need to be bolder, more creative, and able to take more risks.
He added that in changing the approach, the key driving force of being in service to the nation must remain, as this is what the Navy is intrinsically built on.
Touching on the Navy in Wales, he stated that they recruit twice as many marines and sailors from Wales than the wider population, and that those recruits serve for longer than average. He noted that they almost always return to Wales after service, with the skills to support business growth.
He also mentioned HMS Cardiff, which will be fully operational later this decade, and the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD)’s investment in Cardiff and Wales.
Lt Colonel (Retired) Craig Hampton-Stone, Director at Cardiff Bus, gave the vote of thanks, before he signed the Armed Forces Covenant with Major General Duncan G Forbes, and Phil Jardine, Chair of Cardiff Business Club.
The Covenant is a voluntary pledge made by businesses, designed to allow organisations to express their support to the armed forces community. All covenants have to be approved and registered with the MOD Armed Forces Covenant Team.
Phil Jardine said:
We’re so pleased to have signed the covenant, especially alongside such a decorated guest as Major General Duncan G Forbes. Formalising our recognition and appreciation for the armed forces was an easy decision, and we’re pleased to have taken the step alongside Cardiff Bus.
