815 NAS support Yeovil Women’s Hospital

Members of 815 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) supported The Flying Colours Appeal for Yeovil Women’s Hospital by donating £5.00 each to go unshaven during the month of November. Royal Naval personnel are not allowed to grow a moustache but must support a full beard and only after permission has been obtained from their Commanding Officer.

Today saw 3 judges arrive from Yeovil Hospital to judge the best, the worst and the most colourful beard on the Squadron and receive a cheque for £400 towards their appeal.

Sarah Cherry the Community Fund Raiser said;

“We are really very grateful for all the support from 815 and the challenge they have undertaken. Without the support of the community we would not have raised nearly £350,000. Our target is £500,000 to build a brand new special care baby unit so we are extremely appreciative of the Naval Air Squadrons contribution to that today and the humour with which they have approached it”!

Rachel Young who works on the special baby unit added;

“The money we raise offers parents who need the special baby unit better facilities and increased support at what can be difficult and challenging times. Families need privacy and dignity during these times”.

Very premature babies and babies born with serious health problems need immediate support in a specially designed environment. Yeovil’s Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) in the Women’s Hospital provides this immediate support, but it is not currently big enough to support around 200 babies every year  placed in it. Many will stay for several weeks until they are well enough to be looked after by their parents. It can be babies who are premature, babies who are not well. Flying Colors hopes that a new SCBU will provide a solution to one of the most unfortunate aspects of having a baby in Special Care, the fact that mother and baby are not able to stay together during this anxious time. Having some comfortable space and support for visits is absolutely essential.

Chief Petty Officer (CPO) won best beard, and Leading Aircraft Engineering Technician (LAET) most ‘colourful’ for his ‘auburn ‘entry. AET Dan Roycroft won ‘worst for his rather sparse effort! Dan said;

“I am quiet embarrassed at my lack of growth but its worth the mickey take from the lads to support such a good cause”.