4Greens - About the only 'public performer' the RN has left is the two-ship 'Black Cats' helicopter display team but even its appearances seem pretty few and far between.
The RN Display Team which used to perform the mast-manning, window ladder, cutlass swinging, hornpipe, etc., was disbanded in 1995 owing to manpower cuts. Similarly, the last proper Portsmouth v Plymouth v Fleet Air Arm Field Gun competition at the Royal Tournament was discontinued after 1999 when it was decided that lean-manned ships, establishments and naval air squadrons could no longer spare sufficient personnel for the intense training required during 'the season'.
Although Wellington College has obligingly stepped into the breach by performed a mini-field gun run at the British Military Tournament for the past two years, it's not quite the same. Their gun and limber only weighs 700 lbs vice 2,000 lbs for the proper version but then again, the average age of their team members is only 16.
Unlike last year's show which only benefitted the Army Benevolent Fund, this year's show raised funds for charities of all three services. Most stands in the exhibition hall were manned by the Army or RAF but the RN did field some off-duty Clearance Divers with their kit.
Last edited by FODPlod; 5th Dec 2011 at 22:03.