Endeavour Award

The Company awards a prize annually to each of its Military Affiliates, to encourage outstanding service above that normally expected from a member of that unit. The exact criteria for the award is agreed between the Company and the Unit Commanding Officer at the time of the presentation. The recipient is chosen by the Unit Commanding Officer and each year the prize is presented by the Master, or one of the Court.

The current recipients of these awards, are :

HMS Echo: Leading Engineering Technician (Marine Engineer) William Beale
(first awarded 2010)

Affable and conscientious, Leading Engineering Technician (Marine Engineer) William Beale has consistently provided a first class service to Command working tirelessly on improving the materiel state of the department and the Ship as a whole. An invaluable member of the Ships Company, his work ethic is second to none and he has worked for prolonged hours in order to ensure that the Hull section was always ready to meet the demands of the Ships operational programme. This has ensured that in a relatively short space of time the section has gone from one that required a significant amount of work to one that is now in one of the best materiel states on board.

Through his dedication and dogged determination he has ensured that availability to Command of some operationally critical equipment including the Reverse Osmosis and Sewage Treatment plants have improved significantly under his charge. Both of these systems are vital elements in ensuring that the ship is able to remain on task indefinitely. Although these systems are now in a significantly improved materiel state Beale continues to improve them and in doing so is increasing the reliability and therefore availability.

The Domestic Machinery Space is one of the best visible examples of the direct improvement Beale has had on the ship and is largely down to his commitment, drive and hard work. Initially this compartment was in a poor materiel state and is now widely accepted as one of the best on board by both BAE and MPH IPT; our external support organisations. This is all the more impressive when considering that the section Chief Petty Officer was gapped throughout a significant period of last year.

It is a true testament to his character that, in spite of a reoccurring back problem, he voluntarily returned back from leave over the Christmas period whilst the Ship was alongside in Devonport so that he could assist fault finding on the Sewage Treatment Plant.

Amongst his duties he has also taken on the role of Deputy Leading Hand of the Mess and his cheerful demeanour and high standards all combine to make him an excellent role model for the more junior members of the department and ship as a whole.

It is for this reason along with his unswerving support to his department that he is strongly recommended as the engineering department nomination for the Worshipful Company of Charted Surveyors award.

135 Geographical Squadron Royal Engineers (V): Sergeant N D Watkins
(first awarded 1979)

‘Sergeant Neil Watkins has given exemplary service to the Territorial Army since June 1988, when he initially joined 232 Squadron RCT(V) as a Driver. He qualified as a TA Assistant Physical Training Instructor in July 1990 and was promoted to Lance Corporal in September 1990. In December 1992, when 232 Squadron RCT (V) was disbanded, he was posted to 383 Commando Petroleum Troop and voluntarily relinquished his rank in order to join. He passed the TA All Arms Commando Course.

Sergeant Watkins was subsequently posted to 580 Ambulance RLC(V) at the same time transferring to REME. He was again promoted to Lance Corporal in March 1995 having qualified as a Vehicle Mechanic and in December of the same year he was posted to the REME Workshops within 78 (Fortress) Engineer Regiment (Volunteers).

Sergeant Watkins was voluntarily posted to 135 Independent Topographic Squadron RE(V) in May 1999, after 78 Regiment was disbanded, due to the Strategic Defence Review. He has always kept himself very physically fit and in addition to now being a Class 1 Vehicle Mechanic and a Class 3 Armourer he is a qualified Physical Training Leader and regularly conducts Squadron Physical Training. He was promoted to Sergeant in December 2006.

Over the past few years Neil's unique skills as the only Physical Training Instructor has been relied upon to ensure that the soldiers are kept fit. This is a task at which he has excelled and has put huge amounts of energy and personal time into achieving. His attitude and professionalism has come to the fore this year in his critical support to the Regional Training Centre which is responsible for training all TA recruits, this has been in addition to attending all the squadron training. This year he qualified in train the trainer, which is a civilian recognised qualification and also qualified as a winch instructor. He has also taken it upon himself to improve his worth to the Squadron in his other skill set as an armourer, in that he specifically asked to undertake additional armourer training to prepare himself for his Class 2 Armourers course. This essential skill is needed to keep the Squadrons weapons correctly maintained.

Sergeant Watkins is married and is supported by his wife Elizabeth. In his civilian employment Neil is the Swimming and Fitness manager of the Hurlingham Club.

The Endeavour Award is presented annually to the individual who has given outstanding and loyal support to the Squadron, whilst participating and contributing to a variety of activities through out the training year.

It is for his devotion and diligence to duty that Sgt Watkins receives the prestigious "Endeavour Award", which is presented annually by the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors and this year is presented by the Master, Mrs Mickola Wilson FRICS.’

The prestigious Endeavour Award was first presented by the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors to 135 Field Survey Squadron RE (V) on the 8th September 1979. On this occasion it was presented for the first time to Sgt T A Jones Army Catering Corps (A.C.C) (V), The Squadron still enjoys close ties with Trevor and his culinary delights to this day. Since the first presentation the award has been made each year to a Squadron member who has excelled in their endeavours for the greater good of the Squadron.

7010 Photographic Interpretation Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force:
Senior Aircraftsman Ed Wright
(first awarded 2004)

‘This year the Surveyors Plate is awarded to someone who excelled during his mobilisation. In the precise words of a regular Squadron Leader “the biggest compliment that I can give him, is that nobody on 904 EAW or the Sqn was aware that he was not a regular. He exemplified exactly what the VRs are about; enthusiasm, expertise and a broad level experience in excess their regular colleagues. His performance during Op MOSTARAK was outstanding, working long hours, and most notably building up an excellent rapour with the Tornado Squadron, to plan some of the longest and most complicated RAPTOR sorties ever flown..’

This year, the award was presented by our Honorary Air Commodore and Past Master Delva Patman, to Senior Aircraftsman Ed Wright.

Full list of RAF awards: