Over the past month British Forces Gibraltar says it has seen several senior visitors to Gibraltar.  

A statement from the MOD follows below:

Minister for the Armed Forces, Mr James Heappey MP, was the first visitor to arrive. A very  brief visit which mainly involved meetings with Commodore Steve Dainton, Commander  British Forces Gibraltar, Vice Admiral Sir David Steel KBE DL, His Excellency the Governor  of Gibraltar and the Honourable Fabian Picardo QC MP, Chief Minister Her Majesty’s  Government of Gibraltar. 

Quick on his heels came General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB CBE DSO ADC, Commander UK  Strategic Command, and Mrs Alison Stevenson, Director Overseas Bases. They were followed by Lieutenant General Robert Magowan CB CBE, Deputy Commander UK  Strategic Command. Both visits included tours of a number of MOD sites, meetings with  civilian and Service personnel as well as calls on key figures in the wider Gibraltar  community. 

During Lt Gen Magowan’s visit, he presented a 4* Commendation to Mr Mark Ainsworth. Mark was nominated for the award in recognition of his various roles in Gibraltar, including  his voluntary work with the Royal Gibraltar Cadet Force. His citation read: 

“Mark started his long association with the British Army as an Assistant Storeman  with the Prince of Wales Own Regiment in Fallingbostal. In 1983, he secured a job  with the Ministry of Defence in Gibraltar, gaining a permanent post as Armaments  Storekeeper in 1988. He promoted to Storage Manager in 2010.  

Mark joined the Royal Gibraltar Regiment (RG) Volunteer Reserves in 1985 and  served with distinction until transferring to the RG Cadet Force as an instructor, often  using his annual leave to accompany cadets on camps in the UK. He was awarded  the Efficiency Medal in 1997, the clasp in 2002 and the Volunteer Reserve Service  Medal in 2007.  

Mark is passionate about The Rock and has dedicated much of his life to the  Gibraltar Regiment and continues to do so with the Cadets. A member of the  Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society, Mark is credited with discovering  many historically important locations in Gibraltar during his explorations. His  discoveries include continuations of known caves, new lakes and the ‘Operation  Tracer’ Cave. During a 10-year research period he wrote several publications as co author in partnership with Royal Holloway University. Mark is also the founder  member of the Fortress of Gibraltar Group which was formed in 2015. 

Having devoted his life to the MoD and Gibraltar, training countless cadets who have  served successful service careers and sharing information he has collected with the  general public and societies he supports; he is truly worthy of recognition.” 

Talking to a small gathering of Mark’s friends and colleagues, Lt Gen Magowan talked about  people’s success and touched on the importance of inclusivity and empowerment. He said:  

“if people feel part of the team, if they are recognised in that team, they will feel valued and  stay. If not, they will leave. Whether we are at the top of the organisation or are doing  critical work elsewhere across Defence, we all have a responsibility to look after those within  our teams. I hope that Mark, and people like him, feel empowered, that we recognise his  talent and the work he has put in, to give him the freedom to get on and do what he does  best - getting on with the job.”  

Subsequent to this, Lt Gen Magowan visited serval British Forces Gibraltar sites, including 4  Corners, the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron, the Royal Gibraltar Regiment and had an office  call with HE the Governor.  

Speaking about current and future plans, he said he was pleased to see so much investment  and interest from the MOD and UKStratCom. There has been: the recently deployed P2000  craft for the RNGS; the procurement of two Fast Patrol Vessels as replacements; and the  development at 4 Corners. This, along with other investment across the Rock including the  refurbishment of the Tower on the Naval Base, now well underway, has all been done in  close co-operation with HMGOG. Indeed, during his visit, the Northern Dispersal at RAF  Gibraltar was opened by HE the Governor; a further indication of Gibraltar’s utility. 

After Lt Gen Magowan departed, with a final visit to the RG, CBF commented that these  visits are extremely important as they provide him with the opportunity to highlight the  tremendous amount of work being undertaken across the British Forces community. It also  allows him to engage personally with senior personnel on the future of the military footprint in  Gibraltar and how we can better support Defence through further investment and innovation.