Angus MP Dave Doogan visited RM Condor in Arbroath on Wednesday [21st July] and received a comprehensive tour of the base to see the extensive facilities and environment which makes Condor such an important Royal Marine posting.
Mr Doogan met with Second in Command Major Chris Armstrong together with Lieutenant Colonel Innes Catton before his redeployment to MoD Main Building in London the next day.
Lieutenant Colonel Catton’s successor, Lieutenant Colonel Ed Hall, led the tour of the base and set out the types of operations, including training in Norway and Covid relief in the Caribbean, that that Royal Marines from RM Condor have been engaged in recently. The tour included visiting indoor training suites which have been constructed in partnership with Dundee and Angus College and which remain under construction so continue to provide training opportunities for local students.
Commenting after the visit, Dave Doogan said:
“Due to Covid-19 striking barely two months after the election in December ’19 it has taken all this time to finally be able to visit with 45 Commando Royal Marines at RM Condor so this visit was a long time in the planning.
It was a pleasure to with both Lieutenant Colonel Catton, who I have had several phone calls with over the period of Covid, just before he departs Arbroath and simultaneously to meet Lieutenant Colonel Ed Hall as he assumes his command.
“The 45 Commando Woodland Garden was really beautifully landscaped and maintained and provides an poignant opportunity for reflection and pays tribute to 45 Commando’s fallen. Gardener Gavin Broomhall gave a very insightful explanation of the garden’s design and its relevance to 45 Commando’s history. It was a further privileged to have the opportunity to tour the glasshouse and be the first signatory in their new guestbook.”
Doogan [pictured] toured the thoughtfully created gardens for the current serving soldiers, as well as the families who have lost a serving member of their family. The impressive gardens boast space for soldiers to enjoy as well as areas for them to reflect.
More information about 45 Commando’s Arctic posting is available here:
