Medal Recognition For DSG Workers

13/11/2009

On his recent visit (Thursday 12 November) to a Defence Support Group (DSG) site, the MOD's top civil servant, Sir Bill Jeffrey presented five workers from DSG's Bovington and Donnington sites with campaign medals for their work supporting operations in Afghanistan. This presentation took place during Sir Bill's visit to DSG's Donnington site where he saw at first hand the work DSG is doing to support current operations overseas.

Those receiving their medals volunteered for deployment to the front line to work on the critical equipment needed by their colleagues in the Armed Forces currently engaged in combat operations in Afghanistan. For many of these medal recipients this was not their first visit to the front line where they are involved in upgrading and modifying armoured vehicles.

Despite the testing conditions in which they live and work, all are enthusiastic about their time spent alongside their uniformed colleagues and all of them feel proud to have played a pivotal role in helping better equip our Armed Forces. Speaking yesterday, following his presentation of the medals, Sir Bill praised the men for their contributions and said; "The work you have done, and continue to do, is absolutely essential in supporting your colleagues in the Armed Forces and is literally saving lives on the front line. You should be immensely proud of your invaluable contributions. The medals you are receiving today are a token of gratitude, not only from those for whom this equipment is vital on battlefield operations, but also from me, the Chief of the Defence Staff and everyone in MOD who recognise the invaluable work you are doing. This is yet another superb example of the crucial role civilians play in supporting current operations."

Adding his own words of congratulations, DSG's Chief Executive, Archie Hughes had this to say; "Being recognised for all your efforts and hard work in this way underlines your value to DSG and MOD. The esteem in which you are all held by everyone in DSG for volunteering to work in what can be dangerous and life-threatening situations cannot be measured. You are all a credit to DSG and you have our grateful thanks for everything you have done and continue to do in supporting the UK's Armed Forces."

The five workers receiving their medals were Jim Rowe, 27 from Telford; Jim Elgar, 42 from Wareham; Swanage's James Chadwick, 26; Mike Russell from Weymouth and Tony Pavey, 45 from Portland.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

1. Attached picture shows Sir Bill Jeffrey and Archie Hughes with the five medallists.

2. DSG launched on 1 April 2008 and brought together the ABRO and DARA businesses into a single new defence Trading Fund. DSG's primary focus is in providing expert in-house maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade services for the through life support of the key land and air based platforms and equipment of the UK Armed Forces.

3. It draws together many unique capabilities that have been developed over several decades for the direct benefit of troops and their equipment at both home and abroad. DSG turnover is in excess of 200m, with a workforce of around 3800 strategically located throughout the UK.

4. DSG's Head Office is at Andover and provides strategic direction to the main sites in Bovington, Catterick, Colchester, Donnington, Sealand, St Athan, Stafford, Stirling, Telford and Warminster. Smaller support sites located in Aldershot, Bicester, Kinnegar and Sennybridge further enhances DSG's geographic coverage. Small support teams are also permanently embedded in other UK military sites.

5. For further information about DSG, contact Allan Robertson.
Office hours: 01446 755202 or out of hours: 07710 789853

Visit: www.dsg.mod.uk

Ref: 05/09