Bahrain MCM Dinner
17 May 2025 - I am grateful to MCDOA member Steve White for this update from the Gulf:
“Good evening Rob,
I hope this email finds you well and that you have time to read it in between all your adventures which I see posted on FB. I’m always amazed at all the great events you continue to be involved in. A huge thanks to you, Kev Giles, and all at the MCDOA for the kind donation of £200 towards a Bahrain MCM Dinner which all thoroughly enjoyed.
The visit by the SURFLOT MCM Team (Capt PUXD, Cdr MTXG, and Cdr MCM 2) provided a great opportunity to get many members of the in-theatre MCM community together, from HQ staff both UK and US, battle staff, MCMVs, MTXG, and a special guest appearance by DA Kuwait.
In total, 17 members of the MCM community, including eight MCDOs and three MWOs, were able to get together at the iconic Copper Chimney restaurant. This favourite of Bahraini locals was established back in 1979 so is just as old as many of our remaining HUNT Class MCMVs! And the combined deployed experience of these MCM diners amounts to well over 20-years on operations in the region!
Clockwise from bottom left:
Lt Beth Ward RNZN (MWO about to undertake RN MCDO Course)
Cdr Rich Hurman RN (CDR MCM 2)
Lt Cdr Chris Miles RN (MCDO - OPS COMUKMCMFOR)
Cdr Daf Bryden RN (COMUKMCMFOR)
Lt Cdr Will Durbin RN (CO HMS BANGOR)
Capt Ash Spencer RN (MCDO - DUKMCC)
Lt Cdr Jon Skinner RN (MWO - N3/5 TF 52)
Lt Cdr Nick Court RN (MWO - CO MTXG X-Ray Sqn Unit 1)
Lt David Floyd RN (TF 59.1 XO)
Cdr Dan Herridge RN (MCDO - CO MTXG)
Lt Craig Wadley RN (MCDO – OiC MXTG X-Ray Sqn Unit 1)
Capt Neil Marriott RN (MCDO - Defence Attaché Kuwait)
Capt Si Pressdee RN (MCDO - Capt PUXD)
Lt Cdr Kyle O’Regan RN (CO HMS MIDDLETON)
Lt Cdr Si Reeves RN (MCDO - COS COMUKMCMFOR)
Capt Si Rogers RN (DCOM TF 59)
Capt Steve White RN (MCDO - DCOM TF 52)
Yours aye,
Steve
Captain Steven White Royal Navy
Captain MCM GRU 5 / TG 55.2
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Bahrain”