Sellafield ex-military staff back in uniform
Former military and reservist employees at Sellafield Ltd put their uniform back on to mark Reserves Day.
Armed Forces Day Drum Head Ceremony
A drum head service was held at the Sellafield site to allow all employees who have served, or still volunteer for the armed forces, to come together to mark Armed Forces Day, on 8 September.
Employees from across the business gathered for a minutes silence to reflect and remember all the fallen, active and present comrades in combat.
Carl Lewthwaite, Sellafield Ltd Disability, Equality and Welfare Adviser and army veteran, organised the event along with Stuart Gorman, engineer and Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Carl said:
We wanted to mark Armed Forces Day by giving thanks to our staff who support the military, particularly as reservists, and their managers and colleagues who work together to ensure they are able to be released for these activities.
It was empowering for me as an ex-soldier to see all the employees in uniform. To bring such an event onto to the Sellafield site was quite humbling.
At Sellafield Ltd we are proud of the relationship we have with the military – we have a large number of employees who are reservists, ex-military personnel and, as a company, we are signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant, a promise that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly.
A drum head service is steeped in military tradition where a set of drums are laid up as an altar and servicemen and women would congregate around for a short religious service. A drum for the occasion was loaned from local Royal British Legion officers.
Stuart added:
The work I do with the RAF Volunteer Reserve brings benefit to the work I do for the company because it enhances my skills and abilities, but it wouldn’t be possible for me to undertake that work without the support the company provides, so it is a two-way street.