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Leathersellers’ Review 2024–2025
Leathersellers’ Close
Leadership Awards
Lynne Smith Grants Manager
The Leathersellers’ Award for Outstanding Leadership
October 2024 saw the Leathersellers’ annual outing, with the almshouse residents joining the Master and Trustees on a visit to Windsor Castle. The day concluded with a convivial lunch at a local restaurant, followed by a relaxed coach journey home. The annual Macmillan Coffee Morning was once again thoughtfully organised by resident Alan Malin. The funds raised were match-funded by the Company. We extend our sincere thanks to all residents for their continued generosity and enthusiastic support. December 2024 brought the much-loved Christmas Carol Service, held in the charming and newly restored 1920s chapel at the Close. Children from Christchurch Primary School lent their voices to traditional carols, creating a heartwarming and festive atmosphere. While the year was filled with joyful moments, it also brought sadness with the loss of two cherished members of our community. Raymond Austin passed away in August 2024 and Peter Lydon in July 2025, both following a rapid progression of illness. They are much missed at the Close. We remain grateful to Harrison Housing for their ongoing support of our residents. Special thanks go to Samantha Wood, whose practical and emotional assistance has been invaluable. Her efforts in organising social activities, including a VE Day celebration with traditional British fare, wartime songs, and a shared two-minute silence, have greatly enriched community life. Harrison Housing also continues to manage the estate’s maintenance and repairs, helping to preserve the tranquillity and beauty of the gardens that have been integral to the almshouses since 1837.
The Leathersellers have three key military affiliations across the Armed Forces: 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, British Army; HMS Audacious , Royal Navy; and 230 Squadron, RAF. Each year the Company seeks to support these through the Leathersellers’ Award for Outstanding Leadership, which recognises excellent examples of young leadership.
230 Squadron RAF Citation report by Squadron Leader Luke Foreman Lance Corporal Woolley Lance Corporal Woolley serves with 230 Squadron as a Winch Medic alongside his primary role in the Medical Centre in Brunei. On 15th June 2024 the Squadron was providing Medical Evacuation support to a Royal Gurkha Rifles jungle exercise. This exercise was much larger than previous iterations with over 600 personnel deployed in the high-risk environment, with an associated increase in the likelihood of injuries. Woolley fulfilled his role commendably, making a potentially life-saving contribution. The Royal Gurkha Rifles deployed to a rarely-used part of the Bruneian jungle and undertook an insertion march, facing undulating terrain and swampland that hadn’t been fully anticipated. Their activity was far more arduous than expected. By the evening, the exercising troops were far beyond the limits for ground extraction of any medical casualties and were only accessible via aviation support. Late in the day the Squadron received a request to rescue a heat-stress casualty. Airborne in good time, the crew arrived on scene although thunderstorms were developing and light-levels were reducing rapidly. The casualty had been transported to a prepared winch-hole and required extraction by stretcher. Lance Corporal Woolley swiftly recovered the casualty to the aircraft for onwards transport to hospital. Having successfully completed the extraction, on return the crew received notification of a second heat-stress casualty; a rare second activation in quick succession. With prevailing poor weather conditions now across Brunei and under the cover of darkness, the crew swiftly planned for the most expeditious recovery. Arriving on scene, Woolley was faced with a significantly more complicated scene than anticipated.
Having been deployed from the aircraft, he assessed that the casualty had deteriorated and that the accompanying troops were inexperienced in aviation evacuation procedures. Immediately taking control on the ground, Woolley rapidly ensured the safety of the troops under a hovering aircraft. He communicated promptly to the crew via wireless intercom to dispatch a stretcher for the unconscious casualty, whilst arranging for the casualty’s equipment to be correctly prepared for extraction to prevent further burden to the troops. Woolley ensured that the Aircraft Captain was fully informed of the activity with prevailing conditions deteriorating to minimum operating limits. In some of the worst weather conditions experienced, this action was the Squadron’s first stretcher winch extraction by night. Once aboard the aircraft, Woolley decisively administered medical care during transit including inserting an intravenous drip. The patient was admitted to hospital, transferred in just 75 minutes from notification, undoubtedly preventing the casualty from suffering long-term health effects and arguably saving their life. Given Woolley’s relative inexperience in role, and his work in the most difficult and fatiguing conditions, his ability to recall his training and display wider consideration for the troops and aircraft was remarkable. Despite being the most junior member of the crew, his assurance in demanding circumstances calmed the crew, casualty and troops, helping to ensure that the life-saving action was safe and successful. Lance Corporal Woolley is highly deserving of special recognition.
Above: Lance Corporal Woolley, Winch Medic with 230 Squadron
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