OUR PATRONS

The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP

Penny Mordaunt MP is the Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North and Minister for International Trade.

Penny has long established links with the Royal Navy and is a champion for mental fitness and resilience in the Armed Forces. Penny has served as a member of the Royal Naval Reserve and is currently an Honorary Captain in the Royal Navy Reserve - this gives her direct personal experience of the challenges faced by the Armed Forces, and the importance of mental wellness and resilience.

Penny is also an advocate for marine conversation, another area close to HMS Oardacious’ hearts. Penny's work as Secretary of State has included helping to setup huge blue marine conservation zones in our overseas territories, create a Maritime Hub on the South Coast of England, and set up the Solent Forum to tackle and end the storm overflow discharges by water companies.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston CBE RD

Sir Robin is a bona fide legend on the water.

He was the first person to sail single handed and non-stop around the world between 14 June 1968 and 22 April 1969, but his connection with the sea started when he joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve whilst at school as a Boy Seaman.

You can find out about Sir Robin’s history with ocean sailing, along with his days in the Merchant and Royal Navy at his personal website: www.robinknox-johnston.co.uk/

Honorary Captain Pete Reed OBE

With three gold medals in rowing at three consecutive Olympic Games, Pete secured his first of five World Championship titles less than four years after starting the sport. In his 17-year rowing career, he also secured two Oxford Blues and is one of only 14 Team GB Olympians to stay at the top of his sport for so long. A serving Royal Navy officer since 1999, Pete retired from rowing in 2018 to resume public service at sea. In 2019 he suffered a spinal stroke causing paralysis below his chest. Pete has since used his military training and Olympic experience to get the best from his changed life circumstances and help others to do the same.

He speaks openly about his unique insight into overcoming adversity and trauma having learned that resilience is not a given trait, but is trainable for everyone. Pete’s greatest personal passions are his wife Jeannie, photography, travel and anything active! His work promoting spinal cord injury awareness, the challenges of ugly accessibility and poor interpretation of accessibility for differently abled people will change the spaces we live and work in.

His philosophy on resilience and his inspirational approach to life and living well will change lives.