RNAS Culdrose: Sailor's amazing effort to protect village during lockdown

When the country went into coronavirus lockdown this year, one Royal Navy sailor sprang into action to protect his local community with all the dedication and efficiency of a military operation.

Chief Petty Officer Sean Mackenzie has served in the Royal Navy for 29 years and works at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall.

So when people in his village of Tregony, between Truro and St Austell, faced the uncertainty of lockdown in March, Chief Petty Officer Mackenzie knew exactly what to do.

In the navy, he specialises in logistics at 1700 Naval Air Squadron, which deploys teams of sailors around the world to allow flying operations on navy warships, support ships and air bases. He also oversees a team of 70 personnel at Culdrose's extensive supply chain depot.

"From the first day of lockdown, I got together with a couple of former military men and we created our own group," he said. "We did rounds of the village and we deliberately made it as military as we could. I wanted to help my community and these people in it are all part of that together."

His team of volunteers, which grew to 27 people, immediately set up a 'smiley-face system' where anyone, many of them elderly, could indicate with a simple sign in their window if they needed help or not.

Regular smiley-face patrols were soon underway every day in the village of around 450 households. This was followed by a 'buddy system', where socially-isolated people could receive a visit and talk to someone - for many it could be their only contact all day, albeit it from a safe distance outside.

The team also prepared an emergency kitchen, although it wasn't needed in the end, established their own foodbank and updated noticeboards with the latest advice.

They bought food for those unable to get out, including up to 20 visits a day to the local shop. Chief Petty Officer Mackenzie said he would routinely call in at the supermarket on his way back home from RNAS Culdrose to collect shopping for the most vulnerable.

Soon, dog-walking and pizza-delivery services followed as well as a medicine delivery service, which collected more than 2,000 prescriptions over lockdown, which were then personally handed out to each patient.

All of this was on top of Chief Petty Officer Mackenzie's responsibilities at work, where he continued as a key-worker, helping to ensuring that the Royal Navy could still meet its key defence requirements.

He said:

"I do a lot in the village. I am a parish councillor, I run a sports club and I organise the annual country fair. I realised that most of the other councillors would be shielding.

"I was really aware that everyone needed help and I was capable of helping. I was also aware that my own parents were sat in a similar situation, but 300 miles away. Here I could do something to help my community."

He has now been singled out for an award by the commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose, Captain Stuart Finn, who said:

"Chief Petty Officer Mackenzie has displayed exemplary leadership skills, both in his professional capacity with the Royal Navy and a selfless approach to service in his local community.

"He has delivered operational output at RNAS Culdrose at a demanding time while also supporting the lives of the most vulnerable locally.

"I know he is a modest man who has not sought to highlight this remarkable work for his own benefit, but he is fully deserving of the recognition that comes with this award. His tireless commitment and dedication are an example to us all."

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