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In this section we are displaying some of the letters
of support we have received from professionals and friends
we have approached - plus a list of Organisations
helping us and also Companies who
are sponsoring the project.
If you or your company wish to be of assistance in any
way to the Foundation, no matter how large or small -
please Contact
Us, we need as much help and support as possible
with the projects in hand.
The
finished Watercrafts Complex
will be a National Centre of Excellence, there will be nothing
else like it in this region or anywhere in the UK, Europe
or Globally!
The Complex offers commercial opportunities to Water
Sports related business, so get
in touch - this project offers great commercial potential.
Some
of the Organisations helping with the project:
Business
Community Partnerships 0114 261 0846
Health & Safety Executive (Diving Division)
Royal Navy Clearance Diving Branch
South Yorkshire Police, Underwater Search Unit
Sheffield Blind Society
Sheffield City Council (Probation Services)
Sheffield City Council (Handicap Services)
Director of Family and Community Services
Sheffield University Scuba Diving Club
Sheffield BSAC
St Johns Ambulance
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association
Whitwell Parish and Community Committee
Peter Haughey, Advanced Diving Instructor BSAC
Stephen
Taylor of Taylor Boatyard, Inverness
Action for Employment, Sheffield
BBC Radio Cornwall
Cornish Guardian
West Country - South West TV
Companies
Sponsoring the Project:
Kingston
Marine Services, Hull
Mounts Bay Engineering, Newlyn, Cornwall
Hydraulic Pump Hire, Sheffield
Day & Night Marine, Newlyn, Cornwall
"GT Commercials" of Rotherham
Gardener
Engines
Ponds
Forge International Sports Centre
Hydraulic Pump Hire Ltd.
Subsea Diving Offshore, Aberdeen
Hamilton Brothers USA, Aberdeen
Jacobs Photo & Video, Sheffield
Divex, Aberdeen
Nat West Bank PLC
Staples Ltd
Exchem Ltd (Explosives)
Gleesons Construction Ltd
Mara Diving Engineering Ltd
Otis Elevators Ltd
Banner Plant Ltd
Midas Commercial Insurance Services Ltd
Mosaic Multimedia:
Sheffield Scene - Interactive Local Information Portal
Up
to Top
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From
Sheffield Youth Offending Team
8th
Jan. 2003
Dear
Paul,
Thank
you for contacting me about your plans to acquire
the abandoned Quarry site for the development of a
national diving centre. The visit to the site was
extremely informative and is obviously of great potential.
Since
our meeting, I hav discussed your proposal with other
officers in Sheffield City Council and whilst the
project does not fall within the Council's boundary,
I am still able to offer my support for the scheme
that you described to me.
The
creation of a national centre of excellence in the
region would be an advantage for people living in
the area.
I
wish you every success in the future.
Best
Wishes, yours sincerely
Malcolm
Potter, Manager
Youth Offending Team.
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From
Phillip Whitehead, Labour MEP, East Midlands
20th
Dec. 2002
Dear
Mr. Heald,
Thank
you for your call on 26th Noveber to our Attenborough Office.
I
am copying this letter to your consultant at Sheffield Business
Community Partnerships, Mr Mr. Morris. I would be pleased
to have information on the project, and be kept up to date
with it's progress, especially if you find you are able
to bid for European funding.
Yours
sincerely,
 
cc.
Mr. Morris, Sheffield Community Partnerships.
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From
Phillip Whitehead, Labour MEP, East Midlands
22nd
Nov. 2002
Dear
Mr. Heald,
Thank
you for contacting our regional office about your project
at Armstrong Quarry.
I
was glad to hear that the landfill option has been rejected
and your idea sounds a positive and imaginative alternative,
which i am happy to support.
I
understand you will be submitting a business plan. I would
be interested to know what kind of funding you will need
and what your planned sources will be. I am interested to
hear of the involvement of English Partnerships. Is there
also backing from the local councils or EMDA? I would be
grateful for some more background on these points.
Yours
sincerely,
Phillip
Whitehead MEP
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From
National Ex-Services Association
26th
Sept. 2002
Dear
Mr Heald,
The following will give some idea of what we are about.
We are a non-political, non sectarian, non profit, non
militant self help organization. If you agree with any
of this, you are welcome aboard.
Yours
sincerely,
 Arthur
Lane.
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From
Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, CBE, RD, Devon.
Dear
Mr. Heald,
Thank
you so much for your letter and for very kindly inviting
me to become a Patron of the Foundation.
Whilst
I have always been interested in diving, I started
in 1960 with an early Coustea-Gagnan set, I have become
so bogged down recently in what my wife refers to
as my two day a week unpaid job, namely, being president
of the Sail Training Association, that it has left
little time for anything else.
And
I think this is where there is a problem. I am totally
involved with the STA at the moment as we struggle
to raise £12 million for replacement ships to
continue the task of developing youngsters self belief
and reliance. I don't want to dilute this effort.
For this reason I have declined a number of other
invitations as I believe it best to concentrate on
doing one properly rather than just being on the notepaper.
Would
you therefore please accept that flattered as I am
to be invited, I really feel I must decline. However,
it was very kind of you to think of me and you will
appreciate that I endorse anything that helps youngsters.
Yours
sincerely,
Sir
Robin Knox Johnson.
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From
Brian Marshall-Lee, Diveworld London Road,
Sheffield
Dear
Mr Heald,
As
a PADI Open Water Instructor running the school
at Dive World, in the centre of Sheffield, I find
it increasingly annoying to have to explain to
my students that they must be at Stoney Cove by
8am, in order to secure a good parking space.
Although the journey time is approximately one
and a half hours, it does mean that they have
to get out of bed considerably earlier than 8am
in order to reach the target time.
Evidently,
this is highly impractical, and the need for a
training site closer to Sheffield, which will
have all the amenities as Stoney Cove, is becoming
more important as the sport of Scuba Diving is
increasing in popularity. Having seen the site
at Armstrong Quarry, it is quite clear that this
has more than enough potential to be a good water
sports facility and it is ideally located for
the Sheffield conurbation.
I
think it is important to consider that although
we have mentioned Stoney Cove, there are a few
other facilities for diving, however, they are
at least three hours drive away. So, bearing this
in mind, would it not be prudent to consider the
benefits of having a very important facility on
your doorstep?
Yours
sincerely,
Brian
Marshall-Lee
OWSI / MFAI 605568
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From
Jason Keyworth, Action for Employment
Alan
House, 5 Clumber St, Nottingham NG1 3ED
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Dear
Paul,
What
a brilliant project.! Having viewed the proposed site
at Armstrong Quarry, I can see why you are so keen
to drive this venture forward. The potential for such
a 'watercrafts' centre is huge and will no doubt benefit
both future aqua enthusiasts and local business development.
Having spoken and met with you on several occasions,
I would like to say that I have never met a more determined
individual, whose charismatic personality and passion
shines whenever the Diving Foundation is mentioned.
I
would like to assure you of my full support in this
venture, I believe that the project will not only
benefit the local residents and surrounding areas,
but also the children, providing a sense of purpose
by allowing them to gain new skills and experiences
in the numerous activities planned.
If
I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate
to call.
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Sincerely
Jason Keyworth (Regional Project Development Manager) |
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From
Commander D Hilton MNI Royal Navy
Superintendent
of Diving
Fleet Diving Headquarters, RECLAIM Building
Hornsea Island, Cosham
PORTSMOUTH, Hampshire PO6 4TT
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Dear
Paul,
At
long last I have responded to your kind letter asking me
to be a Honorary Life Member to the Foundation! I am delighted
to accept.
As
you are aware Johno and I were old messmates and Leading
Seaman Clearance Divers in HMS Vernon from 1967 until his
death in 1974.
I
am really pleased to fully support the Johno Foundation,
not only because he was a good friend who should not be
forgetton, but also for the good cause of helping children
achieve and realize their potential as they mature. The
aims and goals of the foundation are excellent and I am
sure, as a direct result of the varied leadership type training
given will help them become good citizens.
I
have enclosed a copy of my CV in order for you to see how
I have progressed over the years. I do look forward to seeing
you again after all these years. Keep in touch and thank
you again for asking me to become an Honorary Life Member
of the Association.
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Cdr D Hilton MNI Royal Navy |
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From
S. J. Hickey - Sheffield Sub-Aqua Club
5
Everard Ave, Sheffield S17 4LY
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Dear
Mr Heald,
I
have seen the site (Armstrong Quarry) you propose to use
for the facility of "Watercrafts" centre. It would
appear to have the capability when flooded again, to support
a large number of training divers in safety. The sloping
bottom would provide varying safe depths for different levels
of training. Due to the location and proximity to a good
road network, I could envisage a large catchment area as
seen at other inland training dive sites.
Due
to the increase in the need of leisure time activities,
I could see this being a great asset.
I
have been a diver and member of the Sheffield branch of
the "British Sub Aqua Club" for twenty-three years
and with the full support of the branch, wish you success
with the "Johno Johnson Diving Foundation" and
the use of "Armstrong Quarry" as a "Watercraft"
centre.
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Yours
sincerely
Steve Hickey (Social Sec.) |
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MARITIME TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION |
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From
K. Jobling, South Shields Shipping (SO39)
4
Coronation Street, South Shields
Tyne & Wear NE33 1AR
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Dear
Paul,
Thank
you for your correspondence regarding the Johno Johnson
Diving Foundation, a charity for children.
I
believe the scheme is an excellent idea and will not only
be of benefit to the local residents and the surrounding
area, but also to the children, as it will give them a sense
of purpose and will teach them discipline, something that
is sadly lacking nowadays.
It
would appear to be an excellent site for the cause you have
in mind and I understand that you have David Blunkett M.P.
as Honorary President of the Foundation.
I
will write to our sponsored M.P.s and ask them to give support
in whichever way they can in order that this project gets
off the ground.
I
look forward to visiting you in the near future and hope
the scheme as you envisaged comes to fruition.
If
I can be of any further assistance whatsoever towards this
project, you only have to ask.
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Best
Regards,
Keith Jobling, Divisional Organiser |
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From
R. M. Mavin, Health and Safety Executive - Offshore Safety
Division
Rose
court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS
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Dear
Paul,
You
are probably not aware but both Vic Humphrey and Mike Harwood
now work for the HSE. Don Hodge used to but he left to go
back into industry to make his fortune. My course of 1972
does seem a long time ago but it did provide two Diving
Superintendents for the RN and one chief Inspector of Diving
for the HSE so your influence must have been significant!
I also see an old colleague of yours, Keith Jobling in his
role as the Union representative for one of the diver's
unions (RMT ex. NUS).
I
hope the charity work is going well, it does seem to be
a very worthy cause. There is a commercial diving magazine
called "Underwater Contractor". I know the editor
quite well and if you want an article on the Foundation,
just give me a call. I am sure they will do it sympathetically.
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Best
regards,
R. M. Mavin, Chief Inspector of Diving |
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