Veterans Outreach Support (VOS) regularly hosts a small group of Volunteer Crest Painters at their Portsmouth Drop-In Days. You will find the Crest Painters do more than paint crests in the Quarterdeck at the Royal Maritime Hotel at these Drop-In Days. They also provide a listening ear and the chance to sit down and paint crests with them – no painting experience needed!
Through their dedication and generosity, this small team has also raised more than £1,000 for Veterans Outreach Support (VOS). Their hand-painted ship crests bring joy to those who receive them while helping to support veteran projects and other charitable causes.
Michael Tyreman, VOS Service User and Crest Painter, said:
“I served with Mark Smith and another Crest painter (Paul) on the HM Hermes during the Falklands War and we all lived in the same mess. When I suffered from PTSD, Mark and Paul helped me recover and VOS was there for therapy too. So, to give back a little, I volunteered to help Mark with painting crests, and Pauline – who was also helping out with Mark at Boathouse 4.
“They welcomed me in. I now do crests, Uckers boards and other bits and bobs, but we’re just a bunch of vets giving back a bit. Our motto is to leave a smile on a face.”
Here, Pauline Price and Mark Smith – two of our Volunteer Crest Painters share their stories and why they enjoy crest painting with our VOS members.
Pauline Price – Crest Painter Volunteer at our VOS Portsmouth Drop-In Days taught history in secondary schools in Portsmouth for 20 years. After taking a year out, she became a volunteer guide on HMS Warrior in the Historic Dockyard. Her next role was part-time as a Medical Student Manager in the Medical Education Centre at St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester, but she continued volunteering on Warrior throughout this time and after she retired.
When the volunteer coordinator moved to the newly created IBTC (International Boatbuilding Training College) in Boathouse 4, she asked whether she would be interested in volunteering there too. She mainly concentrates on the painting and varnishing side of boat restoration work, and when Mark began making crests, he invited her to get involved. She finds the painting both relaxing and rewarding and the team has grown into a friendly, supportive group who enjoy each other’s company.
Pauline said:
“At VOS, we sit and paint while encouraging others to come and see what we are doing and join in. We provide unpainted crests for those who take part, usually featuring the three clasped hands design of VOS, and completed crests are theirs to keep. Along with Mark, Tiny and B, I also paint crests at home.
“Our aim is to cover the cost of materials, with any additional profits going to VOS or the other charities we produce crests for.
Although I do not come from a service background, I have been deeply impressed by how friendly and supportive service personnel are towards one another. I enjoy speaking with, and listening to, the stories of those who join us for the painting sessions. I believe it is important for people to have the chance to relax and chat in a non-threatening, supportive environment.”
Mark Smith – VOS Portsmouth Drop-In Day Volunteer Crest Painter (and Boathouse 4 Volunteer) shares his thought with us.
Mark is a Navy veteran who served as a Steward for seven years. During this time, he spent five years on HMS Hermes and took part in the Falklands conflict.
Mark’s interest in ship’s crests began during Covid, when he made his first crest for the HMS Hermes Association. They he began experimenting with the production process and expanded the range of ship’s crest designs. He really enjoy the creative process and is especially proud to work alongside fellow shipmates and close friends to raise funds for veteran projects and bring smiles to people’s faces when they receive their ship’s crests.
Mark said:
“Over the last few years myself and Pauline Price, with help from Paul Beasley, Mick Tyreman have been coming to the VOS drop-ins on the first Wednesday of every month to paint crests and sit and chat to fellow veterans. I have found this very rewarding. I enjoy our days at VOS as it’s an opportunity to offer a therapeutic activity for those visiting veterans and to be an ear to allow them time to chat and offload. I enjoy swapping naval dits!
“Any surplus funds we raise are put towards good causes and help to share important stories. For example, we have supplied crests for Pompey Pals to help commemorate the 85th anniversary of the sinking of HMS Hood at various locations, including the Ship Anson pub. We are also providing Jellicoe House, a naval veterans’ home, with crests for each door, and supplying the Junior Rates Bar at HMS Nelson with crests for display.
“In addition, there will be an HMS Hood crest display at the Veterans Pub & Hotel on the Isle of Wight. We also created a Falklands 40 wall display for the restaurant at Boathouse 4 in Portsmouth Historic Quarter in the dockyard.”
Interested in Crest Painting?
If you want to meet the crest painters, then join them at one of our regular Portsmouth Drop-In days, held on the first Wednesday of each month at the Royal Maritime Hotel in Portsmouth. No booking needed – just pop over for a chat or to help paint crests together. More about the Portsmouth Drop-In Day here.
Video: Mark Smith and Pauline Price talk about crest painting at VOS : Video link here and below.
