"Game-changer" as "magic" funding restores Cosham Army Reserve Centre in Portsmouth to former glory
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Much-needed funding has transformed an Army Reserve Centre so soldiers and medics can complete critical training.
An official ceremony and plaque unveiling marked the reopening of the site in Tudor Crescent, Cosham, on Wednesday evening (February 4). The leaking roof and weak floors have been replaced with modern alternatives, thanks to hundreds of thousands of pounds through the South East Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (SERFCA).
Lieutenant Colonel Andy Carre, Commanding Officer of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, told The News: “It has been on the cards for years. We’re all under money constraints, but they’ve done the magic this year. They have delivered for us and really upgraded the reserve centre.
“It lets us train better in a warm and safe environment with better lighting, and with a roof that works. It’s an absolute game-changer for us. We’ve got roughly 98 soldiers based in Portsmouth, with a strong turnout and footfall. It reminds everyone what a great investment it is. We recognise how lucky we are to have that investment. The refurbishment was needed a decade earlier.”
Improvements to Cosham Army Reserve Centre
Cosham Army Reserve Centre is home to C Company 4th Battalion the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, 243 Multirole Medical Regiment (MMR), and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Army Cadet Forces. The site has been beset with underlying problems for years, including a leaking roof and unstable flooring.
A total of £492k has been used to bring the building back to life, with the project taking place over the past one and a half years. Captain Ed Coleman, Officer Commanding for C Company, said: “The state of the flooring and roof were in dire need of repairs. It was having an impact on the training we were doing, with leaks damaging the floor.
“With the old floor, you don’t want to be marching up and down and potentially putting our feet through the floor. The refurbishment is very welcome. A lot of the troops are very happy with the changes.”
The improvements to the site include a new roof, replacement entrance and fire doors with MoD specified double glazing, upgraded lighting, new heaters in the main hall, a new floating floor with an anti-slip vinyl covering in the gym, a new main entrance lobby, and other redecoration works and electrical enhancements.
Capt Coleman added that due to reservists only training for two hours on an evening and once on weekends, its vitally important they have the facilities to train effectively. The soldiers are regularly tasked with cardiovascular exercises, drilling, navigational training with maps, and exercises with drones, missile launchers and other armaments.
The need for reserves and cadets
High-ranking officers, including the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, met with the soldiers before the parade took place, with personnel showcasing the equipment and new changes to the building.
Colonel (Retd) Patrick Cowley MBE, chief executive of the SERFCA, said the improved site will now encourage more reservists and cadets to join. He added: “We’re trying to get a 30 per cent increase in cadets in the country by 2030, so having a decent training base is very important.
“Funding is always a challenge. We did a prioritisation of this location. The reserve units have done very well recruiting people. We’re trying to reinforce success where we are.”
Brigadier Peter Gilbert, chair of the SERFCA, added: “People may not realise how important the environment is. People think it’s just about the people, and it is, but if you come into a place that is not looked after, it doesn’t give a welcoming and professional impression.
“What we hope we’ve done is transform the environment into one that’s really attractive. Both the cadets and reserves need to expand, and we need to do whatever we can to support that.”
Warrant Officer 2 Will Roberts-Margett, of 243 MMR, said the refurbishment is a great relief as the site has not been fit for purpose. He added: ““It’s going to make such a difference now it’s fully functioning.
“To have that money spent on us is really appreciated. We can return that by training hard to go forward and do the job we’re here to do. We care for casualties at the point of injury, and it’s the point of our training.”