The MERT Club Committee

Matt Butwell

Matt joined the RAF in 2003, having completed initial flying training on Oxford University Air Squadron. He qualified as a pilot in 2005 and was posted to 18(B) Sqn, RAF Odiham flying the Chinook where he served for two operational tours. In 2010 he was selected for instructional duties where he taught Chinook aircraft conversion before returning to the frontline. 

During his 10 years on the Chinook, Matt completed eight tours on Op HERRICK flying over 100 MERT missions and helped to extract over 150 casualties. He also served on Op SADDLERY in Northern Ireland, led the aviation contingency response team for the 2012 Olympic Games and took part in multiple exercises across the world. 

Matt left the RAF in 2014 but continues to fly, serving as a Search & Rescue Commander on behalf of HM Coastguard. He also volunteers as an RAF Reservist flying Air Cadets in the Grob Tutor. He lives in South Wales with his wife and 2 children; in his spare time he enjoys Formula 1 Motorsport and is a decidedly average golfer. 

Shaun Pascoe

Squadron Leader Shaun Pascoe served in the Royal Air Force for 16 years. During his service he completed operational tours in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan and served as Officer Commanding the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) between 2007 and 2012. When not deployed overseas, he undertook a senior departmental management role at an NHS hospital in the UK.

Shaun left the RAF in 2014 to set up a sailing charity to help military veterans suffering from physical injuries or mental trauma. Turn to Starboard has since helped hundreds of military personnel to benefit from the therapeutic effects of the sea, and helped open doors to new careers in the marine industry. The charity recently widened its support to NHS staff and the UK’s Emergency Services.

In 2018, Shaun created Take Point Training, a leadership and team development company for the corporate sector. The company employs a team of talented ex-Forces personnel who translate their leadership skills and knowledge to clients in a wide range of sectors. 

​

He set up the MERT Club in 2020 to help o reunite colleagues who undertook this unique role. 

​

“It’s a real privilege to have served on the MERT team and play a part in reuniting members to help preserve our shared history. Membership is open to all those who have undertaken a MERT tour in Afghanistan and I'm looking forward to meeting everyone in person at our future social events." 

Shaun holds an MSc in Leadership and Management and a BSc (Hons) in Military Nursing Studies. He is an experienced sailor and is qualified as a Royal Yachting Association Cruising Instructor.

 Charlie Thompson

Charlotte ‘Charlie’ completed her nurse training in 1997 at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge. After specialising in emergency nursing, she joined the Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force (PMRAFNS) in 2002 as a Nursing Officer.  

During her time in the PMRAFNS, Charlie deployed twice to Iraq and six times to Afghanistan as Officer Commanding MERT. Evacuating over 600 casualties from the battlefields of Helmand Province in extreme climates and non-benign conditions she was awarded the Tri-Service Nurse of the Year Award in 2013.   

Thompson has been at the forefront of developing MERT, especially when there was no specific clinical training. In 2008 she highlighted the vulnerability of MERT practitioners deploying on operations and developed a bespoke pre-deployment course for MERT clinical teams. In 2015, in recognition of her work on MERT, Thompson was awarded the Associate of the Royal Red Cross, presented by Her Majesty the Queen.  

As officer commanding nursing at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court in Surrey Charlie was responsible for the ward planning and safe transfer of all patients, nursing staff and equipment to the new bespoke medical facility at Stanford Hall in Nottinghamshire 

Charlie is currently at Air Command as professions’ advisor for nursing and senior staff officer medical, personnel and training.  

Bob Shenton

Bob joined the RAF in 2005 as a weapons systems’ operator, streamed as a helicopter loadmaster. His first operational posting was to 33 Sqn on the Puma helicopter but after volunteering for Chinook conversion Bob was posted to 27 Sqn. From 2009-2015 Bob deployed on multiple occasions to Afghanistan on MERT. To this day, MERT remains one of the most meaningful, memorable and rewarding parts of his life.  

In 2015 Bob was diagnosed with PTSD, resulting in a medical discharge from the RAF. Bob has built a new life as a civilian whilst using his own experiences to provide insight and advice to both serving personnel and veterans about the issues of mental health. 

MERT perhaps was unique in the way it brought people together from a Tri-Service background – but it came with risk. So many who flew with MERT never had a concrete identity such as a common squadron or regiment with which they could relate: The MERT Club helps to amend this. Bob believes that having support from his own unit during difficult times was a key factor in his recovery.

After being given the opportunity to lead the Club as it's first President, it was Bob’s personal mission to ensure that everyone who flew MERT was given the opportunity to join the community. Through the Club, Bob is committed to ensuring a support network is available for all MERT colleagues, where the hard-earned lessons of the past are preserved, wellbeing and opportunity is promoted throughout, and that the MERT Club acts as the custodian of its legacy. 

Hayley Vendyback

Hayley served for 13 years as a sergeant in the Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service (PMRAFNS), deploying on four operational tours of both Iraq and Afghanistan. Her role was as the emergency nurse on both aeromedical duties and flying on MERT. When not deployed, Hayley worked alongside her NHS peers within emergency departments whilst continuing her studies in pre-hospital emergency and advanced trauma care. 

Unfortunately, you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain and in 2013 Hayley was medically discharged following a diagnosis of PTSD, an invisible injury that has tormented Hayley and blighted her nursing career. Only close friends and family truly know the journey she has endured to enable her to have the confidence to speak openly about her PTSD and treatment. ‘Even the strongest oak trees fall down, it just takes one hell of a storm!’ 

​

Hayley misses her emergency nursing career but has found comfort from her horses and dogs and has utilised this to set up her dog walking company. She is now a certified dog trainer and enjoying a different pace of life. 

Her time on MERT was life-changing; the experience grounded her as a person. Seeing the human element of conflict and witnessing first hand heroism at its finest with its associated humanity – an experience shared amongst all those who flew on MERT – was hugely emotive. 

​

Hayley joins the Committee as Deputy Entertainments rep and is looking forward to reigniting the MERT ethos and sharing more peaceful, enjoyable experiences. Additionally, she is keen to promote mental health awareness and provide a support network if needed. 

Mark Gamson

Mark was a Chinook helicopter crewman in the RAF from 2005-2014, spending the whole of his operational service on 27 Sqn RAF. 

Mark was deployed on six tours of Op HERRICK between 2008 – 2013, with part of his duty throughout as MERT aircrew. He also trained with the MERT regularly in the UK, the highlight being observing the MERT course which he found immensely valuable as aircrew. 

Mark left the RAF in 2014 but continues to serve as a Winch Operator in UK Search and Rescue.

Andy Smith   

Aged 17, Andy joined the RAF in 1985 as an RAF Regiment gunner. Remustering to the RAF’s medical profession, he has seen active service on OP GRANBY, OP DESERT STORM serving on 230 Sqn Puma helicopters as well as during OP TELIC on No 2 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. Additionally, he deployed with 1310 Flt to Bosnia and with 845 Naval Air Sqn and the Royal Engineers to the Former republic of Yugoslavia. He was commended in the 2004 New Year’s honours list for his services to the delivery of leadership and management training.

Andy graduated with distinction from RAF College Cranwell in March 2007 and was awarded the MacRobert’s Prize (the cadets’ cadet) and PTIs best sportsman prize. In 2011 he received a bar to his Long Service and Good Conduct medal. Andy completed five tours as a paramedic on MERT as well as supporting special forces and MERT operations. In 2011 he was awarded a commendation for bravery from the commander OP HERRICK. Additionally, he spent three years with the United Kingdom Special Forces Medical Group and ran the UKSF medical selection courses as well as training and operationally deploying with UKSF worldwide.

Andy completed a BSc (Hons) as an advanced paramedic practitioner in 2011 whilst in 2018 he was awarded the Order of St John for excellence in military medicine. He has volunteered with Magpas Air Ambulance as a critical care paramedic since 2013, a job he joined full-time after retirement in 2019. A keen sportsman in the past across many disciplines, most noticeably in Rugby Union and triathlon, Andy has raised over £120k for various charities.

Leon Fisher

Leon (known as Fish) joined the RAF in 2004, having completed initial flying training on Glasgow & Strathclyde University Air Squadron. He qualified as a pilot in 2006 and was posted to 18(B) Sqn, RAF Odiham flying the Chinook where he served for two operational tours. In 2011 he was selected as a Training Captain and developed junior pilots towards their goal of become fully mission qualified.

During his time on the Chinook, Fish completed five tours on Op HERRICK flying over 100 MERT missions and helped to extract over 150 casualties.  Fish and his crew were proudly Mentioned in Despatches in 2011 whilst flying four MERT missions. Over a fifteen-hour period, whilst being engaged by the enemy twice saving numerous lives despite flying in near-zero visibility when most other helicopters had been grounded.  Fish also completed a tour on Op BANNER in Northern Ireland.

Fish left the RAF in 2015 and now works in the veteran charity sector as a Director of Operations using his own personal experiences to help other veterans and their families. He lives in Edinburgh with his partner Lisa, stepson Cameron and daughter Mila. In his spare time, he enjoys watching Glasgow Rangers play football and spending time with his family.  

Matthew Olsson

Matt was attested at 612 Squadron, RAF Leuchars, in May 2008 as a paramedic.

Prior to emigrating to the United Kingdom, he had held various law enforcement, infantry/military intelligence and deep water helicopter rescue roles in Southern Africa.

Within the NHS, Matt has performed as a clinical educator, HART team leader and duty operations manager, he is a consultant in clinical safety and continues to work as a Clinical Safety Officer with teams at NHSE and other entities.

Operationally Matt served with MERT as well as clinical lead for Joint Counter-Terrorist Training and Advisory Teams on various overseas taskings for a period of seven years until 2013.

To promote MERT Club and our legacy, he is working closely with the curations and exhibits teams, both at the RAF Museum and IWM. He is currently in the process of compiling and writing a MERT book, with assistance from former MERT members, the intention is to publish in 2027.   

Nik Bartram

Nik joined the RAF in 2004 as a Chinook Crewman and went on to serve with 27 Sqn from 2007-2011, deploying on Op HERRICK five times. 

Following commissioning in 2011, Nik held staff tours at the MOD and RAF Cranwell before completing flying training and going on to fly the Voyager, ending up as a Training Captain. 

On promotion, Nik has worked in 11Gp and within the Release to Service Authority, before ending up back on Voyager as the Chief of Staff, and Flight Commander responsible for VESPINA the UK’s long-range State Aircraft. 

Nik lives in Brize Norton with his partner and daughter. He is a bang average runner and enjoys live music and coaching Youth American Football when time allows.  

Keith Mills  

Keith “Millsy” is a highly experienced Critical Care Paramedic based in the South West of England. 

He began his career in 1990 with the Royal Air Force, serving across a range of medical and operational roles. Between 2007 and 2012, Millsy completed six tours of duty in Afghanistan as part of the MERT, providing critical care under some of the most challenging conditions. His bravery and dedication were recognised with a Mention in Despatches for gallantry.

After leaving the RAF in 2012, Millsy transitioned to the NHS, where he served his community as a Critical Care Paramedic aboard his local air ambulance. Drawing on his professional expertise and personal experiences, including his own recovery from PTSD, Millsy founded a training delivery company focused on human factors, resilience, and pre-hospital care.

Today, he remains deeply committed to supporting all service professionals and the wider public through education, awareness, and compassionate leadership.