management group. MVS National Registrar: Responsible for maintaining membership records and subscriptions and matters relating to data protection. Area Level The country is divided into four areas which are: Northern England, Southern England, Central England (incorporating Wales and Northern Ireland), and Scotland. Each area has an Area Volunteer Officer (AVO). In addition to the AVO each area may have: a Deputy Area Officer (D/AVO) who assists the Area Volunteer Officer and an Area Specialist Officers (ASO) who offers advice and guidance on matters such as operations, seamanship or engineering. Regional Level Each area is subdivided into distinct regions. Each region has a Regional Volunteer Officer (RVO). The RVO is elected every three years by the units within their region. Each region may also have a Deputy Regional Volunteer Officer (D\RVO). Some regions have Regional Specialist Officers (RSO) responsible for overseeing various specialisations at the regional level. Unit level Each unit is led by a Head of Unit (HoU), who is elected annually by their peers. The HoU is assisted by a Deputy Head of Unit (DHoU) who serves as the unit's second in command. The current units across the UK, include: MVS Bangor (Northern Ireland): HoU Derek Gilbert MVS Bristol: HoU Mike Angwin MVS Cardiff City: PvO David Hankins MVS Christchurch & Bournemouth: HoU Greg Lustig MVS East Sussex Sovereign Harbour:HoU Greg Darby MVS Fleetwood: HoU (VO) Kevin Gray MVS Gosport & Fareham: HoU (VO) Stuart Harrison MVS Humber: HoU (VO) Shayne Arnold MVS Isle of Wight: HoU (VO) David Dobson MVS Medway: HoU (VO) Tim Corthorn MVS Menai Bridge: Giles MVS Northumbria:Angela Carrington MVS Poole: HoU Gill Hale MVS Portsmouth (Founder Unit): HoU Martyn Sharp MVS Putney MVS Dundee: HoU Gareth Norman MVS Rushden: HoU Andrew Smith MVS Severn: HoU Nic Price MVS Swansea: Ho Paul Joseph MVS THANET: HoU (VO) Les Miller History of the Charity The MVS was formed on 1 April 1994, a day after the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service (RNXS) was disbanded. The RNXS had operated small ships such as fleet tenders and inshore minesweepers, and ran Naval Control of shipping centres ashore, but was disbanded following the end of the Cold War. While many of the best aspects of RNXS operating procedures and traditions survive in the MVS, it is a uniformed civilian charity whose vessels fly a defaced Red Ensign. There are many former Royal Navy personnel in the MVS, and constructive links