2016 in National Arboretum
1976 H.M.S. Raleigh
1977 H.M.S. Mercury
1988 H.M.S. Sheffield
2003 Afghanistan
I joined the Royal Navy (HMS Raleigh) on the 28th September 1976 and after completing my basic training went to HMS Mercury for my Communications training, during my service I served on various ships - HMS Cleopatra, HMS Dido, HMS Ledbury, HMS Dulverton, HMS Dumbarton Castle, HMS Beaver, HMS Sheffield, HMS Chatham (Hong Kong Handover 1997), RFA Diligence (Naval Party 2010), USS Shreveport and HMS Fearless.
Shore base units included the Maritime Headquarters Pitreavie, Communications Centre Fort Southwick, Permanent Joint Headquarters Northwood, Commander Mine Counter Measures and Flag Officer Communications Exercise Pool (Sea/Shore). My last 4 years was spent at the PJHQ J6 Northwood and in 2002 I was sent to Tampa USA to learn about equipment that the MOD were procuring, which involved instructing high ranking personnel at 3 star level and I was deployed constantly as a Diplomatic Passport Holder and also to install, configure and test Secure Voice and Data Equipment and teach staff on how to use. Operational theatres I was deployed to while at PJHQ J6 included Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Doha, Diego Garcia, Eritrea, Islamabad, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
In 1982 I served on HMS Ledbury and my proudest achievement along with serving my country was when I was the lead campaigner for over 30 years along with Nigel Morris (HMS Diomede 1982) who joined me in 2011 to get the criteria for the South Atlantic Medal without rosette extended. After a lot of hard work, research, report writing, letters to MP’s, the Cabinet Office, MOD and the Government we both managed to get a positive decision and that was announced on the 29th July last year in that the criteria was to be extended up to the 21st October 1982 and was given Royal approval. Both Nigel and I were constantly in touch with Brigadier Parritt and Sir John Holmes through all its stages since our meeting at the Cabinet Office in June 2012. We were both aware of the decision on the 10th June last year and had to keep it secret until it was announced which as you can imagine was very difficult.
Before that decision I was requesting that both myself and Nigel be presented with our medals first, reason being that it was because of us that 10,000 veterans were now going to qualify and I managed to secure that through liaising with Admiral Lord West and the Cabinet Office who kindly arranged for our medals to be presented by the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on the 21st October 2014 along with other veterans (not sure how they were selected). We do not truly believe that people will ever understand the commitment and determination that was undertaken by ourselves and committed man hours on behalf of so many. It has also quoted by Brigadier Brian Parittt that it was the best factual report writing that the Full HD and Sub HD Committees had come across throughout Sir John Holmes medal review. It was also expressed while we attended 10 Downing Street that and by a member of the HD Committee it was the easiest medal decision the full HD Committee had to make in the entire medal review. And without our outstanding contribution this would never been achieved.We believe we played a small part in changing history but also in some way enabling the Falkland Islands to be collectively awarded the South Atlantic Medal by the Prime Minister.
I left the Royal Navy in 2004 and went on to work for a Defence Communications Company near Harrogate and worked there for 8 years.
This just gives you a brief insight into my service and I am so proud to have served my country.