Reflections on a career ending and an adventure commencing...
Yesterday I handed over my final job in a naval uniform, I still have a release routine to complete but, essentially, I am done. Nearly 27 years of Service and a whole heap of experiences. I found myself reflecting on those years and, being a simple sailor, I recall three significant events which shaped my career and life.
As the XO in HMS CROMER I keenly remember the morning in January 2000 when the CO called me into his cabin to let me know that there was about to be an announcement changing the ‘ban’ of allowing homosexuals to serve. He was concerned about the likely fallout especially in our small ship whilst I was thinking how I might, finally, be honest regarding who I was. A momentous occasion and yes, there was plenty of discussion and debate amongst the ship’s company (all of whom were male) yet the sky did not fall in and the sun continued to set and rise. But for me, the need to no longer live in the third person, to not lie about my girlfriend and to not worry that I might lose my job because of who I loved, it changed my life. Don’t ever underestimate the importance of freedom.
In 2008 I was deployed on board HMS ILLUSTRIOUS in the Indian Ocean. I was in a one in two routine of 8 hours off, 8 hours on and one Sunday evening I was in my cabin getting ready to go on watch. I heard the pipe ‘Hands to Flying Stations’ and remember thinking it was strange as I knew we were on a ‘no fly’ day. Not long after there was a knock at the door and my boss was stood there. A week earlier I had received a satellite call to tell me that my Dad was not well. So when the Commander told me to pack a bag because I was being flown home to the UK it was all quite overwhelming. What followed was a night time Merlin flight into India, a battle with bureaucracy, an internal flight to Delhi and, finally, a flight home to Heathrow and Shazza waiting for me at Arrivals. Due to the understanding and generosity of the RN I was able to spend precious time with my Dad before he passed on 16 September 2008. He was 62. His death changed my life and it changed the way we lived our life; I got off the “travelator” of being a ‘thrusting warfare officer’ and, instead, I asked about the passed over two and a half job in Sydney, Australia. The rest, as they say, is history.
Finally, this year, 2019. I was responsible for the delivery of all naval trade training; 14 Schools, 140 staff (but 160 positions), up to 300 students at any given time and a whole heap of new capability coming on line. The job was huge. I come from solid Yorkshire stock where grit, hard work and sheer bloody mindedness overcomes all adversity but this year, probably for the first time in my life, I found myself depleted. At the same time, Sharon and I were having a regular conversation of what we would do ‘once the mortgage was paid off’ or ‘when we win the lottery’ and it dawned on us that we could flip the situation; we could sell the house, we could leave our jobs and we could go and have an adventure now, whilst we were still young and fit enough. So we did.
My naval career has provided me with so many “I cannot believe I am being paid to do this” moments and it has shaped me into who I am. The future? A whole new adventure…
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