David served in the Royal Navy for 25 years as a Marine Engineer Officer. His appointments included HMS OCEAN, the Vanguard class nuclear submarine ship lift as part of the team that commissioned and first operated it and, latterly, as the Officer in Command and Chief Engineer of HMS DARING, the RN’s most technologically advanced warship, during her build and sea trials phases.  In recognition of his leadership in this role he was awarded the OBE in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours list.



On leaving the RN he was employed as the Director of UK Government Engagement for Inchcape Shipping Services, a worldwide maritime logistics company.  In 2014 he accepted an appointment as the Regional Director of the East Midlands for the Confederation of British Industry.



On 21 May 2015, ten days after his 50th birthday, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 advanced renal cancer. Whilst he was unable to work full-time, he threw himself at making life better for others. Amongst other things, he taught GCSE Maths part time at Boston College, became an inspirational speaker and founded a charity, ASTRiiD, which aims to help anyone with a chronic medical condition to find work; this is his legacy – nothing short of inspirational.



On 24 May18, David succumbed to his cancers and passed away. On 17 Sept that year, David’s ashes were piped onboard HMS DEFENDER in Portsmouth Naval Base. The ship sailed with her White Ensign at half-mast and his remains were Committed to the Deep.  David is survived by his wife Jo and her son Zachary and missed by so many for whom he gave of himself.