BRNC 1985 Reunion

andrew isherwood

City:guildford Country:GB Occupation:Ex-Accountant Which Division were you in?:Blake Best memory of BRNC:Ball, Passing Out, Runs Ashore Worst memory of BRNC:EMAs, saluting senior officer using left-hand during 1st week! What have you been doing for the last 30 odd years?:Went to Uni Became an accountant Worked for ICI, KPMG and EY - and travelled the World! Got married to the beautiful, intelligent Kristina, had 2 kids (now 8 & 10) Currently a stay-at-home dad - lucky me

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Paul Bennett

Then

Now

City:Hambrook Country:GB Occupation:Still in the Navy Which Division were you in?:Cunningham Best memory of BRNC:DTS (does that count?) Worst memory of BRNC:Long Divisions with a Tight Cap What have you been doing for the last 30 odd years?:In the RN. Served widely, mostly in Ships, but latterly behind a desk or 2. What have you been doing since the last reunion?:Navy HR for 2 years and now in the joint world in Northwood. Feeling surprisingly good about going past 50.

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Charles Doyle

Then

Now

Country:GB Occupation:Corporate Finance Which Division were you in?:St Vincent Best memory of BRNC:The Passing-out ball Worst memory of BRNC:Being forced to move out of our 4 berth cabin for a 20 berth dormitory What have you been doing for the last 30 odd years?:Spent 3 years at Oxford as UCE before resigning from RN to spend 11 years in the city, 6 years running my own business, and 7 years at Transport for London. Along the way found a wonderful wife and have two boys (10 & 12). What have you been doing since the last reunion?:I'm now even more into trains, moving from TfL to run a £1.6bn train finance company with an office overlooking Kings Cross.

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David Jones

Then

Now

City:Devon Country:GB Occupation:Cooking School Director Which Division were you in?:Hawke Best memory of BRNC:4 o'clockers and beagling Worst memory of BRNC:Those bloody steps! What have you been doing for the last 30 odd years?:After 5 years in the RN I worked in corporate training and development for about 12 years running lots of team and leadership workshops which never failed to remind me of BRNC. Since 2002 we have lived in Kingswear and look across the River at the Naval College, a weird experience at first but I\\\'ve stopped twitching now. I\\\'ve been married to Holly since 1992 and we now run a Cooking School; this is my excuse for not being able to wear my old uniform any more. What have you been doing since the last reunion?:I've remained firmly routed in Kingswear.

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Paul Sterriker

Then

Now

City:Tatsfield Country:GB Occupation:Company Director Which Division were you in?:Blake (of course!) Best memory of BRNC:How can you pick one? Finishing PLX felt pretty good, but doing 2 lengths to pass my swim test as I was so slow that the PO thought I'd done 4 was awesome! Worst memory of BRNC:Coming down with Appendicitis during a lecture. The definition of a pain in the arse! What have you been doing for the last 30 odd years?:Decided to resign at the beginning of 1987 following a car crash and missing out on 6 weeks of OOW course. Marriage seemed preferable to fishery protection duties. Decided to make love, not war! Started my first business in '89 setting up a contract cleaning company, set up a creative marketing company back in '96 and set up my current medical staffing business in '02, which is going pretty well. Been married 21 years now to Lisa (we met in '86 whilst home on a weekend pass from HMS Minerva) and have two great sons, Joshua, who's now coming up on 24! and is a qualified Operating Department Practitioner and Lewis who's 22, graduated last year and is now working in the family business. Despite playing in goal and up front for the college football team I took up rugby at 24 and enjoyed 10 great years of concussions and manual facial re-arrangement before a torn ACL finally brought it to an end. The big thing these days is Tennis and the occasional round of golf when invited. Really looking forward to seeing the class of '85 again and to hearing about what everyone's been up to since. What have you been doing since the last reunion?:Married for 26 years now! Boys are 22 and 23 and both working in the family business. Still playing tennis on the rare occasion when all parts are in semi-operational order. Looking forward to the 30th reunion and hopefully to seeing even more of you scran-bags than last time.

From Paul:

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David Ince

Then

Now

Country:TO Occupation:Royal Australian Navy Which Division were you in?:Hawke Best memory of BRNC:The Bosun's daughter Worst memory of BRNC:Coastal nav training What have you been doing for the last 30 odd years?:Did 23 years of them in the RN, managed to get most of the sexy MCD jobs, but left after a 4 year USN exchange, transferring to the RAN to start over. I have now done many sexy MCD jobs here too, but finally got bored with it and have gone back to driving ships. I am currently based in Tonga as the Maritime Surveillance Advisor to the Tongan Navy. It is a RAN role and part of a program we run across the South Pacific.

From David:Still living the pirate adventure......

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Jim Ross

Then

Now

City:Haverfordwest Country:GB Occupation:Food and Drink Which Division were you in?:Cunningham Best memory of BRNC:You lot of course! Worst memory of BRNC:Trying to brasso damp cannons on the parade ground at 6am! Why was I doing that in the first place? What have you been doing for the last 30 odd years?:Working in the food and drink industry and raising a family.

From Jim:

Is it really 5 years since the last get together!

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Tim Bell

Now

City:Trowbridge Country:GB Occupation:Senior Supply Chain Manager Which Division were you in?:Hawke Best memory of BRNC:High Tea and Sticky Buns at 1600hrs..! Worst memory of BRNC:Thinking I'm late for 0730 river duty when it's actually 0600hrs..! What have you been doing for the last 30 odd years?:Left BRNC to immediately enrol into FE College to improve upon my A Levels with the intention of returning one day and passing those Professionals. Ended up joining the RNSTS, now in DE&S Ships and have so far had a progressive career up through the grades over the intervening 26 years. Now spent more time on board various Platforms than I ever thought I would...Second best perhaps but making the most of it and definitely playing my part in keeping the RN something to be proud of..!

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Jon Green

Now

City:Bushey Heath Country:GB Occupation:NHS Manager Which Division were you in?:Blake Best memory of BRNC:The look on Mr Greenaway's and the other staff officer's faces when we post DTS Blakes marched onto the parade ground after the band and guard after oversleeping in the Spring 86 final passing out parade (minus wooders of course) Worst memory of BRNC:Having the damned surgeon cdr removing my big toe toe nail post PLX as it was infected. He may have been jolly but I certainly wasn't. What have you been doing for the last 30 odd years?:Stayed in the RN until 2005 (20 years to the day). During that time I did all the bobbing around on the oggin stuff for 10 years, spent a couple of years back at BRNC as a staff officer (and DTS, or IST as it became). I was also an INT bod at PJHQ, Fleet and MOD plus 3 years in Italy. Final job was media advisor at MOD and then Trafalgar 200. Since leaving I have worked in the NHS having been recruited into their senior management scheme. Currently I am a General Manager at the Whittington Hospital in N London.

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Gary Hawley

Now

City:Bath Country:GB Occupation:Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & Design Which Division were you in?:Vincent Best memory of BRNC:Leaving Worst memory of BRNC:Not enough room for the answer! What have you been doing for the last 30 odd years?:Became a hard core 'Manadon' instructor but had two years on exchange with the United States Navy. I was appointed to the US Naval Academy at Annapolis and had a great time. While at Manadon I studied part-time for a PhD and started to become a career academic. Left the Navy in 1995 and went to the University of Bath as a lecturer in mechanical engineering. Made it to a Personal Chair in 2005 and I'm now the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Design.

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