Your Shipmates
This site is predominantly for those who joined BRNC in September 1985, and was set up by those in that intake and they remain the focus of the reunion cycle but we are happy to have Half Term Flights and anyone else who was part of the College in that final term of 1985.
Please do take a few minutes to add your profile here. For those who have already added a profile, feel free to update us all on how much of the last few years was spent recovering from the last reunion and any other notable events since your last update/ posting.
So, scroll down and take a look at what your old Shipmates have been up to for the last 38 (and counting) years.....
Click here to download a full list of our entry.
Click here to download a list of the Sep 85 Holdover Entry
Click here to download the BRNC Sep 85 List of College Staff and OUT's at BRNC and on DTS.
Given that the turnout in 2022 reflected the uncertainties of the past couple of years, we are keen to make it to 100 shipmates in 2025. So please do refresh the content here and pass on the message to anyone else who may not be aware of the website and the BRNC 85 social network.
All profiles will be checked before they go live which will mean that there may be a short delay...go to the NAAFI or the Gunroom, have a half of Websters and check back later!
Geraint Evans
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Business Manager |
| Which Division were you in?: | Cunningham |
| Best memory of BRNC: | 1st Trafalgar Night |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | Running in boots, Achilles have never been the same |
| What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?: Stayed in until 2008 then worked in industry as an explosives safety engineer and a business manger for Frazer-Nash Consultancy, Raytheon UK and currently Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace. | |
Andrew Findlay
Then
Now
| Occupation: | Director of Sales |
|---|---|
| Which Division were you in?: | Blake |
| Best memory of BRNC: | DTS - arriving in Fort Lauderdale during College Week! ...and for some reason the night we spent in a liferaft in the middle of the river! |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | Evening rounds |
| What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?: After spending 6 months aboard the Hong Kong patrol ship HMS Starling, left the RN and moved back to HK in 1990. Spent 4 more years there, having a very drunken time, between sports and various other adventures. Managed to get a job with my Physics degree in the Semiconductor Industry, where I have remained ever since. Got married just before leaving Hong Kong; moved to Scotland; 2 kids; divorced; new job based in Tampa, Florida; 3 years later got married (again); 2 more kids; and am still in Florida 19 years later. Work for a European Semiconductor Equipment Company - with most of business in Asia! So I travel frequently, and try to stay fit doing swim/bike/run, and various other fun events when I can. Enjoy sailing (mainly for vacations), and power boating / water sports around the coast and lakes here. | |
Paul Furse
Then
Now
| Occupation: | CEO |
|---|---|
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Comment:
CEO of a small legal firm in Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Tropical Rainforest. Magical kind of place. Won't be able to make the reunion - have a few for me. |
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| Which Division were you in?: | Hawk |
| Best memory of BRNC: | PO Jones - "have you got an erection sir"? |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | Car crash on Passing out night |
| What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?: Left after 8 years, worked in Bahrain before heading to Oz. Married to Debbie, only 1 kid and that is me. Play a lot of music in bands and do a fair amount of photography. Saunter on to the Rugby pitch from time to time. | |
Ian Goodacre
Then
Now
| Occupation: | Senior People Business Partner |
|---|---|
| Which Division were you in?: | St Vincent |
| Best memory of BRNC: | DTS and the ports of call |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | PLX - it was so cold! Captain Concrete shouting at you |
| What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?: Left the RN in 2009 after serving in Submarines as a warfare officer, then PWO(U) and XO, served in Bahrain with COMUKMARFOR then went to COMSPMARFOR in Rota for 2.5 years - final job in RN was as OC UW Training Unit HMS COLLINGWOOD. Civilian career so far in HR with Iron Mountain (Europe), the City of London, University of Brighton and now Study Group Ltd a global education company. | |
| Anything of note happen since you attended the last reunion?: Yet to attend - hopefully soon | |
Jim Graham
Now
| Occupation: | Private Equity & Venture Capital |
|---|---|
| Which Division were you in?: | Cunningham |
| Best memory of BRNC: | Leaving |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | Arriving |
| What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?: Left in 2000 and joined Andersen Consulting just before they became Accenture. Left there in 2004 and ran the UK pre-pay mobile phone busines of Orange for a while. Spent the last 20 years in the Private Equity & Venture Capital investing in growth companies | |
Jon Green
Now
| 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 39 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. | |
Neil Grice
Then
Now
| Occupation: | Chartered Surveyor |
|---|---|
| Comment: Really looking forward to the reunion. As part of the planninmg committee fingers croseed the RPC & Golf all work out as they are dowe to me.. Just remind me of the date and venue again please ? | |
| Which Division were you in?: | The one and only Blake |
| Best memory of BRNC: | Balls and getting my Middies Tabs |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | Not being made Div Sub. oh and getting WFT was a bit of a bummer. |
| What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?: Still looking after Motorway Service Areas up and down the country. Still married to the quite amazing Michelle. All kids now through or at Uni so looking forward to a little more down time and cheap holidays | |
| Anything of note happen since you attended the last reunion?: Company I started up is now 17 years old. We are up to 23 staff. Am trying to be a proper MD using skills learnt as the Blake River Rep to keep everyone happy. Started playing Cricket again and seeing light at the end of the tunnel on works to the house. Happy to say still seeing many old Navy mates. | |
David Hargrave
Then
Now
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Occupation: | Ships Captain/ OIM retired |
| Comment: Retired at 63 ( last year/ 2023 ) when I realised that there was no need for me to spend 6 months a year away from home. | |
| Which Division were you in?: | St Vincent |
| Best memory of BRNC: | WO Greenaways welcome speech, and PO's Nunn and Jones humour |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | Being made to listen to half arsed officers like McCready |
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What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?:
Returned to the Mechant Navy, became a Master Mariner Eventually became captain of a deep water pipe layer and the OIM on several oil rigs and drill ships |
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Stephen (Sidney) Harpin
Then
Now
| Occupation: | Company Director |
|---|---|
| Which Division were you in?: | St Vincent |
| Best memory of BRNC: | Marching to Hearts of Oak - honest! |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | Running up that rather steep hill at a stupid time in the morning |
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What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?:
Left in 1990 for a woman, who promptly left me! Brand Management Career at Procter & Gamble, then SmithKline Beecham. Strategy Consultant at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture). Last ten years set up various internet retail businesses. Latest is www.ChoiceShops.co.uk. Married Nikki and have 4 children, Charles (9), George (7), Cordelia (7) and Izzy (4). Living in Shropshire. |
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Gary Hawley
Now
| 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! |
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What have you been doing for the last 39 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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