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!
Derek Turner
| Which Division were you in?: | Blake |
|---|---|
| Best memory of BRNC: | - |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | - |
| What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?: - | |
Adrian (Tel) Venables
Then
Now
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 1 |
| Occupation: | Academic |
| Which Division were you in?: | Hawke |
| Best memory of BRNC: | Plates of chocolate digestives at stand easy and gallons of Pimms in the Senior Gun Room bar |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | Divisions and the run from Hawke to Sandquay to be in time for river lessons |
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What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?:
Having left as a PWO (CEWI) after 24 years, I exploited my experience to move into the cybersecurity industry. Work as an employed and self employed consultant drew me back into the RNR working in Cyber Operations. For my mid-life crisis I decided not to buy a motorbike and instead did a PhD. That resulted in an appointment back in uniform at the Defence Cyber School (as it then was) in the Defence Academy as their Lead Academic Instructor. The RNR cyber role also introduced me to the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn, Estonia and their cyber exercise programme. After a number of years travelling regularly to Estonia I emigrated there after accepting a job at the Tallinn University of Technology where I am now the Director of the Cybersecurity Masters Programme and Head of their Satellite Ground Station. Following retirement at 55 from the RNR, I was recruited into the Estonian Defence Force Reserve Cyber Defence League, so I am sort of still serving, but under different colours. Teaching commitments prevent me from travelling to the UK during term time, but I hope you enjoy the 40th reunion at HMS EXCELLENT. |
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Tim Waters
Now
| Occupation: | Headmaster |
|---|---|
| Comment: Pity I can only make the dinner.... | |
| Which Division were you in?: | Hawke |
| Best memory of BRNC: | Sailing out past the Castle on one of the yachts |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | Only 3 of us left at end of PLX and all that kit to carry off. |
| What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?: 6 Years at Oxford (mainly rowing). Vol Ret mid way through Grad Tech in 1988. Realised that there were not going to be any diesel-electric boats soon (and that's why I'd joined). And I was hopeless anyway. Tried teaching as a "gap job" but loved it. Taught at Abingdon and Portsmouth Grammar. Have been Head of Royal Wolverhampton School and now Trinity School Teignmouth. Marriage number 2 (this one's working) with 3 sprogs. Going grey and wondering what the next 25 years hold. | |
Iain Whyte
Then
Now
| Occupation: | Royal Navy |
|---|---|
| Which Division were you in?: | Cunningham |
| Best memory of BRNC: | Escaping DTS to sail round the Caribbean on Adventure (Nich 55) |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | Senior Mids rounds and watching neatly ironed and squared away clothing disappearing out of the windows towards the tennis courts at the back of D Block...rescrub! |
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What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?:
With the exception of 2 years career break to go back to University, have continued RN career, working in a broad range of jobs from supporting Royal to a variety of training projects, more recently have been on the staff at BRNC, briefly in the Maritime Battlestaff and latterly as a Requirements Manager for an Integrated Project Team. Currently doing pre-deployment training for more travels in September this year. Now living on the edge of the New Forest, married to Natasha with 2 boys, Tom (5) and Ben (2.5). |
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Tim Winter
Then
Now
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Engineer in NHS Estates |
| Comment: Looking forward to catching up with old friends, after an enjoyable reunion 3 years ago. | |
| Which Division were you in?: | Hawke |
| Best memory of BRNC: | Div Music - Time Warp |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | Passing Out Parade practice with broken collar bone. |
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What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?:
Finally pushed out the door Jan 22, now enjoying work with the NHS. Career highlights: last Cdr E and then SNO, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS; Fleet MEO. Adventurous highlights: sailing round Cape Horn; leading RN exped to Antarctic and South Georgia. Family highlights: wife and 2 sons (one now a Lt CO of HMS EXPRESS and one working in the City and living in Vauxhall); living on the edge of the Marlborough Downs with wife and dog. |
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| Anything of note happen since you attended the last reunion?: Attended the wedding of my son to a fellow RN Officer, in her home town of Taunton. Spent a couple of days in HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH as my son's guest (10 years after he was my guest in HMS ILLUSTRIOUS). Arranged to have a memorial to Shackleton dedicated at Westminster Abbey. | |
Bill Woodley
Then
Now
| Occupation: | Chief Operating Officer, Deutsche Bank Asia |
|---|---|
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Comment:
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| Which Division were you in?: | The Mighty Blake |
| Best memory of BRNC: | Sleeping through the Passing Out Parade rehearsal. |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | Listening to Gricey, Cheese et al moan endlessly about their Charlies for being adrift to the Passing Out Parade rehearsal. (Should have stayed in bed, boys!) |
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What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?:
City University, HMS Sirius, Disbanded "Billy and the Meatbeaters", BP Oil, Married an American (not from Ft Lauderdale), Move to USA, NatWest Markets, 3 sons, Deutsche Bank, Moved to Hong Kong in 05, Moving back to US in 2010 Is that really 25 years? |
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Darroch Woodward
Then
Now
| Occupation: | Contract Consultancy - Maritime and Infrastructure Security |
|---|---|
| Which Division were you in?: | Blake |
| Best memory of BRNC: | Grad Tech |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | Burning my balding patch on DTS and then having to wear a beret at morning muster. V painful! |
| What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?: Having treated BRNC as a school ground, my next few years where a little disjointed until I eventually became a Mine Clearance Diving Officer in 91. Two statutory MCD sea jobs bouncing around in little boats were followed by a string of fun jobs that included 4 mths in Hong Kong during the drawdown, Boss of FDU2, Experimental Diving ProjO at DCIEM Toronto, two years purgatory back in the Portsmouth HQ as punishment for so much fun, and then 3 years on loan service running the Omani Navy\'s diving team. Leaving the RN and emigrating to Canada Aug 08, I took 7 months off (3 skiing in Whistler) but the 2008 economic downturn foiled my new career ambitions, so I ended up back in RN uniform on a 6 month FTRS contract in the Portsmouth HQ in March 09. The Career Managers then tempted me with a 2 year FTRS contract back in Canada (Ottawa) as probably the only Reservist on an overseas exchange appointment. | |
| Anything of note happen since you attended the last reunion?: Completing my FTRS contract in Ottawa in Oct 11, still unsure what to do, I then put on an RCN uniform. But I remained stuck behind an Ottawa HQ desk for another 2½ years and decided the next options were even less fun, so I ditched the RCN in Aug 14. Since then I have been working on an occasional subcontracting basis. My long term view is that work is severely overrated, so I have bought a piece of land overlooking a lake in the untamed interior of BC, and next year intend to build a large cedar log house and live the laid-back BC dream in semi-retirement. | |
Gavin Young
Then
Now
| Which Division were you in?: | Cunningham |
|---|---|
| Best memory of BRNC: | Soapy Watson who taught me all I know |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | Running. I\'m more of an explosive sprinter |
| What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?: Commanded most classes of warship, enjoyed excellent relationships with all COs, Sqn Cdrs and Line Managers. | |
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Anything of note happen since you attended the last reunion?:
Keeping fit and trim. (And foolishly allowing Mid Anderson editorial privileges on my profile page) |
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Steve Young
| Occupation: | Future Business Director |
|---|---|
| Comment: Didnt make the last reunion so very determined to make this one! | |
| Which Division were you in?: | Hawke |
| Best memory of BRNC: | The balcony from the upper dorm and the view down to the mouth of the Dart |
| Worst memory of BRNC: | Scrubbing shower curtains (and lots of other pointless cleaning! |
| What have you been doing for the last 39 years!!?: Stayed in the RN for around 19 years. Ended up in Submarines, last job before leaving was WEO of Vengeance. Five years in Defence and Aerospace project management (where I learned I wasn't really an engineer) and then six years in support services, running a business unit delivering training for the RN | |