Tag Archives: MBE

Plymouth Submariner surfaces to collect MBE

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A MARINE Engineering Officer who had the “relentless” task of keeping a nuclear submarine at sea for 11 months has been awarded an MBE.

Lieutenant Commander Andy Sharp was deployed aboard HMS Triumph in 2011 and 2012 when the boat was sent to the Gulf and Libya.

Lieutenant Commander Andy Sharp was deployed aboard HMS Triumph in 2011 and 2012 when the boat was sent to the Gulf and Libya.

 

Servicemean Andy Sharp receives his MBE, accompanied by his fiancee Kay Talbot

The 45-year-old regularly faced repairing the ageing Trafalgar-Class boat but each and every time ensured HMS Triumph and her crew remained tightly on schedule.

The citation explained how the boat remained on station for Operations Ellamy and Unified Protector for more than 100 days providing vital intelligence to NATO and as the UK’s strategic strike capability.​

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It continued: “Throughout that time Andy led his department with selfless dedication, tenacity and resourcefulness as they kept the submarine in a first class state of repair through what was, at the time, the longest ever operational SSN deployment.

“By the time she returned to the UK, HMS Triumph had spent over 14 of the previous months away from home and that achievement was due in no small part to Andy.”

Commander Rob Dunn, the Commanding Officer of HMS Triumph at the time, said: “Too often in the past what submariners have done has been out of sight and therefore out of mind. But the challenges faced by my engineers in keeping Triumph ready for operations was immense and I was delighted to see Andy, along with several other members of my crew, recognised in the Operational Awards.”

Also to be recognised in the Operational Honours with a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service was Warrant Officer 2 Alasdair McCall who supported Andy throughout the deployment.

Andy said: “It was a brilliant day, it was presented by the Queen. She said congratulations and asked me if I was busy last year because of the award.”

He said the MBE represented the hard work of an “excellent team”.

The Lt Cdr was presented his MBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace with his fiancee Kay Talbot and children Danny and Kirsty.

His son Danny, a Royal Navy Air Engineering Technician, was flown off HMS Illustrious especially for the occasion.

Source – ThisisPlymouth

Consett submarine commander presented with MBE at Palace

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A RETIRED submarine commander surfaced at Buckingham Palace to be presented with an honour for service to his country.

Lieutenant Commander Stuart Hobson, from Consett, in County Durham, collected an MBE announced during the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The 55-year-old was given the award for his dedication to the UK’s continuous at sea deterrent and helping to promote relations between the Royal Navy and US Navy.

After leaving Blackfyne Secondary School, Lieutenant Commander Hobson embarked on a 38-year career with the Royal Navy, serving on the Polaris submarines HMS Renown, HMS Repulse and HMS Resolution followed by tours with Vanguard submarines HMS Victorious and HMS Vengeance.

He ended his military career on shore as officer-in-charge of HMNB Clyde’s Strategic Weapons Support Building.

He said: “The investiture was a unique experience which made me and my wife very proud, yet humble. It made me feel that my 38-years before the mast was not in vain.”

Since retirement, Mr Hobson has started a new career in the private sector with Lockheed Martin UK Strategic Systems.

Accompanying him to the Buckingham Palace ceremony were his wife, Wendy, and their three children, Chris, Nick and Emma.

Source – The Northern Echo