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Once Navy - Always Navy

Lt. Cdr. Neil Hunter  QCBA, Bsc RN

Neil Hunter was born in 1963 and educated at Sir Roger Manwood’s Grammar School in Kent. On leaving school he was awarded a Naval Bursary and attained a degree in Civil Engineering at Plymouth before joining the Royal Navy in 1984.

After initial training at BRNC and in HMS FEARLESS, fleet time was spent in HMS BRINTON and HMS EXETER, before attending OOW Course in the summer of 1986. He achieved a first class pass and was appointed as Navigating Officer to HMS REDPOLE, one of the Northern Ireland patrol vessels. After a busy and rewarding year in the Province, a short 5 month tour to the Falklands as one of the tri-service BFFI HQ watchkeepers followed before he sub-specialised and commenced Aircrew training in 1988.

On completion of flying training, during which he gained the award of ASW Pilot of the Year, he joined 826 Squadron C Flight. The Flight deployed in support of Operation GRANBY in December 1990 and during the conflict against Iraq operated initially from the Dutch tanker ZUIDERKRUIS and then the RFA’s SIR GALAHAD, ARGUS and FORT GRANGE in support primarily of the MCMVs and Fleet Clearance Diving Units. His helicopter was the first allied aircraft to land in Kuwait on declaration of the cease-fire at the end of February 1991.

After Initial Staff Course in 1992, he spent 17 months as the Flight Commander in the Type 42 Destroyer HMS GLASGOW before assuming command of the Minehunter HMS CROMER in May 1995. During his 2 years in command, the ship was deployed widely including the first Atlantic crossing by a Sandown for the joint US/UK exercise Purple Star. He then returned to RNAS Culdrose for 2 years as the Senior Pilot of 810 NAS, responsible for all ASW Sea King training. The highlight of the tour was being awarded a QCBA for his part in the rescue of 14 Spanish seamen from the waters of the Atlantic in February 1998.

Before being selected to attend the Canadian Staff Course in July 2001, he enjoyed a very challenging 2 years at BRNC as the Staff Officer Universities, responsible for all Sponsored Undergraduates and for the administration of the 14 Royal Naval Units around the UK.

We are pleased that Neil has accepted our invitation to be our Guest of Honour at our Royal Naval Association Annual Trafalgar Dinner and look forward to seeing him whenever he is able to attend any of our functions during his year at the Staff College.

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This web site is maintained by Shipmate Norrie Millen, Toronto, Canada.   Send mail  to Norrie HERE with questions or comments about this web site.   All pages in this directory Copyright © 1999-2008 Jim Lynch and Norrie Millen.   This page last modified: 03 March, 2008.  (Web space courtesy of Jim Lynch)