Royal Navy sailors ‘shocked and amazed’ after being honoured in the belated birthday list
DEDICATED Royal Navy sailors from Portsmouth have told of their joy after being named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Delayed because of Covid-19, a Royal Navy surgeon working on the frontline during the pandemic, the officer in charge of training sailors for ceremonial duties, and a mother supporting families of disabled youngsters are on the 2020 list.
In total 22 men and women from across the Royal Navy and Royal Marines have had their work acknowledged.
Five Royal Navy officers receive OBEs, including Surgeon Commander Sam Hutchings for his tireless work during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The intensive care consultant from Portsmouthbased Joint Hospital Group (South) worked at London’s Kings College Hospital, setting up a command and control structure to oversee nine intensive care units. The medic, who has seen service for the navy on submarines, and in Iraq, Afghanistan and in Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis, was humble about his honour. The 47-year-old said: ‘I was surprised and a bit embarrassed because I didn’t do anything that hundreds of people didn’t do. It is a team effort and every single person deserves praise.’
Leading Writer Rebecca Fyans, who works at the navy’s headquarters in Portsmouth, is made an MBE for her commitment to disability and inclusion and diversity issues, both across defence and in her local community.
Well known in the navy and in Portsmouth for her charity work, she is a carers’ advocate for the Armed Forces CanDID network.
‘I was really shocked to hear about the honour, it is quite amazing. I didn’t think
something like this would happen to me,’ said the mum-of-two, whose husband is also in the Senior Service.
Rebecca, whose son Sebby was born in 2013 with Down’s syndrome, last year helped launch CanDID with an event attended by senior military personnel and ministers.
‘I was one of the speakers and bought the entire room to tears with my story. It has given people, especially senior decision-makers, an insight into what it is like to be a carer in the armed forces, and really shone a light on it,’ said Rebecca, who was named a Rising Star in Defence in 2018
‘It is a voluntary role and without the support of my family I wouldn’t have been able to do it,’ added the 40-year-old, who earlier this year was named one of the most inspirational people in Portsmouth by BAE Systems.
The navy’s state ceremonial training officer, Warrant Officer 1 Eddie Wearing, was left speechless when he was told of his MBE.
Fareham-based sailor Eddie, who delivers training for Royal Navy personnel at high-profile events, such as Remembrance and Palace Guarding, was rewarded for ‘demonstrating selfless dedication and delivering the highest ceremonial standards, bringing credit to the Royal Navy and United Kingdom’.
‘I was absolutely amazed to hear,’ said Eddie. ‘I’ve just come back from Bahrain after a six-month sabbatical and I’m in isolation. The captain (of HMS Collingwood) rings me and says “are you sitting down?”.
‘When she told me I didn’t know what to say. “Mr Wearing, I don’t think I’ve known you to be speechless”.’
‘It was my dad’s 70th birthday and, as he is ex-forces, I have told them. My mum is already buying a hat.
‘I have been in this role since 2015 and I absolutely love the job. It is made very easy by the staff working for me.’