Royal Navy officers pay flying visit to university

ROYAL Navy officers have returned to their old university stomping ground to meet current students.

Commander Edward Vaughan, Lieutenant Commander Michael Brown, Lieutenant Commander Edwin Adams, Lieutenant Oliver Trowman, SubLiuetenant Declan Johnson and Sergeant Graham Smith said it was “great to be back” on the Loughborough campus.

The six spoke with aeronautical engineering students and brought a Merlin HC MK4, which is equipped with flotation gear and a foldable tail and rotor blades for use on aircraft carriers.

The officers discussed helicopter operations in the Navy and provided practical advice to students, who are all working on design projects under the themes of heavy lift capabilities at high speed and aerial mine detection and clearance.

Lt Trowman, who co-ordinated the visit, said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to come back and talk to the students and maybe even inspire some of them. It’s quite amazing to see the transformation of the university and it’s nice to see that the students are still as enthusiastic as we were back then.

“This wasn’t a career I had considered at university so hopefully this has sparked a bit of interest in one or two people and shown them this is career choice available to you once you’ve got a degree from Loughborough.”

Lt Cdr Adams said: “I had a great experience studying at Loughborough and it’s fascinating coming back to the aeronautical engineering department. It’s lovely to come back and show the students some of the practical applications of their education and hopefully inspire them and show them one or two directions they could take their career.”

The naval officers also met with students from East Midlands Universities’ Air Squadron.

Cdr Vaughan, who graduated with a degree in commercial management with quantity surveying in 2001, said: “Life in the armed forces can be as varied as you wish. I’ve been fortunate enough to go to 22 countries in the past three years.

“My advice to students would be to find something you enjoy that you can get paid to do. I did work in an office before this, doing spreadsheets every day. I don’t miss that!”

Professor Chris Rielly said of the visit: “It was a great pleasure to welcome Lt Trowman and five of his colleagues to speak to our students.”