Cruel comment launches stellar 34-year Naval career

Ian Shepherd MSM, 67, smiles broadly and tightly squeezes my hand as we meet outside the Norfolk and Suffolk Air Museum, in Flixton, Suffolk. He’s a warm and enthusiastic character who looks a decade younger.

We sit in the canteen, between a jet fighter and a missile system, and begin to chat.

Ian, who lives with wife Shirley in the rural Suffolk village of Redgrave, was born into the tiny village of Cuerdley, near Widnes in Cheshire. “1955 was a great year” he quips. “The same year Lego was invented”.

His first 15 years were spent around the farm. The hard, physical work shaped him into an athletic sports-loving youngster.

Seeking a new direction, he decided to join the Royal Marines. “No-one in my family had ever been in the military. Through both world wars, they were farmers and miners.”

Ignoring his father’s protests, Ian set off to the recruiting office in Liverpool.

“I was first through the door” he says. The 6’2” Marine on duty was just removing his wet cape. “He looked down at me and said ‘Hello young man, what can I do for you?’ So I said: ‘I want to join the Marines’.”

The Marine looked down at the 5’5” teenager and said “What as? A bloody mascot!”

Shocked, Ian walked out, leaving behind forever his dream of being a Royal Marine.

By chance, or design, next door was the Royal Navy recruiting office. “At the time, they were advertising the Gunnery branch and had .303 rifles with bayonets in the window” he says. “I thought, ‘Well, I’ll go and do that then!’.”

And so began a stellar, 34-year career.

Still under 16, Ian returned home until he was old enough to join. He landed a job at the new Asda store in Widnes until he was able to join the Navy, on 1^st November 1971.

Sixteen weeks of training later, it was time for Specialist Qualification. Ian had his heart set on joining the Gunnery. “Our PO said there would be a badge on our bed telling us where we’ll be going”. Returning to Mess, Ian was dismayed to find a Torpedo/Anti-submarine badge. However, another trainee had a Gunnery badge and wanted to become a Torpedo/Anti-Submarine Specialist. “So, we swapped.”

Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t that simple. On arriving at their respective coaches, his name wasn’t on the Gunnery list. The other trainee was in the same boat. “The POs in charge of each group talked, got us together, looked at our badges, looked at each other and said ‘Go and get on your bloody coaches!’.”

Ian was in The Gunnery.

Now on his chosen path, promotion came quickly. “I was a Corporal at 18, Petty Officer at 22 and Chief Petty Officer at 26”. However, rules dictated that he couldn’t become a Warrant Officer before the age of 32. It was a long wait, but things were changing: lots of variety, new weaponry. Eventually promotion came.

Ian proposed aged 22 to Shirley, a WREN, just before a long tour of duty. “If you’re on the jetty when I return, I’ll marry you.” Nine months later, she was there with her parents. They married on the Silver Jubilee weekend in 1977. There was no honeymoon, as duty called. However, the couple had opportunities to travel together, as Ian often flew Shirley to meet him while stationed in exotic locations.

They now have a son and a daughter, in their 30s. Travel took its toll on early family life. “I missed first words, first steps, first day at school”. A flicker of sadness passes across his face. “I returned from a trip and my young son wouldn’t accept me for 4 days. I felt heartbroken.”

There were many notable events in Ian’s career. Supporting the Americans during the Vietnam War. Sailing to The Falklands war on his birthday. Driving Green Goddesses during the 1977 Firemen’s Strike. The Gulf Wars. Appearing unexpectedly in New Zealand’s version of “It’s a Knockout”.

Retiring at 50, Ian became a teacher at Gosport College then was headhunted, spending five years developing a training simulator for the new Type 45 Destroyer.

He now spends his time on angling and archery, and volunteering at the museum. “It’s absolutely wonderful here” he says. “Such a great bunch of boys and girls”. He smiles at the description, as the staff range in age between about 60 and 85.

His bucket list? “I’d love to do a British Lions tour, in the Antipodes.” He’s also “A bit of a whizz” on the Boer Wars and would love to visit some of the battle sites.

Our tea finished, Ian walks me back to the car park, joking along the way. He smiles broadly and shakes my hand again, then crunches away across the gravel.

—ends—

© Copyright Jez Donaldson. All rights reserved.