Greenock - HMS Dalriada

Military experience

Brought up in the Scottish Borders, and schooled in Lancashire he spent time travelling in Africa and Europe before joining Britannia Royal Naval College in April 1986 as a Seaman Officer. Having passed out in August 1987, training time was spent in the Patrol Boat HMS Plover in Hong Kong and the destroyer HMS Exeter in the Gulf. Further training and appointments followed as a Navigating Officer in a range of ships, from the wooden hulled minesweeper HMS Nurton to a then much newer Frigate HMS Cornwall.

Time was also spent as Assistant Navigating Officer in HMY Britannia where highlights were trips to South America and Canada as well as time in UK waters. Staff appointments included Flag Lieutenant to Flag Officer Scotland & Northern Ireland (FOSNNI) and Squadron Operations Officer to Senior Naval Officer Northern Ireland (SNONI).

He left the Royal Navy in 1998, rejoining the Naval Service as a reservist at HMS Scotia in 2001. In 2003 he was mobilised for staff duties on Op Telic 1 at Fleet Headquarters in Northwood where duties included compilation of the War Diary. At Scotia he carried out a range of unit roles, as a Divisional Officer and Head of Department, finishing as Executive Officer from 2007-10 where the key challenge was managing the transfer of unit roles and activities to the new Regional structure. As a Maritime Trade Operations and latterly Amphibious Warfare officer, he has had experience of commercial shipping as a Boarding Officer on NATO and National Exercises in Norway, Belgium and France, and amphibious operations in exercises at home and abroad.

Civilian employment is as a building surveyor in the construction sector, working as a building contractor and since 2006 with the Scottish Government. Projects have included the restoration of several castles, repairs to a cathedral and work on clay buildings. He is currently Head of Technical Research at Historic Scotland where he commissions and manages research projects primarily focused on energy efficiency in older structures, as well as on the wider themes of sustainability embodied energy.

He is married to Alison, who is an Advocate. They have two children at primary school and live in Edinburgh and the Borders. He is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and interests include restoring a vintage speedboat and local history.