Nottingham - HMS Sherwood

Military experience

Commander Clegg was born in Northumberland and joined the Royal Navy in 1980 as a Direct Graduate Seaman Officer. He underwent sea training about HMS Bulwark and HMS Minerva before specialising as a Hydrographic Surveyor. Part of his time as a probationary surveyor included serving in HMS Hecla, which took part in the Falklands campaign.

Martin rapidly gained extensive practical experience in both ocean and coastal hydrographic and oceanographic survey operations in and around Ascension Island, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the English Channel. To his surprise (and delight) he was, in early 1986, appointed to HMS Tamar in Hong Kong as the Assistant Staff Officer Operations.

Martin returned to UK in mid-1988 to attend the Long Hydrographic Course at HMS Drake, RN Hydrographic School. Back at sea as the Operations Officer of HMS Hecla and then as Executive Officer, he took part in the Ocean Survey Programme in the equatorial South Atlantic.

In 1994, he was appointed to MOD London as Naval Assistant to the Hydrographer of the Navy, Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh, later to be First Sea Lord.

In 1996, Martin became the Hydrographic Officers’ Career Manager (Naval Secretary). Then in 1998, he headed back to sea, and the Antarctic Ocean, as Executive Officer of HMS Endurance for a very enjoyable 2 years. He returned to surveying as Commanding Officer and Charge Surveyor of Naval Party 1008, conducting surveys in the English and Bristol Channels, updating Admiralty charts to ensure safe navigation for all seafarers.

His experience was then utilised as the Equipment Desk Officer in the Directorate of Naval Surveying, Oceanography & Meteorology (MOD London) which included responsibility for the project management of the Civil Hydrographic Programme on behalf of the Maritime Coastguard Agency.

In 2005 he joined HMS Sherwood as the RN Staff Officer and transferred to the RNR in 2008 upon retiring from the RN. He was appointed as Commanding Officer of HMS Sherwood in July 2009.