An engineer in the Royal Navy Reserve has been rewarded for his work as a Military Liaison Officer for a health authority during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lieutenant Paul Holvey worked for the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and was named the Most Outstanding Service Personnel in Lockdown by the Armed Forces Community Lockdown Awards.
“I was totally shocked and amazed that my contribution towards Operation Rescript had been deemed that significant or indeed recognised,” he said.
“I feel very humbled that the Cardiff and Vale University Hospital took the time and effort to show their appreciation of my contribution and feel extremely proud of being chosen as the winner, being able to show the RN Reserves and my civilian employer in a good light.”
Lt Holvey served in the Royal Navy as a Marine Engineer submariner between 1980 and 2014 before transferring to the Royal Naval Reserve as an engineer.
In his civilian life he is a Senior Supportability Engineer for Babcock International Group but volunteered to be mobilised as part of Op Rescript, the military support to fighting the pandemic, in July 2020.
The initial period was planned to be three months but, with the full support of his employer, Lt Holvey volunteered to extend until April 2021.
Lt Holvey’s main focus was overseeing the logistical preparations for the decommissioning of Ysbyty Calon y Ddraig, a 2,000-bed temporary Nightingale hospital based at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, which was only eight miles away from where he grew up.
“As a Welsh person and being a local it was very rewarding to be able to contribute to the local community. Working in the Principality Stadium decommissioning the Field Hospital was absolutely fantastic, especially as I had played rugby for the RN Youth and RN Veterans.”
The award citation stated: “Throughout his deployment Lt Holvey demonstrated a tenacious, decisive, team orientated approach. He was highly dependable, exhibited a strong work ethic and his personal confidence and resilience shone through and positively influenced others.”
