Navy News
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Big thumbs up for Dartmouth from Parliamentary fact-finders
12 February 2025
“The work of Britannia Royal Naval College is clearly a national asset we must protect and support.”
The words of Mike Reader – Member of Parliament for Northampton South – and one of a group from the Palace of Westminster given unique access to the spiritual home of the Royal Navy’s Officer Corps.
With fewer and fewer Brits – including politicians – connected to the military through direct service or that of family members as the Forces have reduced in size and the WW1/WW2 generations have passed on, the Armed Forces Parliament Scheme was introduced more than 30 years ago to give lawmakers of all leanings greater insight into the workings of the Services… so they can make better informed decisions and contribute more effectively to debates on defence in their respective Houses.
That can mean visits to operations around the globe… or establishments around the UK, such as BRNC in Dartmouth.
The group was welcomed by Captain Andy Bray, BRNC’s Captain, and hosted by Lt Cdr David Lee and Lt Liam Speed.
During their two-day visit they observed various aspects of naval training, including
- the state-of-the-art bridge simulators used to train future warfare officers;
- the high ropes course designed to test teamwork skills, physical resilience, and problem-solving skills;
- the chaplaincy, which forms part of BRNC’s holistic support network for Officer Cadets.
They parliamentarians also received a brief from Cdre Tristram Kirkwood, the Naval Regional Commander for Wales, the West of England, and the Channel Islands, on the wider work of the RN both in the South West and beyond.
“It was an honour to see at first hand the outstanding training delivered at BRNC,” Mr Reader said of the two-day tour.
“The care taken to develop world-class naval leaders was inspiring.”