Navy News
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.
Sailors join veteran for his 100th birthday celebration
.jpg?h=1125&iar=0&w=1500&rev=7e2a7dcb83dc4423a6ecd2a953e15f80&hash=46DBDDB4381F88642FF7F6BA179EE69D)
2 May 2025
Royal Navy veteran Alan Dickins celebrated his centenary with a surprise visit from two serving sailors.
Alan was presented with a letter of congratulations from First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key by Lieutenant Phillip Corner and Warrant Officer Paul Barrott.
The veteran enjoyed an action-packed start to his career, joining HMS Furious at Scapa Flow as an 18-year-old Radar Operator. The ship was involved in the chasing down of the German battleship Tirpitz following the bombardment of Spitzbergen.
Alan served around the world, including escorting Russian convoys, before sailing with HMS Bermuda to the Far East and supporting the evacuation of prisoners of war from Japanese labour camps.
It was a genuine honour to meet Alan and share this celebration with him and his family. Hearing his story of his service to our country during the Second World War is a reminder of the great sacrifice of his generation, and why people like him were regarded as heroes by generations to follow
“Alan’s example of courage and commitment, his stoic outlook on the adversity he faced during his service, and his humility for his own contribution are truly inspiring.
“His incredible wit and sense of humour were infectious. It was wonderful to hear his dits of some of the fonder memories he found amid the horrors of that conflict, not least an apparently very lively birthday run ashore in Hong Kong.
“The current generation, especially those of us serving today, would do well to regard Alan and his peers as role models and aspire to the standard set by their example.”
Lt Corner and WO Barrott, who is Warrant Officer Northern Units, Maritime Reserve HQ, were invited to join Alan at his home for his celebrations with his family.