Royal Navy sailors from Portsmouth stunned after being named in Queen's Birthday Honours list

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

DEDICATED sailors Royal Navy sailors from Portsmouth have told of their joy after being named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Delayed because of Covid-19, a Royal Navy surgeon working on the frontline during the pandemic, the officer in charge of training sailors for ceremonial duties, and a mother supporting families of disabled youngsters are on the 2020 list.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In total 22 men and women from across the Royal Navy and Royal Marines have had their work acknowledged.

Five Royal Navy officers receive OBEs, including Surgeon Commander Sam Hutchings for his tireless work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Surgeon Commander Sam Hutchings is to receive an OBE for his tireless work during the Covid-19 pandemic. The intensive care consultant from Portsmouth-based Joint Hospital Group (South) worked at London’s Kings College Hospital during the pandemic.Surgeon Commander Sam Hutchings is to receive an OBE for his tireless work during the Covid-19 pandemic. The intensive care consultant from Portsmouth-based Joint Hospital Group (South) worked at London’s Kings College Hospital during the pandemic.
Surgeon Commander Sam Hutchings is to receive an OBE for his tireless work during the Covid-19 pandemic. The intensive care consultant from Portsmouth-based Joint Hospital Group (South) worked at London’s Kings College Hospital during the pandemic.

The intensive care consultant from Portsmouth-based Joint Hospital Group (South) worked at London’s Kings College Hospital, setting up a command and control structure to oversee nine intensive care units.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The medic, who has seen service for the navy on submarines, and in Iraq, Afghanistan and in Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis, was humble about his honour.

The 47-year-old said: ‘I was surprised and a bit embarrassed because I didn’t do anything that hundreds of people didn’t do. It is a team effort and every single person deserves praise.’

Read More
Calls made to save former Portsmouth-based warship from sinking
The navy’s state ceremonial training officer, Warrant Officer 1 Eddie Wearing, was left speechless when he was told of his MBE.The navy’s state ceremonial training officer, Warrant Officer 1 Eddie Wearing, was left speechless when he was told of his MBE.
The navy’s state ceremonial training officer, Warrant Officer 1 Eddie Wearing, was left speechless when he was told of his MBE.

Leading Writer Rebecca Fyans, who works at the navy’s headquarters in Portsmouth, is made an MBE for her commitment to disability and inclusion and diversity issues, both across defence and in her local community.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Well known in the navy and in Portsmouth for her charity work, she is a carers’ advocate for the Armed Forces CanDID network.

‘I was really shocked to hear about the honour, it is quite amazing. I didn’t think something like this would happen to me,’ said the mum-of-two, whose husband is also in the Senior Service.

Rebecca, whose son Sebby was born in 2013 with Down’s syndrome, last year helped launch CanDID with an event attended by senior military personnel and ministers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Leading Writer Rebecca Fyans, who works at the navy’s headquarters in Portsmouth, is made an MBE for her commitment to disability and inclusion and diversity issues, both across defence and in her local community.Leading Writer Rebecca Fyans, who works at the navy’s headquarters in Portsmouth, is made an MBE for her commitment to disability and inclusion and diversity issues, both across defence and in her local community.
Leading Writer Rebecca Fyans, who works at the navy’s headquarters in Portsmouth, is made an MBE for her commitment to disability and inclusion and diversity issues, both across defence and in her local community.

‘I was one of the speakers and bought the entire room to tears with my story. It has given people, especially senior decision-makers, an insight into what it is like to be a carer in the armed forces, really shone a light on it,’ said Rebecca, who was named a Rising Star in Defence in 2018

‘It is a voluntary role and without the support of my family I wouldn’t have been able to do it,’ added the 40-year-old, who earlier this year was named one of the most inspirational people in Portsmouth by BAE Systems.

The navy’s state ceremonial training officer, Warrant Officer 1 Eddie Wearing, was left speechless when he was told of his MBE.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Fareham-based sailor Eddie, who delivers training for Royal Navy personnel at high-profile events, such as Remembrance and Palace Guarding, was rewarded for ‘demonstrating selfless dedication and delivering the highest ceremonial standards, bringing credit to the Royal Navy and United Kingdom’.

‘I was absolutely amazed to hear,’ said Eddie. ‘I’ve just come back from Bahrain after a six-month sabbatical and I’m in isolation. The captain (of HMS Collingwood) rings me and says “are you sitting down?”.

‘When she told me I didn’t know what to say. “Mr Wearing, I don’t think I’ve known you to be speechless”.’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘It was my dad’s 70th birthday and, as he is ex-forces, I have told them. My mum is already buying a hat.

‘I have been in this role since 2015 and I absolutely love the job. It is made very easy by the staff working for me.’

Looking for the latest Royal Navy updates from Portsmouth? Join our new Royal Navy news Facebook group to keep up to date.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.