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The Royal Naval Association was granted it's Royal Charter in 1954 and its membership exceeds 28,000 in over 400 Branches, including some overseas. It was established to further the efficiency and well being of the Service, preserve its traditions and encourage recruiting. It also seeks to perpetuate the memory of those who died in the service of their country and offers assistance to those who need it, helping them get the benefits they're entitled to, to have a good quality of life.

Although from Cornwall, Bob was born in Plymouth just a short hop from Saltash over the Taymar Bridge. He comes from a family which was traditionally associated with the Army. Bob broke with tradition by joining the Navy something done only once before by a distant uncle. Bob's naval career began at the age of fifteen at the shore based training facility HMS Ganges where he joined the communications branch and spent twelve months training there before continuing his training at HMS Mercury. After completing training, Bob went to his first sea-going draft aboard the fisheries protection vessel, HMS Malcolm one of a five vessel fleet to ensure that fishing boats were protected during a time when relations between Britain and Iceland were less than cordial.

Bob spent eleven years in the service, three years of which was on the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious and two-and-a-half years aboard the assault vessel HMS Intrepid. Bob was in the tactical branch, and took on the role of what was known as a 'flag-wagger'. His most enjoyable time was in the far east and it was there he was on the periphery of the Malay Confrontation. It was whilst returning from the Far East that he and his crew mates where aboard ship in the Suez Canal when the Six Day War broke out. Bob also served in Gibraltar, or 'The Rock' as its known, in the huge NATO communications centre connected by a huge tunnel running from one side of the island to the other.

It was quite a shock leaving the Navy after eleven years. Many of the simple things he'd taken for granted like having a dentist or a doctor, had to be sorted out. Having suffered one failed marriage, a situation not uncommon as long periods away at sea, sometimes years, put extreme pressure on families back home. Returning to 'civvy street' he joined the prison service.

Bob explained the background to his picture which features World War Two veterans aboard the Bounty when it visited Hull. The veterans took part in a visit to the United States sparked by a chance meeting between Bob and a former U.S. Marine, now a travel agent, married to an English woman and based in Leicester. The pair got on well together and parted on good terms. Some months late he recalled his encounter and thought the ex-marine would be a good contact to help arrange a trip to the United States for him and some colleagues. Over a year later a trip was organised to visit Charleston in South Carolina and Bob along with fourteen other colleagues including World War Two veterans who were warmly welcomed by the people of Charleston.

He said many of the veterans were deeply moved by the respect paid to them by the people of Charleston. Hundreds of the city's residents came up to them and shook their hands thanking them for their service during the war. He said some of the veterans were moved to tears and contrasted the response of people in the United States to that of some people in Britain who object to having uniformed personnel on the streets.

In June of this year, the Hull Branch of the Royal Naval Association will welcome US veterans to the city of Hull, something Bob is very much looking forward to.