Eat up me hearties! Christmas is just around the corner…
Junior Sailors, Submariners and Marines headed to the HMS Neptune supermess at HM Naval Base Clyde this week to be served a delicious Christmas dinner as part of an age-old Royal Navy tradition.
On the menu on Wednesday, December 10, was a traditional roast turkey dinner served with all the trimmings, and in keeping with tradition, senior members of the Senior Service donned their Christmas jumpers and Santa hats to serve the junior rates a three-course festive feast.
Naval Base Commander Clyde, Commodore Sharon Malkin ADC, served the starter to the junior rates and was accompanied by 43 Commando Royal Marines Commanding Officer Colonel Stuart MacCrimmon, Captain Aiden Flannigan, Captain Elaine Boyd and quite a few others who all did their best to make sure that everyone was looked after and had everything they needed to enjoy their Christmas meal.
The tradition first began as a way for officers to show their appreciation for those on duty over the Christmas period. In some vessels the tradition was taken even further with the most junior officers changing places with the Commanding Officer for the day, even issuing orders to his crew members.
Lieutenant Commander Phil Nicholson who was serving a variety of delicious desserts said: “It was a pleasure to support the Junior Rate’s Christmas dinner and to be able to give something back to our sailors and marines for everything they have done throughout the year.
“It is encouraging that the tradition of Officers serving the Junior Rates their Christmas lunch continues shoreside as well as at sea and gives all of us a chance to engage and thank the people who we serve with.”
As home to the Submarine Service, some of the junior personnel enjoying lunch were submariners. It’s important at this time of year that those who have been serving silently are given some much-needed time off to celebrate with their families and friends. It’s also equally important to remember those that have sacrificed their Christmas this year to patrol our waters on the Continuous At Sea Deterrent.
