A Botcherby-born naval Second Sea Lord has made a visit to his home city of Carlisle.
Accompanied by Commodore Waterhouse – the Naval Regional Commander for Northern England and the Isle of Man – Vice Admiral Nick Hine CB met with civic officials and other local dignitaries.
At an event at Cumbria’s Museum of Military life on Wednesday September 1, he spoke about Transformation in the Royal Navy – Two Steps Forward One Step Back; a subject close to his heart having spent the last two years leading the efforts to transform the Royal Navy to be better organised and resourced for the future.
In addition to the talk itself, the event was an ideal opportunity to promote closer integration on all matters relating to the maritime environment in the North West of England and is part of a series of activities promoted by Commodore Waterhouse and his team to ensure a greater understanding of the Royal Navy throughout the entire North of England and Isle of Man.
Prior to the event he also met up with representatives from Carlisle City Council at the Carlisle Old Town Hall.
He spoke of his strong connections to Carlisle. Nick was born just off Botchergate to a father who was a plumber’s mate and his mother worked at the hospital before moving to a house on Warwick Road close to Brunton Park and eventually ending up in Stanwix.
The City Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Elizabeth Mallinson said:
“We were delighted to welcome the naval Second Sea Lord back to his home city. Carlisle has strong connections to the armed forces and we were delighted to hear first-hand from Vice Admiral Nick Hine CB and his colleagues.”
Nick is from Carlisle and was promoted in a recruitment advert for the Royal Navy was ‘born in Carlisle, made in the Royal Navy’. When the advert was produced, he insisted on the naval officer being from Carlisle in the advert.
During the visit to the Old Town Hall, Carlisle mayor Pam Birks gave the Second Sea Lord a Carlisle Crest shield and a hamper with Carlisle goodies.
He presented a 2nd Sea Lord Plaque to go up beside the City Council’s other armed forces paintings and pictures of HMS Carlisle and Cumberland, and a signed book of Dreadnought to Daring.
Coun Birks said: “Vice Admiral Nick Hine CB is the epitome of Carlisle boy done good. It was a delight to meet him and hear of his memories of living and being brought up in Carlisle. We look forward to welcoming him back at a future date.”
