Our Guests Today

OUR two distinguished guests this afternoon are Commodore Ian Shipperley and Commander Kevin Easterbrook.

Ian joined the Royal Navy in 1980 on his 17th birthday.  Following training at the Royal Naval Engineering College, Manadon, he became a chartered engineer and, in 1994, was the Marine Engineer Officer of HMS Southampton when it took part in disaster relief in the Caribbean.

Promoted to Commander in 1998, he spent time as a Staff Officer in the Fleet HQ before moving to Bath as the Naval Assistant to the Chief Executive of the Ship Support Agency. He pulled on his overalls and boots for the last time to guide HMS Ocean out of Upkeep in 2002 and on to operations in the Gulf as part of Op Telic. 

Promoted to Captain in 2006, he had a stint as Superintendant Fleet Maintenance (Devonport) followed by a period at the helm of the Capital Ships & Destroyers Team. As Assistant Chief of Staff for Ships and Submarines, the last three years have seen him in Portsmouth and, as Deputy Chief Naval Engineer Officer, he kicked off Programme Faraday to restore RN Engineering Branch ethos.

Kevin was born in Plymouth and educated at Plympton Grammar School. He joined the Royal Navy in 1983 as a Weapon Engineering Artificer.

Selected for Officer training at the Britannia Royal Naval College, he completed junior officer’s fleet time in HMS Brazen before undertaking an Engineering Degree at the RNEC Manadon. In 2012, he was assigned to HMS Ocean as the Commander Weapon Engineer and saw the Ship through her £65m Support Period in Devonport, followed by a challenging regeneration period as HMS Ocean returned to sea duty.

He joined Flag Officer Sea Training (South) as Staff Weapon Engineer Officer in July last year. He is the President of the Devonport Services Football Club and is a lifelong Argyle supporter.