From serving at sea to supporting people every day

A porter, wearing a blue shirt, with a medal ribbon from the Royal Navy. A hospital exterior in the background

Simon is a Patient Movement Porter at Pinderfields; he’s worked at the Trust for over 8 years. His role today is very different from his time in the Royal Navy, where he served for 24 years as an Aircraft Handler, but the camaraderie and teamwork feel just as familiar.

Here he gives us a glimpse into his role and his time in the Royal Navy.

What does your role involve?

I work closely with teams across the hospital to safely move patients, collect transfusions, specimens and blood samples, and support the respectful care of patients at the end of life.

What’s the best part about your role?

The best part of my job is meeting patients and their families, offering reassurance, having a chat, and hopefully bringing a smile during what can be an anxious time. I also enjoy the teamwork and camaraderie with my team.

What are you most proud of in your current role?

The proudest thing for me carrying out my role is just knowing I've brought a smile to a patient's face and hopefully made their experience a more positive one.

What made you join the Trust?

Having served in the Royal Navy for 24 years I met my wife and returned to my home city. Following my military journey, I wanted a role that would take me to retirement whilst still carrying out a fulfilling and valued role, and I felt that being a porter would fulfil that need.

What was your role in the Royal Navy

I joined the Royal Navy on the 23rd of February 1987 as an Aircraft Handler in the Fleet Air Arm serving 24 years and finally leaving in 2011 reaching the rank of Chief Petty Officer. As an Aircraft Handler I managed the safe movement, parking, launching and recovery of aircraft on ships and air stations. I also served as a member of the primary crash rescue firefighting crews for naval aviation at Naval Air Stations.

A Royal Navy officer stood on a ship giving hand signals to a helicopter pilot Two Royal Navy officers, one receiving a medal for services to their country. Both wearing naval uniform

These are some areas where I served:

819 Naval Air Squadron at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport. Sea King helicopters used for anti-submarine warfare and also search and rescue.
845 NAS Sea King Helicopters based at Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton. Working at a forward refuelling base for helicopters in first Gulf war 1991.
800 NAS Sea Harriers based at RNAS Yeovilton, working from HMS Invincible, covering the Bosnia war, and air operations over Iraq and Kosovo.
846 NAS Sea King Helicopters based at RNAS Yeovilton working out of Kandahar Airport and Camp Bastion (Afghanistan).