Saturday 00:01
The commanding officer of one of the country's largest Royal Naval Reserve units has been recognised in the New Year's honours for his contribution to the service.
Commander Simon Ryan RNR, who heads HMS Eaglet in Liverpool, has been awarded the Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal after serving in the RNR for 20 years.
Cdr Ryan, 49, said: "I was completely amazed to receive the award. I knew that my name had been put forward but as the weeks passed I didn't think any more about it.
"Then the letter arrived telling me I'd received the award and I was stunned and, of course, very honoured. I've had lots of great times with the Royal Navy, and it all began as an sub-lieutenant in Preston."
The Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal recognises outstanding service and Cdr Ryan's career has been marked by his contribution to recent military operations.
His citation reads: "In both his operational intelligence and public relations roles his achievements, not only within his unit but in the wider naval service, have been outstanding."
In 2002 he served as an acting Commander with the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan. After just two months back at home he was mobilised for Operation Telic - the conflict in Iraq - as a staff officer working in the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood.
Cdr Ryan, who lives in Preston, was appointed Commanding Officer of HMS Eaglet in June this year and was promoted to the rank of substantive Commander in September. He had previously worked as the unit's RN Staff Officer.
HMS Eaglet is one of the three largest Royal Naval Reserve centres and draws recruits from across the North West. It is co-located with the Royal Marines Reserves Merseyside unit and many reservists from both units have seen service in Iraq.
Cdr Ryan began his Royal Naval Reserve career in 1985 in HMS Palatine, Preston. He played a significant role in the 50th Battle of the Atlantic commemorations in Liverpool in 1993 and later transferred to operational intelligence duties at HMS Eaglet.
Other postings have taken Cdr Ryan to the Far East and to the USA where he was attached to the staff of the Surface Warfare Officers School, and in 1999 he became head of the RNR's Operations HQ specialisation, comprising more than 200 reservists from across the UK.
In civilian life Cdr Ryan worked as a chartered insurer and chartered loss adjuster for 24 years. He was a director of one of the main UK practices and was part of the team which dealt with the damage to the Arndale Centre following the IRA bomb attack in Manchester in 1996.
He is also the honorary historian of the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and has written a history of firefighting in Liverpool.
Cdr Ryan has been married to Alison for 18 years.
Notes for newsdesks:
- A picture of Cdr Ryan is attached.
Client ref Navy/NW/053/05
