A FORMER student at Immanuel Community College, Thackley, has won a commission as a Royal Navy officer following more than six months of training.

Midshipman Joe Burton, 21, was among 130 officer cadets who earned a commission following 30 weeks of training, at the Britannia Royal Navy College in Devon and on board the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, operating in the Mediterranean as wells on board HMS Daring in UK waters.

He said: “Spending ten weeks aboard HMS Ocean in the Mediterranean, carrying out beach assaults in Albania and completing the rock run in Gibraltar was a definite highlight of training."

“I also got to go for a flight in a Merlin Mark 2 helicopter from the deck of the ship in the middle of the ocean and we had the chance to experience a “hands to bathe”. “This was surreal swimming in the middle of the sea with no land in sight anywhere. During my training I have also had the honour of representing the Royal Navy in the Under 23s inter-Services rugby competition, playing both the Army and Air Force. “ Joe, who also attended Benton Park sixth form college was a purchase ledger administrator before joining the Royal Navy.