A new second class stamp has uncovered the story of a former Keighley submariner.

The Vanguard, the first royal-commissioned and first Trident missile submarine ever built in the UK, features on the Royal Mail's new second class stamp.

The same picture of the submarine has hung on the wall of Aireworth Street's Friendly Inn for the last five years.

It was given to the pub by David Rawson (pictured) chief petty officer and medical assistant on the Vanguard.

David, 43, served in the navy from 1975 to 1998. He now works as a stage hypnotist and magician, touring the UK and performing for six months of the year in Ibiza.

Speaking from his Kent home he says: "I was on the Vanguard when it was first built and then we took it to America to do the first Trident missile firing.

"It was the very first Trident the UK had ever built and I was privileged to be on it for three years -- from 1991 to 1994."

David's parents Betty and Arthur visited him in Barrow-in-Furness in 1993 when the Vanguard was officially commissioned.

The couple had frequented The Friendly Inn, where Allan Smith was the landlord.

Betty explains: "David said did Allan want the picture, because when my husband died seven years ago he was good to me. It's been there ever since. Some people will say 'that's a nice submarine' but until this stamp came out it was just there."

The stamps, which came out last Tuesday, commemorate the centenary of the Royal Navy Submarine Service also feature the Swiftsure, Unity and Holland class submarines.

The Royal Mail is hoping to assemble 20,000 ex-submariners for a big reunion in Barrow in October.

But David, a member of Equity, the Magic Circle and the International Brotherhood of Magicians, will be working in Ibiza.