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Collingwood sailor recognised for contribution to Fareham community
19 May 2016
In recognition of his contribution to the local Community whilst based at HMS Collingwood, Regulating Petty Officer (RPO) Graham Gregory, 39, was honoured to receive the Mayor of Fareham’s Award.
The award was presented to Graham at the Mayor of Fareham’s Inauguration Ceremony held at the Ferneham Hall, Fareham recently. The award was presented by Councillor Mike Ford, Mayor of Fareham.
Graham gave his personal time to visit a number of nurseries within the local community to raise road safety awareness and to allow the children to interact with personnel working within the services.
Starting with Woodentots nursery, located on the HMS Collingwood site, followed by Happy Faces, Pre-School and Penguins and Be Tots Nursery’s in Fareham, he lead the team who used police vehicles and sirens, fingerprinting and practical demonstrations to raise awareness of the children to safe road crossing.
Trying to make this enjoyable to the children too, he used his wealth of knowledge and passion for the subject to entertain them on this essential subject.
Drawing on his experience with the Hampshire Roads Policing Unit, Graham compiled interactive packs of information designed to help identify some of the dangers that they may come across on the roads, which the children could complete.
Being given the opportunity to contribute to the safety and education of children and young adults in the community is a huge honour for me and is something that I aim to continue in the future and try to help as many people as I can.
Graham’s continued interaction with Hampshire Constabulary ensured strong ties between the two forces and helped engender greater understanding of the difficulties faced by the two policing communities.
He regularly conducted shifts with the local Roads Policing Unit and completed the National Drug Influence Recognition & Field Impairment Testing Instructor Course, allowing him to instruct both Service and Civilian Police on how to identify and test impaired drivers at the roadside.
In addition to all Graham regularly instructs sailing to children, young adults and cadets at weekends and an annual week long camp.
By acting as the Naval Liaison Officer for these young people he consistently raises the profile of the Royal Navy within the local community whilst providing them with a worthwhile focus and sense of achievement.
Graham said of receiving this award “I was very humbled and surprised to receive such recognition. This is a role that I gain huge satisfaction from conducting.
" Being given the opportunity to contribute to the safety and education of children and young adults in the community is a huge honour for me and is something that I aim to continue in the future and try to help as many people as I can.”
Originally from Newcastle, Graham now lives in Fareham with his wife Stacey and has three children, Ellis 14, Jake 14 and Zackary 3.
Joining the Navy in 1994 Graham has had a long and varied career serving on many Ships and Units. He cites his best deployment so far as when he served on HMS Iron Duke as the RPO from 2008-2012. During this time the ship was deployed to the Caribbean and captured a number of drug smugglers, detaining them onboard.
The ship also seized a record amount of drugs from the MV Crystal and other smuggling units during the 6 month deployment..
In addition to this Mayor’s award, Graham has also been awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct medial which he received in 2009 and the Iraq medal, received in 2004 and the General Service Medal for Operations in Northern Ireland in 1998. In his free time he enjoys dingy sailing and power boating, camping and generally having fun with his family.