Mike lands top post

MEET the new Commanding Officer of HMS Eaglet — the Liverpool-based HQ of the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) in the North-West.

Mike Thomason (45), who is a project manager for Money Controls in Royton, has recently returned from RNR deployment in Iraq to take up his new post.

The father-of-two, who lives in Bolton, joined the Royal Navy in 1980. After initial training, he moved to HMS Caledonia in Scotland. Then, after a break from the senior service, he joined the RNR in 1992, transferring to HMS Eaglet.

He was promoted to lieutenant in 1996. Two years later his civilian career took him to Australia for 18 months, after which he returned to the UK and rejoined the RNR in late 1999.

His career has since taken him on deployments as geographically diverse as Portugal, Curacao and Oman, interspersed with operational and logistics training courses within his unit and around Europe.

Commander Thomason said: “I am honoured and excited to be taking up this new post.

“My main effort will be ensuring the reservists we train are able to support the Fleet’s operational commitments worldwide.

“In doing that, one of my key drives will be in recruitment. The Royal Navy and the Royal Naval Reserve needs good people.”